A Pale Grey Recap – Word on the Street, 2025

Posted on October 11, 2025
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PALE GREY DOT was a big hit at Toronto’s Word on the Street festival! Alongside eight of my fellow authors, we sold well over one hundred books.

All nine Toronto authors: Dave Foster, Jesse McMinn, Brandon Butler, Y.M.Pang, James Downe, P.G. Reynolds, Yours Truly, Danny F. Santos, and Kevin Coleman.
All nine Toronto authors: Dave T. E. Foster, Jesse McMinn, Brandon Butler, Y.M.Pang, James Downe, P.G. Reynolds, Yours Truly, Danny F. Santos, and Kevin Coleman. I don’t recall why I’m wrestling James, but I suspect he was being a sassy troublemaker and had to be put in his place.

I did not expect WotS to be as successful as it was, but my goodness it sure was. We had a fabulous booth, amazing visitors, and fantastic participation.

Charles O'Dale visits the booth while a reader and I have an intellectual discussion on literature (I assume)
Charles O’Dale visits the booth while a reader and I have an intellectual discussion on literature (I assume)
James, Jesse, and me manning the booth. Could Ezza beat up Mero and any of the Sisters of Jade? Probably!
Justin, the leader of the Toronto SFF Writers, hangin’ out at the booth.
Dave and I were the first ones there early Saturday morning, doing all the work. As usual.
Peter, Jesse, James, and me.
The booth saw a lot of action over the weekend!
Good times with sci-fi & fantasy authors and readers.

Some notes:

  • Having so many readers stop by the booth was gratifying. I found they were drawn to Pale Grey Dot. Either my pitches worked, or the fine cover design of Jamis Paulson caught people’s attention.
  • Loved getting in discussions with readers about science fiction, books, or the festival as a whole.
  • My fellow authors did a fantastic job of selling each other. I’ve had the good fortune of reading each of ’em, so singing their praises was no problem.
  • A bit of fun involved making visitors choose between science fiction and fantasy. Naturally, the best visitors were correct and chose science fiction.
  • There’s honestly not much I’d change for next year. The displays looked professional, the brochures were beautiful, each author knew their stuff, and Pale Grey Dot sold like hotcakes. I feel like we hit it out of the park at our first at bat.
  • Major kudos to James Downe, the Brother of Jade, for being the driving force behind this mission.
  • Bring on Word on the Street 2026!