2019 Vancouver Writers Fest Program Guide by Vancouver Writers Fest

FES TI VA L EXP ER I EN C E

W E L C O M E T O T H E 2 0 1 9 VA N C O U V E R W R I T E R S F E S T LESLIE HURTIG

• ARTISTIC DIRECTOR the way in showing Canadians the path forward. She has programmed five events for us, including two for youth, two for adults, and one for fans of Stephen King, because what’s a Festival without a little fun?

It has been a pleasure this year to peruse the lists of books being published by small and large presses across Canada, the United States and Europe. There has been a noticeable trend toward highlighting the voices of under-represented minorities, making the offering of titles being published in English both varied and essential. Opening boxes from any publisher is always a joy because the treasures that lie inside hold the potential to take us on unexpected journeys. At the Vancouver Writers Fest, this is exactly what we hope to achieve when we invite audiences into our venues. Whether the audience is a pint-sized primary school group, or a sold-out gathering of Festival fans, they are in for a rare treat; to be introduced to the wonders of an individual’s unique story. This year we are thrilled to welcome award-winning author, journalist and activist, Tanya Talaga, as our second annual Guest Curator. Through her work as a columnist at The Toronto Star, and with her two best-selling books, Seven Fallen Feathers and All Our Relations: Finding the Path Forward, Tanya has led

At the heart of our programming lies the desire to entertain and enlighten our guests. This year, you will find events that delight with on-stage performances, including improv with The Fictionals, and our classic music/lit fan-favourite, The Literary Cabaret featuring Sal Ferreras’ Poetic License, this year in their farewell event at the Festival. As well, we will feature authors such as Naomi Klein, Alicia Elliott, Maude Barlow and Adam Gopnik, in events that inspire with thoughtful dialogue and discourse. Add these to our outstanding line-up of fiction authors, including Emma Donoghue, Tash Aw, Mona Awad, Elif Batuman, Cherie Dimaline and Michael Crummey, along with dozens of other gems from the Canadian literary scene including some of the best children’s authors in the country, and this measures up to a week of events you won’t want to miss. Whether it’s in our special event lead-up to the Festival week featuring Malcolm Gladwell, or during the 80 plus events we’re holding during the Festival, we know that there is something for everyone. Please join us for this program of exceptional books, ideas and dialogue.

Leslie Hurtig, Artistic Director

Contents Festival Info

Letter from the Artistic Director 01 Letters from the Executive Director & Board Chair 02 Guest Curator & Membership 03 Venues, Map & Parking 04 Festival Tickets 05 Acknowledgments 06 Festival Bookstore 06 Our Supporters 07 Board & Staff 08 Festival Authors 08 Events By Genre 09

Adult Festival Events Monday, October 21 Tuesday, October 22 Wednesday, October 23 Thursday, October 24 Friday, October 25 Saturday, October 26 Sunday, October 27

Youth Festival Events

Youth Education Programs Tuesday, October 22 Wednesday, October 23 Thursday, October 24 Friday, October 25 Saturday, October 26

12 12 13 14 16 22 25 66 28 30 35 40 43

Festival at a Glance 38 Author Biographies 44 Year-Round Content

In Memoriam Our Year-Round Donors Special Events

64 68 71

How To Choose An Event By Author: Each author bio lists (by number) the events in which that author is appearing. See pgs 44–63 for bios. By Genre: In the Events by Genre section, Festival Events have been categorized under 22 popular genres. See pgs 9–11 To Locate A Venue: Refer to the map on pg 4. 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.

WE L CO M E

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W E ACK N OW L E D G E

Welcome to the 2019 Vancouver Writers Fest

TA N YA TA L A G A — A Message from our Guest Curator

NICOLE NOZICK • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR I have an immense sense of pride in the collective accomplishments of the magnificent cohort of staff and volunteers who comprise this organization. Together with my esteemed colleague, Leslie Hurtig, and with strong leadership from our Board of Directors, I feel honoured to steward its direction.

It is always a sincere delight to present our annual Festival and to revel in the joy and excitement generated by the 80+ events described within these pages.

This year, in particular, has ushered in an era of unprecedented growth, a genuine desire to deliver on ambitious expectations, an eagerness to embrace change and a willingness to hold ourselves to a higher standard of excellence. As an organization, we have made important strides in deepening connections with the community around us, forging new partnerships and broadening our reach. These accomplishments are indicative of

our approach to growth which is to deepen the impact, engagement and quality of the conversations we share on our stages rather than striving to be the ‘biggest literary festival’. Our attitude to growth is evidenced by the multi-dimensional, thoughtprovoking and timely conversations at this Festival’s myriad events; events that boldly speak to the issues of the day while remaining focused on our mission to connect people to exceptional books, ideas and dialogue, igniting a passion for words and the world around us. The fruit of our labour is further exhibited by the increased partnerships, schools and attendees joining us. The Writers Fest’s lofty aspiration to create a world in which the transformative power of books and ideas is the foundation of

an empathetic, inspired and just society is in part actualized by our commitment to supporting equity, access and inclusion. Our full day of free events—an effort to remove barriers to access—is testimony to that resolve. This Festival will expand on that commitment through offering events at additional, larger venues across the city and a transport service to our free day of events. We are deeply grateful to the partner organizations, donors and public sector funders who have supported us in this endeavour. Welcome to our 2019 Festival— we are so happy you’re joining us!

Nicole Nozick, Executive Director

The VWF is known for its inclusivity and openness to diverse perspectives, and this year will be no different. In an era of growing antipathy in other parts of the world to different values and perspectives, instead we choose to listen to the ideas and visions of others— because this is the foundation of how we build community. I am honoured to work with the VWF to build this year’s community of writers and thinkers and change-makers. My hope is we together find a balance in three possibilities. First, the celebration of the art of writing and to hold up those who refocus our attention through books to the things that matter. Second, our openness to hear difficult stories from some of our neighbours and still hold on to the fact that we humans are resilient.

And third, a hope that we envision a Canada which fully includes and celebrates First Nations, Inuit and Métis contributions and leadership. Writers are one part of our community which pushes us to think about a better future. Let’s find a path forward together for all our relations. Tanya Talaga Appearance generously supported by Tourism Vancouver.

J I L L I A N C H R I S T M A S — Spoken Word Curator A L E X I A J O N E S • B OA R D O F D I R E C T O R S C H A I R On behalf of the Board of Directors, welcome to the 2019 Festival. This has been a pivotal year for the VWF with a new mission, vision and strategic plan.

Part of our mission is to connect people to exceptional books, ideas and dialogue and we hope you think this year’s program does exactly that. This year we are excited to welcome Tanya Talaga as our Guest Curator who has created five events during the Festival week. We would also like to thank Jillian Christmas, our Spoken Word Curator, who helped to program three events for our Youth Education offerings. We hope you have time to check out the fresh and innovative programming offered in our over 80 events.

We could never deliver the quality authors and events that we do without your continued support and generosity. Whether you are new to the Festival or a returning supporter, thank you for coming. We hope you are inspired and transformed by what you see, read and hear this year!

Alexia Jones, Board Chair

Jillian Christmas is a queer, black writer living on the unceded territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam people, where she served for six years as Artistic Director of Verses Festival of Words. As an enthusiastic organizer and advocate in the Canadian arts community, her focus has been to increase anti-oppression initiatives in spoken word. She has executed programs in partnership with Toronto Poetry Project, The Chan

The Vancouver Writers Fest carries out its work on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil‑Waututh First Nations.

Centre, Vancouver Opera, and more. Jillian has performed and facilitated spoken word workshops for youth and adults across the country and beyond. Her forthcoming debut book of poetry will be released in Spring 2020 with Arsenal Pulp Press.

Become a Festival Member By becoming a Member of the Vancouver Writers Fest Society, you join our community of passionate readers and help sustain the Festival. We reward our members with a number of benefits that include: — Early access to Festival ticket sales — Festival program guide mailed to your home — Invitations to exclusive Member-only events — $2 discount on all Festival tickets — Access to our 6 for 5 deal (see pg 5 for more details) We have two membership options: One-year membership: $40 Two-year membership: $70 Show your passion for books and ideas by joining our Writers Fest community today. Visit writersfest.bc.ca/membership.

V E N UE S , M A P & PA R K I N G I N F O

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FALSE CREEK

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OCEAN CEMENT

EMILY CARR UNIVERSITY

JOHNSTON STREET

RON BASFORD PARK

P R

P ST

8 P

EE E STR

A M

SUTCLIFFE PARK

2. Granville Island Stage (Arts Club) 1585 Johnston St. 3. The Revue Stage 1601 Johnston St.

Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema SFU Woodward’s 149 W Hastings St. The Vancouver Playhouse 600 Hamilton St.

Parking Information

Parking time can be purchased at parking stations, using cash or credit cards, or by using the Honk, EasyPark or PayByPhone app. A full day pass is available for $14. Contact CMHC Granville Island at (604) 666-6655. Off-Island parking at the EasyPark lot (990 Lameys Mill Rd.) and on the north side of False Creek. Consider leaving your car there and coming across on False Creek Ferries or the Aquabus.

I L L ROA D LAMEY’S M

Map Legend 1. Granville Island Public Market

Early bird tickets: Monday September 9, 2019 (VWF Members only) School groups: Wednesday, September 11, 2019 General tickets: Monday, September 16, 2019

• Free parking 6 pm–11 am A L D E R B AY

REET SON ST

E D AV E N U WEST 2N

Chan Centre for the Performing Arts 6265 Crescent Rd.

• Pay parking in effect 11 am–6 pm

ANDER

B R O K E R ’ S B AY

Ticket Sales Dates

Off Island Venues

Granville Island has a new parking system:

RIDG OLD B

4. Waterfront Theatre 1412 Cartwright St. 5. Festival Box Office Main Floor Festival House 1398 Cartwright St.

6. The NEST Third Floor Festival House 1398 Cartwright St. 7. Festival Bookstore 1359 Cartwright St.

8. Performance Works 1218 Cartwright St. 9. Granville Island Hotel 1253 Johnston St.

FES TI VA L TI C K ETS

How to Buy Online: theatrewire.com Phone: 778-654-5054 In person: The Festival box office is located on Granville Island at Festival House, 1398 Cartwright St. All box office sales—by phone, online or in person—close three hours before the start of each event. For last-minute ticket purchases, visit the event venue 45 mins prior to the performance.

Saturday Books & Ideas – a day of pay what you can events A portion of tickets are available to reserve in advance online. All events have tickets available at the door on a first-come first‑serve basis. Doors open 45 minutes prior to the start time; we recommend arriving early as events fill up quickly. IMPORTANT! Reserving online does NOT guarantee entry. You must present yourself to the venue box office AT LEAST 15 minutes before the start time in order to claim your ticket. All unclaimed reserved tickets will be given to the next in line.

