OCT 16 - 21, 2012 ONE HUNDRED WRITERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. EVENTS FOR READERS OF ALL AGES ON GRANVILLE ISLAND.
Igniting a passion for books and ideas. VANCOUVERTIX.COM 604.629.8849 writersfest.bc.ca
From the Artistic Director
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Welcome to the Vancouver Writers Fest on Granville Island An anniversary of 25 years is an exciting event to celebrate and we’re marking the occasion with a new name and a fresh look. But the elements that have enabled this wonderful organization to grow and flourish have remained constant. I would like to extend my personal thanks to the staff, volunteers, board of directors, community supporters, writers and audiences who have helped us reach this significant milestone. In all the events at this year’s Festival, we celebrate new friends and longstanding favourites. But if I attempted to list all the great events and authors in this opening message, we’d have to reduce the typeface to an unreadable size or add more pages and I’d get in trouble for that. So let me tell you about some signature events unique to our Festival. We have received a great gift from Alistair MacLeod who has written a new story to commemorate our 25th anniversary. If you know anything about Alistair’s very fine, but relatively modest literary output, you will know how special this is. We are delighted to be able to offer copies of a signed limited edition chapbook, Remembrance, for purchase at the Festival. And Alistair will be here to talk about his story. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the publication of Margaret Atwood’s important critical examination of Canadian literature, Survival. To honour the occasion we have assembled a distinguished panel of Canadian writers, including Ms. Atwood, to take stock of our literature: what is the current state, how did we get here and what might the future hold? We also continue our tradition of glorious collaborations with the men’s choir, Chor Leoni. Some of you may remember the blend of beautiful music and great readings by Alistair MacLeod in 2007 and Jack Hodgins in 2010. For our third collaboration, we are pleased to have Jane Urquhart join the choir to once again create something above and beyond simple words and music. Also accompanied by choral music will be crime writer Louise Penny who makes a return visit to our Festival. A central concern of Louise’s new mystery novel is the origin of western music, specifically Gregorian chant. We are excited to have her read alongside chanters from Christ Church Cathedral, under the direction of Rupert Lang. For the final event of the Festival, we will discuss nothing less than the state and fate of the planet. We’ve invited Australia’s climate commissioner, Tim Flannery—distinguished scientist and author of the bestselling and ground-breaking book, The Weather Makers—to sit down with our very own David Suzuki to talk about their assessment of the environmental challenges we face and what kind of progress we are making in meeting those challenges. It will be an illuminating, provocative, essential discussion. As always, the absolute best way to ensure you see these Festival events and many others is to become a valued member. Not only will you receive early bird ticket purchasing privileges but you’ll get discounts at the box office and at supporting bookstores. Please check the membership section of the guide or our website for details. See you at the Festival!
Contents About Us 4 Festival Participants 5 Venues & Parking 6 How to Buy Tickets 7 Our Supporters 8, 12, 56 Become a Member 9 Spreading the Word 10 La Joie de Lire 10 The Festival Experience 11 Festival Bookstore 11 Support the Festival 13 Messages 14–15 Festival at a Glance 32–33 Writing Contest 62 Special Events 13, 53, 59, 60
Events schedule Tuesday, October 16 Wednesday, October 17 Thursday, October 18 Friday, October 19 Saturday, October 20 Sunday, October 21 Author Biographies School Events are indicated by
How to use this guide Each bio lists the events (by number) in which the author is appearing. To locate a venue, check the map on page 6. If you have any questions, give us a call at 604.681.6330, or check our website at writersfest.bc.ca for updated Festival information.
/VanWritersFest
Hal Wake, Artistic Director
16–18 20–23 24–26 28–31 34–37 38–39 40–55
@VanWritersFest
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About Us Founder and Lifetime Member: Alma Lee
Board of Directors Anne Giardini Kim Thorne Secretary: Kelli Bodnar Treasurer: Cheryl Berge Members: Terri-Lynn Brown, Sally Harding, Leslie Hurtig, Sandra Jakab, Lisa Kershaw, Shirley Lew, Harvey McKinnon, Kathryn Shoemaker, Paul Whitney Chair:
Vice-Chair :
Patrons Circle Patricia Crowe Yulanda & Moh Faris Greg Ford Sandra Garossino Colin & Helen Harris Alma Lee Jim & Joan Mayhew Don Prior Bonnie & Don Sheldon Yasmeen & Andrew Strang Jan Whitford Cynthia Woodward
Gala Committee Kelli Bodnar Members: Anne Giardini, Susan Goldie, Alison Hart, Deborah Roitberg, Kathryn Shoemaker Chair:
A Dram Come True Committee Kim Thorne Members: Michael Armstrong, Mark French, Sandra Jakab, Dave Mason Chair:
back row, left to right: ann mcdonell, judith walker, eduardo ottoni, hal wake, camilla tibbs front row, left to right: brenda berck, tavia audia, jocelyn wagner, sandra millard Illustrated by Vida Jurcic
Festival Staff
Program Guide
Hal Wake Executive Director: Camilla Tibbs
Editors:
Artistic Director:
Director of Marketing & Development:
Ann McDonell Writer Services Co-ordinators:
Jocelyn Wagner and Clea Young Administrator: Sandra Millard Tavia Audia Office Alternatives Advertising Sales: Yasmeen Strang Education Co-ordinator: Ilona Beiks Programmer, La Joie de Lire : Brenda Berck Catering Co-ordinator: Carolina Sartor Food & Beverage Co-ordinator: Heideh White Media Relations Manager: Judith Walker Office Intern: Amy Spence Photographer: Chris Cameron Production Manager: Eduardo Ottoni Production Co-ordinator: Katja Schlueter Production Assistant: Liam Kupser Volunteer Manager: Kathryn Fowler Volunteer Assistant: Lili Okuyama Website Design: Chris MacDonald Development & Marketing Assistant:
Ann McDonell, Tavia Audia
Festival Design:
Hangar 18 Creative Group
Copy-editing courtesy of members of the Editors’ Association of Canada, BC Branch: Viktoria Cseh, Linda McDaniel, Ann-Marie Metten, Margot Senchyna, Nancy Tinari, Eva Van Emden and Shelly Windover
Bookkeeping Services:
Eco Audit This program guide is printed by Mitchell Press on recycled paper made with 30% post-consumer waste and bleached without the use of chlorine or chlorine compounds, resulting in measurable environmental benefits, and the following savings:
40 trees 16,380 litres of water 9,594 kilowatt hours of electricity 46.8 cubic yards of landfill space Carbon credit: 7.7 tonnes Sources: Paper Task Force and Office of the Federal Environmental Executive
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the more than 250 dedicated volunteers who contribute so much to the Festival each year.
Festival Participants
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Ekiwah Adler-Beléndez
Mohammed Hanif
Emily Perkins
Martin Amis*
Rachel Hartman
Anne Perry
Margaret Atwood
Steven Heighton
Gordon Pinsent
C.R. Avery
Miranda Hill
Nancy Richler
Lynda Barry*
Simonetta Agnello
J. Jill Robinson
Deni Y. Béchard
Hornby
Rachel Rose
Dave Bidini
Gillian Jerome
Rebecca Rosenblum
Heather Birrell
Gail Jones
Robert Rotenberg
Dionne Brand
Susan Juby
Anakana Schofield
John Burnside
A. L. Kennedy
Emily Schultz
Nicola I. Campbell
Gary Kent
Kim Scott
Marjorie Celona
Chip Kidd
Rick Scott
Michael Chabon*
Chan Koonchung
Richard Scrimger
Scott Chantler
Kim La Fave
Carol Shaben
Chris Cleave
Vincent Lam
Lemn Sissay
Deryn Collier
Patrick Lane
Arthur Slade
Ivan E. Coyote
Shari Lapeña
Carrie Snyder
Lorna Crozier
Dennis Lee
Emily St. John Mandel
Marie Darrieussecq
Annabel Lyon
David Suzuki
Angèle Delaunois
Linden MacIntyre
Linda Svendsen
Louise Dennys
Kyo Maclear
Susan Swan
Junot Díaz
Alistair MacLeod
Madeleine Thien
Sandra Djwa
Pasha Malla
Kim Thúy
Cory Doctorow
Nina Matsumoto
Sarah Tsiang
Joanne Drayton
Norah McClintock
Jane Urquhart
Nuruddin Farah
Zakes Mda
Aritha Van Herk
M.A.C. Farrant
Stephen Miller
M.G. Vassanji
Sal Ferreras
Donna Morrissey
John Vigna
Sheree Fitch
Garry Thomas Morse
Seán Virgo
Tim Flannery
Kate Mosse
Russell Wangersky
Anne Fleming
Susan Musgrave
Mélanie Watt
Patrick Friesen
Riel Nason
Jessica Westhead
Tess Gallagher
Susin Nielsen
Gillian Wigmore
Bill Gaston
Martine Noël-Maw
Janet Wilson
Jian Ghomeshi*
Kenneth Oppel
David H.T. Wong
Graeme Gibson
Shane Peacock
Rawi Hage
Louise Penny
*Special Event
Sunshine Coast
FESTIVAL of the WRITTEN ARTS August 15-18, 2013 Congratulations and best wishes to the Vancouver Writers Fest on its 25th anniversary www.writersfestival.ca
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Venues & Parking Map Legend 1 Granville Island Public Market 2 Granville Island Stage 1585 Johnston Street
3 Improv Centre
1502 Duranleau Street
4 Waterfront Theatre
1412 Cartwright Street
5 Vancouver Writers Fest Box Office Main Floor, Festival House 1398 Cartwright Street 6 Studio 1398 3rd Floor, Festival House 1398 Cartwright Street 7 Performance Works 1218 Cartwright Street 8 Festival Bookstore Rear of Performance Works 1218 Cartwright Street 9 Granville Island Hotel 1253 Johnston Street 10 Anderson Street Space 1405 Anderson Street
Off Site Venues Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage 2750 Granville Street Radio-Canada Studio 700 700 Hamilton Street
Parking Information Free daytime parking in most spots on Granville Island is limited to three hours from 7:00 am–7:00 pm. Read the signs carefully: some spots are for one hour or less. If you park your car in one spot for three hours and then move it to another spot on Granville Island, you risk being ticketed. Parking is free and unlimited in most spots (including the pay parking garages and lots) each evening from 7:00 pm−7:00 am. The parking lot just east of the entrance to Granville Island at the corner of Lamey’s Mill Road and The Castings offers all-day parking for $8. There is also plenty of parking on the north side of False Creek. Consider leaving your car there and coming across on the False Creek Ferry or Aquabus. The most important thing to remember is to give yourself time—at least an extra 15 minutes to find a spot—if you plan to park on Granville Island.
Public Transit
Ferries
Call or check the web for schedule information. TransLink Schedule Information 604.953.3333 between 6:30 am and 11:30 pm daily translink.bc.ca
Ferries travel from various locations along the north and south shores of False Creek to Granville Island at frequent intervals. Call or check the web for schedule information.
False Creek Ferries 604.684.7781 granvilleislandferries.bc.ca
Aquabus 604.689.5858 theaquabus.com
How to Buy Tickets
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Advance Ticket Sales
School Group Tickets
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, September 5, 2012, and can be purchased online, by phone or in person. Advance ticket sales for Vancouver Writers Fest members begin on Wednesday, August 29, 2012. All prices include HST. Mastercard, Visa and cash (in person) accepted. ONline: vancouvertix.com By phone: VancouverTix 604.629.8849 In person: The Festival box office is located on the main floor of Festival House, 1398 Cartwright Street, Granville Island. Box office hours are Monday to Friday: 10:00 am−4:00 pm, and Saturdays: 12 noon−4:00 pm. Closed holidays.
School group tickets to Spreading the Word events for schools are $8.50 each. Ticket prices include HST and surcharges do not apply. Teachers and adults accompanying school groups must purchase tickets. School group tickets go on sale at 8:00 am on Monday, September 10, 2012.
VancouverTix surcharges will apply to all tickets purchased online or by phone. The Festival box office charges a $1 surcharge per ticket and is open for in-person sales only. Advance ticket sales end at 4:00 pm on the day before the event.
Door Sales
(day of event only)
The box office at the venue will open 45 minutes before the start of the event. Cash, Mastercard and Visa accepted. Please call 604.681.6330 for ticket availability information or check online at writersfest.bc.ca. Please note that many events sell out in advance.
General Information • Discount of $2 offered to seniors and students who present valid ID, people on fixed incomes and the unemployed. • Discount of $2 offered to Festival members who purchase advance tickets at the Festival box office (on presentation of membership card). • The Festival Program is subject to change without notice. Money will be refunded only when an event is cancelled. • Latecomers may not be seated. • No babies or small children at adult Festival events please, out of courtesy to other patrons. • No flash photography, video recorders or tape recorders please. Please check tickets carefully. There will be no exchanges or refunds.
You can order school group tickets in one of the following ways: • Online: go to writersfest.bc.ca/ teachers/schoolorders • In person at the Festival box office • Fax a ticket order form to 604.681.8400 (download the ticket order form from the Festival website or call 604.681.6330 ext 0, to request a form).
Subsidy for School Groups The Vancouver Writers Fest is delighted to be able to offer subsidies for tickets and transportation to schools in need. The Cynthia Woodward Development Program enables us to subsidize tickets to Festival events for school groups and the Bonnie Mah Bus Subsidy Program allows us to offer local transportation subsidies. A limited number of subsidies are available based on financial need. Application forms can be downloaded from writersfest. bc.ca/teachers/schoolorders.
All Festival venues are wheelchair accessible. To reserve in advance, please call 604.681.6330 EXT 107.
Thanks to Our Supporters Festival Sponsors
special event
limited edition
limited edition
Spreading the Word Sponsors
IN-KIND SPONSORS
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage. Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada pas l’entremise du ministère du Patrimoine canadien.
classic
Government Support
volunteer program
Bestseller
Title Support
media sponsors
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Join Us!
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Writers Fest Membership – What’s in it for you? Get the Festival Program Guide Delivered Members are among the select few to whom we mail the program guide, so you are sure to know when Festival details are announced! Buy Festival Tickets First Members can purchase tickets* before the general public – this is the best way to ensure you get tickets for those must-see, sell-out events. Save Money Members get a $2 discount on each Festival ticket* they buy, plus several affiliated local bookstores offer a 10% discount on purchases at their stores. We also offer discounted memberships for Book Clubs. Stay Connected Members receive our Ink e-newsletter and are invited to our exclusive annual Preview Reception.
Journey with No Maps A Life of P.K. Page
Support the Festival Members play an important role in helping us present events for adults as well as outreach programs for elementary and secondary school students.
Poet, traveller, artist, and mystic – the biography of an extraordinary woman’s many lives.
How do you sign up?
M c G i l l - Q u e e n ’s u n i v e r s i t y P r e s s
Annual memberships are $35 per year or $60 for two years. Sign up online at writersfest.bc.ca or call 604.681.6330. Bookclubs pay just $20 per person per year -- call the office to sign up.
Follow us on Facebook.com/McGillQueens and twitter.com/scholarmqup
Sandra Djwa
photo by Kyoko Fierro
| mqup.ca
What’s in it for us? In uncertain economic times, a solid membership base is a foundation we can rely on. It is a revenue cornerstone and a demonstration to our public and corporate funders that we have community support. *Limit of 2 tickets per member per event.
Get inspired: register today! Visual, media and performing arts classes available for ages 2-19. Winter Session starts early January.
www.artsumbrella.com Arts Umbrella is a non-profit organization, dedicated to inspiring kids for life through the arts! Locations in Vancouver and Surrey now open.
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Spreading the Word
It’s about reading and writing, books and writers. It’s eclectic, exciting, entertaining and thought provoking. Spreading the Word, the Vancouver Writers Fest's schools program, offers K–12 students and teachers the rare opportunity to engage with internationally renowned writers at the Festival and in the classroom.
At the Festival
Writer-in-Residence
This year the Festival hosts 36 great events for grades K–12, in French or English. Friday daytime events are designed for teachers and senior students, as well as for the general public. Find study guides for each event at writersfest.bc.ca/teachers.
In this annual program, Festival authors are invited to spend a week in a small BC community, working with students on their creative writing, and reading at elementary schools and for the community-at-large. Following a sucessful mentorship element in 2012, the Writer-in-Residence will again mentor select young writers from the community.
Reading with Writers Festival authors visit local inner-city classrooms during the Festival and throughout the year to inspire young readers and writers.
The Writer-in-Residence program is sponsored by Amazon.ca and supported by the Michael R. Shaw Fund. About the Michael R. Shaw Fund Michael R. Shaw was a young man who loved the outdoors but whose life was cut short in 2003 when he and some of his classmates were swept away by an avalanche in BC. The Michael R. Shaw Fund was established through the generosity of the Woodward family, and the Festival is honoured to lend Michael’s name to this program.
Reading with Writers is sponsored by HSBC Bank Canada. Spreading the Word is generously funded by our corporate, foundation, government and individual supporters, including the Kinder Morgan Foundation, the RBC Foundation and the Rix Family Foundation.
INN-credible
La Joie de Lire
The Vancouver Writers Fest gratefully acknowledges Dockside Restaurant and the Granville Island Hotel for their generous contributions to this year’s Festival.
La Joie de Lire est à la fois le titre et l’objectif des programmes de français du Vancouver Writers Fest. Il s’agit d’événements éclectiques, intéressants, divertissants et stimulants d’auteurs canadiens et étrangers de renom.
A Special Thanks To East India Carpets for making our Festival stages beautiful.
Il y a de plus en plus d’étudiants francophones et en immersion française en Colombie-Britannique. Nous espérons leur communiquer la joie de lire grâce au programme de cette année. Trois auteures spécialisées en literature pour la jeunesse viendront présenter de nouveaux livres dans le cadre du Festival. Nous sommes heureux d’annoncer le retour de Martine Noël-Maw, qui vient de publier son dernier roman intitulé Les fantômes de Spiritwood. Nous accueillons également avec joie Mélanie Watt et Angèle Delaunois. Auteure et illustratrice, Mélanie Watt sera accompagnée de ses personages Scaredy Squirrel, Chester et Léon. Angèle Delaunois présentera divers livres, notamment Le lutin du jardin, La demoiselle oubliée et Une petite bouteille jaune. Un salon littéraire interactif avec cinq auteurs francophones, présenté par Radio-Canada et le VWF. Une conversation transmise en direct sur radio-canada.ca et enregistrée pour diffusion le 18 octobre en après-midi sur la Première Chaîne (radio).
The Festival Experience Explore a World of Ideas on Granville Island The 25th Vancouver Writers Fest on Granville Island offers a world of books and ideas to explore. The Festival is your opportunity to attend readings, discussions, debates and performances, and to meet an eclectic array of 100 writers from Canada and around the world. Festival events will get you thinking, introduce you to new authors and, if your aspirations are to write, inspire your creativity. Attending the events is just part of the Festival experience. We are thrilled that the Festival calls Granville Island home and that the island adds so much to our audiences’ enjoyment. An oasis in the heart of Vancouver, Granville Island’s location makes it ideal for the Festival. Getting to Granville Island is convenient on public transit, and we recommend the ferries as the ultimate way to get here. We hope that you will take the time to explore while on Granville Island. Along with the wonderful public market, restaurants and cafés, there are many hidden shops, galleries and artist studios to discover. Be part of the excitement that permeates Granville Island during the six days of the Festival—enjoy! Granville Island is managed on behalf of the Government of Canada by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The Vancouver Writers Fest is a proud cultural partner of CMHC Granville Island and is honoured to be a resident of this vibrant community.
Festival Bookstore You will find the Festival Bookstore conveniently located at the rear of Performance Works, 1218 Cartwright Street, near the Granville Island Hotel at the east end of Granville Island. Books are also sold at the venues following each event, with the writers available for signing. The bookstore carries both current and backlist titles of each Festival writer. It’s the ideal place to browse between events. The bookstore is operated by the Festival’s official bookseller, Kidsbooks, a successful independent bookseller known throughout the province for its comprehensive selection of titles for young audiences and for its knowledgeable and helpful staff. The Festival Bookstore is open Tuesday evening, Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 am−10:00 pm, and Sunday, 10:00 am−5:00 pm.
