Michael Fraser

 
Michael Fraser has been published in numerous national and international anthologies and journals including: Paris Atlantic, Arc, and The Caribbean Writer.
 
His poem “Going to Cape” won ARC’s reader’s choice award for 2012, and was included in the Best Canadian Poetry in English 2013.
 
He won Freefall’s 2014 Poetry Contest.
 
His second book is forthcoming from Tightrope books.
 
He is the creator and former director of the Plasticine Poetry Series.
 

Heather Babcock

 
Heather Babcock is a secretary by day and a writer by night.
 
Her short fiction has been published in various literary magazines and journals including Descant Magazine, Front&Centre Magazine and The Toronto Quarterly.
 
Heather has performed as a feature at the Beautiful & the Damned, the Plasticine Poetry reading series, Lizzie Violet’s Cabaret Noir, The Redhead Revue, Spring Fling at Hirut and WonderFest, among others.
 
She has been a guest on the spoken word radio show HOWL (CIUT 89.5FM).
 
Heather’s chapbook Of Being Underground and Moving Backwards was published by DevilHousePress in 2015.
 

SHOW STARTS at 7:30 with the open mic…

Hot-Sauced Words features two poets, usually one female and one male. A short open mic opens the show, but then Hot-Sauced Words initiates a vibe that makes it unique among Toronto’s many reading series.
 
The first difference is “Give Me a Line“. James Dewar encourages the audience to call out their favourite lines and metaphors after each poets reads.
 
The most unique attribute is the Poetry Themed Challenge. At the beginning of the show, James reads two poems on a similar theme from well known poets, and announces the writing challenge for the evening. Pens and index cards are supplied before the show starts. Audience members have the duration of the show to write a poem on those index cards. Those who choose to enter the challenge are invited on stage at the end of the show to perform their poems on stage. The audience votes on secret ballots for best poem and best performance. Many poems that started in the Poetry Themed Challenge have gone on to be published.
 
Hot-Sauced words celebrates community and encourages the appreciation of poetry by featuring some of the best poets in the country, and building on their energy to create new poetry in an inclusive, fun atmosphere.
 

Hot-Sauced Words celebrates its 10th year in 2016.