Public Transit & Ferries

A roundtrip shuttle bus service will operate from the Main Street Skytrain Station (Main/Terminal) to Granville Island from 10:00am–7pm. For more information visit writersfest.bc.ca.

The #50 bus stops just outside Granville Island on Anderson St.

6 for 5 Deal for Members

Many other buses stop along Granville St. and West 4th. Ferries travel from various locations along the north and south shores of False Creek to Granville Island at frequent intervals.

Members of the Vancouver Writers Fest Society can receive six tickets for the price of five (lowest-priced ticket cost waived) using the promotional code provided in the membership package mailed in mid-August. Call the Festival box office at 778-654-5054 for assistance. For further information about Membership, see page 3.

Translink Schedule Information translink.ca

General Information

False Creek Ferries granvilleislandferries.bc.ca Aquabus theaquabus.com

Programming is subject to change without notice. Visit writersfest. bc.ca for the latest program updates. Please check your tickets carefully as there are no exchanges. Refunds will be given only for cancelled events.

Theatre Wire Service Charges $3.50 per ticket (online/by telephone/in person/at the door). $.50 per ticket for school group sales.

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Inclusivity at the Festival The Vancouver Writers Fest strives to create a welcoming space for everyone to engage with ideas that can transform our world. Safety, inclusion and acceptance are essential components of our Festival and our values. • Mobility access – all Festival venues are accessible to people using mobility aids. • Reduced ticket prices – for seniors and youth under 30. • Gender-neutral – washroom facilities at all our venues. • Courtesy seating – for anyone with mobility challenges, physical disabilities or chronic pain. • Hearing impairment – we provide ASL interpretation at events on request. • Free or reduced-price – for community organizations and individuals impeded by cost. • School subsidies – for school groups to assist with ticket and travel costs. • Free programming – we offer a full day of free events on Saturday October 26, 2019. In addition, many VWF events are free of charge including our year-round education outreach programs and our Incite series in partnership with the VPL. For more information on how to access the above and to request ASL interpretation (two weeks before the event date), please email info@writersfest.bc.ca. Creating dialogue has been at the heart of our Festival for more than 30 years. We look forward to seeing you at the 2019 Festival!

Box Office Hours Monday to Friday: 10:00 am–4:00 pm Saturdays from September 14–Oct 26: Noon–4:00 pm Closed statutory holidays MasterCard, Visa and cash (in person) are accepted.

Box Office Specials Senior discount with valid ID: $2 off the regular ticket price Youth under 30 with valid ID: $15 Member discount: $2 on all Festival events (conditions apply, promo code required) Full-Day Friday Package — Make the most of your Friday at the Festival. Purchase tickets to four events on Friday, October 25, and save up to $25! To access this subscription via Theatrewire.com, simply select the Friday events you wish to attend. The savings will automatically be applied to your order. This offer is available only for bundles of multiple events, not multiple tickets to a single event. Full-day Friday package (incl. service charges): $60.

On Broadway 2557 West Broadway 604-738-5335 In the Village 3040 Edgemont Blvd. 604-986-6190

AC K N OWL E D G M E N T S

F E S T I VA L B OO K S T O R E

Thank You

Buying Your Books

Thank you to the following publishers for supporting author appearances at this year’s Festival.

Festival Bookstore: In a fantastic NEW location at 1359 Cartwright St.

Anvil Press Arsenal Pulp Press Biblioasis Book *hug Coach House Books Coteau Books Douglas & McIntyre ECW Press Freehand Books Goose Lane Editions Greystone Books Hachette Book Group Canada HarperCollins Canada Heritage House Publishing Highwater Press House of Anansi Press and Groundwood Books

Inhabit Media Invisible Publishing Kids Can Press Mawenzi House Nightwood Editions Orca Book Publishers Penguin Random House Canada Publishers Group Canada Raincoast Books Scholastic Canada Simon & Schuster Canada Talon Books Touchwood Editions UBC Press Wilfrid Laurier University Press Wolsak & Wynn Publishers Ltd. World Editions

more BOOKS for your BUCK 100% family owned 2 locations in vancouver

broadway + ash main + king edward

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TH A N K S TO O U R S P O N S O R S & D O N O R S TITLE SPONSOR

COLLECTOR’S EDITION SPONSOR

The Festival Bookstore, operated by local independent bookseller, Kidsbooks, stocks titles from all featured Festival authors, making it a perfect place to browse between events. Books are also sold at each event, with signings by the featured writers.

Festival Bookstore Hours Tuesday, October 22: 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Wednesday, October 23–Saturday, October 26: 10:00 am–10:00 pm Sunday, October 27: 10:00 am–5:00 pm

A phenomenal supporter of the Festival: Holman Wang

BESTSELLER EDITION SPONSOR

As a lawyer and highly original children’s author, Holman Wang knows the importance of vital dialogue and diverse representation. Holman has been volunteering as a board member since 2018, utilizing his legal background to ensure that the Writers Fest policies and procedures are up-to-date and supportive of staff and patrons alike. As a donor, Holman takes issues of diversity seriously and values the broadening scope of the Festival’s programming and unique voices presented on Festival stages. “There is a lot of darkness in the world and I believe that well-curated ideas and discussions around books are an antidote to that darkness.”

LIMITED EDITION SPONSOR

MEDIA SPONSOR

We thank Holman for his enthusiastic support for our accessibility initiatives that ensures everyone in our community can be inspired at Festival events, igniting within them a passion for words and the world around us. Join Holman and donate today (or plan a gift in your will or life insurance) by contacting: Andrew Forshner, Development Director – aforshner@writersfest.bc.ca – 604-262-2080

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Our Festival relies on its donors One third of the funding for the Vancouver Writers Fest is from our community supporters. We rely on our donors and sponsors to sustainably program events buzzing with ideas. Support a key cultural Festival on the West Coast of Canada and one of the world’s finest literary festivals. The Vancouver Writers Fest is a non-profit organization and a registered charity. Please help us continue to shape and vitalize our cultural community. Donate today, visit writersfest.bc.ca/donate or call 604-262-2080.

FESTIVAL SUPPORTER

LONSDALE event rentals

ABO UT US

AUTHORS

Founder And Lifetime Member

Festival Authors

Alma Lee

A B C D E F G H I J K

Board Of Directors Chair Alexia Jones

Treasurer Ramona Chu

Vice Chair Shannon Taylor

Members At Large Kyla Epstein Sandy Jakab Harvey McKinnon

Secretary Holman Wang

Robert McLean Amanda Ross Nisha Sikka Terry Whitehead

Staff Artistic Director Leslie Hurtig Executive Director Nicole Nozick Development Director Andrew Forshner Marketing & Publicity Manager Zoe Grams, ZG Communications Marketing & Development Assistant Lauren Dembicky Senior Artistic Associate Clea Young Operations Manager Chelsee Damen Outreach Coordinator Leena Desai Festival Assistant Claire Zhao

Festival Assistant (CSJ) Courtney WardZbeetnoff Bookkeeping Boyd Norman, Office Alternatives Volunteer Manager Kathryn Fowler Assistant to the Volunteer Manager Jaiden Dembo Festival Operations Coordinator Steve Adams Venue Coordinator Leanne Zacharias Sunday F&B Coordinator Kaen Seguine Catering Coordinators Bridget Daughney Elizabeth Glancy

Hospitality James Tyler Irvine Production Manager Eduardo Ottoni Production Coordinator Katja Schlueter Night Manager John Sullivan Festival Box Office Theatre Wire Program Guide Advertising Clevers Media Festival Designs and Program Guide Carter Hales Design Lab Program Guide Printing Mitchell Press

This program guide is printed on recycled paper made with 30% post-consumer waste, and bleached without the use of chlorine or chlorine compounds.

Caroline Adderson Rosetta Allan Cale Atkinson Tash Aw Mona Awad Nafiza Azad Maude Barlow Elif Batuman Billy-Ray Belcourt Cassandra Blanchard Columpa Bobb Tanya Boteju Candis Callison Raes Calvert Tania Carter Sara Cassidy Stephen Chbosky Michael Christie Lynn Coady Armando Lucas Correa Sarah Cox Ivan Coyote Michael Crummey Kayla Czaga Annahid Dashtgard Dina Del Bucchia Cherie Dimaline Emma Donoghue Alicia Elliott Marina Endicott Emma Field Julie Flett Adam Foulds Brian Francis John Freeman Adam Gopnik Charlotte Gray Robyn Harding Aleksandar Hemon Sarah Henstra Nazanine Hozar Kirstie Hudson Dallas Hunt Brett Huson Anosh Irani Helena Janeczek Harold R. Johnson Aviaq Johnston Eve Joseph Daniel Heath Justice Andrew Kaufman Kaie Kellough Sabina Khan Naomi Klein Taran Kootenhayoo Tanya Lloyd Kyi

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L M N O P R S T V W

Deborah Landau Tom Lanoye Sarah Leavitt Linden MacIntyre Elizabeth MacLeod Lee Maracle Lauren Markham Derek Mascarenhas Karen McBride Bob McDonald Beverley McLachlin Vuyo Mgoduka Sean Michaels David Moscrop Carey Newman Wilfried N’Sondé Chigozie Obioma Alix Ohlin Sean Harris Oliver Anna Mehler Paperny Kit Pearson Sara Peters Rachel Poliquin Ruby Porter Steven Price Joanne Ramos Zalika Reid-Benta Bill Richardson Hassan Ghedi Santur Anakana Schofield Lorimer Shenher Kanwer Singh (aka Humble The Poet) Tasha Spillett Ashley Spires Ted Staunton Aron Nels Steinke Darryl Sterk Bindu Suresh Kevin Sylvester Tanya Talaga Mariko Tamaki Souvankham Thammavongsa Jesse Thistle Joan Thomas Alicia Tobin Rhea Tregebov Ayelet Tsabari Richard Van Camp Holman Wang Lawrence Weschler Iona Whishaw Jenny Heijun Wills G. Willow Wilson Teresa Wong Wu Ming-Yi

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EVEN TS B Y G EN R E

Events by Genre

FICTION

A DU LT

p. 12 p. 12 p. 12 p. 13 p. 13 p. 14 p. 14 p. 14 p. 16 p. 16 p. 16 p. 17 p. 17 p. 18 p. 20 p. 20 p. 21 p. 21 p. 22 p. 22 p. 24 p. 24 p. 24 p. 25 p. 25 p. 26 p. 26

CANLIT p. 12 p. 12 p. 13 p. 13 p. 13 p. 13 p. 14 p. 14 p. 15 p. 20 p. 22 p. 24 p. 25 p. 26