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Thanks to Our Supporters Individual Support
Donations received between May 1, 2011 and July 21, 2012
Classic Level ($5,000+)
First Edition ($250+)
New Edition ($100+)
Bonnie Mah Steven Nederveen
Deb Armour Maureen Attwell Margaret Atwood Ingrid Barnes Birgit & Bob Bateman Jo Baxendale Cindy Bruce Carole Cameron Claudia Casper Kevin Chong Patricia Crowe Margaret Debbané Tracie Fisher Jane Flick Mark French Barbara Gelfant Crissy George William Gibson Tina Grabenhorst Scott Griffin Richard Hopkins Violet Hughes R. Laurence Johnston Patricia Laidley Glenn Laufer Alma Lee Gloria Loree Linda MacKinley-Hay Margaret Mason Carol McClelland Kit Pearson Talea Pecora Deborah Roitberg Mary Schendlinger Ajaib Sidhoo Lynda Spratley Diane Stuart Adrienne Tanner Camilla Tibbs Susan & David Van Blarcom Rosalie Walls Beverley Watt Ian Weir Ray Weremczuk Sandi Witherspoon
Femi Agbayewa Janet Allwork Marilou Appleby Norman Armour Kathy Armstrong Kathleen Audia Barry Auger Greg Barnes Cathleen Boyle Brian Brett Doug Brockway Priscilla Brown Terri-Lynn Brown Allan Buium Rudy Carlson Katharine Carol Trevor Carolan Colleen Cattell Doug Clark Susan Climie Ethel Coffin Judith Coffin Peter Cook Eileen Cook Lynn Copeland Susan Copland Ann Cowan Suzanne Crawford Pat Cumming Ron Curry Patricia Curtis Don Davidson Pamela Dawson Barbara Dawson Carol Anne de Balinhard Cal Deedman Barbara Devlin Sandra Djwa Anne Dobbie Mary Doherty Deb Durocher Corinne Durston Ruth Faber Reema Faris Ken Ferguson Darlene Fischer Greg Fitch Cynthia Flood Brian Frank Gary Geddes Marilyn Goebel Stephany Grasset Roland Haebler Valerie Halpin-Jones Elizabeth Hay Holly Hendrigan Kathleen Hilton Jack Hodgins Karen Howe
BestSeller Edition ($2,500+)
Cheryl Berge Colin Harris Andre Petterson Kim Thorne Kip Woodward Special Edition ($1,000+)
Richard & Virginia Angus Michael Armstrong Kelli Bodnar Patricia Bowles Yulanda & Moh Faris Judy Gale Anne & Tony Giardini Sandra Jakab Joan McEwen Paul McKibben Ebie & Ian Pitfield Roberta Rich Bonnie & Don Sheldon Helen Shore Donald Shumka Paul Whitney Thomas Woods & Lydia M. Lovison Cynthia Woodward Anonymous Limited Edition ($500+)
Janice & Doug Dalzell Patrick Dunn Rob Emlyn Greg Ford Sally Harding Leslie Hurtig & Doran Chandler Richard Johnston Miriam Kresivo Shirley Lew Moshe Mastai Sheahan McGavin Harvey McKinnon William New Rose Norton Nancy Richler Kathryn Shoemaker Kathy Simas Rick Spaulding & Laurel Mayall Rhea Tregebov Hal Wake Anonymous
Ann Howell Tamara Hunter Valerie Hunter Mel Hurtig Sharon Jeroski Debbie Jung Lorraine Kiidumae Lorraine Koren Aileen La Borie William Lang Denny Lang Michael Lapin Melanie Last Johanne Leach Marshall Letcher Aileen Lord Karin Lypkie Mary Ellen Maasik Jim MacAulay Lori Massini Viviane McClelland Kelsey McDermott Judy McFarlane Scott & Corky McIntyre Barb McLean George & Angela McWhirter John Mendes Ann-Marie Metten Gordon Miller Bruce Milne Jacqueline Morris Terri Newell Carol Newson Susin Nielsen Martine Noël-Maw Deborah Nordheimer Robin O’Brien Susan Ogul-Propas Peggy Olive Arne Olsen Nora Osborne Eduardo Ottoni Jennifer Passas Karla Pederson Joseph Planta Alyssa Polinsky Beverley Price Anne Priestman Janet Prowse Nainjeet Rai-Dayal Susan Riley Nancy Roberts Sylvia Roberts Jenny Rootman Margaret Rosling
Shirley Rudolph Melanie Rupp Jane Rush-LeBlanc Anita Salchert Rob Sanders & Colleen MacMillan Minna Schendlinger Sondra Schloss Doug Schmitt Alex Shorten Karen Shuster Marsha Sibthorpe Jane Slemon Helen Smith Nancy Southam Beverley Straight Daryl Sturdy Gloria Sully David Sutherland Steven Tedesco John Third Shelagh Van Kempen M.G. Vassanji Mary Vickers John Vigna & Nancy Lee Vlasta Vit Lisa Vogt Olga Volkoff Una Walsh Roger Walsh Susan Wasserman Jerry Wasserman in honour of Tom Cone Wendy Webber Jan Whitford & Michael Stevenson Patricia Wilensky Leslie Wilton Cathleen With Ronald Wright Rachel Wyatt Max Wyman Patricia Young Jim Younger Anonymous (3)
Alma Lee Legacy Fund Lead Donors
Colin & Helen Harris Jab Sidhoo Dr. Yosef Wosk The Vancouver Sun Cynthia Woodward Development Fund Sandra Garossino Sheahan & Gerald McGavin Rudy & Patricia North Megan Abbott Douglas Coupland Yulanda & Moh Faris Anne & Tony Giardini Scott Griffin KMC Foundation Caroline Lawrence Bonnie Mah Joanne & David McDonald Tracey McVicar Brenda & Michael O’Keefe Ebie & Ian Pitfield Rod & Laurie Scheuerman Helen Shore Yasmeen & Andrew Strang Thomas Allen & Son Ltd. W.A.U. Nicoll Robertson Charitable Foundation Trust John Welson Jan Whitford & Michael Stevenson
Thank you for your generous support. We make every effort to be accurate. Please call us if you have any questions about this list, 604.681.6330.
Support the Festival
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Make a difference Your donation helps us to nurture new literary talent by presenting emerging writers together with established writers from around the world—at the Festival, and at our free bi-weekly Incite reading series. Support our education program and encourage literacy and a love of reading and writing. As a non-profit charitable organization, the Festival depends on your support to present engaging events for readers of all ages and to allow us to offer ticket discounts to students and seniors.
vancouver writers fest & HARPERCOLLINSCANADA LTD present
Benefits for donors may include invitations to special events and receptions and recognition in the Festival program guide and newsletter. For full details, see our website, writersfest.bc.ca.
Leave a Legacy Your bequest to the Vancouver Writers Fest will help us continue to offer literary events with the world's best writers and programs that encourage and inspire children to read and write. Bequests can be made through your will or by naming the Festival as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or RRSPs.
Donations of Stocks The Vancouver Writers Fest accepts donations of publicly traded securities and bequests. Capital gains taxes have been eliminated on direct donations of publicly traded securities to registered charities. This means donating appreciated securities will save you substantially more in taxes than giving the equivalent in cash.
The Alma Lee Legacy Fund The endowment fund of the Festival celebrates the accomplishments of its founder, Alma Lee. Revenue from the fund provides stable funding for the Festival, helps us offer Spreading the Word programs for schools and plan for the future. For more information on making a donation or leaving a gift in your will, please call 604.681.6330 ext 104.
MICHAEL CHABON Author of the New York Times bestselling novel, The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, talks about his latest book, Telegraph Avenue. Wednesday, September 26 @ 8 pm St Andrew’s-Wesley United Church Burrard @ Nelson, Vancouver
Sponsored by Simon Fraser University Library Services.
Tickets: $21 general $19 students & seniors (plus service charges) Tickets:
604.629.8849 or vancouvertix.com
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Messages “Take, say, physics, which restricts itself to extremely simple questions. If a molecule becomes too complex, they hand it over to the chemists. If it becomes too complex for them, they hand it to biologists. And if the system is too complex for them, they hand it to psychologists … and so on until it ends up in the hands of historians or novelists.”
On behalf of Premier Christy Clark, congratulations to the Vancouver Writers Fest for presenting one of North America’s premier annual literary celebrations. This year marks the festival’s 25th anniversary. For a quarter of a century, this great event has brought together readers and aspiring writers to mingle with established literary artists from across Canada and around the globe.
— noam chomsky
Welcome to the 2012 Vancouver Writers Fest, our 25th annual celebration of some of the world’s best writers and best readers. This year’s festival offers a range of compelling voices, both from around the globe and from our own community. Thank you to everyone whose support makes the Writers Fest successful year after year: our passionate readers, brilliant writers, diligent volunteers, steadfast members, perspicacious ticket-buyers, hard-working staff, generous donors and loyal board members. If you are not already a member of the Writers Fest, please become one – the cost is low and the benefits are matchless. If you are already a member, please remember to renew your membership every year. Being a member enriches your experience of all the Writers Fest has to offer, and new and returning members are especially vital in economically uncertain times. The Writers Fest goal is to secure an ongoing base of 1000 members and we are getting close to that number. Please help us to achieve it. We need you now more than ever. Member benefits include advance ticket buying privileges, discounts, an invitation to exclusive member preview events and more. Donations above your membership fee are tax deductible and come with additional benefits. Have a look and find out more in this brochure and on our fabulous website – writersfest.bc.ca The Writers Fest will have its launch on Monday, October 15 with the annual, not-to-be-missed Literati Gala. Readings, panels and other events start on Tuesday, October 16 and continue through Sunday, October 21. Circle these dates. Grab your tickets. Invite your friends and neighbours to experience the best Fest in the west. I’m looking forward to welcoming you and this year’s writers and their new books on Granville Island this October.
Anne Giardini, QC Chair, Board of Directors
In today’s world, literacy is essential to economic success and meaningful participation in society. A love of reading provides a key cornerstone to a successful, fulfilling life. The Vancouver Writers Fest organizes year-round activities focused on literature – including Spreading the Word – the largest children’s literary event in Canada. Festival staff and supporters deserve our thanks for all they do to share the joy of reading among British Columbians and to help foster a lifelong love of good books. Best wishes for every success to the Vancouver Writers Fest in 2012 and in the future. The Honourable Ida Chong, FCGA Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
On behalf of my colleagues on City Council, and all of the citizens of Vancouver, I want to extend best wishes to the 2012 Vancouver Writers Fest for another successful event. I am particularly proud of Vancouver’s reputation as a centre for learning and creativity, and the Writers Fest is an important part of this tradition. Over many years, the Festival has provided opportunities for readers of all ages to enjoy the work of the world’s best writers, and to recognize our home grown talents. By celebrating the written word, we can advance literacy and promote life-long learning for all Vancouver citizens. Thank you to all of the staff and many volunteers who make the Vancouver Writers Fest possible. I’m looking forward to another fantastic Festival. Yours truly,
Gregor Robertson Mayor
15 Our Government knows how important arts and culture are in strengthening our communities, our identity, and our economy. That is why we are proud to support the Vancouver Writers Fest. For the past quarter century, this event has demonstrated the diversity and energy of Canada’s literary scene by showcasing the talents of some of the world’s best writers and noteworthy rising stars. By bringing together these renowned and emerging writers and giving them a chance to interact with readers eager to make new discoveries, this Festival encourages literary creation, reinforces the ties between community members, and promotes the vitality of Canada’s publishing industry. On behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Government of Canada, I would like to thank all the organizers, volunteers, and participating writers who helped bring this event to life. Congratulations on the Festival’s 25th anniversary.
The Honourable James Moore heritage minister
Twenty thousand readers in a season can’t be wrong. This year once again the Vancouver Writers Fest is amply fulfilling its vision of “igniting a passion for books and ideas.” The Canada Council for the Arts salutes the Festival for its outstanding accomplishments over the past quarter century in drawing attention to the best in a wide range of Canadian and international writing. The Festival has helped make reading a way of life for people of every age and background. It has been savvy in developing partnerships with schools and libraries to promote reading and with corporate sponsors to ensure that ticket prices remain affordable for all. The Council and the Festival have a close relationship, and last year partnered in celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Governor General’s Literary Awards. Congratulations to all those who help make the Festival an ongoing success. And to everyone involved, happy reading! Vingt mille lecteurs en une seule saison ne peuvent être dans l’erreur. Cette année encore le Vancouver Writers Fest réussit amplement sa vision, c’est-à-dire insuffler la passion des livres et des idées. Le Conseil des arts du Canada salue le Festival pour avoir su, au fil des quelque vingt-cinq dernières années, attirer l’attention sur ce qui se faisait de mieux dans la vaste gamme des ouvrages littéraires canadiens et de l’étranger. Le Festival a aidé des gens de tous âges et de tous les milieux à faire de la lecture leur façon de vivre. Il a eu la clairvoyance de développer des partenariats avec des écoles et des bibliothèques, afin de promouvoir la lecture, et avec des commanditaires du secteur privé, afin de s’assurer que les prix des billets demeurent abordables pour tous. Par ailleurs, le Conseil et le Festival, qui entretiennent une étroite relation, se sont faits partenaires dans les célébrations du 75e anniversaire des Prix littéraires du Gouverneur général, l’an dernier. Félicitations à tous ceux qui ont contribué à faire du Festival un succès année après année!Bonne lecture à tous!
Robert Sirman DIRECTOR AND CEO | DIRECTEUR ET CHEF DE LA DIRECTION CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS
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Tuesday, October 16
Books to TV and Back Again Susan Juby, Susin Nielsen Moderator: Dennis Foon
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Susin Nielsen was best known for her screenwriting on the hit TV series Degrassi Junior High—until she turned the Degrassi world into four novels. She also wrote the screenplay to bring Susan Juby’s beloved character Alice (Alice, I Think) to television. Since their collaboration on the Alice series, both have successfully written novels that range from teen misfits to bullying to sci-fi dystopia. Spend the morning with two experienced authors talking about the creative act of bringing characters to life both on the page and on the screen, the restrictions of form and the freedom of imagination. Suitable for grades 8–12
Sheree Fitch, Sarah Tsiang, Mélanie Watt
Scott Chantler, Rick Scott
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10–11:30 am WATERFRONT THEATRE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
10–11:30 am GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
Kid Stuff
Music, Mayhem—Magnificent!
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Great Scotts! This morning, musician and author Rick Scott delights readers with his illustrations and songs of The Great Gazzoon, a world where young Gazoon Wazoo is doing everything he can to put off practising his tightrope walking, including playing the shnookimer. Author and illustrator Scott Chantler presents the comic book world he has created, filled with circus acrobats and jugglers, arrows and adventures. Even reluctant readers will be enthralled by the stories these two tell through songs and comic illustrations. This is sure to be an entertaining, energetic and vibrant morning with images and sounds that will fill up eyes and minds. Suitable for grades 3–6
Seven: The Series
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Chez-soi et solidarité Angèle Delaunois, Martine Noël-Maw Animatrice : France Perras
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10 h – 11 h 30 studio 1398 17 $ / 8,50 $ pour les groupes d’étudiants
Voilà l’occasion d’échanger avec deux auteures, Angèle Delaunois et Martine Noël-Maw, qui nous présenteront quelques-uns de leurs livres et nous parleront de leur travail, mais aussi du plaisir de l’écriture. L’un des livres d’Angèle Delaunois, La Clé, raconte l’histoire d’une famille chassée de sa maison, qui en emporte la clé dans l’espoir d’y revenir. Drôle de zèbre, de Martine Noël-Maw, a été écrit en collaboration avec les élèves de l’école Ducharme de Moose Jaw. Pour les élèves de la quatrième à la septième année Cet événement se tiendra exclusivement en français; il y aura beaucoup de possibilités d’interaction entre les élèves et les écrivaines
Worlds Run Amok
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Norah McClintock, Shane Peacock, Richard Scrimger
Rachel Hartman, Susan Juby
10–11:00 am IMPROV CENTRE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
1–2:30 pm GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
1–2:30 pm WATERFRONT THEATRE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
Sheree Fitch, one of Canada’s best-loved children’s poets, takes the stage this morning with her trademark energy and her new rhyming Ferris wheel picture book. She’s joined by two other prize-winning Canadian authors who will also take young readers along with them for the ride. Sarah Tsiang’s Dogs Don’t Eat Jam and Other Things Big Kids Know is a helpful guide for newborns from the perspective of an experienced older sibling. Mélanie Watt’s Scaredy Squirrel has delighted thousands of young readers since this lovable worrywart first appeared in print in 2006. Join us for fun and frivolity in fiction—led by three of the country’s best authors for young readers.
A unique and ambitious series is launching just days before this year’s Vancouver Writers Fest—seven Young Adult novels published simultaneously, stemming from the fictional instructions of a dying man to his seven teenaged grandsons. Each grandson is thrust into challenging and sometimes dangerous events to fulfill his grandfather’s wishes— ranging from tattooed gangs close to home, to near-impossible tasks set in Iceland, France, Spain or Tanzania. Three of the seven exceptional Canadian authors chosen to write these stories will talk about their part in this unusual project. Readers can look forward to Scrimger’s sense of humour, McClintock’s sense of mystery and Peacock’s dark plotting.
Dangerous circumstances and malevolent forces run rampant through the new fantasy novels by BC authors Rachel Hartman and Susan Juby, in addition to dragons that can fold themselves into human shapes and bodies that are engineered for mysterious purposes. Juby brings her trademark humour to the disturbing world she’s created, where the “minders” watch every move. In the Kingdom of Goredd, Hartman's Seraphina must navigate a royal court where the ambassadors and scholars are definitely not what they seem and a murderer is on the loose! Join these two authors and let your imagination run amok!
Suitable for grades K–3
Suitable for grades 7–10
Suitable for grades 8–10
17 Mélanie et ses amis Mélanie Watt Animatrice : Anne-Laure Paulmont
13 h – 14 h Studio 1398 17 $ / 8,50 $ pour les groupes d’étudiants
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Venez rencontrer l’auteure Mélanie Watt qui racontera et illustrera des histoires d’aventures et d’amitié en compagnie de Frisson l’écureuil, de Chester le chat mégalomane et de Léon le caméléon. Les récits et leurs illustrations raviront les enfants… et les jeunes de cœur.
7pm shows Tuesday-Saturday 3pm matinee shows Friday-Sunday $26
Cet événement se tiendra exclusivement en français; il y aura beaucoup de possibilités d’interaction entre les élèves et les écrivaines
Sarah Tsiang, David H.T. Wong
1−2:30 pm IMPROV CENTRE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
Check-in at the Anderson Street Space, 1405 Anderson Street, Granville Island
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Ancient and modern history come together this afternoon with two Canadian authors who mine their heritage to show life as it was for Chinese people—in ancient China and not-so-ancient Canada. Sarah Tsiang matches humorous illustrations with thoughtful words to present a panoply of jobs people held in the time of the emperors, from professional wailer to silk maker. David H.T. Wong uses an approachable graphic novel format to tell the story of Chinese newcomers to Canada searching for “Gold Mountain,” an adopted homeland that was often inhospitable. These are important stories to hear, no matter what your background. Suitable for grades 4–7
Grand Openings — The Alma Lee Opening Night Event Marie Darrieussecq, Junot Díaz, Nuruddin 8:00 pm Farah, Rawi Hage, Simonetta Agnello Hornby, PERFORMANCE WORKS Gail Jones, Kyo Maclear $30 Host: Hal Wake
All Week
By Marita Dachsel, created with Kevin Kerr, Naomi Sider, and director Anita Rochon, starring Jennifer Patterson and others, video design by Candelario Andrade, sound design by Owen Belton. Produced by Nathan Medd. October 16-28
Pour les élèves de la maternelle à la troisième année
From Ancient China to Gold Mountain
ELECTRIC COMPANY: INITIATION TRILOGY
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Travel around the world on opening night with seven of the world’s most internationally acclaimed writers. IMPAC Dublin Literary Award-winning Canadian author Rawi Hage is joined by France’s Marie Darrieussecq, distinguished and honoured for her fiction for more than a decade. Pulitzer Prize-winning Junot Díaz has labelled himself as an “Africandiasporic-migrant-Caribbean-Dominican-Jersey boy.” Somalia’s Nuruddin Farah writes of Africa although he has lived in exile from a young age, and is a perennial nominee for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Italy’s Simonetta Agnello Hornby has been translated into more than a dozen languages and won major honours for her novels. Australia’s Gail Jones has been nominated for the IMPAC, Man Booker and Orange prizes. And Toronto-based author Kyo Maclear’s first novel was shortlisted for the Amazon.ca First Novel Award. Open the Festival in grand style in the company of these authors.
Electric Company: Initiation Trilogy is an experiential and physical journey that blends the quality of a mini-festival with the sense of a private performance. Walk through three short theatrical installations inspired by provocative poetry collections which explore themes of feminism, sexuality and identity (God of Missed Connections by Elizabeth Bachinsky, Glossolalia by Marita Dachsel and What it Feels Like for a Girl by Jennica Harper). Initiation Trilogy celebrates the vitality of Vancouver’s literary scene and independent theatre community. Don’t miss this very special event. Presented with Vancouver Writers Fest and Boca del Lupo as part of their Micro-Performance Series. Sponsored by Ocean Heidelberg Cement Group
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Tuesday, October 16
An Evening with Gordon Pinsent Host: Vicki Gabereau
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8:00 pm WATERFRONT THEATRE $19
One of Canada’s most distinguished actors, Gordon Pinsent has been the star of stage and screen for more than six decades. In his autobiography, Next, he shares stories of his work with fellow artists Judi Dench, Shirley Douglas, Olympia Dukakis, Norman Jewison, Christopher Plummer, Sarah Polley, Kevin Spacey, Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie, among others. Still fully engaged in his craft and working steadily in both TV and film, Pinsent is engaging, entertaining and lighthearted on the page and on stage. This is a rare chance to spend an evening with an ironically self-described “icon.”
An Intimate Evening with Donna Morrissey
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8:00 pm STUDIO 1398 $26
When Donna Morrissey took hold of the microphone at the Vancouver Writers Fest several years ago, she became the cod fishers in the raging seas she described and brought the world of Newfoundland from her coast to our coast. With five novels to her credit, Morrissey is no stranger to those who love a good tale well told. She is funny, captivating, serious, heartfelt and self-deprecating, and the Intimate Evening format will be like sitting around her dining room table after a good feed of fish and scrunchions. Her novel The Deception of Livvy Higgs takes us from 1930s Newfoundland to the bedside of the now elderly Livvy, who mulls the lies and secrets of her life.
