In 1992, Life Rattle staged the first Totally Unknown Writers Festival featuring new writers who read their work before a live audience, carrying on the oral tradition of storytelling.

Since then, Life Rattle has staged the festival annually with grant support
from the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council. The Festival
always attracts a capacity crowd of people from varied Toronto communities
to the Rivoli Club on Queen Street West.

Each year Life Rattle Press publishes a collection of the stories read at the Festival.

Are you reading at the festival? Please visit the Festival readers Guide.