#01 #11 #14 #25 #26 #28 #29 #40 #41 #57 #65 #71 #78 #79

Between The Pages An Evening with Emma Donoghue CanLit Fiction Showcase Lee Maracle: A Life’s Work Masters of Creative Non-Fiction The Lives of Girls & Women Writing the Edge of the World Prose Under Pressure Night Class: Brief Craft Lessons from UBC Creative Writing The Poetry Bash Best Canadian Poetry Love & Obsession Good Reads Poets Talking

CURRENT AFFAIRS / POLITICS p. 13 p. 16 p. 16 p. 17 p. 22 p. 23 p. 23 p. 25 p. 25 p. 25 p. 26

#24 #45 #46 #51 #62 #68 #69 #73 #74 #75 #82

Whose Water Is It, Anyway? Politics & Prose Democracy in Flux Voices for Change The Interviews with Marsha Lederman Naomi Klein in Conversation with Kathryn Gretsinger On Belonging: Indigenous Strength and Hope in the Wake of Genocide Adam Gopnik in Conversation with Marsha Lederman The Essay: Political Fuel Finding Home Beverley McLachlin in Conversation with Laura Lynch

INDIGENOUS VOICES p. 12 p. 12 p. 13 p. 16 p. 17 p. 23

#10 #13 #25 #48 #51 #69

Hope Matters Tanya Talaga in Conversation with Jael Richardson Lee Maracle: A Life’s Work Educating with the Witness Blanket Voices for Change On Belonging: Indigenous Strength and Hope in the Wake of Genocide

#01 Between the Pages #11 An Evening with Emma Donoghue #12 International Showcase #14 CanLit Fiction Showcase #28 The Lives of Girls & Women #29 Writing the Edge of the World #30 The Fictionals: Improv X Literature #40 Prose Under Pressure #44 Bina, Bunny & The Idiot #47 Buzzworthy Books #49 Linden MacIntyre in Conversation #50 Reinventing the Novel #52 Big Stories, Small Packages #53 Rooted in the Past #56 The Fascinating World(s) of Wu Ming-Yi #58 European Showcase #59 American Women #60 Freeman’s #63 Mystery Three Ways #66 YA Rising #70 Difficult Inheritances #71 Love & Obsession #72 The Literary Cabaret #76 The Sunday Brunch #78 Good Reads #80 Emerge #81 The Afternoon Tea

HISTORY p. 18 #53

Rooted in the Past

INTERNATIONAL AUTHORS p. 12 p. 13 p. 16 p. 16 p. 16 p. 17 p. 18 p. 20

#12 #27 #44 #45 #47 #52 #53 #56

International Showcase Tash Aw in Conversation with Eleanor Wachtel Bina, Bunny & The Idiot Politics & Prose Buzzworthy Books Big Stories, Small Packages Rooted in the Past The Fascinating World(s) of Wu Ming-Yi

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E V E NTS BY G E N R E

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EVEN TS B Y G EN R E

INT ERNATIONAL AUTHORS (CONT’D)

ON WRITING

YOU T H

MENTAL HEALTH

p. 20 p. 21 p. 21 p. 22 p. 24 p. 24 p. 24 p. 25 p. 25 p. 26

p. 14 p. 15 p. 16 p. 17 p. 17 p. 18 p. 25

CURRENT AFFAIRS/POLITICS

p. 29 #08 p. 36 #34 p. 36 #36

#58 European Showcase #59 American Women #60 Freeman’s #62 The Interviews with Marsha Lederman #70 Difficult Inheritances #71 Love & Obsession #72 The Literary Cabaret #75 Finding Home #76 The Sunday Brunch #81 The Afternoon Tea

INT ERVIEWS p. 12 p. 13 p. 16 p. 22 p. 25 p. 25 p. 26

#13 #27 #49 #62 #73 #77 #82

Tanya Talaga in Conversation with Jael Richardson Tash Aw in Conversation with Eleanor Wachtel Linden MacIntyre in Conversation The Interviews with Marsha Lederman Adam Gopnik in Conversation with Marsha Lederman All About Oliver: Lawrence Weschler in Conversation with Dr. Brian Goldman Beverley McLachlin in Conversation with Laura Lynch

#40 #41 #45 #50 #52 #55 #74

PERFORMANCES p. 29 p. 30 p. 32 p. 14 p. 36 p. 20 p. 24

#05 #15 #20 #30 #35 #57 #72

p. 12 #09 Truth-Telling p. 24 #70 Difficult Inheritances p. 25 #75 Finding Home

NON-FICTION

SCIENCE

p. 12 p. 12 p. 13 p. 13 p. 16 p. 16 p. 16 p. 22 p. 22 p. 23 p. 23 p. 25 p. 25 p. 25 p. 26

p. 22 #61

#09 Truth-Telling #13 Tanya Talaga in Conversation with Jael Richardson #24 Whose Water Is It, Anyway? #26 Masters of Creative Non-Fiction #45 Politics & Prose #46 Democracy in Flux #48 Educating with the Witness Blanket #61 An Earthling’s Guide to Outer Space #67 The Pictures of Adult Life #68 Naomi Klein in Conversation with Kathryn Gretsinger #69 On Belonging: Indigenous Strength and Hope in the Wake of Genocide #73 Adam Gopnik in Conversation with Marsha Lederman #74 The Essay: Political Fuel #77 All About Oliver: Lawrence Weschler in Conversation with Dr. Brian Goldman #82 Beverley McLachlin in Conversation with Laura Lynch

Word! (1) Word! (2) The Fictionals: Build Your Own Adventure The Fictionals: Improv X Literature Van Slam The Poetry Bash The Literary Cabaret

POETRY p. 12 p. 13 p. 18 p. 20 p. 22 p. 26

MEMOIR

Prose Under Pressure Night Class: Brief Craft Lessons from UBC Creative Writing Politics & Prose Reinventing the Novel Big Stories, Small Packages The Art of Building Suspense The Essay: Political Fuel

#10 #25 #54 #57 #65 #79

Hope Matters Lee Maracle: A Life’s Work Poetry Four Ways The Poetry Bash Best Canadian Poetry Poets Talking

#42 #43 #55 #63

The Four Questions Democracy in Flux Voices for Change

FICTION p. 29 p. 29 p. 32 p. 32 p. 32 p. 34 p. 34 p. 36 p. 37 p. 37 p. 40 p. 40 p. 42 p. 43

#04 #06 #17 #19 #20 #21 #22 #36 #38 #39 #47 #49 #52 #66

Love Sucks Shamans, Warriors & Tricksters Fairies, Unicorns & Woodland Creatures New Series to Sink Your Teeth Into The Fictionals: Build Your Own Adventure Goodreads: YA Edition Art Alive The Fiction of Belonging Pirates & Pudding Epic Squad Buzzworthy Books Linden MacIntyre in Conversation Big Stories, Small Packages YA Rising

HISTORY p. 32 #18 p. 42 #53

Canadian Biographies Rooted in the Past

NATURE/ENVIRONMENT p. 29 #07 p. 34 #23

Animal Kingdom Birds, Bannock & Bears

NON-FICTION p. 29 #08 p. 32 #18 p. 43 #61

Under Pressure Canadian Biographies An Earthling’s Guide to Outer Space

ON WRITING p. 28 #02 p. 35 #31 p. 40 #50

Pen to Power All Roads Lead to Writing Reinventing the Novel

PERFORMANCE p. 29 p. 30 p. 32 p. 36

#05 #15 #20 #35

Word! (1) Word! (2) The Fictionals: Build Your Own Adventure Van Slam

PICTURE BOOK/GRAPHIC NOVELS HUMOUR An Earthling’s Guide to Outer Space

THRILLER/MYSTERY/CRIME p. 15 p. 15 p. 18 p. 22

p. 30 #16 p. 40 #46 p. 40 #51

Under Pressure Empowered Kids The Fiction of Belonging

Thrills & Chills A Tribute to Stephen King The Art of Building Suspense Mystery Three Ways

p. 28 #03 p. 32 #20

Comics & Comedy The Fictionals: Build Your Own Adventure

INDIGENOUS VOICES p. 29 p. 29 p. 30 p. 34 p. 35 p. 37 p. 40 p. 40

#06 Shamans, Warriors & Tricksters #07 Animal Kingdom #16 The Four Questions #23 Birds, Bannock & Bears #33 Witness Blanket #37 Redpatch #48 Educating with the Witness Blanket #51 Voices for Change

p. 28 p. 34 p. 35 p. 43

#03 #22 #32 #64

Comics & Comedy Art Alive Graphic Novels Galore A Morning of Cozy Classics

POETRY p. 29 p. 30 p. 36 p. 42

#05 #15 #35 #54

Word! (1) Word! (2) Van Slam Poetry Four Ways

WHAT’S O N

MONDAY 21 OCTOBER

Between the Pages: An Evening with the Scotiabank Giller Prize Finalists AUT H O R S TO B E A N N O U N C E D SE P T E M B E R 3 0 Moderator: Leslie Hurtig Info: 7:30 pm, VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE Price: $26 Without fail, the winner of the annual Scotiabank Giller Prize becomes a household name in Canada. Those shortlisted also step into the proverbial hall of CanLit fame, their titles splashed across best-of lists at year end for good reason. No wonder the shortlist is a staple of many bibliophiles’ reading lists. Our annual on-stage interview with finalists of the Giller Prize kicks off the Festival, with names revealed on September 30. Hear about the creative processes, anticipations and camaraderies between incredible creatives before the winner is announced on November 18. Check our website for the lineup of visiting authors. Presented in partnership with the Scotiabank Giller Prize.

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FOR YOUTH EVENTS #02–#08, SEE PAGE 28.

TUESDAY 22 OCTOBER

Truth-Telling A N N A H I D DA S H TGA R D, A NN A M E H L E R PA P E R NY, L O RI M E R S H ENH E R Moderator: Carol Shaben Info: 6:00 pm–7:15 pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $20 Annahid Dashtgard dedicates Breaking the Ocean, her powerful memoir on race, rebellion and reconciliation, to “anyone who has struggled to belong.” Indeed, often the most fascinating lives are forged in hardship. These deft authors bravely interweave their own experiences into insights on our most pressing social issues. Prepare to be surprised, moved and entertained by Dashtgard, alongside award-winning Reuters reporter, Anna Mehler Paperny, whose darkly funny memoir Hello I Want To Die Please Fix Me depicts both her own struggle with depression and a deeply flawed healthcare system; and former VPD detective, Lorimer Shenher, who shares a deeply honest portrayal of his mid-life coming of age and gender transition, in his acclaimed memoir, This One Looks Like a Boy.

TUESDAY 22 OCTOBER

CanLit Fiction Showcase

Whose Water Is It Anyway?