Life Stories John Burnside, Carol Shaben, Kim Thúy, John Vigna moderator: andreas schroeder 8:00 pm IMPROV CENTRE $19
We are often told to “write what you know” and what better place to start than one’s own life? Four utterly compelling stories result from these four authors’ internal explorations. Kim Thúy won a Governor General’s Award in 2010 for her Frenchlanguage novel Ru, now translated into English, that draws on her harrowing experiences as a young “boat person” fleeing Vietnam. Scotland’s John Burnside plumbs the rough depths of his childhood in his two haunting memoirs. All of her adult life Carol Shaben has been slowing putting together the pieces of a non-fiction story, a plane crash that transfigured her dad. And John Vigna draws on parts of his rural family life in the eight linked short stories of Bull Head. Sometimes to find a great story, all you have to do is look in the mirror.
Join our community of writers. There’s a story inside you. Work with our award-winning mentors to let it out. 2013 mentors
Timothy Taylor Fiction Hiromi Goto Genre fiction and young adult fiction
Application deadline:
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Jen Currin Poetry Brian Payton Non–fiction
www.thewritersstudio.ca twsinfo@sfu.ca | 778-782-9257
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Wednesday, October 17
Word! (1) C.R. Avery, Ivan E. Coyote, Lemn Sissay Host: Brendan McLeod
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10–11:30 am GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
Three masters of words on the fly appear together for this event—and who knows what might happen! An all-star cast features three of the finest spoken word performers and storytellers you’ll ever see, and each has brought delight and amazement to Vancouver Writers Fest audiences in the past. The UK’s Lemn Sissay joins the ever-popular Ivan Coyote and the beatboxing C.R. Avery for a morning of creativity and fast talking that will leave you energized, awestruck, and thrilled that spoken word knows no boundaries. Spread the word, but make sure you get your tickets before you do, as this event sells out fast! (This event is repeated on Thursday afternoon.)
The Great Gazzoon Rick Scott
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From Steampunk to Punksville Susin Nielsen, Arthur Slade
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10–11:30 am PERFORMANCE WORKS $17 / $8.50 for student groups
10–11:30 am WATERFRONT THEATRE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
An illustrated musical audio-novel, The Great Gazzoon is a story of the world’s most reluctant tightrope walker, who’s more interested in creating and playing music. It’s a captivating story peopled by two thieving friends, a poetry-writing princess, a little boy and a special needs echo that can’t compete with the other echoes that ricochet from mountain peak to mountain peak. Rick Scott, who used to walk a tightrope himself, is a gifted musician, an awardwinning singer-songwriter and an entertainer who has played his dulcimer for children at more than 1,000 schools during his career. Come and enjoy a morning of music, pictures, words and charm.
Two popular Young Adult authors are together this morning with very different novels, but both deal with gritty reality. Susin Nielsen’s contemporary novel handles the dark topic of bullying and its tragic consequences in true Nielsen style, with humour and sensitivity. She’s joined by Arthur Slade, who brings the fourth story in his series to Vancouver. Slade melds worlds both imagined and historical in his series, The Hunchback Assignments, set in Victorian-like times when steam, not electricity, ran the world. Imagine a time when technology wasn’t taken for granted, when one could only reach out to a friend face to face rather than through Facebook. That’s the delight of reading!
Suitable for grades 3–6
Suitable for grades 7–9
Suitable for grades 8–12 and adults. Warning: Content in this event may not be suitable for all classes.
Kid Activists Janet Wilson
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10–11:30 am STUDIO 1398 $17 / $8.50 for student groups
Author-illustrator Janet Wilson has a strong social and environmental conscience and her books carry the message that one person—even one child—can make a big difference. In Our Earth: How Kids are Saving the Planet, she brings to light amazing things that young people around the world are doing for the planet’s future, like devising a windmill built from bicycle parts. In One Peace: True stories of Young Activists, she tells powerful accounts of young people injured by the effects of war, who have altered their lives to become workers for peace. If anyone doubts that a child can change the world, that doubt will be banished by this inspiring event. Janet will be joined by extraordinary young people who will share their stories. Suitable for grades 3–6 This event is supported by the Rix Family Foundation.
Amitié et solidarité Angèle Delaunois, Martine Noël-Maw Animatrice : Anne-Marie McGinn
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10 h – 11 h 30 Improv Centre 17 $ / 8,50 $ pour les groupes d’étudiants
Voilà l’occasion d’échanger avec deux auteures, Angèle Delaunois et Martine Noël-Maw, qui nous présenteront quelques-uns de leurs livres et nous parleront de leur travail. Une petite bouteille jaune, d’Angèle Delaunois, n’est pas qu’un titre de livre et une jolie bouteille. Pour Marwa et Ahmad, c’est une histoire de courage, de défis, d’amitié et de solidarité, alors que le danger menace leur vie et leurs parties de soccer qu’ils aiment tant. Dans le pli des collines, de Martine Noël-Maw, est une histoire de rumeur malveillante, d’étonnants secrets… et de tuberculose. L’intrigue se déroule en Saskatchewan, mais pourrait se situer n’importe où. Pour les élèves de la huitième à la douzième année Cet événement se tiendra exclusivement en français; il y aura beaucoup de possibilités d’interaction entre les élèves et les écrivaines.
The Final Chapter Shane Peacock, Arthur Slade
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1–2:30 pm improv centre $17 / $8.50 for student groups
For an author, the moment you finish a series you've been writing for years must be a bittersweet one. Share that moment with Shane Peacock and Arthur Slade, both of whom are bringing the last books in their series to Vancouver readers. Becoming Sherlock is the final book in Peacock’s award-winning The Boy Sherlock Holmes series, combining great storytelling with fascinating historical detail. Fourth and last in the series The Hunchback Assignments is Slade’s Island of Doom, set in a Victorian-like world where the final scenes are played out in the cathedral of Notre Dame and Modo learns his true origins. What’s next for these popular authors? Suitable for grades 7–9
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VanWriters-Tsiang_Layout 1 7/4/2012 2:03 PM Page 1
Thrills and Chills John Burnside, Stephen Miller, Kate Mosse
1–2:30 pm WATERFRONT THEATRE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
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Meet
Children’s author
Sarah Tsiang
From Scotland, England and Vancouver come three extraordinary authors with tales of mystery, intrigue, time past and time imagined, time well spent and time regretted. John Burnside, a Scottish novelist and poet, sets his mystery deep in the Arctic Circle, where a malevolent spirit may be responsible for the tragic drownings that are taking place. Or maybe not... Local author and actor Stephen Miller unrolls a thrilling story of bioterrorism perpetrated by a polished, educated young woman groomed for her lethal job in the refugee camps of the Middle East. England’s Kate Mosse sets her thriller in the midst of a cell of female resistance fighters in southern France. Travel the world while the chills travel up your spine. Suitable for grades 10–12 and adults who love thrillers
Fishing with Gubby Gary Kent, Kim La Fave
1–2:30 pm STUDIO 1398 $17 / $8.50 for student groups
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Gary Kent and Kim La Fave’s Fishing with Gubby, with its humorous adventures and cartoon-like drawings, made salmon fishing on the West Coast come alive for young readers. Now Gubby’s boat, the Flounder, needs to be replaced. In Gubby Builds a Boat, Gubby works with a Japanese-Canadian boat builder in Steveston to build a new one. These approachable books show off the coastal fishing life, with all its characters and challenges, treacherous seas and fogs. Youngsters will enjoy being reeled into the world of commercial salmon fishing and boat-building, as told by this fisher, and brought to life by La Fave’s charming illustrations. Slickers are optional, but you’ll almost be able to smell the brine.
available from your favourite bookstore
SEVEN
TH E
Suitable for grades 3–6
annick press | excellence & innovation | www.annickpress.com
Scaredy Squirrel Mélanie Watt
1–2:00 pm performance works $17 / $8.50 for student groups
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Scaredy Squirrel has captured the attention of hundreds of thousands of children in French and English Canada and now, in translation, across the world. Mélanie Watt’s nervous little rodent has brought her numerous awards and set her on a path travelling to classroom after classroom. Scaredy Squirrel worries about everything from killer bees and green Martians to germs, poison ivy and dogs with sharp teeth. But worrying is often the worst part of any situation, as Scaredy Squirrel proves over and over.
SERIES
Re ad the m all 1 0 / 10/12
G RAN DSONS JOU R N EYS AUTHO RS 1 AMAZI NG S E R I ES Meet these authors at VWF!
Suitable for grades K–3
w w w. seventheseries .co m
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Wednesday, October 17 An Intimate Evening with Junot Díaz
C e l e b R at i n g books of meRit
6−7:30 pm PERFORMANCE WORKS $26
Junot Díaz’s first novel, The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, won the Pulitzer Prize. Sounds easy. Too easy. But Díaz confesses that it took him 10 years of heartbreak, despair, angst, depression and failure to finally say the word “done.” Díaz first came to the attention of readers with Drown, a 1996 collection of short stories that featured immigrant kids scraping by and growing up, which became an instant American classic, assigned in high schools and universities across the United States. But Wao brought him worldwide fame. The immigrant experience is his own; he was uprooted at a young age from the Dominican Republic and planted in New Jersey. Díaz is a regular contributor to The New Yorker, holds a professorship in creative writing at MIT and publishes his new short story collection, This is How You Lose Her, this September. A rare opportunity to meet one of the most compelling voices of our time.
Salon littéraire de la rentrée Deni Y. Béchard, Ying Chen, Marie Darrieussecq, Laurent Sagalovitch, Kim Thúy
Russell W angeRsky Whirl Away
www.thomasallen.ca
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Happy Birthday, Doubleday! Chris Cleave, Mohammed Hanif, Miranda Hill, Vincent Lam, M.G. Vassanji Moderator: Kristin Cochran
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6−7:30 pm IMPROV CENTRE $19
Publisher Doubleday Canada celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, and to help blow out the candles, five authors in the Doubleday stable take the stage to read from their new works. M.G. Vassanji, winner of the Governor General’s Award and twice winner of the Scotiabank Giller Prize for his fiction, joins Vincent Lam, who has also won the Scotiabank Giller Prize, Miranda Hill, winner of the Journey Prize, Mohammed Hanif, winner of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Novel and Chris Cleave, winner of the Somerset Maugham Award. The publisher’s commitment to writing and writers has been unwavering, and with good reason—as you’ll hear this evening. This event is sponsored by Random House of Canada Ltd.
Uprooted Nuruddin Farah, Zakes Mda, M.G. Vassanji Moderator: Lawrence Hill
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19 H Studio 700 de Radio-Canada Entrée gratuite
8:00 pm WATERFRONT THEATRE $19
Un salon littéraire interactif avec cinq auteurs francophones, présenté par Radio-Canada et le VWF. Une conversation transmise en direct sur radio-canada.ca et enregistrée pour diffusion le 18 octobre en après-midi sur la Première Chaîne (radio). Deni Y. Béchard, Ying Chen, Marie Darrieussecq, Laurent Sagalovitch et Kim Thúy discutent avec l’animatrice Myriam Fehmiu des thèmes communs de leurs œuvres et de questions reliées à leur travail. Le public et les internautes sont invités à envoyer leurs textos, courriels et tweets pendant la soirée afin d’alimenter la discussion.
The experience of leaving your homeland, by choice or by force, deeply unsettles your personal path, but the uprooted life can also result in a rich artistic payoff, full of wide-ranging social observations. Nuruddin Farah, forced to flee his native Somalia, underwent self-imposed exile for more than 22 years before returning. He writes, he says, “in order to keep my country alive.” Zakes Mda, forced to leave his native South Africa at 15, returns often to his country but considers himself “a perpetual outsider.” M.G. Vassanji, born in Kenya and raised in Tanzania, has lived in Canada for decades but, if pressed, Vassanji considers himself African-Asian-Canadian. Together they explore the reality of maintaining a cultural connection to a land that one no longer inhabits.
Entrée gratuite, réservation requise à cb@radio-canada.ca ou 604-662-6135
J. Jill Robinson More in Anger
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23 City Rawi Hage, Mohammed Hanif, Pasha Malla
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8:00 pm STUDIO 1398 $19
The idea of “city” as an organism that shapes those who live there is central to the three writers on stage tonight. Mohammed Hanif has set his story in the real and gritty present-day Karachi, and his love of the city amid its anarchy is evident. Rawi Hage’s city is unnamed but very real, seen through the windshield of a taxi whose driver lives and breathes the urban underbelly. Pasha Malla rounds out the discussion, having created an imaginary city that is preparing for an urban experience unlike anything ever seen before. The strange dynamics of people who connect—and disconnect—among the concrete is only one avenue of discussion for these three thoughtful and articulate writers.
Spoken World C.R. Avery, Ivan E. Coyote, Lemn Sissay Host: Brendan McLeod
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From the Rock Donna Morrissey, Gordon Pinsent, Russell Wangersky
9:00 pm PERFORMANCE WORKS $30
9:00 pm IMPROV CENTRE $19
A great night of spoken word with musical accompaniment is in store, with three of the most accomplished performers in the oral tradition. Storyteller Ivan Coyote has a reputation for swinging her audience from hysterical laughter to tears in the space of a few paragraphs. England’s Lemn Sissay is an official Olympic poet, whose landmark poems engage readers on the streets of Manchester and London. C.R. Avery, beatbox poet, harmonica player, raconteur and one-man band, has performed throughout the world and recorded more than 15 albums. Be moved. Be amazed. Be there.
In true Newfoundland kitchen party style, join three of The Rock’s fabulous raconteurs for an evening of fun, fiction and fondness. In memoir, novel and short story format, Newfoundland is a huge character in the work of these three writers. In an interesting twist, both Donna Morrissey and Gordon Pinsent, who were born and raised in Newfoundland, now live “away.” Russell Wangersky is quick to point out that he’s not “from The Rock” but has lived there for a quarter century. Newfoundland has a way of seeping into your bones and never leaving. Grab a drink at the Improv Centre, and be prepared for improvisation and spontaneity.
KWANTLEN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
POETRY / FICTION / NEW MEDIA & MULTIMEDIA / SCREENPLAY / NONFICTION / PHOTOJOURNALISM / JOURNALISM / MEDIA THEORY
Write here. Write now. One university, two great degrees Kwantlen Polytechnic University offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. Both programs offer a dynamic, interdisciplinary education with an opportunity to study foundational and vital subjects – writing, storytelling and the ways we inform ourselves. Billeh Nickerson at Billeh.Nickerson@kwantlen.ca Chair, Creative Writing writers_fest_ad.indd 1
Beverley Sinclair at Beverley.Sinclair@kwantlen.ca Chair, Journalism and Communications Studies
FACULTY CREATIVE WRITING Aaron Bushkowsky Genni Gunn Aislinn Hunter Ross Laird Zoë Landale Billeh Nickerson JOURNALISM & COMMUNICATION STUDIES Aaron Goodman Mark Hamilton Jean Konda-Witte Ann Rees Beverley Sinclair Chad Skelton Katie Warfield 12-07-11 6:08 PM
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Thursday, October 18 12015_Kidsbooks ad_concept.ai
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Flights of Fantasy Rachel Hartman, Kenneth Oppel
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Words and Images Scott Chantler, Nina Matsumoto, Norah McClintock
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10–11:30 am GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
10–11:30 am PERFORMANCE WORKS $17 / $8.50 for student groups
A seasoned writer and Governor General’s Award-winner and a first-time novelist join forces this morning to show that the imagination is limitless. Just when you thought there was nothing new to say about dragons, newcomer Rachel Hartman has produced a wonder-full fantasy that plots humans against shape-changing dragons that can pose as teachers and ambassadors. Kenneth Oppel, no stranger to young readers, imagines in his new novel a hidden staircase leading to a library full of alchemy guides and a portal into the spirit world. Let your imagination soar.
There are many ways to tell a story, and the graphic novel is one that is increasingly popular. The challenge of making words work with images is just one more element in the process of narrative: keeping plot well-paced, developing characters and the basics of storytelling. Writer Norah McClintock, who worked with an illustrator for her new graphic novel, joins two award-winning illustrator/writers, Scott Chantler and Nina Matsumoto, to talk about blending the worlds of word and image. With the subjects of their work ranging from fantasy to history to reality-based suspense, these creative minds have thought deeply about the best way to tell their stories.
Suitable for grades 8–10 This event is sponsored by Kidsbooks.
Suitable for grades 8–12
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Tales of BC
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Nicola Campbell, Gary Kent, Kim La Fave
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10–11:30 am WATERFRONT THEATRE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
Governor General’s Award-winning illustrator Kim La Fave has worked with both Gary Kent and Nicola Campbell and joins them this morning to show two sides of life in British Columbia. Campbell’s story centres on the poignant experience of a young First Nations girl as she prepares to leave for residential school. Kent explores the work and world of a commercial salmon fisher on the West Coast. For these two different stories, illustrator La Fave has perfected drawings that capture both the vibrant natural surroundings that the young girl loves so much and the muted rainy coast that provides a livelihood for fishers. Suitable for grades 3–6
Aventures avec Chester, Frisson l’écureuil et d’autres amis de Mélanie
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Mélanie Watt Animatrice : Anne-Laure Paulmont 10 h – 11 h Studio 1398 17 $ / 8,50 $ pour les groupes d’étudiants
Les personnages de Mélanie Watt, Frisson l’écureuil, Léon le caméléon et Chester le chat mégalomane, l’accompagnent au festival! Venez les rencontrer – sur papier bien sûr – alors qu’elle nous racontera et illustrera les contes de son Frisson l’écureuil et d’autres récits d’aventures et d’amitié amusants, pour le plaisir des petits… et des grands! Pour les élèves de la maternelle à la troisième année Cet événement se tiendra exclusivement en français; il y aura beaucoup de possibilités d’interaction entre les élèves et l’écrivaine.
25 High and Low and All Around Sheree Fitch, Kyo Maclear
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10–11:15 am IMPROV CENTRE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
Sometimes you just feel down in the dumps. It can last an hour, or days. And sometimes you need a hand up when you’re feeling down. That’s just what Virginia got from her sister when they created a mural on their bedroom wall. Loosely based on the real-life story of a young Virginia Woolf and her sister Vanessa, Kyo Maclear’s picture book acknowledges and finds a way through that low feeling. The many moods of Sheree Fitch will also be on show this morning, as she combines the delights of the Ferris wheel with her trademark whimsical poems on stage. This is a feel-good celebration of the power of imagination. Suitable for grades 2–4
Long Walk to Truth Deni Y. Béchard, Carol Shaben
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Word! (2) C.R. Avery, Ivan E. Coyote, Lemn Sissay Host: Brendan McLeod
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Kenneth Oppel, Richard Scrimger, Arthur Slade 1–2:30 pm PERFORMANCE WORKS $17 / $8.50 for student groups
1–2:30 pm GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
Three masters of words on the fly appear together for this event—and who knows what might happen! An all-star cast features three of the finest spoken word performers and storytellers you’ll ever see, and each has brought delight and amazement to Vancouver Writers Fest audiences in the past. The UK’s Lemn Sissay joins the ever-popular Ivan Coyote and the beatboxing C.R. Avery for a morning of creativity and fast talking that will leave you energized, awestruck and thrilled that spoken word knows no boundaries. Spread the word, but make sure you get your tickets before you do, as this event sells out fast!
Three of the top Young Adult writers working today are on stage together this afternoon to present their new novels and talk about their trade. Richard Scrimger has more than 15 novels to his credit, for both children and adults. Most recently, he’s written Ink Me, part of the Seven series. Arthur Slade, recipient of the Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature, is wrapping up his Hunchback Assignment series this year with one of the 16 novels he’s written. Kenneth Oppel is bringing his sequel Such Wicked Intent, which follows This Dark Endeavour in imagining the life of a young Victor Frankenstein. Whether you know these authors or not, you won’t want to miss this event.
(This event is repeated on Wednesday morning.)
Suitable for grades 6–9
Suitable for grades 8–12 and adults. Warning: Content in this event may not be suitable for all classes.
This event is sponsored by HarperCollinsCanada Ltd.
A Dream for a School Janet Wilson
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1–2:30 pm WATERFRONT THEATRE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
1–2:30 pm STUDIO 1398 $17 / $8.50 for student groups
Two writers who’ve tackled diverse subjects over their careers have turned close to home to explore lives and events that profoundly affected them. Deni Y. Béchard was haunted by the myth of his father, a charismatic hero, until he discovered the crime sprees and prison sentences that are part of his father’s actual past. Carol Shaben’s Into the Abyss explores an event that occurred 28 years ago when her father was injured in a plane crash. Embedded deep in her psyche, the tragedy also left indelible scars on all the men involved. Getting to the bottom of family stories is a long and difficult task, but one that often leads to a deeper understanding of oneself.
We can’t take our schools for granted, even in Canada. While Janet Wilson was researching stories of young child-rights activists, she learned about 13-year-old Shannen Koostachin and her fight to replace the dilapidated portable classrooms that had long housed the 400 students of Attawapiskat First Nation in Northern Ontario. When Shannen’s request was turned down by Indian Affairs, she appealed to other schoolchildren via YouTube and the campaign quickly spread across Canada. Although Wilson had written about kids making a difference elsewhere in the world, she was shocked that such systemic injustice was happening in her own country. Inspired by the actions of the Attawapiskat children, Wilson wrote Shannen’s story to raise awareness in Canada.
