All posts by Jarrett Samson

Hi! I'm Jarrett Evan Samson, currently the events and social media manager at The Beguiling, along with lots of other things that we all just naturally do. Uh, that's all? Hello.
Important

IMPORTANT: IN-STORE SHOPPING IS UNAVAILABLE

We’ll be closing indefinitely for regular in-store shopping end of business day today, 03/16. This Wednesday, we’ll open in a limited capacity for customers to pick up their comics.

Shipping and curb-side pick-up are still available! Send us an email at mail@beguiling.ca or give us a call between _____ and we can arrange your order.

Thanks to all of the kind souls who have already phoned in to buy books or gift-certificates– In the days to come we’ll be trying out our legendary hand-selling skills by phone & email!

Also, you can also purchase a GIFT CERTIFICATE electronically through our paypal by sending money, with a note specifying it’s for a gift certificate, to:

mail@beguiling.ca

or over the phone during our normal hours to process your order via Visa/MC/Debit!

Thanks everyone for your support, it means the world.

–The Beguiling

General

IMPORTANT: IN-STORE SHOPPING IS UNAVAILABLE

We’ll be closing indefinitely for regular in-store shopping end of business day today, 03/16. This Wednesday, we’ll open in a limited capacity for customers to pick up their comics.

Shipping and curb-side pick-up are still available! Send us an email at mail@beguiling.ca or give us a call between _____ and we can arrange your order.

Thanks to all of the kind souls who have already phoned in to buy books or gift-certificates– In the days to come we’ll be trying out our legendary hand-selling skills by phone & email!

Also, you can also purchase a GIFT CERTIFICATE electronically through our paypal by sending money, with a note specifying it’s for a gift certificate, to:

mail@beguiling.ca

or over the phone during our normal hours to process your order via Visa/MC/Debit!

Thanks everyone for your support, it means the world.

–The Beguiling

Important

THANK YOU/NEW WAYS TO SHOP (NOW LONG OUT OF DATE)

(Wanted to keep a record of this post, but its contents are long out of date and should only be read in an archival appreciation sort of way. go visit our webstore and buy books! beguilingbooks.com)

 

WE just wanted to take a moment to say to all of our customers:

THANK YOU.

Not only for the amazing, generous and warm support you have shown to The Beguiling already but that you are showing to all booksellers, independent shops, artists customer service employees and many others working without a safety net, one day at a time.

When you’re a bookseller, there isn’t a work from home option– we need to be out here, interacting with everyone who walks through our doors. That’s the lifeblood of our industry, the personal connection that an independent bookseller cab bring, and it’s been incredible to still feel it from our amazing customers.

At the moment, we’re taking everything day to day but as of now we’re still maintaining regular hours and we’ve introduced some other options and standards for those who want to support and shop with us but are understandably a bit wary. You can check out what we’re doing below!

We’re here for you, snd you’re here for us. Instead of focusing on the negative, let’s look at what a beautiful small thing that is– it means the world to us, and to so many independent business in the GTA and beyond.

THANK YOU.

Still want to get your comics but feeling a bit wary of regular visits to the store? Talk to us!

We’re very happy to work with you to figure out getting you your books! Here’s some starter options!

SHIPPING: We’ll be offering FREE SHIPPING WITHIN THE GTA ON ORDERS OVER $50!

For orders under $50 we’ll charge a flat rate of $6.50, the equivalent cost of taking the TTC to/from the store!

(Added bonus: no one will demand to see proof you paid us your shipping fee while it’s in transit)

If you don’t live in Toronto, we can arrange it too! Just get in touch!

CURBSIDE PICKUP: Pre-arrange your order and we can bring it straight out to you in your car! You can pay ahead of time, or with Visa/Mastercard/Debit in your car when you pick up!

Would you like to get your books some other way? Well, we’re probably open to it! Just get in touch with us, and we’re happy to discuss whatever works best for you!

For in-store shopping we’ll also be introducing some methods to minimize the handling of your books at the till and by others too! More details to com, as well as some great suggestions for some comics long-reads!

XOXO, THE STAFF AT THE BEGUILING & LITTLE ISLAND COMICS

General

MARCH 22: UNINSTRUCTED LIFE DRAWING (WITH KAGAN MCLEOD)

Starting Sunday, March 22 we’re going to be holding the first of what we hope will be a regular uninstructed life drawing session with Toronto artist Kagan McLeod!

Kagan has been illustrating for newspapers, magazines and design firms since 1999. He has received awards for his work from such groups as the Society of Newspaper Design, the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, American Illustration and the Society of Publication Designers. Kagan’s latest book Draw People Every Day: Short Lessons in Portrait and Figure Drawing Using Ink and Color was released last summer by Watson-Gupti, and this isn’t even mentioning his numerous comics works, including Infinite Kung-Fu and Kaptara!

This session will feature a live model and a playlist curated by Kagan McLeod!! There is a $10 cover charge to help pay our model, Meredith!

Here’s the details all in handy point form!

-UNINSTRUCTED LIFE DRAWING WITH KAGAN MCLEOD
-SUNDAY, MARCH 22
-6:30-9:30PM
-THE BEGUILING, 319 COLLEGE ST

Hope to see you there!

Events

MARCH 22: UNINSTRUCTED LIFE DRAWING WITH KAGAN MCLEOD!