C O L U M PA BOB B, TA N I A C A R TE R, LEE M A R AC LE

M I C H A EL C H R I S TI E, S A R A H H EN S TR A , R I C H A R D VA N C A M P

M AU D E BA R LOW, C A N D I S C A LLI S O N , S A R A H C O X,

Moderator: Zsuzsi Gartner Info: 8:30 pm, THE NEST Price: $20

Moderator: Leila Harris Info: 6:00 pm–7:15 pm, PERFORMANCE WORKS Price: $20

What defines our communities? Is it history or humour? Politics or propaganda? In Michael Christie’s dystopian epic, Greenwood, scientist Jacinda Greenwood uncovers a personal connection to one of the world’s last remaining forests. Sarah Henstra plunges readers into divisive campus politics, as sophomore Karen searches for belonging while navigating tense conflicts between frat boys and radical feminists in her Governor General’s Award-winning The Red Word. Richard Van Camp’s latest collection of stories, Moccasin Square Gardens, comically illuminates life in the Denendeh, the land of the people north of the sixtieth parallel. In the face of social upheaval, these authors explore the innumerable ways we shape and are shaped by the places we inhabit.

As access to natural resources becomes more fraught in the face of climate crisis, so does debate of the essential question in Maude Barlow’s new book, Whose Water Is It, Anyway? Barlow, Honorary Chairperson of the Council of Canadians, joins award-winning investigative journalist and Breaching the Peace author, Sarah Cox, and Candis Callison, professor at the UBC Graduate School of Journalism and author of How Climate Change Comes to Matter, to discuss, highlighting how individuals and communities can affect real change in the face of threats.

Tash Aw in Conversation with Eleanor Wachtel

The Lives of Girls & Women

Moderator: Joanne Arnott Info: 6:00 pm–7:15 pm, THE NEST Price: $20 “Hope frees, hope relieves; hope moves us… In the end, Hope Matters.” So begins a powerful collection of poetry from literary matriarch, Lee Maracle, and her daughters Columpa Bobb and Tania Carter, depicting the journey of Indigenous peoples from colonialism to reconciliation. Hailed by authors, media, politicians and community leaders, and quickly becoming a modern classic, its pages contain a powerful, moving conversation steeped in loss, acceptance and belief. The three family members and cocreators discuss the process of collaborating; the movement of this book from dream to reality; and the timeless role of women in ensuring that hope endures in the face of all.

International Showcase

The Alma Lee Opening Night Event: Tanya Talaga in Conversation with Jael Richardson

Man Booker finalist Emma Donoghue is an undeniable sensation who shot to acclaim for penning both the novel and screenplay for Room. Since then, the author has lived with a foot in both worlds, turning her bestselling books into equally coveted scripts. What do you learn about your work as it transforms into new mediums? Has writing for Hollywood changed her approach to writing novels? In an intimate evening, this hilarious bestselling author shares her new novel, Akin, in which a retired professor takes an unexpected journey to the French Riviera with his great nephew—hoping to uncover family secrets—and reflects on the challenges of adapting her stories for screen and her illustrious career to-date.

Settle in for three stunning odysseys from lauded international voices. In Joanne Ramos’ debut novel, The Farm, Jane agrees to surrogacy at a luxury ‘resort’ to support her immigrant family outside its walls. It’s a must-read of 2019, celebrated by book royalty from Oprah to Gary Shteyngart. Booker long-listed Tash Aw bares the brutality of western-driven poverty in Malaysia in We, The Survivors. And Booker finalist Chigozie Obioma’s An Orchestra of Minorities was hailed by The Boston Globe as “a historical treasure” for its depiction of love in the face of class structures. Literature that challenges, and literature that heals: it doesn’t get better than this.

Presented in partnership with Vancouver Film School.

Moderator: Aislinn Hunter Info: 8:00 pm, REVUE STAGE Price: $20

WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER

Hope Matters

An Evening with Emma Donoghue

TA S H AW, C HI G OZ I E OB I OM A , J OA NN E R A M OS

FOR YOUTH EVENTS #15–#23, SEE PAGE 30.

Interviewer: Shaena Lambert Info: 8:00 pm, PERFORMANCE WORKS Price: $26

WH AT’S O N

Info: 8:30 pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $26 This year’s Guest Curator, award-winning journalist and CBC Massey Lecturer Tanya Talaga, writes tirelessly on the injustice of Canada’s treatment of Indigenous peoples. Seven Fallen Feathers and All Our Relations are landmark titles, investigating the deaths of seven Indigenous students in Thunder Bay and the rise of youth suicides in Indigenous communities. Her research has won prestigious awards and, perhaps most importantly, garnered widespread public awareness. In conversation with Festival of Literary Diversity Artistic Director Jael Richardson, Talaga discusses these difficult but necessary investigations, the challenge of writing for change and how she continues to find hope while confronting the hardest of truths. Hear this Anishinaabekwe speak about the progress underway and the great work that lies ahead. Presented in partnership with UBC Library.

Masters of Creative Non-Fiction C H A R LOTTE G R AY, LI N D EN M AC I N TYR E Moderator: Jerry Wasserman Info: 6:00 pm–7:15 pm, REVUE STAGE Price: $20 What happens when an historic event grabs you—and refuses to let go? What are the challenges and rewards of transforming painstaking research into absorbing prose? Hailed as “one of Canada’s best-loved writers of popular history and literary biography,” Charlotte Gray (Murdered Midas) has been showered with awards for precise and richly drawn renderings of historical figures. Giller Prize winner Linden MacIntyre (The Wake) is renowned for his gripping non-fiction and fiction, crafting bestsellers that crackle with suspense and compassion. Undisputed masters of their craft, Gray and MacIntyre delve into their shared background as journalists, their approaches to historical research and their secrets to writing heartstopping, engrossing non-fiction. Presented in partnership with HarperCollins Canada.

Generously supported by Yosef Wosk, in honour of the late Mel Hurtig for his tireless work to make Canada a strong and culturally rich nation.

Info: 7:30 pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $26 Tash Aw’s writing is consistently lyrical and cutting, and has received nominations for the Whitbread First Novel Award, two Man Booker Prizes and The LA Times Book Prize. His new novel, We, the Survivors, captures the expansive changes in Asian societies over the century, and illuminates the lives of those at the bottom of the gulf between rich and poor which, Aw explains, “is much greater than in the west.” His story of Ah Hock—a poor Malaysian fisherman whose dreams of betterment (and a regular salary) are siphoned by an act of violence—is by far Aw’s most personal book, and its potency lingers long after reading. Who better to speak with the author about his ability to unearth the complex modern challenges of a continent than beloved CBC Writers and Company host, Eleanor Wachtel? Presented in partnership with SFU Library.

Lee Maracle: A Life’s Work Interviewer: jaye simpson Info: 6:00 pm–7:15 pm, The NEST Price: $26 “A walking history book,” one of the most prolific Indigenous authors in Canada, recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and an Officer of the Order of Canada, mentor, teacher and Stó:lō mythmaker/storyteller: Lee Maracle’s work in art and activism places her amongst the most influential—and beloved—writers in Canada today. Since her first work published in 1975, Maracle has urged Canada to accept responsibility for the theft of land from Indigenous inhabitants, especially highlighting the challenges faced by Indigenous women across the country. In an intimate conversation, we hear from the Elder about her life’s work, her vision for true reconciliation, and the joys of writing with her two daughters for their latest work, Hope Matters. Maracle is proof of it. Presented in partnership with Vancity.

M O N A AWAD, NAZ ANINE HOZ AR, AL IX OHL IN, LA I S H A ROSNAU Moderator: Claudia Casper Info: 8:30 pm, PERFORMANCE WORKS Price: $20 The relationships we interweave with women as women are affirming, complex, life-giving. The deep histories of shared secrets and experiences with mothers, sisters, cousins, friends become enmeshed with our sense of self, as demonstrated in these novels—four of the hottest books of 2019 and already tipped for award lists. Mona Awad’s spellbinding Bunny shares ever familiar woes of close friendships in an unexpected form; Nazanine Hozar’s Aria has been praised by literary heavyweights from John Irving to Margaret Atwood for its haunting depiction of motherhood; Alix Ohlin delves into a poignant portrait of two sisters in the luminous Dual Citizens; and Laisha Rosnau’s Little Fortress asks how female bonds can be cemented and tested in isolation. Bring your favourite women for an evening that celebrates just that.

14 FOR YOUTH EVENTS #31–#39, SEE PAGE 35. 14

WHAT’S O N

WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER

THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER

Writing the Edge of the World MIC H AE L C R U M ME Y, J OA N T H O M A S

The Fictionals: Improv x Literature TA N YA BOT E J U, D I NA D E L B U C C H I A , A N D RE W K AU F M A N, A L I C I A TOB I N

Moderator: Caroline Adderson Info: 8:30 pm, THE NEST Price: $20 Fiction allows us to travel widely, and these two Canadian literary titans have set their new novels in locations that test the limits of humanity. In Michael Crummey’s riveting The Innocents, two siblings are orphaned in a northern Newfoundland cove, cut off from the world, where they endure a heartbreaking and exhilarating fight for survival. Based on true events, Joan Thomas’ incisive and wrenching Five Wives explores what happens after the wives of five evangelical Christian missionaries are suddenly widowed in the rainforests of Ecuador, but choose to continue their husbands’ work. In a critical and luminous discussion, Crummey and Thomas unpack what drew them to write about such extreme circumstances and what they teach us about tenuous bonds we all share.

Host: Daniel Chai Info: 8:30 pm, REVUE STAGE Price: $20 Watch new stories unfold in front of your eyes during this creative, side-splitting mashup of books and comedy. Known for their hilarity, Tanya Boteju (Kings, Queens and InBetweens), Dina Del Bucchia (It’s a Big Deal!) and Andrew Kaufman (The Ticking Heart) will read from their latest works before improv comedy group The Fictionals create a skit inspired by each story. Then, enjoy a reading from Retail Nightmares host Alicia Tobin’s So You’re A Little Sad, So What? before an unscripted, long-form comedy jam sure to keep you roaring. Presented in partnership with the Master of Publishing (MPub) program at SFU.

THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER

Prose Under Pressure

Night Class: Brief Craft Lessons from UBC Creative Writing

M I C H A E L C R U M M E Y, S TE V E N P R I C E, L A I S H A RO S N AU Moderator: Anne Fleming Info: 6:00 pm–7:15 pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $20 Donne may have warned us that no man is an island, but books about isolation and the strange inner lives of those who seek it, or endure it, are some of the richest in the canon. These immersive new works from CanLit royalty offer further confirmation. Giller Prize finalist Steven Price’s Lampedusa follows a Sicilian prince struggling to complete his novel—and legacy. Laisha Rosnau’s protagonists flee fascism in Italy and choose exile and isolation in Vernon, BC, in Little Fortress. Although Michael Crummey’s orphaned siblings in The Innocents don’t choose their isolation, their story unfolds in a remote cove on Newfoundland’s northern coastline where they must rely on each other to survive. Discover what remarkable things happen in writing when you constrain your characters.