Suitable for grades 10–12
Stars Aligned
Suitable for grades 4–7 This event is supported by the Rix Family Foundation.
Sorcières et papillons Angèle Delaunois, Martine Noël-Maw Animatrice : France Perras
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13 h – 14 h 30 Improv Centre $17 / $8.50 for student groups
Voilà l’occasion d’échanger avec deux auteures, Angèle Delaunois et Martine Noël-Maw, qui nous présenteront quelques-uns de leurs livres et nous parleront de leur travail, mais aussi du plaisir de l’écriture. Parmi les nombreux livres d’Angèle Delaunois, vous découvrirez notamment ses Chroniques d’une sorcière d’aujourd’hui, une série en trois volumes. Amélia et les papillons, un conte primé de Martine Noël-Maw, nous rappelle l’importance de l’amitié – l’importance de pouvoir compter sur des amis présents, qui nous soutiennent et qui ne nous jugent pas. Pour les élèves de la huitième à la douzième année Cet événement se tiendra exclusivement en français; il y aura beaucoup de possibilités d’interaction entre les élèves et les écrivaines.
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Thursday, October 18 Redemption Joanne Drayton, Anne Perry Moderator: Kathryn Gretsinger
8:00 pm PERFORMANCE WORKS $19
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Anne Perry has sold 25 million books, published in 15 languages, and has devoted readers worldwide. Joanne Drayton's new biography intersperses the story of Perry’s life—the crime she committed at the age of 15, her prison life and her life under a new name—with an examination of her writing, drawing parallels between Perry’s own experiences and her characters and storylines. Drayton was given unparalleled access to Perry, her friends, relatives and archives to complete the book. This unique event puts biographer and subject on stage together, raising questions about repentance, the creative imagination and the long shadow of the past.
Women and Literature Gillian Jerome, Gail Jones, Kate Mosse, Susan Swan
8:00 pm WATERFRONT THEATRE $19
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In response to the 1991 Booker Prize nominee list, which included not one female author, novelist Kate Mosse founded the Orange Prize to celebrate outstanding fiction by women throughout the world. Now, more than 20 years later, poet Gillian Jerome has founded Canadian Women in the Literary Arts in response to the critical reception of women’s creative writing. In this so-called post-feminist world, does the literary and critical environment reflect what’s really happening? Susan Swan, novelist and past chair of the Writers’ Union of Canada, has followed issues of gender equality in writing for decades. Australia’s Gail Jones, an award-winning author and professor of writing, brings an international perspective to this panel discussion.
An Intimate Evening with Chris Cleave
8:00 pm STUDIO 1398 $26
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Chris Cleave’s debut novel, Incendiary, was published in 20 countries and adapted into a feature film. His second novel, Little Bee, sold more than two million copies and is in production as a film starring Nicole Kidman. Cleave is a dedicated storyteller and detailed researcher who concentrates on the big stories of our time—starring suicide bombers, asylum seekers, Olympic athletes—and at the same time shows the intensely human side of these stories. His new novel, Gold, looks at extremes of health and illness as two female track cyclists prepare for the 2012 Olympic Games. Although he tackles serious and sometimes tragic events, Cleave’s novels are filled with compassion and humour. You’ll enjoy spending time with this optimistic and uplifting writer who believes that “life is good and people are mostly kind to each other.”
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Friday, October 19
Past Times Bill Gaston, Simonetta Agnello Hornby, Annabel Lyon, Kate Mosse, Kim Scott moderator: ian weir
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Humour with a Bite
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Anne Fleming, Chan Koonchung, Shari Lapeña, Emily Schultz, Linda Svendsen 10–11:30 am PERFORMANCE WORKS $17 / $8.50 for student groups
10–11:30 am GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
Reaching into the past for stories and material is a common approach for many novelists, but these five each come up with new ways to bring history to life. In the hands of these skilful storytellers, individuals who plotted, struggled and loved in past times live again. These novels range from Carcassonne during the Second World War to Aristotle’s Greece, from Italians in 1837 preparing for the Feast of the Ascension to first contact between Aboriginals and early settlers in Australia. Closer to home, Bill Gaston reaches back to the early 1900s to revive an actual leper colony that operated on an island near Victoria. There’s no dusty history here, so revel in this rich morning of reading and discussion.
Enjoy a morning of absurdity. Chan Koonchung’s biting satire is set in modern China sometime in the near future. “So far the Chinese authorities have not come to me,” says Chan, who lives in Beijing. Scathing political satire is safer for Linda Svendsen, whose satirical romp is inspired by recent events in Canadian federal politics. Emily Schultz turns the blonde cliché on its head as deadly blondes terrorize New Yorkers. Anne Fleming’s short story collection, Gay Dwarves of America, brings compassion to those who have been treated as carnival creatures. Finalist for the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Shari Lapeña tackles the meaning and relevance of poetry.
The Poetry Bash Ekiwah Adler-Beléndez, Lorna Crozier, Patrick Friesen, Garry Thomas Morse, Rachel Rose, Gillian Wigmore host: billeh nickerson
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10–11:30 am WATERFRONT THEATRE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
Six poets—five from British Columbia and one from Mexico—will show off the universal power of the well-chosen word. They’ll converge on Granville Island to get you excited about the melodic line and the insights that grow out of keen observation. Poetry is the distillation of life and experience through language, and each of these poets promises to deliver fresh and startling takes on the world we share. This celebration of poetry is a perennial favourite with poetry fans.
This event is sponsored by Penguin Group (Canada)
Out of the Mouths of Babes Marjorie Celona, Riel Nason, Carrie Snyder moderator: shaena lambert
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All in the Family
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The Ghost of a Story
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Heather Birrell, Nancy Richler, J. Jill Robinson, John Vigna
John Burnside, Tess Gallagher, Susan Musgrave, Seán Virgo
10–11:30 am STUDIO 1398 $17 / $8.50 for student groups
10–11:30 am Improv Centre $17 / $8.50 for student groups
1–2:30 pm GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
Growing up, there is a crucial moment when the insulating innocence of childhood clashes with the realities of adulthood. “My life begins at the Y,” writes the infant Shannon, protagonist of Marjorie Celona’s novel Y, which follows the young Shannon and the mother who abandoned her on the steps of the YMCA. Riel Nason’s first novel takes the voice of 14-year-old Ruby and has won a regional Commonwealth Prize. Carrie Snyder tells her story through the voice of 10-year-old Juliet, who has just moved to Nicaragua with her peaceactivist family. It’s a fine balancing act to keep the older, knowing voice at bay while continuing to tell a tale that matters. These are three storytellers who have mastered this tightrope.
The family—its delight and despair—provides fertile ground for four writers to dig around in. J. Jill Robinson presents a multi-generational tale about the emotional inheritance we get from our family and whether or not we can leave that burden behind. Nancy Richler’s The Imposter Bride focuses on one child’s search in post-war Jewish Montreal for a mother that she may never know. Heather Birrell’s collection threads together stories about family, in its various forms—people struggling to build new families and often failing, atypical families, families falling apart or estranged. John Vigna looks at familial relationships from the male perspective. In the “family” plot, there are plenty of thorns among the roses.
Myth, allegory, folk tales, ghosts and spirits have been part of storytelling from the beginning of time. These four writers use aspects of the supernatural to create modern-day tales that are firmly rooted in reality, but take flight into other worlds. Tess Gallagher’s poems, Seán Virgo’s new collection of short stories, Susan Musgrave’s afterlife adventure novel and John Burnside’s Arctic thriller all weave in the powerful device of the unreal. These non-naturalistic elements offer an alternative perspective that can open a deeper understanding of human affairs, challenge writers to find a tether back to ground and, ultimately, provide simple surprise and delight for readers.
29 The Interviews Chris Cleave, Annabel Lyon, Carrie Snyder Moderator: Marsha Lederman
1–2:30 pm WATERFRONT THEATRE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
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The Globe and Mail’s Marsha Lederman is no stranger to pulling the great stories out of an interview. Join her this afternoon for interviews with three distinctly different authors. Chris Cleave has sold more than half a million copies of Little Bee, generated from his first person encounters with asylum seekers. To create his latest novel, Gold, he’s walked children’s cancer wards and tried his hand at track cycling. Annabel Lyon’s debut novel The Golden Mean was nominated for all the major Canadian literary prizes and translated into 14 languages, and she has returned to ancient Greece for her second novel, The Sweet Girl. Carrie Snyder’s The Juliet Stories is based on her own experiences growing up in Nicaragua. This is sure to be an afternoon of entertaining anecdotes and thoughtful insights.
Telling True Lives Sandra Djwa, Joanne Drayton Moderator: Charles Foran
1–2:30 pm STUDIO 1398 $17 / $8.50 for student groups
We Love Canadian Books Discover Featured Books by Canadian Writers
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The challenge most biographers face is to find the path of an interesting life through events of the day, letters, interviews and diaries, if they are lucky. These two biographers have no shortage of material, as their subjects are prolific writers themselves. Sandra Djwa has written the first biography of P.K. Page, beloved Canadian poet and artist and author of more than 30 published books of poetry, fiction, travel diaries, essays, children's books and her own autobiography. How much, then, to leave out? Joanne Drayton has written the authorized biography of crime novelist Anne Perry, who committed a crime as a young girl and served time in prison. How much, then, to leave in?
Voices of the Street Featuring readings from published Megaphone Magazine writers and a moderated discussion about community writing.
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Friday, October 19 The Human Carnival Anne Fleming, A. L. Kennedy, Rebecca Rosenblum, Jessica Westhead
What do we mean by ‘anticipate’? We knew you were going to ask that. It means putting ourselves firmly in your place and anticipating your future. It also means helping you build, preserve, and transfer your wealth by creating a customized, tax-efficient strategy that aligns your investments with your retirement, philanthropic, and estate plans.
Scotia Private Client Group Tel: 604-718-7100 Toll Free: 1-888-723-1122 TM
1–2:30 pm IMPROV CENTRE $17 / $8.50 for student groups
Off-kilter, slightly twisted characters are perfect fodder for fiction. You might not want to have them to dinner, but they’re great to inhabit your imagination for a while. A. L. Kennedy’s new novel features a nomadic psychic who’s made a fortune out of fraud but gives generously to charity. Jessica Westhead presents stories about misfits and supremely neurotic protagonists. Rebecca Rosenblum plumbs the offices of a lifestyle magazine for her characters—lonely, frail stoics who may hope for rescue but certainly don’t expect it. Gay dwarves don’t appear in Anne Fleming’s Gay Dwarves of America, but there is a hockey mom who imagines she’s Swiss. We read fiction to broaden our worlds and meet interesting characters—and you’ll be sure to meet the human carnival this afternoon.
The Literary Cabaret scotiaprivateclientgroup.com
Trademark of the Bank of Nova Scotia, used by its affiliates under license
T H E A L C U I N S O C I E T Y P R E SE N T S
Alice MacKay Room, Vancouver Public Library
THURSDAY 18 OCTOBER 2012
Chip Kidd book cover designer Roberto Dosil publisher Peter Cocking book designer Selma Zafar human factors specialist
private press printer Crispin Elsted
typographic artist Marian Bantjes typographic historian Shelley Gruendler ebook technologist Eric Menninga reading researcher Kevin Larson W W W. A L C U I N S O C I E T Y . C O M
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M.A.C. Farrant, Patrick Friesen, Linden MacIntyre, Anakana Schofield, Susan Swan, Seán Virgo,
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8:00 pm PERFORMANCE WORKS $30
What should you expect when Sal Ferreras, his chameleonic band Poetic License and the guest authors take the stage tonight? Nothing short of magic. This wildly popular event blends music and literature in ways that can only be described as breathtaking. Audiences are guaranteed a sensory spectacle they won’t soon forget. Don’t miss out on the fun—get your tickets early because they are sure to go quickly. This event is sponsored by Scotia Private Client Group.
Chip Kidd in Conversation with Douglas Coupland
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8:00 pm WATERFRONT THEATRE $19
You can’t judge a book by its cover, but maybe you should if that cover is designed by Chip Kidd. Variously described as “creepy, striking, sly, smart, unpredictable,” his jacket covers have transformed the book design industry. Kidd is also a huge comics fan and has written and designed jacket covers for them. His new book is a stunning graphic novel called Batman: Death by Design. Kidd also sidelines as a musician, novelist and animator. He has made his considerable reputation as the leading book cover designer by asking the question, “What do the stories look like?” Festival readers and writers alike will understand his enduring love affair with the bound volume, especially in this digital e-book world.
An Intimate Evening with Scotland John Burnside, A. L. Kennedy
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8:00 pm STUDIO 1398 $26
Join us for an evening of anecdote, storytelling and dry, sly wit. A. L. Kennedy and John Burnside, both prolific writers and award winners, are darkly comic and Scottish to the core. Author of 13 collections of poetry, eight novels and two memoirs, John Burnside was a factory hand, a gardener and a computer systems designer before he turned to writing. A. L. Kennedy writes novels, short stories, non-fiction, newspaper columns and, when not writing or teaching, performs stand-up comedy. Don’t miss two of Scotland’s finest!
Torn from the Pages
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Dave Bidini, Grant Lawrence, Zsuzsi Gartner, Colin Browne, Timothy Taylor and musicians Selina Martin, Veda Hille, Geoff Berner, Brendan McLeod, Karyn Ellis 10:30 pm BACKSTAGE LOUNGE $25
What happens when some of Canada’s leading singers and songwriters are inspired to compose and perform original songs from a recent work of fiction? You experience a once in a lifetime, late-night celebration of sound and story.Torn from the Pages is the brainchild of singer-songwriter-bestselling author Dave Bidini and in this Vancouver rendition of a Toronto tradition, Timothy Taylor’s The Blue Light Project is the inspiration. From songs to essays, new narratives to tone poems, Bidini and his outstanding line-up of musicians and writers will delight with eight new pieces provoked by Taylor’s epic work of terrorism, media and sport. Presented in partnership with Random House of Canada Ltd.
Luminescence
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the silver of Perú 4 Oct-16 Dec 2012 Presenting Sponsor
Silver Dance Crown, Vivian and Jaime Liébana Collection, Lima - Peru
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Festival at a Glance
Tuesday
16
Wednesday
17
Thursday
18
EVENT # 1
EVENT # 7
EVENT # 13
EVENT # 22
EVENT # 29
EVENT # 35
Books to TV and Back Again
Mélanie et ses amies
Word! (1)
An Intimate Evening with
Flights of Fantasy
Stars Aligned
10-11:30 am Granville Island Stage Susan Juby, Susin Nielsen EVENT # 2
10-11:30 am Waterfront Theatre
Music, Mayhem— Magnificient!
Scott Chantler, Rick Scott EVENT # 3
10-11:30 am Studio 1398
Chez-soi et solidarité
Angèle Delaunois, Martine Noël-Maw EVENT # 4
10-11:00 am Improv Centre
1-2:00 pm Studio 1398
Mélanie Watt EVENT # 8
1-2:30 pm Improv Centre
From Ancient China to Gold Mountain
Sarah Tsiang, David H.T. Wong EVENT # 9
8:00 pm Performance Works
Grand Openings
Marie Darrieussecq, Junot Díaz, Nuruddin Farah, Rawi Hage, Simonetta Agnello Hornby, Gail Jones, Kyo Maclear
Kid Stuff
EVENT # 10
EVENT # 5
An Evening with Gordon Pinsent
Sheree Fitch, Sarah Tsiang, Mélanie Watt 1-2:30 pm Granville Island Stage Seven: The Series
Norah McClintock, Shane Peacock, Richard Scrimger EVENT # 6
8:00 pm Waterfront Theatre
EVENT # 11
8:00 pm Studio 1398
An Intimate Evening with Donna Morrissey
1-2:30 pm Waterfront Theatre
EVENT # 12
Rachel Hartman, Susan Juby
Life Stories
Worlds Run Amok
8:00 pm Improv Centre
John Burnside, Carol Shaben, Kim Thúy, John Vigna
10-11:30 am Granville Island Stage
6-7:30 pm Performance Works
10-11:30 am Granville Island Stage
C.R. Avery, Ivan E. Coyote, Lemn Sissay Junot Díaz
Rachel Hartman, Kenneth Oppel
EVENT # 23
EVENT # 14
1-2:30 pm Performance Works Kenneth Oppel, Richard Scrimger, Arthur Slade
10-11:30 am Performance Works
6-7:30 pm Improv Centre
EVENT # 30
EVENT # 36
Rick Scott
Chris Cleave, Mohammed Hanif, Miranda Hill, Vincent Lam, M.G. Vassanji
Words and Images
Long Walk to Truth
10-11:30 am Performance Works
Happy Birthday, Doubleday!
The Great Gazzoon EVENT # 15
10-11:30 am Waterfront Theatre
From Steampunk to Punksville
Susin Nielsen, Arthur Slade
Scott Chantler, Nina Matsumoto, Norah McClintock
EVENT # 24
7:00 pm Studio 700 de Radio-Canada
EVENT # 31
10-11:30 am Waterfront Theatre
Salon littéraire de la rentrée
EVENT # 16
10-11:30 am Studio 1398
Kid Activists
Deni Y. Béchard, Ying Chen, Marie Darrieussecq, Laurent Sagalovitch, Kim Thúy
EVENT # 17
EVENT # 25
Amitié et solidarité
Uprooted
Janet Wilson
10-11:30 am Improv Centre
8:00 pm Waterfront Theatre
Angèle Delaunois, Martine Noël-Maw
Nuruddin Farah, Zakes Mda, M.G. Vassanji
EVENT # 18
Aventures avec Chester, Frisson et d’autres amis de Mélanie
EVENT # 39
Mélanie Watt
Shane Peacock, Arthur Slade
Thrills and Chills
John Burnside, Stephen Miller, Kate Mosse EVENT # 20
10-11:15 am Improv Centre
Sheree Fitch, Kyo Maclear
EVENT # 27
EVENT # 34
Spoken World
Word! (2)
9:00 pm Performance Works
1-2:30 pm Granville Island Stage
C.R. Avery, Ivan E. Coyote, Lemn Sissay
C.R. Avery, Ivan E. Coyote, Lemn Sissay
1-2:30 pm Studio 1398
EVENT # 28
Gary Kent, Kim La Fave
From the Rock
Fishing with Gubby
9:00 pm Improv Centre
EVENT # 21
Donna Morrissey, Gordon Pinsent, Russell Wangersky
1-2:00 pm Performance Works
Janet Wilson
Sorcières et papillons
10-11:00 am Studio 1398
High and Low and All Around
1-2:30 pm Waterfront Theatre
A Dream for a School
EVENT # 32
City
EVENT # 19
1-2:30 pm Studio 1398
EVENT # 38
EVENT # 33
Rawi Hage, Mohammed Hanif, Pasha Malla
EVENT # 37
Nicola I. Campbell, Gary Kent, 1-2:30 pm Kim La Fave Improv Centre
EVENT # 26
The Final Chapter
Deni Y. Béchard, Carol Shaben
Tales of BC
1-2:30 pm Improv Centre
8:00 pm Studio 1398
1-2:30 pm Waterfront Theatre
Angèle Delaunois, Martine Noël-Maw
8:00 pm Performance Works Redemption
Joanne Drayton, Anne Perry EVENT # 40
8:00 pm Waterfront Theatre
Women and Literature
Gillian Jerome, Gail Jones, Kate Mosse, Susan Swan EVENT # 41
8:00 pm Studio 1398
An Intimate Evening with Chris Cleave
Scaredy Squirrel
Mélanie Watt
Electric Company: Initiation Trilogy
October 16 – 28 @ 7:00 pm Tuesday to Saturday and 3:00 pm
Michael Chabon
A Workshop with Lynda Barry
Wednesday, September 26 @ 8:00 pm
Sunday, September 30 @ 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church
Studio 1398
Tickets: 604.629.8849 or vancouvertix.com Friday
19
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Saturday
20
Sunday
EVENT # 42
EVENT # 48
EVENT # 55
EVENT # 62
EVENT # 70
Past Times
The Interviews
Beyond Survival
The Great Raymond
Journey with No Maps
10-11:30 am Granville Island Stage
1-2:30 pm Waterfront Theatre
Bill Gaston, Simonetta Agnello Hornby, Annabel Lyon, Kate Mosse, Kim Scott
Chris Cleave, Annabel Lyon, Carrie Snyder
10-11:30 am Performance Works
Anne Fleming, Chan Koonchung, Shari Lapeña, Emily Schultz, Linda Svendsen
The Poetry Bash
Ekiwah Adler-Beléndez, Lorna Crozier, Patrick Friesen, Garry Thomas Morse, Rachel Rose, Gillian Wigmore 10-11:30 am Studio 1398
Marjorie Celona, Riel Nason, Carrie Snyder EVENT # 46
10-11:30 am Improv Centre
All in the Family
Heather Birrell, Nancy Richler, J. Jill Robinson, John Vigna EVENT # 47
1-2:30 pm Granville Island Stage
The Ghost of a Story
John Burnside, Tess Gallagher, Susan Musgrave, Seán Virgo
Due South
Coupled and Uncoupled
Forgive But Not Forget
EVENT # 50
1-2:30 pm Improv Centre
10:30 am Performance Works
Zakes Mda, Kim Scott, Madeleine Thien
Deryn Collier, Louise Penny, Robert Rotenberg
Why We Do The Things We Do
10:30 am Studio 1398
Marjorie Celona, Nancy Richler, Emily St. John Mandel
EVENT # 52
EVENT # 59
Chip Kidd in Conversation with Douglas Coupland
Chan Koonchung in Conversation with Charles Foran
8:00 pm Studio 1398
An Intimate Evening with Scotland
John Burnside, A. L. Kennedy EVENT # 54
10:30 am Improv Centre
EVENT # 60
2:00 pm Performance Works
Cory Doctorow in Conversation with William Gibson
10:30 pm Backstage Lounge
EVENT # 61
Dave Bidini, Grant Lawrence, Zsuzsi Gartner, Colin Browne, Timothy Taylor and musicians Selina Martin, Veda Hille, Geoff Berner, Brendan McLeod, Karyn Ellis
Talking About Carver
Torn from the Pages
What If?