Starting Sunday, March 22 we’re going to be holding the first of what we hope will be a regular uninstructed life drawing session with Toronto artist Kagan McLeod!

Kagan has been illustrating for newspapers, magazines and design firms since 1999. He has received awards for his work from such groups as the Society of Newspaper Design, the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, American Illustration and the Society of Publication Designers. Kagan’s latest book Draw People Every Day: Short Lessons in Portrait and Figure Drawing Using Ink and Color was released last summer by Watson-Gupti, and this isn’t even mentioning his numerous comics works, including Infinite Kung-Fu and Kaptara!

This session will feature a live model and a playlist curated by Kagan McLeod!! There is a $10 cover charge to help pay our model, Meredith!

Here’s the details all in handy point form!

-UNINSTRUCTED LIFE DRAWING WITH KAGAN MCLEOD
-SUNDAY, MARCH 22
-6:30-9:30PM
-THE BEGUILING, 319 COLLEGE ST

Hope to see you there!

Events

MARCH 25: SAMI ALWANI “THE MISFORTUNES OF VIRTUE” NOW #8 LAUNCH & GALLERY SHOW!

On Wednesday, March 25th, The Beguiling welcomes artist SAMI ALWANI to the store to celebrate two-fold!

First: to celebrate the release of his story “THE MISFORTUNES OF VIRTUE” in NOW #8, published by Fantagraphics and out that day!

Second: to observe the launch of Sami’s show in our gallery featuring original art from The Misfortunes of Virtue, The Dead Father and other works!

Sami will be reading from his piece and answering some questions and just generally Hanging Around!

Everything starts at 7PM! We hope to see you there!!

General

MARCH 25: SAMI ALWANI “THE MISFORTUNES OF VIRTUE” NOW #8 LAUNCH & GALLERY SHOW!

On Wednesday, March 25th, The Beguiling welcomes artist SAMI ALWANI to the store to celebrate two-fold!

First: to celebrate the release of his story “THE MISFORTUNES OF VIRTUE” in NOW #8, published by Fantagraphics and out that day!

Second: to observe the launch of Sami’s show in our gallery featuring original art from The Misfortunes of Virtue, The Dead Father and other works!

Sami will be reading from his piece and answering some questions and just generally Hanging Around!

Everything starts at 7PM! We hope to see you there!!

General

MARCH 19: VICTOR MARTINS “CABRA CABRA” LAUNCH AT THE BEGUILING!

On Thursday, March 19 at 7PM we’re thrilled to present the launch for the release of our very own VICTOR MARTINS and his new comic “Ley Lines #22: Cabra Cabra” from Czap Books & Grindstone Comics!

Victor will be in conversation with illustrator/zine-maker Cleopatria Peterson and signing copies of Cabra Cabra! We’ll have a bunch available, as well as copies of Victor’s other works too!

We’re very excited to celebrate the release of Cabra Cabra with Victor and all of you, and we hope you are too! See you there!

Events

MARCH 19: VICTOR MARTINS “CABRA CABRA” LAUNCH AT THE BEGUILING!

On Thursday, March 19 at 7PM we’re thrilled to present the launch for the release of our very own VICTOR MARTINS and his new comic “Ley Lines #22: Cabra Cabra” from Czap Books & Grindstone Comics!

Victor will be in conversation with illustrator/zine-maker Cleopatria Peterson and signing copies of Cabra Cabra! We’ll have a bunch available, as well as copies of Victor’s other works too!

We’re very excited to celebrate the release of Cabra Cabra with Victor and all of you, and we hope you are too! See you there!

Events

MARCH 12: MICHAEL DEFORGE “FAMILIAR FACE” BOOK LAUNCH!

It’s always a pleasure when a new Michael Deforge book comes into the world, and especially when we’re able to host Michael in-store to launch it! Well, Thursday, March 12th at 7PM Michael will be here in support of his new book FAMILIAR FACE from the great folks at Drawn & Quarterly!

If you’ve been to one of our events with Michael before, you know that surprises abound—in the past we’ve been treated to readings from yet-to-be-released works, for starters—and that it will definitely be something you don’t want to miss! Plus, a chance to get your ownj copy of FAMILIAR FACE, and signed at that? Say no more, just click RSVP on our Facebook event and get ready!

Thanks as always to Drawn & Quarterly for helping to set this up!

About Familiar Face:

Familiar Face’s narrator works in the government’s department of complaints, reading through citizens’ reports of the issues they’ve had with the system updates. DeForge’s ability to find the humanity and emotional truth within the outlandish bureaucracy of everyday life is unparalleled. 

Advance Praise: 

“In Familiar Face, Michael DeForge’s genius brain foreshadows a not-so-distant future where optimization is the ruling dictator. Underneath DeForge’s hyper-coloured, fragmented style and signature deadpan is a prescient mourning for what is lost after the onslaught of updates and upgrades. One of the most compelling works to date by my favourite Canadian writer.”—Vivek Shraya, author of Death Threat and I’m Afraid of Men

“At first glance, Familiar Face may seem to be set in a far-off dystopia, but the longer you remain in this strange world, the more it begins to feel uncannily familiar, an almost-too-accurate depiction of our world. Yet, for all its disquiet, this was a pleasure to read. Michael DeForge’s elastic, friendly line is full of humour and wistful charm.”—Ling Ma, author of Severance