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WH AT’S O N

K EVI N C H O N G , S A R A G R A EFE, TA R I Q H U S S A I N , S A R A H LEAVI TT, EM I LY P O H L-W EA R Y, S H ER YDA WA R R EN ER A N D M O R E Info: 6:00 pm–7:15 pm, THE NEST Price: $15 A rapid-fire evening of craft and creativity as stellar UBC professors teach key writing concepts in 5 minutes or less. Try out concepts, ask questions and listen to UBC students in this interactive, unpredictable crash course. Covering everything from fiction to nonfiction, comics to poetry, playwriting to YA and even song lyrics, you’ll take away key learnings from genre experts and experience what being in a UBC Creative classroom feels like. (There might be homework!) Once school’s out, celebrate your new skills with an open social event immediately afterwards. Presented in collaboration with UBC Creative Writing.

Thrills & Chills

A Tribute to Stephen King

S TEP H EN C H BO S K Y, RO B YN H A R D I N G , N ATH A N R I P LEY Moderator: Robert Wiersema Info: 6:00 pm–7:15 pm, REVUE STAGE Price: $20 Is there a word for that terrifying suspense that leaves you unable to do anything but turn the page? “Unputdownable” is what #1 NYT Bestseller R.J. Palacio said of Stephen Chbosky’s Imaginary Friend. Already this fearsome, ambitious novel from the author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower is poised to become another cult classic. Nathan Ripley became a favourite thriller name with his debut, Find You in the Dark. A story of gun violence and radicalization, Your Life Is Mine is his second chilling work. And Robyn Harding shares yet another bestselling spine-tingler: The Arrangement, one that quickly goes wrong when the protagonist’s older lover is brutally murdered. Enjoy hearing about craft and cruelty from these “unputdownables.”

RO S ETTA AL L AN, TANYA BOT EJ U, STEPHEN CHBOSKY, ARMANDO LUCAS CORREA, I VA N C OYOT E, CHERIE DIMAL INE, C H A R LOT T E GRAY, DAVID MOSCROP, S A R A P ET ERS, NAT HAN RIPL EY, LO R I M ER SHENHER, TANYA TAL AGA, RO B ER T WIERSEMA, J ENNY HEIJ UN WIL L S A N D M ORE Host: Lisa Christiansen Info: 8:00 pm, PERFORMANCE WORKS Price: $20 The Stand, The Shining, The Dark Tower Series, The Green Mile, The Shawshank Redemption and hundreds of other works: Stephen King is as influential as he is prolific. What better way to celebrate him than with storytelling from other celebrated authors from across the globe? We may not be hosting King himself, but this evening offers readers and aspiring writers a perfect opportunity to revel and reflect on his singular storytelling. This is our third event from Guest Curator Tanya Talaga. Presented in partnership with Simon & Schuster.

ALL THE FEELINGS IVAN COYOTE REBENT SINNER

The latest by awardwinning storyteller Ivan Coyote, whose plainspoken narratives astound with their breathtaking humanity.

ALICIA TOBIN

SO YOU’RE A LITTLE SAD, SO WHAT? New from our Robin’s Egg humour imprint: a frank, tender, and hilarious collection of essays by one of the bright lights of Canadian live comedy.

Join an intensive, diverse & collaborative environment for crafting literary excellence. TERESA WONG A poignant graphic memoir about postpartum depression and the complexities of new motherhood.

S E E I VA N , A L I C I A A N D T E R E S A I N P E R S O N AT T H E V W F ! ARSENAL PULP PRESS a r s e n a l p u l p . c o m

UBC’s creative writing program is Canada’s oldest and most respected. We offer an unprecedented 12 genres of study as well as multiple funding and enrichment opportunities.

DEAR SCARLET

Study at the BA Minor, BFA or MFA level.

Fiction • Poetry • Nonfiction • Screenwriting TV Writing • Children & Young Adult Playwriting • Graphic Novel • Podcasting Translation • Song Lyrics • New Media

creativewriting.ubc.ca

• • • • • • •

Work with award-winning faculty. Entrance and continuing scholarships. Flexible, part-time low residency MFA. TA in undergraduate writing courses.* Teach in local high schools.* Edit and manage one of Canada’s oldest literary magazines, PRISM international.* Participate in the Brave New Play Rites theatre festival.

*Note: some opportunities are MFA-only

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WHAT’S O N

TH URSDAY 24 OCTOBER

FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER

WH AT’S O N

FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER

Bina, Bunny & The Idiot

Democracy in Flux

Buzzworthy Books

MON A AWAD, E L I F BAT U M A N , AN A KA N A S C H O F I E L D

A DA M G O P N I K , H A ROL D R . J OH NS ON , DAV I D M O SC RO P

Moderator: Marsha Lederman Info: 8:30 pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $20 Spend an evening with three whip-smart, hilarious and unapologetically audacious bestselling authors. MFA student Samantha falls down a surreal rabbit hole, captivated by a mysterious cult in Mona Awad’s Bunny, named a best book of Summer 2019 by 15 major publications. Wry and laugh out loud funny, Elif Batuman’s Pulitzer Prize finalist The Idiot was praised as “addictive” by Miranda July. Giller Prizeshortlisted Anakana Schofield balances black comedy and compassion in Bina, a tour de force beloved by literary powerhouses including Rachel Cusk and Eden Robinson. Moderated by The Globe & Mail’s Marsha Lederman, these women incisively discuss the craft of comedy and writing independent, self-assured protagonists.

Reinventing The Novel

Voices for Change

M A R I NA E ND I C OTT, A NO S H I R AN I , R U B Y P OR TE R , S TE V E N P R I C E

S A R A P ETER S, A N A K A N A S C H O FI ELD, B I N D U S U R ES H

H A RO LD R . JO H N S O N , DA N I EL H EATH JU S TI C E, C A R EY N EW M A N , TA N YA TA LAG A

P H I LI P HUY NH, ANOSH IRANI, ZA LI K A REID‑BENTA, BIL L RICHARDSON

Moderator: Laura Lynch Info: 10:15 am–11:45 am, GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE Price: $20

Moderator: Jerry Wasserman Info: 10:15 am–11:45 am, PERFORMANCE WORKS Price: $20

Moderator: John Freeman Info: 10:15 am–11:45 am, REVUE STAGE Price: $20

Moderator: Shelagh Rogers Info: 1:00 pm–2:30 pm, GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE Price: $20

Moderator: Caroline Adderson Info: 1:00 pm–2:30 pm, PERFORMANCE WORKS Price: $20

Praised by Quill and Quire as one of “CanLit’s most innovative chameleons,” bestselling author Anosh Irani (Translated from the Gibberish) joins three dazzling talents to share their new work. Winner of New Zealand’s 2018 Michael Gifkins Prize, Ruby Porter’s atmospheric debut, Attraction, follows three women on a road trip, navigating the North Island and their relationships with one another. Marina Endicott’s The Difference, a breathtaking sea voyage across the South Pacific in 1912, explores the notion of this word—between people, continents, cultures and species, while bestselling author Steven Price pulls readers into the mind of Giuseppe Tomasi, a dying prince, in the exquisite Lampedusa. This intimate showcase of mustreads delves into the transformative power of art, and how it shapes authors and readers alike.

Rules were made to be broken in this conversation between visionary authors, each dismantling the conventional novel. Giller Prize shortlisted writer Anakana Schofield’s new book, Bina, is a “novel in warnings” that captures the rage and wit of an unforgettable ordinary-extraordinary woman. In 26 Knots, Bindu Suresh tells a lush, interlocking love story in twenty-six startling vignettes. Employing innovative forms to capture both the fear and transcendence of the women who live in The Town, Sara Peters’ razor-sharp interrogation of gendered violence, I Become a Delight to My Enemies, deftly oscillates between poetry, prose and the profound. Prepare to be delighted by storytelling as you’ve never seen it before.

After decades of violence and ignorance in Canada, the country’s media is finally beginning to give Indigenous authors their due. Demonstrating a variety of ways to write for change, Daniel Heath Justice (Why Indigenous Literature Matters), Harold R. Johnson (Peace and Good Order), Carey Newman (Picking Up the Pieces) and Tanya Talaga (Seven Fallen Feathers, All Our Relations) join Shelagh Rogers for a penetrative conversation on the role literature plays in facilitating justice and resurgence, as curated by Talaga. Together, they share knowledge and reflect on the work they see rising to the fore, the stories that most need to be heard, and what comes next. These are the authors holding our country to account; these are the voices that matter.

Capturing an entire world, a pivotal journey or a startling emotional truth in just a few thousand words is no small feat—but these four authors prove that, in the world of fiction, less can be more. Whether speaking to diaspora, fraught family ties or even the hilarity of the holiday season, Philip Huynh (The Forbidden Purple City), Anosh Irani (Translated from the Gibberish), Zalika Reid-Benta (Frying Plantain) and riotous Festival veteran Bill Richardson (I Saw Three Ships) consider the challenges and advantages that come with keeping it brief. Prepare to be dazzled.

Elif Batuman is presented thanks to the donors of the Hal Wake Legacy Fund.

Churchill’s remark that democracy is the worst form of government—except for all other forms— feels increasingly pressing when atrocities are committed even in the most liberal societies, and a crisis of faith—from Left and Right—undermines our institutions. Are we facing an emergency in democracy? Or simply noticing long-standing failures previously ignored? Three of the finest political minds answer these questions and more. The New Yorker contributor Adam Gopnik argues for a resurgence in liberalism in A Thousand Small Sanities, while political commentator David Moscrop asks whether we are Too Dumb for Democracy? Harold R. Johnson shares an urgent condemnation of the Canadian State’s failure to deliver justice to Indigenous people in Peace and Good Order. A must-see.

Presented in collaboration with The Writers Studio at SFU.

Presented in partnership with Vancity.

Educating with the Witness Blanket

Linden MacIntyre in Conversation

K I RST I E H U D S O N, C A R E Y NE W M A N

Interviewer: Tara Henley Info: 10:15 am–11:30 am, THE NEST Price: $26

Politics & Prose MICHA E L C HR I S T I E , N A Z A N I N E H O ZA R , J OAN N E R AM O S Moderator: David Ebner Info: 8:30 pm, REVUE STAGE Price: $20 Our political systems are broken. We’re inundated with threats of civil unrest and ecological collapse; issues made more pertinent and perilous by ever-increasing class divides. What possibilities do these urgent crises present to fiction? What are the author’s responsibilities when addressing inequity? Formidable voices Michael Christie (Greenwood), Joanne Ramos (The Farm) and Nazanine Hozar (Aria) reflect on their new works, each a powerful interrogation of how these contentious issues affect every level of our society. In keen conversation, they speak to the possibilities for fiction to share crucial perspectives, hold a mirror up to the public and suggest new courses of action at a time when we need them most. Presented in partnership with Penguin Random House Canada.