The Sunday Brunch
All-Canadian Crime
M.A.C. Farrant, Patrick Friesen, Linden MacIntyre, Anakana Schofield, Susan Swan, Seán Virgo
EVENT # 53
EVENT # 72
Margaret Atwood, Cory Doctorow, Pasha Malla
10:30 am Waterfront Theatre
2:00 pm Waterfront Theatre Tess Gallagher
Heather Birrell, Steven Heighton, Miranda Hill, Russell Wangersky, Jessica Westhead
EVENT # 64
EVENT # 57
EVENT # 58
8:00 pm Waterfront Theatre
10:30 am Improv Centre
5:00 pm Performance Works
8:00 pm Performance Works
The Literary Cabaret
Out of the Mouths of Babes
EVENT # 71
Sandra Djwa, Joanne Drayton
EVENT # 51
EVENT # 45
Sandra Djwa
EVENT # 63
Stephen Miller, Emily Schultz, Emily St. John Mandel
Anne Fleming, A. L. Kennedy, Rebecca Rosenblum, Jessica Westhead
10-11:30 am Waterfront Theatre
Ruby Slippers Theatre
EVENT # 56
The Human Carnival
EVENT # 44
10:30 am Studio 1398
1-2:30 pm Studio 1398
Telling True Lives
Humour with a Bite
Margaret Atwood, Dionne Brand, Louise Dennys, Graeme Gibson, Emily Schultz, Aritha Van Herk
2:00 pm Studio 1398
2:00 pm Improve Centre
EVENT # 49
EVENT # 43
10:30 am Granville Island Stage
11:00 am Performance Works
Graeme Gibson, Shari Lapeña, Linden MacIntyre, Susan Musgrave, Riel Nason, Emily Perkins
EVENT # 65
EVENT # 73
Mystery and Music
Ontario Medley
5:00 pm Waterfront Theatre
1:30 pm Waterfront Theatre
Louise Penny, Members of the Christ Church Cathedral Choir
Jane Urquhart, Chor Leoni EVENT # 74
1:30 pm Studio 1398
EVENT # 66
5:00 pm Studio 1398
Zakes Mda in Conversation with David Chariandy
Dennis Lee in Conversation with Brad Cran EVENT # 75
1:30 pm Improv Centre
EVENT # 67
8:00 pm Performance Works
A Tribute to Patrick Lane
Margaret Atwood, Lorna Crozier, Gillian Jerome, Patrick Lane, Dennis Lee, Susan Musgrave, Steven Price, Seán Virgo, Jane Urquhart
Time Passages
M.A.C. Farrant, Gail Jones, Emily Perkins, Seán Virgo EVENT # 76
3:30 pm Performance Works
The Afternoon Tea
EVENT # 68
Lorna Crozier, Bill Gaston, Steven Heighton, J. Jill Robinson, Rebecca Rosenblum, Linda Svendsen
8:00 pm Waterfront Theatre Remembrance
Alistair MacLeod
EVENT # 77
8:00 pm Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
EVENT # 69
8:00 pm Studio 1398
An Intimate Evening with Anne Perry
The State and Fate of This Small Blue Planet
Tim Flannery, David Suzuki
Matinée shows Friday to Sunday Anderson Street Space, 1405 Anderson Street, Granville Island Tickets: 604.629.8849 or vancouvertix.com Martin Amis
Jian Ghomeshi
Sunday, October 14 @ 7:30 pm
Monday, November 19 @ 7:30 pm
Granville Island Stage
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Frederic Wood Theatre
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Saturday, October 20
Beyond Survival
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Margaret Atwood, Dionne Brand, Louise dennys, Graeme Gibson, Emily Schultz, Aritha Van Herk Moderator: Merilyn Simonds 10:30 am GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE $17
Margaret Atwood’s 1972 volume Survival shaped the way Canadians think about their own literature. Atwood wrote, “Why should we be bothered [about Canadian literature]? ... In any self-respecting nation, it [the question] would never even be asked. But that’s one of the problems: Canada isn’t a self-respecting nation and the question does get asked.” On the 40th anniversary of its publication, six significant voices from the Canadian literary scene talk about the flowering of Canadian literature. The change in attitude and output, especially over the last 20 years, has seen Canadian writers take the international stage, win all the major literary prizes, and become household names far beyond home. How did this flourishing come to be? What does the future hold? This event is generously supported by the Canada Council for the Arts
Forgive But Not Forget Zakes Mda, Kim Scott, Madeleine Thien moderator: shyam selvaduri
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All-Canadian Crime
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Deryn Collier, Louise Penny, Robert Rotenberg moderator: lonnie propas
10:30 am PERFORMANCE WORKS $17
10:30 am WATERFRONT THEATRE $17
In the face of wrongs perpetrated against thousands of people, can we move on with any trust and harmony? Three thoughtful writers discuss why “forgive and forget” is a mistake. Australian Kim Scott describes the first contact between Aboriginals and early settlers, tinged with curiosity rather than animosity, interesting in light of the discord and abuse that followed. Although Zakes Mda fled South Africa as a teen, he frequently returns and is adamant that the oppressed not become the oppressors in the new order. Madeleine Thien’s novel Dogs at the Perimeter is a remembrance of Cambodia’s genocide; decades after the Khmer Rouge, her characters continue to feel the pain of that nightmare just as keenly. As we in Canada know all too well, the need for reconciliation is not confined to these three countries.
It’s certainly no crime to spend Saturday morning with these fine fiction authors. A criminal lawyer in Toronto by day, Robert Rotenberg sets his novels in the streets and alleys of Toronto and brings the third in his series to Festival readers. Deryn Collier has set her first crime novel in British Columbia, starring a coroner in a small tight-knit town, a place where it is hard to keep a secret. Louise Penny, no stranger to Festival readers, presents her eighth crime novel featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. And you thought Canada was a quiet, safe place to live! This event is sponsored by Simon & Schuster Canada.
35 why we do the things we do Marjorie Celona, Nancy Richler, Emily St. John Mandel moderator: denise ryan
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10:30 am STUDIO 1398 $17
A quest, a mystery piece, an unanswered question... Three authors who would not in any way consider themselves to be “mystery writers” have structured their new novels as mysteries. Marjorie Celona starts with an infant left on the steps of the YMCA. Nancy Richler’s novel centres on a woman who has stolen another’s identity. Emily St. John Mandel traces the interwoven lives of four characters in search of an answer to an event in their past. What differentiates these mysteries is their focus on the “why” of things that happened, not the “what." But like laying out a trail from a ball of twine, these writers keep their readers intrigued and questioning from cover to cover.
Saturday October 20th at 10:30am
“Riveting...Evocative, intriguing, and complex.” Library Journal Starred Review “Mandel has been pegged as a writer of…literary noir, blending page-turning sensibilities with prize-worthy prose.” The National Post
This event is sponsored by The Vancouver Sun.
Chan Koonchung in Conversation with Charles Foran
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“This adrenaline-fuelled tale is hard to put down…timely and timeless themes that burrow under the skin.” The Globe and Mail
10:30 am IMPROV CENTRE $17
Charles Foran calls The Fat Years, by Chan Koonchung, “not only essential reading, it is urgent.” A brave novel by a brave author, The Fat Years is officially banned in China, although it was posted in its entirety on the Internet within the Chinese firewall for a short while. “Most of my readers in China read it as free content before it was deleted,” he says. In his novel, a month of turmoil has been erased from the collective memory of the Chinese people, much as has happened with events on Tiananmen Square. Chan continues to live freely in Beijing, which he himself considers surprising. A rare opportunity to hear first-hand from the author of a radical satire that could change lives, his own included.
Cory Doctorow in Conversation with William Gibson 2:00 pm PERFORMANCE WORKS $17
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Cory Doctorow is widely known for his seven sci-fi novels, the latest of which, Pirate Cinema, is scheduled for publication just days before this year’s Writers Fest. But he is also known for his push for liberalizing copyright laws. In 2003, his first novel was simultaneously released in print and freely circulated to readers in electronic form. In Pirate Cinema, Doctorow creates characters fighting a new bill that would criminalize much Internet creativity and make felons of millions of British citizens. This is sure to be a thought-provoking conversation between two active and energetic minds that focus on imagined futures.
Saturday October 20th at 2:00pm
PAcific MfA in Writing An exceptional low-residency program in the Pacific Northwest
Poetry — Fiction — creative nonFiction
Write where you are. Work with award-winning writers through brief residencies and one-on-one correspondence. Ben Percy Author of The Wilding
www.pacificu.edu/mfa
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Saturday, October 20
Talking About Carver
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Tess Gallagher in conversation with Hal Wake 2:00 pm WATERFRONT THEATRE $17
The Great Raymond – a Staged Reading
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Ruby Slippers Theatre
In 2007, The New Yorker published an exchange of letters between Raymond Carver and his editor Gordon Lish, written nearly 30 years before. An anguished Carver pleaded with Lish to hold off publication of What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. Lish had cut some of the stories in this collection by as much as 70%, rewritten the endings of 14 and created new titles for 10. More than two decades after his death, after a long battle by his widow Tess Gallagher, Carver’s stories were published as they were originally written. Join Gallagher to hear the personal stories behind her relationship and Lish’s with Carver, one of the major writers of the 20th century.
2:00 pm STUDIO 1398 $17
In the mid-1950s, Vancouver experienced a sudden wave of violent crime, much of it drug-related. Award-winning writer Timothy Taylor’s new play centres on Ray Munro, the investigative Vancouver reporter who, along with Jack Webster, broke the story that exposed police corruption in our city during that time. The scandal led to the Vancouver police chief fleeing the country and two of his senior officers attempting suicide. Evoking an era of speakeasies and supper clubs, drug dealers and prostitutes, cafés, corner stores and payoffs in paper bags, Taylor’s play comes to life this afternoon as a cast of Vancouver’s finest professional actors perform a staged reading of The Great Raymond, the story of a time not so different from our own, as it turns out. Produced by Ruby Slippers Theatre, directed by Diane Brown.
What If?
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Margaret Atwood, Cory Doctorow, Pasha Malla 5:00 pm PERFORMANCE WORKS $17
“What if?” is the jumping-off point for almost all fiction. What if you lived on an unnamed island city where the only bridge connecting the city to the mainland has disappeared? What if the government could cut off your household’s access to the Internet, with no appeal? What if a predicted disaster has finally obliterated most of human life? What if handmaids are assigned to bear children for elite couples? Margaret Atwood, Cory Doctorow and Pasha Malla are three fine authors who start with an examination of what’s happening now and ask “what if?” At a time when speculative fiction and science fiction seem less and less fictitious, novels can serve—and should serve—as a warning, if we care to heed the message
Mystery and Music
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Louise Penny, members of the Christ Church Cathedral choir 5:00 pm WATERFRONT THEATRE $25
Gregorian chant serves as the backdrop for bestselling author Louise Penny’s eighth novel featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. It will also serve as the backdrop for Louise Penny to read excerpts from her new novel, The Beautiful Mystery. The beautiful voices of members of the Christ Church Cathedral Choir will play against the voice of Penny, a superb reader who can bring to life aurally, as well as on the page, one of the most popular crime detectives in fiction. While Gamache is discovering serious divisions among the outwardly unified and placid monks, the haunting melodies of Gregorian chant that have transported worshippers and wonderers for centuries will fill the theatre. Close your eyes and be taken to the isolated monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups for the afternoon.
Due South Stephen Miller, Emily Schultz, Emily St. John Mandel moderator: jerry wasserman
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2:00 pm IMPROV CENTRE $17
Contemporary American politics, culture and economics are major forces that shape society—for better or for worse. With its size and reach, what happens in America doesn’t stay in America. No wonder, then, that these three Canadian novelists set their stories there. Stephen Miller takes the political road, telling the story of a young female terrorist whose goal is to infect as many people in the United States as she can. Emily Schultz takes a comic swipe at American culture, unleashing a bevy of blondes whose attacks on passersby are symptoms of a deadly illness. Emily St. John Mandel’s literary thriller is infected with foreclosed homes and weed-fringed cul-de-sacs, symptomatic of America’s economic woes. What is it about the elephant to our south that continues to fascinate us so much?
Zakes Mda in Conversation with david chariandy
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5:00 pm STUDIO 1398 $17
One of the most acclaimed South African novelists of the past 20 years, Zakes Mda has won numerous international awards as well as every major South African prize. Now 63, Mda has been writing for more than three decades about the realities of post-apartheid South Africa. As a boy, he saw his father dragged off by police in the middle of the night for criticizing the racist white government. He fled his country with his father while still a teen. In his memoir, Sometimes There Is a Void, Mda chronicles his life from South Africa to Lesotho to teaching creative writing at the University of Ohio with a joie de vivre that belies his life’s upheavals and the wrongs perpetrated in his beloved homeland.
37 A Tribute to Patrick Lane Margaret Atwood, Lorna Crozier, Gillian Jerome, Patrick Lane, Dennis Lee, Susan Musgrave, Steven Price, Seán Virgo, Jane Urquhart Host: Brian Brett
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8:00 pm PERFORMANCE WORKS $19
Patrick Lane is the author of 27 books of poetry, a novel, a book of short stories and a memoir. His poetry has won nearly every literary prize Canada offers, including the Governor General’s Award and the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence. The Collected Poems of Patrick Lane, published last year, gathered more than 400 poems written over more than 50 years of work. Tonight we honour one of Canada’s finest poets as family and friends offer words in celebration of a man who has lived life large, has experienced joy and pain in equal measure, and whose sensitivity is keenly felt through the many words he’s put to the page over his life.
Remembrance Alistair MacLeod in conversation with Hal Wake
Until September 30, 2012
Presenting Sponsor:
www.vanartgallery.bc.ca
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8:00 pm WATERFRONT THEATRE $19
Alistair MacLeod has given a rare and precious gift to the Vancouver Writers Fest as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. Specially written following a request from the Festival’s artistic director, he has penned a short story titled Remembrance which he will read from tonight. Set in his beloved Cape Breton, the story is infused with MacLeod’s mastery of capturing the close bonds that tie families. He writes sparingly and doesn’t rush his words. MacLeod knows that a story is done only when he “can’t make it any better.” A limited edition chapbook of Remembrance has been produced for sale as part of this special Festival year.
An Intimate Evening with Anne Perry 8:00 pm STUDIO 1398 $26
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Even if you don’t read many murder mysteries, you’ll be familiar with the name Anne Perry. For more than 30 years and through more than 50 books, she has engaged readers all over the world, but especially in North America. Thomas Pitt has appeared in 27 of her Victorian murder mystery novels; William Monk in 18. She’s written short stories, a series about the First World War, fantasy and Young Adult novels, and has sold more than 25 million copies of her work. She lives quietly in the north of Scotland, consistently writing two books a year. By no means simple whodunits, Perry’s books grapple with questions of sin and repentance, the price of redemption and forgiveness. “It is vital for me to go on exploring moral matters,” she says.
The World liTeraTure Program aT SFu “I spent most of my post-secondary career waiting for World literature to be created. Once you start studying literature in this way, there’s really no going back. Learning about authors’ cross-cultural influences and how texts travel is fundamental to the study of literature. The program is remarkably diverse. If one is interested in history, psychology, law, sociology, political science and international relations, SFU World Literature will enrich these areas of study.” – Daniel Poirier, BA in World Lit.
WORLD LITERATURE THERE’S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SEE THE WORLD.
Visit www.sfu.ca/wl for more information.
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Sunday, October 21
Journey with No Maps Sandra Djwa in conversation with charles foran
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10:30 am STUDIO 1398 $17
Celebrated poet P.K. Page died in 2010 at age 93, leaving behind a remarkable life story written in poems, fiction, diaries, librettos and her visual art— more than 35 books as well as paintings collected around the world. Sandra Djwa began working on P.K. Page’s biography before the poet’s death. Journey With No Maps is the product of more than a decade’s research and writing. Drawing on a vast array of material, it illustrates the complexity of Page’s private experience. She lived through a time when unprecedented choices were offered to women and had a public life that was decorated with honorary degrees, the Order of Canada, the Governor General’s Award and so much more. Djwa has more stories about this extraordinary Canadian icon than she could possibly capture between the covers.
Ontario Medley Jane Urquhart and Chor Leoni
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1:30 pm WATERFRONT THEATRE $25
Judging by audience response to two past events in Writers Fest history, beloved authors reading from their work while Chor Leoni weaves music into the mix speaks to the souls and ears of those lucky enough to get tickets. When Alistair MacLeod and Jack Hodgins “performed” with the acclaimed male choral group, there was laughter and tears. This year, treasured author Jane Urquhart will read from her acclaimed novels, evoking southwestern Ontario between interludes of music. Chor Leoni’s repertoire runs the scale from sombre to comedic, well able to perfectly complement the passages that Urquhart will choose.
Coupled and Uncoupled
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Heather Birrell, Steven Heighton, Miranda Hill, Russell Wangersky, Jessica Westhead Moderator: Angie Abdou 10:30 am IMPROV CENTRE $17
Two men and three women are on deck this morning with a look at the complications and conflicts inherent in the universal experience of coupling and uncoupling between men and women. With sympathy for both the male and female perspectives, these authors, in their latest short stories, explore romance, disillusionment, money worries, infidelity and the tipping points that can tie and untie relationships. The short story form provides plenty of opportunity to focus on the moments, large and small, that cause profound changes of the heart. These five Canadian authors take us from the highs to the lows of love, with many a stop in between.
Dennis Lee in Conversation with Brad Cran
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1:30 pm STUDIO 1398 $17
Say “Alligator Pie” and you think of Dennis Lee. But Lee has comfortably straddled the worlds of children’s imagination and adult concerns since he began writing more than 40 years ago. His long meditative poem Civil Elegies won the Governor General’s Award in 1972. He’s worn many different literary hats, including co-founder of the House of Anansi Press and its editorial director, Poet Laureate of Toronto, song lyric writer for the TV show Fraggle Rock, editor, critic and teacher. A man “at the mercy of his imagination,” Lee has an astounding range to that imagination, from his earliest children’s book Wiggle to the Laundromat to his poetry collection Testament, published this year, a summation of Lee’s decade-long exploration of the dilemma of contemporary existence.
The Sunday Brunch
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Graeme Gibson, Shari Lapeña, Linden MacIntyre, Susan Musgrave, Riel Nason, Emily Perkins Host: Sheryl MacKay 11:00 am PERFORMANCE WORKS $33
Those who wake up in the early hours of the weekend to the voice of Sheryl MacKay on CBC Radio One’s North by Northwest don’t have to get up with the birds this morning. MacKay will serve up a literary repast that is sure to satisfy your appetites in more ways than one. With loads of good readings and large helpings of merriment, your morning cup of coffee won’t be the only hot thing on the go. Come with a friend or make a new one over croissants and champagne. Be forewarned, this event is very popular and tables fill early.
Time Passages
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M.A.C. Farrant, Gail Jones, Emily Perkins, Seán Virgo Moderator: Aislinn Hunter 1:30 pm IMPROV CENTRE $17
A writer can choose to frame a story over a single day or over generations. A writer can “play God,” compressing or stretching time to serve different purposes. Gail Jones’s novel Five Bells takes place on one single Saturday. M.A.C. Farrant resists the tick-tock of traditional time by using a narrative style that consists of 115 fragments. Seán Virgo weaves ghost stories, allegory and fable into his writing, creating both dream worlds and real situations that fracture time. Emily Perkins explores how the past encroaches on the present. This event is likely to be so explosive with ideas from four articulate, smart writers that you’re going to wish it could last for hours.
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The Afternoon Tea Lorna Crozier, Bill Gaston, Steven Heighton, J. Jill Robinson, Rebecca Rosenblum, Linda Svendsen Host: Paul Grant
Intonations of Immortality 20th Annual Remembrance Day concerts
3:30 pm PERFORMANCE WORKS $33
Saturday November 10, 2012
What could be more pleasant and relaxing than joining host Paul Grant for a thoughtprovoking afternoon of tea and tales from a diverse selection of Writers Fest authors? This event is freshly baked to warm your senses and stimulate your soul.
DIANE LOOMER, DIRECTOR
311 Fitzwilliam St, Nanaimo • 4:00 pm
Sunday November 11, 2012 West Vancouver United Church • 2:00 pm 2062 Esquimalt Ave, West Vancouver
Sunday November 11, 2012
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The State and Fate of This Small Blue Planet Tim Flannery, David Suzuki moderator: linden macintyre 8:00 pm STANLEY INDUSTRIAL ALLIANCE STAGE $25
St Johns Shaughnessy Anglican Church • 7:30 pm 1490 Nanton Ave, Vancouver TICKETS available online at chorleoni.org or by phone
1.800.838.3006
Two of this planet’s leading scientists, whose contribution to changing our attitudes and actions toward climate change has been profound, appear together for the first time to close this year’s Vancouver Writers Fest in an evening filled with provocation, challenges and, above all, hope that solutions to environmental salvation are possible. Australia’s Tim Flannery has discovered and named more than 30 new species of mammals, serves as Chief Commissioner of the Australian Climate Commission and works as a broadcaster and author whose books The Weather Makers and The Future Eaters are both controversial and compelling. Canada’s David Suzuki, scientist, author and broadcaster, has spent four decades educating us about science and environmental issues. Both of these champions are passionate about our future, and the progress we can make to ensure there is one for us all.
ARSENAL at the vwf! IVAN E. COYOTE One in Every Crowd “Coyote’s kitchen-table style of storytelling is as lively on the page as at her in-person performances.” —Vancouver Sun
Special Anniversary Edition! The VWF has commissioned a short story from revered Canadian writer Alistair MacLeod in honour of our 25th anniversary. A limited number of signed chapbooks of the story will be on sale at the bookstore during the Festival for just $25 each.
Alist air
Remem
MacLe
bR a nc
JOHN VIGNA Bull Head “With wit, tenderness and intelligence, Bull Head exposes the raw underbelly of male experience.” —Gary Shteyngart, author of Super Sad True Love Story
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DAVID H.T. WONG Escape to Gold Mountain A revelatory graphic novel for young people about how the Chinese came to North America.
ARSENAL PULP PRESS •
arsenalpulp.com
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Author Biographies Ekiwah Adler-Beléndez Mexico, Event 44
Ekiwah Adler-Beléndez began writing poems at the age of 10, and had his first collection, titled Soy (I Am), published when he was 12. His first name means “warrior” in the Purepecha language. AdlerBeléndez has been battling cerebral palsy since he was born and his courage and eloquence have earned him a passionate following in his native Mexico and abroad. His most recent collection, Love on Wheels, deals with the richness and complexity of life in a wheelchair. Ekiwah Adler-Beléndez’s appearance is made possible by The McLean Foundation.
MARTIN AMIS United Kingdom, Special Event
Martin Amis’ new novel is Lionel Asbo. He is the author of twelve previous novels, the memoir Experience, two collections of stories and six collections of non-fiction, most recently The Second Plane. The Times named him in 2008 as one of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945 and novelist Nicola Barker has called him “the current father of English letters.” Amis lives in New York. Margaret Atwood Ontario, Events 55, 64, 67
Margaret Atwood is the author of more than 50 volumes of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. Her novels include The Edible Woman, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Robber Bride, Alias Grace, The Blind Assassin, Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood. Her most recent works of non-fiction are Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth and In Other Worlds: SF and the Human Imagination. Her work has been published in more than 40 languages; a number of her titles have been adapted for theatre, opera, television and film. She is the recipient of numerous awards, and is one of Canada’s cultural icons. C.R. Avery British Columbia, Events 13, 27, 34
C.R. Avery has recorded more than 15 albums and has written and directed six hip hop operas, which have been mounted and performed from New York’s Bowery to L.A.’s South Central. His work crosses many genres: blues, hip hop, spoken word and rock & roll. Whether performing for thousands at the Royal Albert Hall or for a lucky few at a packed speakeasy, he is a mesmerizing, raw and dynamic performer. Lynda Barry United States, Special event
Lynda Barry has worked as a painter, cartoonist, writer, illustrator, playwright, editor, commentator and teacher and found they are very much alike. She is the inimitable creator behind the books One! Hundred! Demons!, The! Greatest! of! Marlys!, Cruddy: An Illustrated Novel, Naked Ladies! Naked Ladies! Naked Ladies!, and the bestselling and acclaimed What It Is, which won the Eisner Award for Best Reality Based Graphic Novel and the R.R. Donnelly Award for highest literary achievement by a Wisconsin author. Deni Y. Béchard Québec, Events 24, 36
Deni Y. Béchard’s first novel, Vandal Love, won the 2007 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book. His articles, stories and translations have appeared in a number of magazines and newspapers. He has done freelance reporting from Northern Iraq and
Afghanistan, and he has lived in more than 30 countries. When he’s not travelling, he divides his time between Montreal and Cambridge, Massachusetts. His new memoir, Cures for Hunger, recounts his search to discover the truth about his charismatic father’s criminal past. En 2007, Deni Y. Béchard a remporté le Prix des écrivains du Commonwealth dans la catégorie du meilleur premier livre pour son roman Vandal Love ou Perdus n Amérique. Ses articles, récits et traductions paraissent dans de nombreux magazines et journaux. Il a été reporteur à la pige dans le Nord de l’Irak et en Afghanistan, et il a vécu dans plus de 30 pays. Lorsqu’il ne voyage pas, il partage son temps entre Montréal et Cambridge, Massachusetts. Son dernier livre de mémoires, La langue de mon père, raconte sa quête pour découvrir la vérité sur le passé criminel de son père charismatique. Dave Bidini Ontario, Event 54
Dave Bidini was one of the founding members of the Rheostatics, a band that for two decades mapped new musical frontiers across Canada. Since the band stopped touring in 2007, he has released two albums with his new Bidiniband. He is also the author of 10 books, including Tropic of Hockey, Home and Away and Baseballissimo, which is being made into a feature film. His latest brainchild, Torn from the Pages, involves composing and performing original songs inspired by recent works of Canadian fiction. Heather Birrell Ontario, Events 46, 71
Heather Birrell earned enthusiastic reviews for her first shortstory collection, I Know You Are But What Am I? Her work has been honoured with the Journey Prize for Short Fiction and the Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction, and has been shortlisted for both National and Western Magazine Awards. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Toronto, where she teaches high school English. Mad Hope is her newest collection of short fiction. Dionne Brand ontario, Event 55
Dionne Brand is an award-winning poet, novelist and essayist. Her poetry collections include No Language Is Neutral, Land to Light On, winner of the Governor General’s Award, thirsty, and Ossuaries, which was the Canadian winner of the prestigious Griffin Poetry Prize last year. Her critically acclaimed novels include In Another Place, Not Here; At the Full and Change of the Moon; and What We All Long For. In 2009, she was named Toronto’s Poet Laureate. She currently holds a Research Chair at the University of Guelph. John Burnside Scotland, Events 12, 19, 47, 53
John Burnside has published five works of fiction and 11 collections of poetry, including The Asylum Dance, which won the 2000 Whitbread Poetry Award. His Selected Poems was published in 2006, alongside his memoir, A Lie About My Father, which was the Saltire Scottish Book of the Year and the Scottish Arts Council Non-Fiction Book of the Year. The second volume of his memoir, Waking Up in Toytown, has just been published. John Burnside’s appearance is made possible by Creative Scotland.
41 Nicola I. Campbell British Columbia, Event 31
Nicola I. Campbell is Interior Salish and Métis, and she grew up in British Columbia’s Nicola Valley. She is the author of Shi-shi-etko, winner of the Aboriginal Children’s Book of the Year, and Shin-chi’s Canoe, which won the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, was a Governor General’s Award Finalist for Illustration and was named a USBBY Outstanding International Book. Both books were illustrated by Kim La Fave. Campbell lives in Vancouver. Marjorie Celona british columbia, Events 45, 58
Marjorie Celona received her MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where she was an Iowa Arts Fellow and recipient of the Ailene Barger Barnes Prize. Her stories have appeared in Best American Nonrequired Reading, Glimmer Train and Harvard Review. Born and raised on Vancouver Island, she now lives in Cincinnati. Y is her first novel. Marjorie Celona's appearance is made possible by a generous donation to the Alma Lee Legacy Fund by Jab Sidhoo.
Michael Chabon United States, Special Event
Michael Chabon is the bestselling and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, Wonderboys, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Summerland (a novel for children), The Final Solution, The Yiddish Policemen’s Union and Gentlemen of the Road, as well as the short-story collections A Model World and Werewolves in Their Youth, and the essay collections Maps and Legends and Manhood for Amateurs. He lives in Berkeley, California with his wife, the novelist Ayelet Waldman, and their children.
HOW do you find your imagination? Easy. You just close your eyes. -Victor, aged 4
Scott Chantler Ontario, Events 2, 30
Scott Chantler is an acclaimed graphic novelist and illustrator who has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Joe Shuster and the Doug Wright Awards for Canadian cartooning excellence. He is the author of Northwest Passage, a multi-volume graphic narrative set in 1755 colonial Canada, and the artist of graphic novels, including Days Like This, Scandalous and Stephen Colbert’s Tek Jansen. He is also a popular commercial illustrator. His latest book is The Captive Prince. Chris Cleave United Kingdom, Events 23, 41, 48
Chris Cleave is a former columnist for The Guardian. His first novel, Incendiary, was published in 20 countries, won the 2006 Somerset Maugham Award and was shortlisted for the 2006 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. His second novel, Little Bee, was a New York Times #1 bestseller and was shortlisted for a Costa Book Award and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. His new novel, Gold, is a riveting look at the world of professional cycling. He lives in London.
WWW.CHRISTIANNEHAYWARD.COM
604•733•1356
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Author Biographies Deryn Collier British Columbia, Event 57
Deryn Collier grew up in Ottawa and Montreal and is a graduate of McGill University. After a very short career as a federal bureaucrat she ran away to the mountains of British Columbia, where she has been ever since. She has worked in a log yard, a brewery, as a doctor recruiter and as a communications consultant. Collier’s first novel, Confined Space, was shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award for Best Unpublished First Crime Novel by the Crime Writers of Canada. It has just been published. Ivan E. Coyote British Columbia, Events 13, 27, 34
Ivan E. Coyote is one of Canada’s best-loved storytellers; her honest, wry, plain-spoken tales of growing up in the Yukon and living out loud on the West Coast have attracted readers and live audiences from around the world. For many years, Coyote has performed in high schools, where her talks have inspired and galvanized many young people to embrace their own sense of self and to be proud of who they are. One in Every Crowd, Coyote’s eighth book with Arsenal Pulp Press, is her first specifically for queer youth. Lorna Crozier British Columbia, Events 44, 67, 76
Lorna Crozier has published 14 books of poetry, including The Garden Going on Without Us; Angels of Flesh, Angels of Silence; Inventing the Hawk, winner of the 1992 Governor General’s Award; Everything Arrives at the Light; and Whetstone. Whether writing about angels, aging or Louis Armstrong’s trout sandwich, she continues to engage readers and writers across Canada and the world with her grace, wisdom and wit. Her new collection, The Book of Marvels, celebrates the mysteries of household objects: everything from doorknobs and washing machines to rakes, zippers and the kitchen sink. Marie Darrieussecq France, Events 9, 24
Marie Darrieussecq’s debut novel, Pig Tales, was published in 34 countries and became the most popular first novel in France since the 1950s. Her subsequent novels, My Phantom Husband and Breathing Underwater, were also critical and commercial successes. Her most recent novel, Tom Is Dead, spent months on the bestseller charts in France and was nominated for two prestigious French prizes, the Prix Fémina and the Prix Goncourt. Darrieussecq lives in Paris with her husband and children. Marie Darrieussecq’s appearance is made possible by the Consulat Général de France in Vancouver.
Le premier roman de Marie Darrieussecq, Truismes, a été publié dans 34 pays et il est devenu le premier roman le plus populaire en France depuis les années 1950. Ses romans suivants, Naissance des fantômes et Le mal de mer, ont également été salués par la critique et ont remporté un grand succès commercial. Son tout dernier roman, Tom est mort, a passé des mois au classement des meilleurs succès de librairie en France et il a été mis en nomination pour deux prix prestigieux, le Prix Fémina et le Prix Goncourt. Darrieussecq vit à Paris avec son mari et ses enfants.
43 Angèle Delaunois
Joanne Drayton
Québec, Events 3, 17, 38
New Zealand, Events 39, 49
Angèle Delaunois was born in France, studied sculpture in Quebec and worked in the consumer protection movement for many years before beginning to write books for young people in 1989. Her work spans many genres, from fiction to biography and poetry, and in 2004 she founded her own publishing house, Editions de l’Istasis, which specializes in work for young readers. Her new book is The Little Yellow Bottle. Angèle Delaunois est née en France, a étudié la sculpture au Québec et a travaillé au sein du mouvement de protection du consommateur pendant de nombreuses années avant de commencer à écrire des livres jeunesse en 1989. Son œuvre comprend de nombreux genres, de la fiction à la biographie en passant par la poésie. En 2004, elle a fondé sa propre maison d’édition, Éditions de l’Istasis, spécialisée dans les romans destinés aux jeunes. Son nouveau livre est intitulé Une petite bouteille jaune. louise dennys ontario, event 55
Louise Dennys began her own publishing house at age 25 and helped build Lester & Orpen Dennys into an international Canadian publishing house. Today she heads the leading publishing imprints, Knopf Canada, Random House Canada, and Vintage Canada. A former President of PEN Canada, she has been a longtime PEN Board member. She received an Honorary Degree in Law from Bishop's University in 2004, and received the Order of Canada for service to Canadian culture in 2005. Junot Díaz United States, Events 9, 22
Junot Díaz’s fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, The Paris Review and the yearly anthology, The Best American Short Stories. His debut story collection, Drown, was a national bestseller and won numerous awards. His first novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, won the Pulitzer Prize in 2008. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New Jersey, Díaz lives in New York City and is a professor of creative writing at MIT. His new book is This Is How You Lose Her. Sandra Djwa British Columbia, Events 49, 70
Sandra Djwa is professor emeritus of English at Simon Fraser University, and the prize-winning author of The Politics of the Imagination: A Life of F.R. Scott and Professing English: A Life of Roy Daniells. Her new biography is Journey with No Maps: A Life of P.K. Page. Cory Doctorow Ontario/United Kingdom, Events 60, 64
Cory Doctorow is a co-editor of Boing Boing and a columnist for multiple publications, including The Guardian, Locus and Publishers Weekly. He was named one of the Web’s 25 influencers by Forbes magazine and a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. His award-winning novel Little Brother was a New York Times bestseller. He lives in London with his wife and daughter. His new novel is Pirate Cinema.
Joanne Drayton is an associate professor in the department of design at UNITEC, Auckland, where she lectures in art history and theory. Her critically acclaimed biographies include Ngaio Marsh: Her Life in Crime; Edith Collier: Her Life and Work, 1885–1964; Rhona Haszard: An Experimental Expatriate New Zealand Artist, and Frances Hodgkins: A Private Viewing. She lives in Auckland with her partner and two cats, and is currently carving a post-colonial chess set in response to the Lewis chessmen in the British Museum. Her new biography is The Search for Anne Perry. electric company british columbia, all week
Electric Company produces wildly innovative and technically brilliant live theatre productions. This internationally acclaimed company last appeared locally at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage with Tear the Curtain!, a spectacular film/ theatre hybrid experience and they were recently recognized with six Jessie Richardson theatre awards for All the Way Home, which brought audience and actors together on stage at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Nuruddin Farah Somalia/United States, Events 9, 25
Nuruddin Farah’s 10 previous novels have been translated into 17 languages and have won numerous awards. Born in Somalia, he achieved worldwide cult status with his first novel, From a Crooked Rib, but also earned the enmity of the country’s dictator. Farah was exiled for more than 25 years, and now divides his time between Cape Town, South Africa, and Minneapolis, where he holds the Winton Chair in the Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota. His most recent novel, Crossbones, was published last year. Nuruddin Farah’s appearance is made possible by SFU World Literature Program.
M.A.C. Farrant British Columbia, Events 51, 75
M.A.C. Farrant is the author of 10 collections of satirical and philosophical short fiction; a novel-length memoir, My Turquoise Years; a book of essays, The Secret Lives of Litterbugs; and the stage adaptation of My Turquoise Years, which premieres next April at Vancouver’s Arts Club Theatre Company. She is also a regular reviewer for the Globe and Mail, and has been called “Canada’s most acerbic and intelligent humourist.” Her latest novel is The Strange Truth About Us: A Novel of Absence. Sal Ferreras British Columbia, Event 27, 51
Sal Ferreras is a percussionist, teacher and event organizer who works in many facets of the Canadian music scene. He received a BC Entertainment Hall of Fame star in 2002 and a Healey Willan Award for Outstanding Contributions to Choral Music in 2005. He has a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology and is Dean of the Vancouver Community College School of Music. Ferreras has directed the Literary Cabaret since 1989, and he and his all-star band, Poetic License, consider it one of the highlights of their musical year.
44
Author Biographies Sheree Fitch
Bill Gaston
Nova Scotia, Events 4, 33
British Columbia, Events 42, 76
Sheree Fitch is an award-winning storyteller, educator and author. Her first two books, Toes in My Nose and Sleeping Dragons All Around, launched her career as a poet, rhyme-maker and a “kind of Canadian female Dr. Seuss.” She has since published more than 25 books, including her bestselling Young Adult novel The Gravesavers; a collection of poetry, In This House Are Many Women; and Stephen Leacock Award− nominated novel Kiss the Joy as It Flies. Her latest work is the picture book Night Sky Wheel Ride. Tim Flannery Australia, Event 77
Tim Flannery is one of Australia’s leading thinkers and writers. An internationally acclaimed scientist, explorer and conservationist, he has published more than 130 peer-reviewed scientific papers and has been credited with discovering more new species than Charles Darwin. His books include the landmark works The Future Eaters and The Weather Makers. The latter debuted on the New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into more than 20 languages. His most recent book is Here on Earth. Tim Flannery was brought to the Vancouver Writers Fest by Air Canada.
Anne Fleming British Columbia, Events 43, 50
Anne Fleming is the author of the critically acclaimed novel Anomaly as well as Pool-Hopping and Other Stories, which was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award, the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize and the Danuta Gleed Award. Three of the stories in her latest collection, Gay Dwarves of America, have won National Magazine Awards, and the title story was shortlisted for the Journey Prize. She divides her time between Vancouver and Kelowna, where she teaches at UBC’s Okanagan campus. Patrick Friesen British Columbia, Events 44, 51
Patrick Friesen has published more than a dozen books of poetry, most recently Jumping in the Asylum. He is also the author of a volume of essays about the Danish poets Niels Hav, Ulrikka Gernes and Klaus Høeck. Friesen was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award for A Broken Bowl, received the Manitoba Book Award for Blasphemer’s Wheel and has twice been shortlisted for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize in British Columbia. His new collection of poetry is A Dark Boat. Tess Gallagher United States, Events 47, 61
Tess Gallagher is an American poet, essayist, author and playwright. Her honors include a fellowship from the Guggenheim Foundation and two awards from the National Endowment for the Arts. The poems in Midnight Lantern: New and Selected Poems span 40 years and include her signature nocturnes—for the changing Pacific Northwest, for her hardscrabble childhood and for her late husband, novelist Raymond Carver. Her challenging new work confronts a tumultuous century’s worth of art, warfare and illness, while affirming the stubborn resilience of poetry and love.
Bill Gaston is a Canadian novelist, short story writer and playwright. His story collection, Mount Appetite, was nominated for the 2002 Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. Gaston received a second Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize nomination for his 2004 novel Sointula. He was also the recipient of the inaugural Timothy Findley Award in 2003. Gaston currently teaches creative writing at the University of Victoria. His new novel is The World. Jian Ghomeshi Ontario, Special Event
Jian Ghomeshi is a Toronto-based broadcaster, writer, musician and producer. He is the host and co-creator of the national daily talk program Q on CBC Radio and CBC-TV, for which he received the prestigious Gold Award for Best Talk Show Host at the New York Festivals International Radio Awards. Ghomeshi was a member of the multi-platinum-selling Canadian folk-rock group Moxy Früvous and has written for a number of newspapers. His first book, 1982, is a literary memoir based on his teenage desire to be David Bowie. Graeme Gibson Ontario, Events 55, 72
Graeme Gibson has been a founding member and chair of The Writers’ Union of Canada, Writers’ Trust of Canada and PEN Canada. Currently he is joint president, with Margaret Atwood, of BirdLife International’s Rare Bird Club. He is also chairman of the Pelee Island Bird Observatory. He has written four novels, including Five Legs and Communion, and two miscellanies, The Bedside Book of Birds and The Bedside Book of Beasts: Echoes of a Working Eden. Rawi Hage Québec, Events 9, 26
Rawi Hage is a writer, visual artist and curator. His debut novel, De Niro’s Game, won the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and was translated into several languages. Cockroach, his second novel, was a finalist for many prestigious awards, including the Scotiabank Giller Prize. The hero of his new novel, Carnival, drives a taxi from which we see the world in all its beauty and ugliness. Hage lives in Montreal. Mohammed Hanif Pakistan, Events 23, 26
Mohammed Hanif was born in Okara, Pakistan. He graduated from the Pakistan Air Force Academy as Pilot Officer but subsequently left to pursue a career in journalism. He has written for stage, film and BBC Radio. His first novel, A Case of Exploding Mangoes, was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award and won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Novel. His subversive and at times shockingly funny new novel is Our Lady of Alice Bhatti.
45 Rachel Hartman British Columbia, Events 6, 29
Rachel Hartman was born in Kentucky, and has lived in Chicago, Philadelphia and St. Louis, as well as in England and Japan. She has a B.A. in Comparative Literature, although she insists it should have been a B.S. because her undergraduate thesis was called “Paradox and Parody in Don Quixote and the Satires of Lucian.” She eschewed graduate school in favour of drawing comic books. She now lives in Vancouver with her family, their whippet, a talking frog and a salamander. Her new book is Seraphina.