Info: 10:15 am–11:45 am, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $20 How can we meaningfully engage our communities and our children in discussions about reconciliation? In this conversation for adults, educators and students, Indigenous artist Carey Newman and co-author Kirstie Hudson speak to The Witness Blanket: a collection of photos, letters, hockey sticks, braids, bricks, dolls and other hundreds of items that reside in this living work. In Coast Salish tradition, these blankets uplift the spirit, protect the vulnerable or honour the strong. Newman and Hudson will speak to how we can acknowledge the trauma inflicted on Indigenous peoples by the residential school system, and pay tribute to stories of loss, strength and resistance required for healing. Presented in partnership with Vancity.

Regardless of genre or medium, former CBC Fifth Estate co‑host Linden MacIntyre is an undisputed master storyteller, recognized with 10 Gemini Awards, an International Emmy, the Scotiabank Giller Prize and a Libris Award—just to name a few! For decades, his work has played an integral role in helping Canadians understand our unfolding histories. Now, in captivating conversation, he discusses his latest work, The Wake. With relentless energy and erudite prose, MacIntyre captures the endurance and bravery of generations of Newfoundlanders, examining how the devastating 1929 tsunami irrevocably changed the fate of the province. It’s a triumphant interrogation of the unshakeable entanglements between humans and nature, one that could only be written by an author of MacIntyre’s voracious talent.

Big Stories, Small Packages

Appearing at this year’s festival!

Elizabeth MacLeod Follow us: ScholasticCanada ScholasticCDA scholasticcda

Aron Nels Steinke

Sabina Khan

Nafiza Azad

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WHAT’S O N

FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER

Rooted in the Past

Poetry Four Ways

RO S E T TA AL L A N , A R MA N D O L UC A S CO R R E A , J OAN T H O M A S

D I N A D E L B U C C H I A , K A I E K E L L OU GH , D E BO R A H L A NDAU, S A R A P E TE R S

RO S E TTA A L L A N , S TE P H E N C H BO S K Y, I ON A W H I S H AW

Moderator: Tara Henley Info: 1:00 pm–2:30 pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $20

Moderator: Billeh Nickerson Info: 1:00 pm–2:30 pm, REVUE STAGE Price: $20

Moderator: Amber Dawn Info: 6:00 pm–7:15 pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $20

“What is history? An echo of the past in the future; a reflex from the future on the past.” These words from the eminent Victor Hugo are reflected in three deeply affecting novels rooted in the past. Rosetta Allan’s The Unreliable People is a moving, relevant story of intergenerational trauma following displacement of the Koryo-Saram people from Russia—and Antonina, a third generation ethnic Korean, searching for her identity. Author of the runaway bestseller The German Girl, Armando Lucas Correa explores the loss of home in The Daughter’s Tale: a sweeping family saga from 1939 Berlin to 2015 New York. Meanwhile, Joan Thomas’ Five Wives imagines the fate of Christian missionaries whose husbands were killed in the rainforest of Ecuador in the 1950s.

Meet four phenomenal poets unafraid to play with traditions in this afternoon of electric performances. Writers’ Trust nominee Dina Del Bucchia (It’s a Big Deal!) turns her signature wit to the minutiae of the 21st century, hilariously musing on everything from avocado toast to Instagram. Acclaimed audio artist Kaie Kellough bends sound and space in Magnetic Equator, forging new language as his words traverse personal ancestry and distant geography. Celebrated American poet, Deborah Landau’s Soft Targets is a tour-de-force on climate change and political tensions. Stegner fellow Sara Peters’ gut-wrenching, precise poem-prose hybrid I Become a Delight to My Enemies is an experimental meditation of gendered violence and abuse. Reflecting on their singular crafts and reading their irreplicable work, this is a celebration of creativity pushed past its limits.

How do you keep the pages turning? Three experts of compelling, heart-stopping plots discuss their approach to the craft and how they create suspense. Iona Whishaw shares A Deceptive Devotion, the latest novel in the beloved and addictive Lane Winslow Mystery Series, and how she keeps delivering new mysteries and surprises. The Perks of Being a Wallflower author Stephen Chbosky returns with another modern classic, Imaginary Friend, a high-stakes horror driven by vivid characters. Rosetta Allan grounds her masterful thriller The Unreliable People in compelling, atmospheric historical details. Spanning the genres, these authors demonstrate different strategies for keeping readers hooked and provide a rare opportunity to learn from formidable specialists of twists and tension.

The Art of Building Suspense

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ff, Writers Fest – the sta one at the Vancouver ery ev nk tha to e so many lik for 'd rs We Coast write – for supporting West rs tee lun vo d an rs, y to experience organize authors the opportunit d an es nc die au ng idi years. And for prov and ideas! l discussions of books ba glo ive lus inc d an elevated interwebs: or follow us on the m .co es riz kp oo nb yuko nbookprizes Find out more at bc ukonprizes i: bcyuko cy /b t: s ize pr ok bo f: /bcyukon

WHAT’S O N

FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER

The Fascinating World(s) of Wu Ming-Yi Moderator: Anna Ling Kaye Info: 6:00 pm–7:15 pm, THE NEST Price: $26 Wu Ming-Yi’s meditative and absorbing The Stolen Bicycle cemented his position as one of Taiwan’s most influential contemporary authors, winning the Taiwan Literary Award and longlisted for the Man Booker International Prize. Searching for his bike, a writer becomes pulled into unexpected worlds, immersing himself in Taiwan’s butterfly industry, Japanese military history and the secret network of antique bicycle collectors. Wu Ming-Yi and his English translator Darryl Sterk join Journey Prize shortlisted writer Anna Ling Kaye for a fascinating conversation on the real histories, both personal and national, woven into this globally acclaimed, ambitious epic. Speaking to his nuanced and multidisciplinary approach, this is a stirring introduction to one of Taiwan’s most ground-breaking modern talents. Presented in partnership with the World Literature program at SFU.

The Poetry Bash BILLY-RAY BELCOURT, KAYLA CZAGA, EVE JOSEPH, K A I E K E L L O U G H , DE BOR A H L A N DAU, SO U VA N K H A M TH A M M AVON GS A Host: Aislinn Hunter Info: 8:00 pm, PERFORMANCE WORKS Price: $26 We have two winners of Canada’s most prestigious poetry prize in this year’s Poetry Bash: Billy-Ray Belcourt, whose eviscerating work This Wound is a World mesmerized the country and made him the youngest-ever winner of the Griffin, alongside Eve Joseph, 2019 winner for Quarrels. They are joined by Kayla Czaga, reading from her new collection, Dunk Tank; sound performer Kaie Kellough sharing his inventive Magnetic Equator; The New Yorker contributor and celebrated political poet, Deborah Landau (Soft Targets); and Souvankham Thammavongsa (Cluster)—described as “one of the most striking voices to emerge in Canadian poetry in a generation.” They are hosted by poet and author Aislinn Hunter. We are honoured to pay tribute to the late Patrick Lane within this event.

Winners of the 2019 Bill Duthie Booksellers’ ChoiCe AWArD

European Showcase

American Women

H E L E NA JA N E C Z E K , TO M L A N OY E, W I L F R I E D N’ S ON DÉ

ELI F BATU M A N , JOA N N E R A M O S, G . W I LLOW W I LS O N

Moderator: Bill Richardson Info: 8:00 pm, REVUE STAGE Price: $20 A stunning sampling of Europe’s finest authors, discover the extraordinary works and inspirations of three international talents taking the literary scene by storm. The first woman to win Italy’s prestigious Strega Prize in fifteen years, Helena Janeczek shares The Girl with the Leica, an exhilarating, evocative rendering of German-Jewish war photographer and anti-fascist activist Gerda Taro. One of contemporary Flemish literature’s most revered authors, Tom Lanoye’s previous novel Speechless made him the highest-selling author in the Benelux countries. He shares his remarkable new work, Slaves to Fortune, a scathing satire of the global financial crisis. Leading French Congolese author Wilfried N’Sondé confronts French attitudes towards immigrants and maps out imaginative new moral futures in The Silence of the Spirits. Presented thanks to the support of:

Moderator: Zsuzsi Gartner Info: 8:30 pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $20 The current American administration has sparked ongoing and contentious political debate about —among other things—gender roles and bodily autonomy. In light of so much turmoil, how are female writers defining themselves? Pulitzer Prize finalist and essayist Elif Batuman (The Idiot); creative powerhouse, graphic novelist, Wonder Woman writer and novelist G. Willow Wilson (The Bird King) and O Magazine-praised author Joanne Ramos (The Farm) dive into the themes, politics and events driving American women writers today. Bold and brilliant, these three authors offer keen perceptions on how we define ourselves in the face of contentious political divides. Elif Batuman is presented thanks to the donors of the Hal Wake Legacy Fund.

Freeman’s JO H N FR EEM A N , A LEK S A N DA R H EM O N , LAU R EN M A R K H A M Info: 8:30 pm, THE NEST Price: $20

Rockwood Centre|Sechelt

August 13 -16 2020

tel: 604.885.9631 toll free:1.800.565.9631

www.writersfestival.ca

Pressing societal issues and intricate discussions on writing about them: Freeman’s is always a delight for readers interested in expansive conversation they’ll continue to ponder long after the lights go up. This event is no different, featuring two undeniably powerful voices in contemporary writing, each providing a different perspective on the immigrant experience. Aleksandar Hemon’s parents immigrated from Bosnia to Canada when their lives were upended in the Siege of Sarajevo. The Lazarus Project author shares memories and observations in the intimate My Parents. Named one of the best books of the year by The New York Times Book Review, Lauren Markham’s The Far Away Brothers follows identical twins escaping El Salvador’s violence to build new lives in California. Prepare for a warm, riveting evening hosted by author, critic and eponymous journal editor, John Freeman.

October 24 to November 24 Celebrate Halloween with Chutzpah! Sandra Bernhard: Quick Sand! Thursday October 31 Vogue Theatre She’s always three steps ahead of the crowd. She has to be. She’s Quick Sand. In these fast paced times a lady can’t stop moving – you never know what you might encounter next in this fun house world we’re living in. So Sandra takes control, bringing a mélange of musings, music and whimsy, “never boring j’adoring” is her motto, covering the waterfront of the outrageous, quotidian, and glamorous!