2012-2013 Season
Speaker Series
Steven Heighton Ontario, Events 71, 76
Steven Heighton’s most recent books are The Dead Are More Visible, Workbook: Memos & Dispatches on Writing, the novel Every Lost Country and the poetry collection Patient Frame. Earlier books include Afterlands, which has recently been optioned for film, and The Shadow Boxer, a Canadian bestseller. His fiction and poetry have been translated into 10 languages and have been nominated for the Governor General’s Award, the Trillium Award, a Pushcart Prize, the Journey Prize and Britain’s W.H. Smith Award. Miranda Hill Ontario, Events 23, 71
Miranda Hill’s writing won the Journey Prize in 2012 and has been published by the New Quarterly, Dalhousie Review and Fiddlehead. She received her B.A. in drama from Queen’s University, and her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia. Hill has worked in television and as a freelance writer and communications consultant. She is the founder and executive director of Project Bookmark Canada. She lives in Hamilton with her husband Lawrence Hill. Sleeping Funny is her first book of fiction. Simonetta Agnello Hornby Italy, Events 9, 42
Simonetta Agnello Hornby was born in Palermo and now lives in London. Her bestselling debut novel—La Mennulara, published in Italy in 2002 and subsequently published in 12 languages—was the recipient of the Forte Village Literary Prize, the Stresa Prize for Fiction and the Alassio Prize. Her fifth novel, The Nun, was awarded the 2011 Italian Pen Prize for the Novel. Simonettta Agnello Hornby's appearance is made possible by the Instituto Italiano di Cultura.
Rob Stewart
Save the Humans
Oct. 5, 2012 Award-winning documentary filmmaker of Sharkwater turns his focus to humans.
Warren Kinsella Fight the Right
Oct. 29, 2012 Lawyer, political pundit, and author talks about the rise of conservatism in Canadian politics
David Carr
Truth and Lies in Life and Art Feb. 3, 2013 New York Times media and culture columnist to discuss the blurring of fact and fiction.
Global Roots Series Oct 27, 2012 • Rupa & the April Fishes
Gillian Jerome British Columbia, Events 40, 67
Gillian Jerome’s first book of non-fiction Hope in Shadows: Stories and Photographs from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (with Brad Cran) won the 2008 City of Vancouver Book Award and was shortlisted for the Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize in British Columbia. Her first book of poems, Red Nest, was nominated for the 2009 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize and won the 2009 ReLit Award for Poetry. Jerome teaches literature at UBC, teaches poetry to kids at inner-city schools in Vancouver and runs workshops with Geist magazine.
Nov 3, 2012 • International Guitar Night Nov 18, 2012 • The Lost Fingers Kelly Joe Phelps
Kay Meek Theatre
Nov 29, 2012 • Kelly Joe Phelps
Box Office: 604.990.7810 • Online: capilanou.ca/nscucentre
2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver, BC
46
Author Biographies Gail Jones Australia, Events 9, 40, 75
Gail Jones is the author of the novels Black Mirror, Sixty Lights, Dreams of Speaking and Sorry. She has been nominated for numerous international awards, including the Man Booker Prize, the Orange Prize, the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and the Prix Fémina Étranger. She is a professor of writing at the University of Western Sydney. Her new novel is Five Bells. Gail Jones’ appearance is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Council for the Arts, its funding and advisory body.
Susan Juby British Columbia, Events 1, 6
Susan Juby’s first novel, Alice, I Think, was voted Amazon.com’s Top Ten Teen Book for 2003, and also scooped up honours from Kirkus Reviews and the American Library Association. She has published two more novels featuring the irrepressible Alice, whose story was adapted into a TV series. Juby’s subsequent books include Another Kind of Cowboy, Getting the Girl and The Woefield Poultry Collective. She now brings her trademark humour to a dark, dystopian world in Bright’s Light. A. L. Kennedy Scotland, Events 50, 53
A. L. Kennedy is one of Scotland’s foremost contemporary writers of novels, short stories, and film and radio scripts. She is also a stand-up comic—and if the cheeky FAQ’s on her website are any indication, her act is well worth checking out. Her short story collections include the multiaward-winning Night Geometry and the Garscadden Trains, Original Bliss and What Becomes; among her award-winning novels are So I Am Glad, Everything You Need and Day. Her new novel, The Blue Book, is a love story that involves a fake medium. Gary Kent British Columbia, Events 20, 31
Gary Kent grew up in Vancouver and received his B.A. from the University of British Columbia. He was a commercial fisherman and salmon troller for 10 years and is now a furniture maker and instructor at the Inside Passage School of Fine Woodworking. His first book, Fishing with Gubby, is a marvellously illustrated, authentic account of one season in the life of a salmon fisherman, whose adventures continue in Gubby Builds a Boat. He lives in Roberts Creek. Chip Kidd United States, Event 52
Chip Kidd is a renowned graphic designer and writer living in New York City and Stonington, Connecticut. His first book, Batman Collected, was awarded the Design Distinction award from ID magazine, and his debut novel, The Cheese Monkeys, was a national bestseller and a New York Times Notable Book. He is the co-author and designer of the two-time Eisner award-winning book Batman Animated. His book jacket designs for Alfred A. Knopf, where he is associate art director, have helped spark a revolution in the art of American book packaging. His new book is Batman: Death by Design. Chip Kidd’s appearance has been made possible in part by the Alcuin Society.
47 Chan Koonchung China, Events 43, 59
Chan Koonchung was born in Shanghai and raised in Hong Kong. He has previously written several works of non-fiction, a novel and short stories. The Fat Years is his first novel to be translated into English. Banned in China, this controversial and politically charged novel tells the story of the search for an entire month, which was erased from official Chinese history. In 1976, Chan founded the influential City Magazine in Hong Kong, where he was editor-in-chief and then publisher for 23 years. He lives in Beijing. Chan Koonchung's appearance is made possible by a generous donation to the Alma Lee Legacy Fund by Dr. Yosef Wosk.
Kim La Fave British Columbia, Event 20, 31
Kim La Fave, a Governor General’s Award-winning artist, is the illustrator of Amos’s Sweater (by Janet Lunn)—winner of the Ruth Schwartz Children’s Book Award and the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award; Follow That Star (by Kenneth Oppel); I Am Small (by Sheree Fitch); the bestselling The Bones Book and Skeleton (by Stephen Cumbaa); and many other children’s books, including Gary Kent’s Gubby books. He lives in Roberts Creek. Vincent Lam Ontario, Event 23
Vincent Lam is from the expatriate Chinese community of Vietnam. He completed his medical training in Toronto, where he now works as an emergency physician. Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures, his first collection of stories, won the 2006 Scotiabank Giller Prize. It was adapted for television and broadcast on HBO Canada. Lam’s biography of Tommy Douglas is part of Penguin Canada’s Extraordinary Canadians series. The Headmaster’s Wager, the story of a Chinese gambler and school headmaster in wartime Vietnam, is Lam’s debut novel. Patrick Lane British Columbia, Event 67
Patrick Lane is one of Canada’s pre-eminent poets, and winner of numerous awards, including the Governor General’s Award, the Canadian Authors’ Association Award, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence and three National Magazine Awards. His distinguished career spans 50 years and 25 volumes of poetry, including last year’s Collected Poems, as well as award-winning books of fiction and non-fiction, such as his Governor General’s Award-winning memoir, There Is a Season. Lane lives near Victoria with his wife, the poet Lorna Crozier. Shari Lapeña Ontario, Events 43, 72
Shari Lapeña worked as a lawyer and as an English teacher before turning to writing fiction. Her first novel, Things Go Flying, was shortlisted for the 2009 Sunburst Award. Her second novel, Happiness Economics, was a finalist for the 2012 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour. She has been featured in the Dalhousie Review and the Globe and Mail, and is an alumnus of the Humber School for Writers. Lapeña lives in Toronto and is currently at work on her third novel.
Don’t Miss International Bestselling Author lynne decew director of client services
lynne@h18.com T 604 737 7111 x111 www.h18.com
Kate Mosse Wednesday, October 17 @ 1:00pm - panel Thursday, October 18 @ 8:00pm - panel Friday, October 19 @ 10:00am - panel www.katemosse.com
48
Author Biographies Dennis Lee
Pasha Malla
Ontario, Events 67, 74
Ontario, Events 26, 64
Dennis Lee is the author of more than 20 books, including Civil Elegies, which won the Governor General’s Award, and the children’s classic Alligator Pie. He was a founder of House of Anansi Press, and has served as a poetry editor and consultant for other major publishers; he also wrote most of the lyrics for the 1980s TV series Fraggle Rock. His most recent collection of poems is Testament. Dennis Lee’s appearance is made possible in part by the Betty & Ralph Gustafson Chair of Poetry at Vancouver Island University.
Annabel Lyon British Columbia, Events 42, 48
Annabel Lyon’s story collection Oxygen and book of novellas The Best Thing for You, were published in Canada to wide acclaim. The Golden Mean, her first novel, was a Canadian bestseller and is being published in six languages. It won the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize and was nominated for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Governor General’s Award and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. Her eagerly anticipated follow-up is The Sweet Girl. Lyon lives in New Westminster with her husband and two children. Linden MacIntyre Ontario, Events 51, 72
Linden MacIntyre is a co-host of the fifth estate and the winner of 10 Gemini Awards for broadcast journalism. His first novel, The Long Stretch, was nominated for a CBA Libris Award and his boyhood memoir Causeway: A Passage from Innocence won a number of awards. His second novel, The Bishop’s Man, won the Scotiabank Giller Prize, among other honours, and has been translated into eight languages. His new novel, Why Men Lie, is a remarkable look at the complexities and contradictions in the relationships between men and women. Kyo Maclear Ontario, Events 9, 33
Kyo Maclear was born in England and grew up in Toronto. Her debut novel, The Letter Opener, won the K.M. Hunter Artist Award and was shortlisted for the Amazon.ca First Novel Award. While her new novel, Stray Love, is entirely a work of fiction, it is informed by her experience of living with her father, a foreign correspondent who recorded the first interviews with American POWs in North Vietnam. Maclear is also an award-winning visual arts writer and the author of two children’s books, Spork and Virginia Wolf. Alistair MacLeod Nova Scotia/Ontario, Event 68
Alistair MacLeod is recognized as one of Canada’s most distinguished writers. His acclaimed short stories are collected in the volume Island, and his novel No Great Mischief won several awards, including the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. He taught creative writing at the University of Indiana and is a professor emeritus at the University of Windsor. MacLeod was raised in Cape Breton and still spends his summers there. He was commissioned by the Vancouver Writers Fest to write a short story in honour of our 25th anniversary.
Pasha Malla’s debut short fiction collection, The Withdrawal Method, won the Trillium Book Award and the Danuta Gleed Literary Prize, was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book Award, longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and chosen as a Globe and Mail and National Post book of the year. Malla has also published a collection of poems, All Our Grandfathers are Ghosts. His new novel, People Park, is a suspenseful and hilarious slice of social satire. Nina Matsumoto British Columbia, Event 30
Nina Matsumoto (better known by her online alias, “space coyote”) is an Eisner Award-winning comic book artist. Critically acclaimed for her unique style and versatility, she has released two volumes of her original manga, Yokaiden. A lifelong fan of The Simpsons, she regularly pencils for Bongo Comics (Simpson Comics, Bart Simpson Comics). She also illustrated The Last Airbender Prequel: Zuko’s Story, and regularly draws and paints designs for the T-shirt company, Meat Bun. Norah McClintock Ontario, Events 5, 30
Norah McClintock’s many crime novel series for young readers— Chloe & Levesque, Mike & Riel, Robyn Hunter and Orca Soundings—have been popular internationally. She is a five-time winner of the Crime Writers of Canada’s Arthur Ellis Award for Best Juvenile Crime Novel. Although McClintock is a freelance editor, she still manages to write at least one novel a year; her latest is Close to the Heel. Zakes Mda South Africa, Events 25, 56, 66
Zakes Mda is the author of eight acclaimed novels, including Cion, The Whale Caller, The Madonna of Excelsior, She Plays with the Darkness, The Heart of Redness and Ways of Dying. He is a professor of creative writing at Ohio University and has taught at both Yale and the University of Vermont. The Heart of Redness won the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award. Mda lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Athens, Ohio. His new book, Sometimes There Is a Void, is a memoir. Zakes Mda’s appearance is made possible by the Creative Writing Program at UBC.
Stephen Miller British Columbia, Events 19, 63
Stephen Miller is a Vancouver-based author, playwright and actor. He has appeared in The X-Files, DaVinci’s Inquest and Millennium. He has an M.A. from the University of British Columbia’s Creative Writing program and is the author of two acclaimed historical thrillers featuring Inspector Pyotr Ryzhkov: Field of Mars and The Last Train to Kazan. Miller’s latest novel is The Messenger.
49 Donna Morrissey Nova Scotia, Events 11, 28
Donna Morrissey is the author of three award-winning novels, Kit’s Law, Downhill Chance and Sylvanus Now, and a screenplay, Clothesline Patch, which won a Gemini Award. Her work has been translated into several languages. Morrissey grew up in The Beaches, a small fishing outport in Newfoundland, and now lives in Halifax. Her new novel is The Deception of Livvy Higgs.
A TOUCHSTONE THEATRE PRODUCTION
Garry Thomas Morse British Columbia, Event 44
Kate Mosse United Kingdom, Events 19, 40, 42
Kate Mosse is the author of two non-fiction books, two plays and five novels, including the multi-million-selling international bestseller Labyrinth. The first of her Languedoc trilogy, it was translated into 37 languages and published in 40 countries. The second in the series, Sepulchre, was also a #1 bestseller, as was her novella The Winter Ghosts. The third Languedoc novel, Citadel, has just been published. Mosse is the co-founder and honorary director of the prestigious Orange Prize for Fiction. Susan Musgrave British Columbia, Events 47, 67, 72
Susan Musgrave’s books include a bestselling novel, Cargo of Orchids; a collection of essays, You’re in Canada Now... A Memoir of Sorts; and her latest collection of poetry, Origami Dove, which was a finalist for the 2011 Governor General’s Award. Recent prizes include the BC Civil Liberties Association Liberty Award for Art and the Spirit Bear Award, a tribute recognizing the significance of a vital and enduring contribution to the poetry of the Pacific Northwest. She lives on Haida Gwaii. Riel Nason New Brunswick, Events 45, 72
Riel Nason’s short fiction has appeared in many literary journals in Canada, including the Malahat Review, Grain, Dalhousie Review, Room and the Antigonish Review. She has also written many non-fiction articles on antiques and collectibles, including a long-time column in New Brunswick’s Telegraph-Journal. Her first novel, The Town That Drowned, won the Margaret and John Savage First Book Award and the Commonwealth Book Prize. Susin Nielsen British Columbia, Events 1, 15
Susin Nielsen got her start feeding cast and crew muffins and bologna sandwiches on the award-winning TV series Degrassi Junior High, for which she later wrote several episodes. While working in television she wrote three children’s books: Hank and Fergus (winner of the Mr. Christie’s Silver Medal Award), Mormor Moves In and The Magic Beads. Her more recent novels are Word Nerd, Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom and The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen. She lives in Vancouver.
“A provocative literary detective story” THE GLOBE AND MAIL
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Garry Thomas Morse has published one previous collection of fiction, Death in Vancouver, and four books of poetry: Transversals for Orpheus, Streams, After Jack and Discovery Passages, which was a finalist for both the Governor General’s Award and the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. Morse received the 2008 City of Vancouver Mayor’s Arts Award for Emerging Artist and has twice been selected as runner-up for the Robert Kroetsch Award for Innovative Poetry. Minor Episodes / Major Ruckus is his second book of fiction.
Author Biographies
50
“LACED WITH PRICELESS OBSERVATIONS, BOTH OUTRAGEOUS AND SUBTLE” —The New York Times
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Martine Nöel-Maw Saskatchewan, Events 3, 17, 38
Martine Nöel-Maw was born and raised in Quebec, but has made Saskatchewan her home since 1993. A French literature graduate from Université de Montréal, she worked in communications and human resources before acting on her passion and plunging headfirst into writing for youth and adults. She is the recipient of two Saskatchewan Book Awards, for Amélia et les papillons and Dans le pli des collines. Her latest novel is Les fantômes de Spiritwood. Martine Noël-Maw est née et a grandi au Québec, mais elle a adopté la Saskatchewan en 1993. Diplômée en littérature française de l’Université de Montréal, elle a travaillé en communications et en ressources humaines avant de donner libre cours à sa passion et de plonger dans l’écriture pour les jeunes et les adultes. Elle est récipiendaire de deux prix Saskatchewan Book Awards, pour Amélia et les papillons et Dans le pli des collines. Son tout dernier roman est intitulé Les fantômes de Spiritwood. Kenneth Oppel
David Sedaris’s
SANTALAND DIARIES TRUE CONFESSIONS OF AN ELF
Starring Ryan Beil
Ontario, Events 29, 35
Kenneth Oppel is the Governor General’s Award-winning author of the Airborn series and The Silverwing Saga, which has sold more than one million copies worldwide. His novel This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein was a finalist for a 2011 Governor General’s Award, and a film based on the book is currently in development. The sequel, Such Wicked Intent, has just been published. Oppel lives in Toronto with his wife and three children. Shane Peacock Ontario, Events 5, 18
Shane Peacock is an award-winning novelist, playwright, journalist and television screenwriter. His bestselling series for young adults, The Boy Sherlock Holmes, has been published in 10 countries in 12 languages and has appeared on more than 40 shortlists. Shane lives in the countryside north of Cobourg, Ontario. Louise Penny Québec, Events 57, 65
November 22–December 22
Louise Penny had a career as a broadcaster with CBC before she began writing mysteries. Her first, Still Life, won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Crime Novel, along with awards in the United States and United Kingdom. Her subsequent novels featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache have earned her an enthusiastic following as well as several more awards. Penny lives near Montreal. Her new book is The Beautiful Mystery. Emily Perkins New Zealand, Events 72, 75
Emily Perkins is the author of Not Her Real Name, a collection of short stories that won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize and was shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. She has written three novels: Leave Before You Go, The New Girl and Novel About My Wife, which won the Believer Award. She lives in Auckland. Emily Perkins’ appearance is supported by Creative New Zealand.
season sponsors
51 Anne Perry
Rebecca Rosenblum
United Kingdom, Events 39, 69
Ontario, Events 50, 76
Anne Perry published her first novel in 1979 and has since written more than 50 bestselling books of historical detective fiction in several series, most recently a new Thomas Pitt novel, Dorchester Terrace, and Blood Red Rose, the latest in her Timepiece series for young adults. Perry joins us this year to discuss her new novel, A Sunless Sea, and a sanctioned biography in which she talks about a notorious crime she committed in her youth. Anne Perry’s appearance is made possible in part by the Surrey International Writers’ Conference.
Gordon Pinsent Newfoundland, Events 10, 28
Gordon Pinsent’s 60-year acting career has seen him work with Judi Dench, Shirley Douglas, Olympia Dukakis, Norman Jewison, Christopher Plummer, Sarah Polley, Kevin Spacey, Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie, among others. His engaging and entertaining new autobiography, Next, charts the high and low points of that career, and offers advice to young actors, writers and directors. Lighthearted and fascinating, Pinsent’s book offers a unique look at the world of Canadian show business.
Rebecca Rosenblum works in publishing during the day, writes short stories evenings and weekends, and…that’s pretty much it. She spends her remaining time on the bus or asleep or both. Her short fiction has been published in a number of magazines and anthologies, and shortlisted for the Journey Prize, the National Magazine Award and the Danuta Gleed Award. Her first collection of stories, Once, won the MetcalfRooke Award. Her latest collection is The Big Dream. She lives in Toronto. Robert Rotenberg Ontario, Event 57
Robert Rotenberg is one of Toronto’s top criminal lawyers. After graduating from law school, he worked as a magazine editor in Paris and Toronto before beginning his law practice, but it was always his dream to write fiction. His novels featuring Detective Ari Green have been enthusiastically received; they are Old City Hall, The Guilty Plea and, most recently, Stray Bullets. He lives in Toronto with his wife, television news producer Vaune Davis, and their three children. Anakana Schofield
Nancy Richler
British Columbia, Event 51
Québec, Events 46, 58
Anakana Schofield is an Irish-Canadian writer of fiction, essays and literary criticism. She has contributed to the London Review of Books, the Recorder: The Journal of the American Irish Historical Society, the Globe and Mail and The Vancouver Sun. She has lived in London and Dublin, and now resides in Vancouver. Malarky is her critically acclaimed first novel.
Nancy Richler’s first novel, Throwaway Angels, was shortlisted for the 1997 Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Crime Novel. Her second novel, Your Mouth Is Lovely, won the 2003 Canadian Jewish Book Award for fiction and Italy’s 2004 Adei-Wizo Prize. Born in Montreal, Nancy Richler lived in Vancouver for many years but has recently returned to Montreal, which provides the setting for her new novel, The Imposter Bride. J. Jill Robinson Alberta/British Columbia, Events 46, 76
J. Jill Robinson is the author of four collections of short stories: Saltwater Trees, Lovely in Her Bones, Eggplant Wife and Residual Desire. Her critically acclaimed fiction and creative non-fiction have appeared in a wide variety of magazines and literary journals and have won numerous awards. Her first novel, More in Anger, took 10 years to write and has been published to considerable acclaim. Robinson divides her time between Banff and Galiano Island. Rachel Rose British Columbia, Event 44
Rachel Rose holds dual US and Canadian citizenship, and her work has appeared in various journals in both countries. Her first book, Giving My Body to Science, was a finalist for the Gerald Lampert Award, the Pat Lowther Award and the Grand Prix du Livre de Montréal, and won the Québec Writers’ Federation A.M. Klein Award. Her second book, Notes on Arrival and Departure, was published in 2005. Her latest book of poetry is Song and Spectacle.
Emily Schultz Ontario, Events 43, 55, 63
Emily Schultz’s acclaimed books include Black Coffee Night, a finalist for the Danuta Gleed Award, Joyland and Heaven is Small, a finalist for the 2010 Trillium Award. Her writing has appeared in the Globe and Mail, Eye Weekly, The Walrus, Geist and several anthologies. Schultz also edits an influential website called Joyland, which publishes short fiction and commentary from across North America. Her new novel is The Blondes. She lives in Toronto and New York. Kim Scott Australia, Events 42, 56
Kim Scott’s first novel, True Country, was published in 1993. His second, Benang: from the Heart, won the 2000 Miles Franklin Award and the Western Australian Premier’s Book Award. He is currently based at Curtin University in Western Australia. Scott is a descendant of the people living along the south coast of Western Australia prior to colonization, and is proud to be among those who call themselves Noongar. His new novel is That Deadman Dance. Kim Scott’s appearance is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Council for the Arts, its funding and advisory body.
52
Author Biographies Rick Scott British Columbia, Events 2, 14
Rick Scott has been sharing his unique blend of spoken word, music and humour with audiences for more than 40 years. He has released 18 recordings, solo and with the iconic BC folk trio Pied Pumkin, and his seven children’s CDs have been honoured with three Juno nominations and Parents’ Choice, NAPPA Gold and Canadian Folk Music Awards. Scott’s latest book, The Great Gazzoon, was inspired by his experiences of confronting his own fear while learning to walk tightrope for the title role of the circus musical Barnum. Richard Scrimger
Cory Doctorow
Ontario, Events 5, 35
Gail Jones
Richard Scrimger is the award-winning author of more than 15 books for children and adults. His books have been translated into Dutch, French, German, Thai, Korean, Portuguese, Slovenian, Italian and Polish. The father of four children, he has written humorous pieces about his family life for the Globe and Mail and Chatelaine. His latest novel is Ink Me. Carol Shaben British Columbia, Events 12, 36
Louise Penny
Happy Birthday
VIWF!
Raincoast congratulates the Writers Festival on its 25th anniversary and welcomes our exceptional authors to Vancouver. Go to www.raincoast.com/viwf to enter to win signed book prizes — Author
Events
(see program for details)
—
CORY DOCTOROW • 60 & 64 GAIL JONES • 9, 40, 56 & 75 LOUISE PENNY • 57 & 65
Carol Shaben has won two National Magazine Awards for her journalism. Her first book, Into the Abyss, recounts the experiences of four men who survived a plane crash in the remote wilderness of Northern Alberta in 1984. The survivors were Larry Shaben, the author’s father and Canada’s first Muslim Cabinet Minister; the rookie pilot, an RCMP officer, and the criminal he was escorting. Shaben’s book combines in-depth reporting with sympathy and grace to explore how a single, tragic event can become a catalyst for transformation. Lemn Sissay United Kingdom, Events 13, 27, 34
Lemn Sissay is a poet, playwright and associate artist at Europe’s largest arts complex, Southbank Centre. He was the first poet commissioned to write for the 2012 Olympics; his poem “Spark Catchers” is etched into a transformer on the Olympic site. In 2010, he was made an MBE by the Queen of England for services to literature. His books include Rebel Without Applause, Morning Breaks in the Elevator and Listener. Arthur Slade Saskatchewan, Events 15, 18, 35
Arthur Slade was raised in the Cypress Hills of southwest Saskatchewan and began writing at an early age. He is the author of 17 books, including Dust, a national bestseller which won the Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature, Tribes, and the Hunchback Assignments series. The first volume in the Hunchback series won the prestigious TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, and the second, The Dark Deeps, was a finalist for two Canadian Library Association awards. The latest installment is Island of Doom. Slade lives in Saskatoon. Carrie Snyder Ontario, Events 45, 48
Carrie Snyder was born in Hamilton and grew up in Ohio, Nicaragua and Ayr, Ontario. Her first book, Hair Hat, was nominated for the Danuta Gleed Award for Short Fiction. Her latest collection, The Juliet Stories, has received rave reviews. She lives in Waterloo with her husband and four children, and writes a blog called Obscure CanLit Mama.
53 Emily St. John Mandel United States, Events 58, 63
Emily St. John Mandel was born in British Columbia, studied dance in Toronto and lived briefly in Montreal before relocating to New York. Her first two novels, Last Night in Montreal and The Singer’s Gun, were both Indie Next Picks, among other distinctions. She is a staff writer for The Millions, and her work has appeared in the recent anthologies The Late American Novel: Writers on the Future of the Book and Venice Noir. Her new book is The Lola Quartet.
vancouver writers fest & PENGUIN GROUP (Canada) present
David Suzuki British Columbia, Event 77
David Suzuki, co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation, is an award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster. He is renowned for his radio and television programs that explain the complexities of the natural sciences in a compelling, easily understood way. Dr. Suzuki has written 52 books, including Sacred Balance, The Legacy and 19 books for children, and his broadcasting career has earned him countless awards. He is recognized as a world leader in sustainable ecology, and is a Companion of the Order of Canada. Linda Svendsen British Columbia, Events 43, 76
Linda Svendsen’s linked collection of short stories, Marine Life, was nominated for the LA Times First Book Award and released as a feature film. Svendsen’s television writing credits include an adaptation of Margaret Laurence’s The Diviners; and she co-produced and co-wrote the TV miniseries Human Cargo, which garnered seven Gemini Awards and a George Foster Peabody Award. She is a professor in the Creative Writing Program at the University of British Columbia. Her new novel is Sussex Drive. Susan Swan Ontario, Events 40, 51
Susan Swan’s last novel, What Casanova Told Me, was a finalist for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. Her other novels include The Wives of Bath (which was made into the feature film Lost and Delirious), The Biggest Modern Woman of the World (finalist for the Books in Canada First Novel Award and the Governor General’s Award), The Last of the Golden Girls and the short story collection Stupid Boys are Good to Relax With. Her new novel is The Western Light. Madeleine Thien Québec, Event 56
Madeleine Thien was awarded the Canadian Authors Association Air Canada Award for most promising Canadian writer under age 30 in recognition of her first book, Simple Recipes, a collection of short stories, which also received the City of Vancouver Book Award, the VanCity Book Prize and the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. Her novel, Certainty, won the Amazon.ca/Books in Canada First Novel Award, the Ovid Festival Prize and was a finalist for the Kiriyama Prize for Fiction. Her latest novel is Dogs at the Perimeter.
JIAN GHOMESHI The wildly popular host of CBC Radio One’s Q has penned a memoir based on his teenage desire to be David Bowie. 1982, the book’s title, was a “pivotal period in my life,” writes Ghomeshi. “I acquired the black clothing and the hair gel to be New Wave. To be Bowie. By which I mean, almost Bowie… I was probably the only PersianCanadian New Waver." Tonight CBC host Stephen Quinn talks to Ghomeshi about coming of age in the eighties in Canadian suburbia and the changing nature of cool.
Monday, November 19 @ 7:30 pm Frederic Wood Theatre 6354 Crescent Road University of British Columbia
Tickets: $21 general/ $19 students & seniors (plus service charges) Tickets:
604.629.8849 or vancouvertix.com
54
Author Biographies Kim Thúy
John Vigna
Québec, Events 12, 24
British Columbia, Events 12, 46
Kim Thúy was born in Saigon and arrived in Canada in 1979 at the age of 10. She has worked as a seamstress, interpreter, lawyer and restaurant owner. She currently lives in Montreal where she devotes herself to writing. Her autobiographical first novel, Ru, was a bestseller in Quebec and won the Governor General’s Award for French Fiction. It has now been translated into English. Kim Thúy est née à Saigon et elle est arrivée au Canada en 1979 à l’âge de 10 ans. Elle a travaillé comme couturière, interprète, avocate et propriétaire de restaurant. Elle vit présentement à Montréal où elle se consacre à l’écriture. Pour son premier roman autobiographique, Ru, elle a obtenu un grand succès en librairie et elle a reçu le Prix du Gouverneur général pour la fiction en langue française. Le roman est maintenant traduit en anglais. Sarah Tsiang Ontario, Events 4, 8
Sarah Tsiang has an MFA from UBC and is also an awardwinning poet who publishes poetry under the name of Yi-Mei Tsiang. Sarah’s book A Flock of Shoes was inspired by a line from the last poem in her collection of poetry Sweet Devilry. She is also the author of Dogs Don’t Eat Jam and Other Things Big Kids Know and Warriors and Wailers: 100 Ancient Chinese Jobs You Might Have Relished or Reviled. Jane Urquhart Ontario, Events 67, 73
Jane Urquhart’s award-winning novels include The Whirlpool, Changing Heaven, Away, The Underpainter, The Stone Carvers and A Map of Glass. She is also the author of a collection of short fiction, Storm Glass, and four books of poetry. Her work has been translated into numerous languages. Urquhart has received the Marian Engel Award, and is a Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France and an Officer of the Order of Canada. Her most recent novel is Sanctuary Line. Aritha Van Herk ALBERTA, Event 55
Aritha Van Herk made a splash more than three decades ago when her novel Judith won the Seal First Novel Award. Since then, she has published award-winning works of fiction, history and criticism. Van Herk is also a prolific reviewer and critic for many publications, including the Globe and Mail, Calgary Herald and The Walrus. As a professor of creative writing at the University of Calgary, she has ushered a number of new voices onto the Canadian literary scene. M.G. Vassanji Ontario, Events 23, 25
M.G. Vassanji is the author of six novels, two collections of short stories and two works of nonfiction. He has won the Scotiabank Giller Prize for both The Book of Secrets and The InBetween World of Vikram Lall, and the Governor General’s Award for Non-Fiction for A Place Within: Rediscovering India. His novel The Assassin’s Song was shortlisted for both the Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Governor General’s Award. His new book is The Magic of Saida.
John Vigna is an award-winning fiction and non-fiction writer. In his debut collection of short stories, Bull Head, Vigna tempers raw and at times cruel rural masculinity with graceful prose and breathtaking tenderness to illuminate the plight of men who belong to neither history nor the future. He lives in Richmond, British Columbia, with his wife, the author Nancy Lee. Seán Virgo Saskatchewan, Events 47, 51, 67, 75
Seán Virgo was born in Malta, and grew up in South Africa, Ireland and the UK. He became a Canadian citizen in 1972 and has lived in Haida Gwaii, Newfoundland, various Gulf Islands, the Bruce Peninsula and, for the last few years, in southwest Saskatchewan. His first publications were poetry, but he is better known for his short fiction collections, including White Lies, Wormwood, Waking in Eden, A Traveller Came By and Begging Questions, and a novel, Selakhi. A new collection of stories, Dibidalen, has just been published. Russell Wangersky Newfoundland, Events 28, 71
Russell Wangersky’s most recent novel, The Glass Harmonica, won the 2010 BMO Winterset Award and was longlisted for the ReLit Awards. His previous book, Burning Down the House, won non-fiction awards from both coasts, as well as the Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction. The Hour of Bad Decisions was longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, and was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize. Wangersky lives and works in St. John’s, where he is an editor and columnist with the St. John’s Telegram. His new book, Whirl Away, is a collection of short stories. Mélanie Watt Québec, Events 4, 7, 21, 32
Mélanie Watt’s best-known book, Scaredy Squirrel, has won many awards, including the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award for children’s picture book and the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award. Subsequent Scaredy Squirrel books have met with enthusiastic reviews and incredible sales, confirming the arrival of kid lit’s newest superstar; the latest is Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Christmas. Chester, Chester’s Back! and Chester’s Masterpiece are about a megalomaniac cat who is every bit the antithesis to Scaredy. Watt lives in Montreal. Le roman le plus connu de Mélanie Watt, Frisson l’écureuil, a remporté de nombreux prix, dont le Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award, catégorie livre illustré pour enfants, et le prix Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award. Les éditions suivantes du roman Frisson l’écureuil ont été saluées par la critique et ont connu des ventes incroyables, confirmant l’arrivée sur le marché de la nouvelle grande vedette de la littérature pour enfants; son dernier livre s’intitule Frisson l’écureuil se prépare pour Noël. Chester, Chester – Le retour! et Chef-d’œuvre de Chester racontent l’histoire d’un chat mégalomane aux antipodes du personnage de Frisson l’écureuil. Mélanie Watt vit à Montréal.
55 Jessica Westhead
Janet Wilson
Ontario, Events 50, 71
Ontario, Events 16, 37
Jessica Westhead’s short stories have appeared in major literary journals in Canada and the United States. Her first novel, Pulpy & Midge, was nominated for the ReLit Award. Her short-story collection And Also Sharks, published last year, was a Globe and Mail Top 100 Book, a nominee for the CBC Bookie Awards, and a finalist for the Danuta Gleed Short Fiction Prize. In 2012, CBC Books named Jessica one of the “10 Canadian women writers you need to read now.” She lives in Toronto.
Janet Wilson’s picture book Our Earth: How Kids are Saving the Planet was the winner of the Science in Society Book Award and was named a Smithsonian Notable Book for 2010. Her book One Peace: True stories of Young Activists won the Children’s Roundtable 2009 Information Book Award. Her latest book, Shannen and the Dream for a School, is based on the real-life activism of teenager Shannen Koostachin in Northern Ontario’s Attawapiskat First Nation community.
Gillian Wigmore
David H.T. Wong
British Columbia, Event 44
British Columbia, Event 8
Gillian Wigmore grew up in Vanderhoof, British Columbia, and graduated from the University of Victoria in 1999. She has been published in Geist, CV2, filling station and the Inner Harbour Review, among others. Wigmore won the 2008 ReLit Award for her work Soft Geography and was also shortlisted for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize in British Columbia. She lives in north-central British Columbia with her husband and two children. Her highly anticipated second book of poetry is Dirt of Ages.
David H. T. Wong is a Vancouver-born architect and urban ecologist who has designed airports, houses, regional town centres and destination resorts in more than a dozen countries. His background as a biologist has helped him embrace sustainable techniques and he has advised government and industry leaders on common sense green initiatives. His first graphic novel, Escape to Gold Mountain, has just been published.
56
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Call (604) 605-read to subscribe. 7/9/12 8:25:11 AM
58 A free, regular reading series!
An Exploration of Books & Ideas Alice MacKay Room, VPL Central Library – 7:30 pm Incite is back for the spring on January 16, 2013. The Festival doesn’t end in October; join us for readings, discussions and interviews with your favourite authors January through May at the VPL.
“This was a treat and a great opportunity to hear insights from a writer with many relevant observations about our world. Thanks for making it possible!”
—N.F. 2012 Incite audience member Vancouver Public Library www.vpl.ca
Please visit our website for event details: writersfest.bc.ca/events/incite.
Flexible. Comprehensive. Challenging The BFA and MFA in Creative Writing
Since 1965, UBC has been home to one of North America’s most respected and innovative writing programs. With ten genres of study, the on-campus program encourages a uniquely comprehensive exploration of writing craft and practice.
The Optional Residency MFA
With seven genres of study, more flexibility and less time on campus, students can now be part of UBC’s MFA program by distance education. Unique features include full-time or part-time study, with up to five years to complete the degree, an optional yearly summer residency and online workshops and mentorships.
On-Campus Faculty Steven Galloway Annabel Lyon Keith Maillard Maureen Medved Andreas Schroeder Linda Svendsen Peggy Thompson Rhea Tregebov Bryan Wade
Optional Residency Faculty Luanne Armstrong, Joseph Boyden, Gail Anderson-Dargatz, Brian Brett, Sioux Browning, Charlotte Gill, Maggie de Vries, Wayne Grady, Sara Graefe, Stephen Hunt, Annabel Lyon, Peter Levitt, Susan Musgrave, Karen Solie
For more information: www.creativewriting.ubc.ca
THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
59
VANCOUVER WRITERS FEST & RANDOM HOUSE OF CANADA LTD present
✓Step 1: Read this ad ❑ ❑ Step 2: See the authors at The Vancouver Writers Fest
MARTIN AMIS
❑ Step 3: Sample the book at harpercollins.ca ❑ Step 4: Buy the book at a retailer near you!
Renowned author Martin Amis talks about his new novel, Lionel Asbo: State of England, an exuberant, acidic satire of modern society and celebrity culture. Arguably his finest novel yet—constantly hilarious, often frightening and strangely touching—Lionel Asbo is sure to make its eponymous anti-hero famous.
Sunday, October 14 @ 7:30 pm Granville Island Stage 1585 Johnston Street Vancouver
Tickets: $21 general/ $19 students & seniors (plus service charges)
BE SOCIAL harpercollins.ca
@harpercollinsCA
Harpercollins Canada
Tickets:
604.629.8849 or vancouvertix.com
60
vancouver writers fest presents The Vancouver Writers Fest's annual Gala fundraiser Celebrate the Festival’s 25th Anniversary with an evening of festivity, food and literary laughs hosted by Gloria Macarenko, with performances by the Good Noise Gospel Choir. All proceeds benefit Spreading the Word, the Festival’s education program.
Monday, October 15, 2012 Fairmont Waterfront 900 Canada Place Way
a workshop with
RECEPTION: DINNER: DRESS: TICKETS:
LYNDA BARRY Writer and cartoonist Lynda Barry offers a workshop called Writing the Unthinkable which helps people tap into their creativity, using a simple method that is playful, powerful and reliable. The workshop is designed not only for established and aspiring writers, but also for those who have always wanted to write but have no idea how to begin. Barry’s latest books, What It Is and Picture This, are inspirational take-home extensions of this writing workshop. Get ready to write! “Lynda Barry was fantastic! The interactive workshop was very useful to get ideas flowing and to write from our experiences. Lynda is vivacious, personable, humorous and great to watch/listen to. She is inspirational, definitely recommend her events to aspiring artists.” — L.H. 2010 Writers Fest Workshop Participant
“Lynda Barry is inspirational, motivating and affirming” — R.L. 2010 Writers Fest Event Attendee
Sunday, September 30 @ 10 am to 1 pm Studio 1398 1398 Cartwright Street, Granville Island
Tickets: $40 (plus service charges) Tickets: 604.629.8849 or vancouvertix.com
6:00 pm 7:30 pm Cocktail or “party dress” $175
Corporate tables also available PRESENTING SPONSOR: Scotia Private Client Group RECEPTION SPONSOR: Vancouver Film School
For tickets please call the Festival office at 604.681.6330 ext 109.
it’s all
happening Happy 25th anniversary t h e va n c o u v e r w r i t e r s f est
Arno koPeCk y
the
D e v i l’s A Journey into Power AnD P r o f i t A t t h e A m A z o n ’s e D g e
C u rve America, But Better Brian Calvert and Chris Cannon
Everything Under the Sun
The Devil’s Curve
Book of Marvels
Arno Kopecky
Lorna Crozier
David Suzuki and Ian Hanington
We are having a party at vwf! Subscribe to our newsletter at dmpibooks.com to receive an invitation.
The Fourteenth Annual Vancouver Writers Fest Poetry & Short Story Contest The Invitation
Submit your finest prose and poetry to the Vancouver Writers Fest Poetry & Short Story Contest.
The Rewards
Prizes will be awarded to the top two entries in poetry and fiction.
$500 2ND PRIZE IN EACH CATEGORY: $350 1ST PRIZE IN EACH CATEGORY:
First prize winners will published in subTERRAIN and on the Festival website: writersfest.bc.ca.
sponsored by
The Rules
1. The contest is open to all writers. 2. Entries will be accepted for previously unpublished work in each category: a. Poetry (any style): 500-word limit b. Creative Short Fiction: 1,500-word limit. 3. Entries will be judged blind. Please do not put your name on your story or poem. On a separate sheet, include your name, address, phone number and the word count of your piece. For each story or poem, please include a $15 entry fee. Make cheques payable to the Vancouver Writers Fest. Multiple entries can be paid for on one cheque. 4. Drop off or mail two copies of each entry to the Vancouver Writers Fest, 202–1398 Cartwright Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R8. 5. Your entry should be typed, double-spaced, on 8½ × 11-inch paper. 6. Please do not send originals; entries will not be returned. 7. Winners will be selected by a panel of professionals in the publishing and book industry. 8. Entries must be postmarked or delivered on or before 5:00 pm on Sunday, October 21, 2012. 9. Winners will be announced by Wednesday, January 16, 2013.
Stop Dickens around. Get your Wordsworth. EXPLORE WRITING AND LITERATURE AT LANGARA
Whether you’re looking to hone your cra or start a literary conversation, we’ve got the University, Career, and Continuing Studies programs and courses to help you find the right words. Choose from: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, graphic narrative, creative writing, playwriting, screenwriting, songwriting, copywriting, journalism, publishing, and much more. Join our community of readers and writers.
Apply now. www.langara.bc.ca
get into Our Shorts in the time it takes the show to start
VWF and cStories celebrate Russell Wangersky
cStories.ca CORMORANT BOOKS