MUSICCOMEDY DANCETHEATRE Full Lineup + Tickets www.chutzpahfestival.com

Photo: Brian Ziegler

We publish brilliant non-fiction

Illustration by Carol La Fave

Generously sponsored by Maureen & Larry Lunn.

pagetwo.com

WHAT’S O N

FOR YOUTH EVENT #64, SEE PAGE 43.

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SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER BOOKS & IDEAS—A DAY OF PAY WHAT YOU CAN EVENTS

SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER BOOKS & IDEAS

Thanks to the support of the Y.P. Heung Foundation, Government of British Columbia and Raincoast Books.

An Earthling’s Guide to Outer Space

The Interviews with Marsha Lederman

BO B M C D O N A L D

A L E K S A N DA R H E M O N, DAV I D M O S C RO P, JE N N Y H E I JUN W I L L S

Info: 10:30 am–12:00 pm, GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE Join one of CBC’s most beloved personalities, Bob McDonald, for a mind-expanding, imagination-popping exploration of the universe. Answering some of our biggest questions about life on our big blue planet and our galactic neighbours—from Martian caves to storm clouds on Jupiter to the nebulae at the far end of the universe—he’ll share behind-the-scenes-at-the-space-station facts. You’ll find out how to become an astronaut, what dark matter really is, how an asteroid actually wiped out the dinosaurs, and more. Few can combine a love for rigorous scientific method with joyful, witty explorations quite like a science journalist. Audience members of all ages will be thrilled by his down-to-earth explorations of the stars. S U ITA B L E F O R AGE S 10 TO 110

Mystery Three Ways

Naomi Klein in Conversation with Kathryn Gretsinger

S A R A H L E AV I TT, N ATH A N R I P L EY, I ON A W H I S H AW

Info: 11:00 am–12:30 pm, PERFORMANCE WORKS

Moderator: Sam Wiebe Info: 11:00 am–12:30 pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE

Marsha Lederman, Western Arts Correspondent for The Globe & Mail, has a talent for bringing out revealing truths behind remarkable work. Now, Lederman interviews three of the Festival’s most buzzed about authors. Aleksandar Hemon’s divided memoirs My Parents/This Does Not Belong to You provide a raw glimpse into how cultural touchstones, family anxieties and inheritances are shaped by upheaval and immigration. Acclaimed political pundit David Moscrop (Too Dumb for Democracy) discusses how democracy both succeeded and failed across our country in the recent federal election—and what we hope we have for our future. Jenny Heijun Wills speaks to her memoir, Older Sister. Not Necessarily Related., and overcoming trauma and cultural divides to reconnect with her biological family.

Craving hair-raising whodunits? Look no further than these three masters. Filled with mysterious aristocrats and doublecrossing spies, critics praise Iona Whishaw’s A Deceptive Devotion as cementing her place “among the finest mystery writing in Canada.” The legacy of Blanche Potter’s infamous father, cult leader and killer Chuck Varner, returns to haunt her in Journey Prize winner Nathan Ripley’s new thriller, Your Life Is Mine. Sarah Leavitt proves that even this genre of shock and surprise can be kept on its toes, as her chilling graphic novel Agnes, Murderess brings new life to the legend of an infamous West Coast madam and serial killer. In spine-chilling conversation, these authors untangle topics including the influence of true crime and how they keep readers guessing until the very end.

Info: 2:00 pm–3:30 pm CHAN CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS The #1 international and New York Times bestselling author Naomi Klein speaks to the most pressing issue of our time: how bold climate action is essential—not only for environmental survival but also for a just and thriving society. Her latest book, On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal, gathers more than a decade of her impassioned writing, pairing it with new material on the staggeringly high stakes of our immediate political and economic choices. This important, elegant discussion is bound to provoke and inspire. Don’t miss a chance to hear from one of the essential voices of our time. Presented in collaboration with the UBC School of Public Policy & Global Affairs.

On Belonging: Indigenous Strength and Hope in the Wake of Genocide C A S S A N D R A B LA N C H A R D, A LI C I A ELLI OTT, TA N YA TA LAG A

Best Canadian Poetry

YA Rising

The Pictures of Adult Life

BILLY - R AY B E L C O U R T, K AY L A CZAG A , DALL A S H UNT, S O U VA N K H A M T H A M M AVO N G S A

N A FI ZA A ZA D, S A B I N A K H A N , K I T P E A R S ON

S A R A H L E AV I TT, TE R E S A WON G

Moderator: Shannon Ozirny Info: 2:00 pm–3:30 pm, THE NEST

Moderator: Izzy Laird Info: 2:00 pm–3:30 pm, Revue Stage

Full of immersive, emotional trials, young adult novels are beloved by readers of all ages for tackling issues of identity and belonging with spirit and passion. Three of YA’s most exciting voices are from our own province: Nafiza Azad (The Candle and the Flame), Sabina Khan (The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali) and Governor General’s Award winner Kit Pearson (Be My Love). In this enchanting afternoon event, these cherished writers share their newest works, the inspiration behind them, their own insights on why YA transcends boundaries to captivate diverse audiences and where the genre will go next. Together, they demonstrate the undeniable power this genre has to change hearts and empower readers.

Mental illness and murdering madams might not strike one as obvious subjects for an absorbing graphic novel, but Sarah Leavitt and Teresa Wong test the boundaries of the genre, using it to share stories that are equally surprising, entertaining and moving. A 2019 CBC writer to watch, Wong captures the candid realities of motherhood in Dear Scarlet, an intimate portrait of life with postpartum depression. Internationally acclaimed illustrator Leavitt turns her to pen to one of Canada’s most infamous legends, serial killer Agnes MacVee, in Agnes, Murderess. Sharing their art and their unique processes they speak to the importance of playing with form—and how the graphic novel offers new ways to tell serious stories.

Moderator: Rob Taylor Info: 2:00 pm–3:30 pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE Every year, The Best Canadian Poetry series collects the fifty finest Canadian poems published across journals and magazines. A stellar snapshot of contemporary Canadian poetry today, this event features leading Canadian poets, including 2018 Griffin Poetry Prize winner Billy-Ray Belcourt (NDN Coping Mechanisms), Gerald Lampert Award winner Kayla Czaga (Dunk Tank), Assistant Professor of Indigenous Literature at UBC and wordsmith Dallas Hunt and Souvankham Thammavongsa (Cluster), whose work has appeared in outlets including Granta and The Paris Review. An electrifying showcase of wordplay, these insightful, innovative writers will read their work and discuss the ways they each push the boundaries of poetry to respond to social concerns. It’s the perfect start to any poetry lover’s morning.

Info: 4:00 pm–5:30 pm DJAVAD MOWAFAGHIAN CINEMA, SFU WOODWARD’S How do Indigenous women and girls move forward in a country that has allowed the racebased genocide of mothers, sisters, aunties and friends? How can Canada disempower the colonial structures that caused this? In this final event from Guest Curator Tanya Talaga, these essential questions are explored by three exceptional writers whose work mines the myriad repercussions of Canada’s abuse of Indigenous peoples—and the ways of belonging in spite of it. Cassandra Blanchard (Fresh Pack of Smokes), Alicia Elliott (A Mind Spread Out on the Ground) and Talaga herself (All Our Relations) share their perspectives in this powerful, important conversation. This is a special event of remembrance, honouring missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual) people. Donations collected at this event will benefit n ćamat, the 4th annual DTES Indigenous Women’s Village of Wellness Presented in partnership with Vancity & SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement.

WITH CONTINUING SUPPORT FROM

Presented in collaboration with the Vancouver Comic Arts Festival.

VO Traviata VWF half page vert ad R1.indd 1

2019-06-24 4:05 PM

WHAT’S O N

SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER BOOKS & IDEAS Thanks to the support of the Y.P. Heung Foundation, Government of British Columbia and Raincoast Books.

Difficult Inheritances J E S S E T H IS T L E , AY E L E T T S A BA RI , JE N N Y H E I JU N W I L L S Moderator: Betsy Warland Info: 5:00 pm–6:30 pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE How do we confront painful inheritances? Abandoned by his parents, Jesse Thistle fell into a life of drugs, homelessness and crime, before taking it upon himself to change. In From the Ashes, he shares his journey to reconnect with his Métis-Cree culture and family. Exiled from her Yemeni family and shaken by her father’s death, Ayelet Tsabari (The Art of Leaving) pursued a turbulent life of constant travel—until an untold family history enabled her to finally find herself. Adopted as an infant, Jenny Heijun Wills (Older Sister. Not Necessarily Related.) overcomes cultural divides to build a relationship with her birth family. These memoirists explore the courageous act of facing one’s past in order to create more promising futures.

Love & Obsession LYNN C OA DY, A DA M F O U L D S, A N D RE W K AU FM A N

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SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER

The Literary Cabaret IVAN C OYOT E, C H E R I E D I MA L I N E , TO M L A N OY E , S E A N M I C H A E L S, Z ALIKA R E I D - B E N TA , B I N D U S U RE SH Host: Sal Ferreras Info: 8:00 pm, PERFORMANCE WORKS Price: $45 One of the first events on the Writers Fest roster to sell out every year, The Literary Cabaret is a highly original coalescence of author readings and improvised jazz. There’s no better time to savour the heady atmosphere of the LitCab than now, as Poetic License and their multi-talented, extraordinary bandleader Sal Ferreras take to the stage with six celebrated authors for their final gig at the Vancouver Writers Fest. Hear their interpretations of works by Ivan Coyote (Rebent Sinner), Cherie Dimaline (Empire of Wild), Tom Lanoye (Slaves to Fortune), Sean Michaels (The Wagers), Zalika Reid-Benta (Frying Plantain), and Bindu Suresh (26 Knots).

SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER

Adam Gopnik in Conversation with Marsha Lederman

Finding Home

Info: 8:30 pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE “Adam Gopnik is one of the greatest thinkers and wordsmiths of our age,” says On Being’s Krista Tippett. Veteran New Yorker contributor and NYT-bestselling author, Adam Gopnik is an acclaimed essayist, known for his fierce intellect and signature wit. Who better to take on one of modern democracy’s most pressing issues? In A Thousand Small Sanities, Gopnik interrogates the crisis of liberalism. Interrogating why liberalism has come under attack from both the left and the right, he stages a rousing defense of liberal ideology. In eye-opening conversation with Globe & Mail Western Arts Correspondent Marsha Lederman, Gopnik engages in a fierce defense of a maligned ideology, making it a must-see for anyone concerned with our contentious moral and political futures.

Moderator: Shaena Lambert Info: 5:00 pm–6:30 pm, REVUE STAGE What happens when the lines are crossed between care and control? Few authors explore the murkiness of the human heart with the skill and aplomb of these three, each an experts at teasing out the nuances between love and power. In Scotiabank Giller Prize winner Lynn Coady’s twisted and intoxicating Watching You Without Me, a woman’s intense relationship with her sister’s support worker slowly becomes devastating. Award-winning author Adam Foulds’ Dream Sequence is a dark and modern interrogation of the lengths one is willing to for fame and attention, while cult-favourite Andrew Kaufman returns with a surreal, tender story of a detective whose heart has been replaced with a bomb.

WH AT’S O N

A N N A H I D DA S H TG A R D, AYELET TS A BA R I Moderator: Minelle Mahtani Info: 10:30 am–12:00 pm, THE NEST Price: $20 “[M]y story begins with my people,” writes Annahid Dashtgard (Breaking the Ocean). Piercing and nothing short of profound, Dashtgard’s memoir traces the ways her life has been shaped by revolution, political activism and trauma. She’s joined by award-winning Israeli/Canadian author, Ayelet Tsabari (The Art of Leaving), who was compelled to look closely at her Jewish-Yemeni background and the Mizrahi identity she had once rejected. Estranged from her family and attempting to escape her grief, Tsabari, struggled to find a place to belong before settling in Israel, the place she now calls home. This is a conversation of strength and resilience, and how we rediscover ourselves in the face of seemingly insurmountable opposition.

The Sunday Brunch A DA M FOUL DS, ANDREW KAUF MAN, D ER EK MASCARENHAS, RUBY PORT ER, B I N D U SURESH, AL ICIA TOBIN Host: Anne Giardini Info: 11:00 am–12:30 pm, PERFORMANCE WORKS Price: $40 What could be a more blissful way to spend a Sunday morning than sipping mimosas and eating freshly baked pastries with good friends? Why, listening to internationally acclaimed authors read to you live from their most recent works, of course. Authors offering musings alongside your muffins include Adam Foulds (Dream Sequence), Andrew Kaufman (All My Friends are Superheroes, now presenting his new book The Ticking Heart), Derek Mascarenhas (Coconut Dreams), Ruby Porter (Attraction), Bindu Suresh (26 Knots) and Alicia Tobin (So You’re A Little Sad, So What?).

Generously sponsored by Sam Znaimer in memory of Nancy Richler.

Presented in partnership with Kidsbooks.

A LI C I A ELLI OTT, JO H N FR EEM A N , LAU R EN M A R K H A M

All About Oliver: Lawrence Weschler in Conversation with Brian Goldman

Moderator: Mandy Len Catron Info: 8:30 pm, REVUE STAGE

Info: 11:00 am–12:30 pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $26

Join three preeminent, award-winning essayists as they investigate the possibilities of words to empower and fuel political action—at a moment when it’s most urgently needed. Journalist and author Lauren Markham (The Far Away Brothers) covers today’s social imperatives, including criminalization of young immigrants, girl gangs in El Salvador and climate change displacement. Alicia Elliott (A Mind Spread Out on the Ground) writes boldly to Indigeneity and North America’s legacy of racism and colonialism. In the wake of the 2016 election, John Freeman was forced to reconsider the power of writing. His new collection, Dictionary of the Undoing, is grounded in the words that feel most necessary for our times, a sharp reconsideration of how we can engage the public sphere through language.

“The most incredible thing in the Universe” is how neurologist, naturalist and author Oliver Sacks thought of the brain—and thanks to his internationally-bestselling titles, such as The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, countless others agreed. In this delightful event as charming as it is cerebral, New Yorker contributor and one of Dr. Sack’s closest friends, Lawrence Weschler, speaks with CBC White Coat, Black Art host, Dr. Brian Goldman, about the legacy of the beloved doctor, as told in Weschler’s lyrical biography, And How Are You, Dr. Sacks?, completed at the entreaty of the man himself who “poured out a stream of glorious, ribald, hilarious, and often profound conversation that establishes him as one of the great talkers of the age.”

The Essay: Political Fuel

Good Reads LYN N C OADY, SEAN MICHAEL S, H A S S A N GHEDI SANT UR Moderator: Jen Sookfong Lee Info: 11:30 am–1:00 pm, REVUE STAGE Price: $20 Be prepared to increase your reading list by three after this captivating event with literary favourites. Scotiabank Giller‑winner Sean Michaels’ highly anticipated second novel, The Wagers, presents a surreal and spellbinding Montreal, one filled with magical heists and motorcycle chases, where luck can be spent, gambled and stolen. He’s joined by fellow Giller-winner Lynn Coady and her creepy, compelling exploration of poisonous love and dark manipulations Watching You Without Me; as well as bold new voice Hassan Ghedi Santur (The Youth of God), who explores the tensions of modern Islam, sensitively capturing the struggles of a seventeen-year-old Somali Canadian pulled between his faith and his academic passions.

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SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER

Poets Talking

Emerge

The Afternoon Tea

BILLY - R AY B E L C O U R T, E V E J O S E P H

Info: 2:30 pm–4:00 pm, REVUE STAGE Price: Free

A R M A N DO L U C A S C OR R E A , C H ER I E D I M A LI N E, M A R I NA E ND I C OTT, P H I L I P H U Y N H , B I L L R I C H A R D S O N, R H E A TR E G EBOV

Moderator: Ian Williams Info: 2:00 pm–3:30 pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $20 Dive into the minds of two Griffin Poetry Prize winning poets: Billy-Ray Belcourt and Eve Joseph. Belcourt’s This Wound is a World exemplifies poetry at its “most intimate and politically necessary”: work he continues in NDN Coping Mechanisms, an illuminating, genre-bending exploration of NDN and queer realities. Joseph’s Quarrels, finds “new music” in the marvellous and the illogical. In conversation with award-winning poet and novelist Ian Williams, these poetry heavyweights join forces, discussing their approach to craft, reading from their work and sharing the inspiration behind their words. This rare conversation between literary virtuosos will leave you breathless.

Join us at this free event for a reading from emerge 2019: the annual anthology from Simon Fraser University Writer’s Studio. You’ll receive a tantalizing taste of work from those who have participated in the illustrious studio this year, and discover new voices in British Columbia’s writing community, from novelists to poets to essayists. For aspiring writers, hear from writers who have turned a dream of creating into reality with the help of professional mentors. It’s an immersive celebration of new talent and established community. Presented in collaboration with The Writer’s Studio at SFU.

Host: Amber Dawn Info: 3:30 pm–5:00 pm, PERFORMANCE WORKS Price: $40 For readers who love their afternoons steeped in words and favour sherry over prosecco, our Afternoon Tea offers the perfect counterpoint to The Sunday Brunch. There will be platters of scones, sandwiches and cakes, all to be helped along with tea or sherry, but layered atop the jam are readings from celebrated international and Canadian authors including Armando Lucas Correa (The Daughter’s Tale), Cherie Dimaline (Empire of Wild), Marina Endicott (The Difference), Philip Huynh (The Forbidden Purple City), Rhea Tregebov (Rue des Rosiers) and Bill Richardson (I Saw Three Ships). Generously sponsored by the Faris family in memory of Yulanda Faris.

Beverley McLachlin in Conversation with Laura Lynch Info: 7:30 pm, GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE Price: $26 For nearly two decades, Beverley McLachlin served as the Chief Justice of Canada, the longest serving Chief Justice in Canadian history and the first woman to hold the position. In her new memoir, Truth Be Told: My Journey Through Life and the Law, McLachlin invites Canadians into her childhood in the rural prairies, the defining moments that shaped her sense of justice and behind the bench during some of the most contentious Supreme Court cases—including Charter challenges, same-sex marriage and euthanasia—sharing an intimate portrait of a life lived in pursuit of justice and equality. In this special event, this remarkable feminist icon and modern Canadian great opens up on her triumphs and her regrets—and the hope she has for Canada’s future. Presented in partnership with Tourism Vancouver.

Actually, we do judge books by their covers. Sorry. We can’t help it. Proud provider of branding, graphic design and illustration services for the Vancouver Writers Fest.

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TU ESDAY 22 OCTOBER

Pen to Power IVAN C OYOT E, H U MB L E T H E P O E T, A L I CI A TO B I N

TUESDAY 22 OCTOBER

Naturally Great Reads

Moderator: Jen Sookfong Lee Info: 10:15 am–11:45 am, GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

● SU I TAB L E F OR GR ADE S 8–12 AND A DU LTS Setbacks in life are inevitable, but often lead to discovering our inner-strength. Three lauded storytellers know this all too well. During this empowering, humorous conversation, each shares their journey to self-awareness. Writers Fest veteran and multi-award-winning author Ivan Coyote depicts what it means to be trans and non-binary in Rebent Sinner. Alicia Tobin opens up about depression, and the importance of talking about mental health, in So You’re a Little Sad, So What?. Rapper and bestselling author Humble The Poet describes his rocky start to life, and the importance of forging our own wisdom through lived experience. We all have power. These writers demonstrate that knowing who we are—and celebrating that—is the first step to unleashing it.

How to Catch a Mole Marc HaMer OctOber 2019

“An extraordinary book—I've read no other like it. Thank goodness Marc Hamer stopped killing moles

Comics & Comedy AS H L E Y S P IR E S, A RO N N E L S S T E I N K E Info: 10:15 am–11:30 am, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

WH AT’S O N

and sat down to write.”

B R I A N FR A N C I S, S A B I N A K H A N , M A R I K O TA M A K I

EM M A FI ELD, TA R A N K O OTEN H AYO O, VU YO M G O D U K A

AVI AQ JOHNSTON, KAREN MCBRIDE, R I C H A R D VAN CAMP

Moderator: Susin Nielsen Info: 10:15 am–11:45 am, REVUE STAGE Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

Host: Jillian Christmas Info: 1:00 pm–2:30 pm, GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

Moderator: Jessica Johns Info: 1:00 pm–2:30 pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

● S UI TA B LE F O R GR A D E S 9 – 1 2 A N D A D ULT S

● S UI TA B LE F O R GR A D E S 8 – 1 2 A N D A D ULT S

● S UI TA BLE F OR G RADES 8– 12 AND ADU LTS

High school is tough enough as it is, but throw in on-againoff-again relationships, arranged marriages and family tragedy, and you’ve got a whole new world of heartbreak. In Sabina Khan’s The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali, seventeen-yearold Rukhsana’s relationship with her girlfriend is turned upside-down when her conservative family tries to find her a husband. In Canada Reads finalist Brian Francis’ YA debut, Break in Case of Emergency, Toby Goodman must pick up the pieces after the loss of her mother, while Freddy Riley learns how to ditch toxic relationships in Mariko Tamaki’s Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me. These authors speak to the diversity and messiness of love—and finding the strength to build the relationships we need.

One of the fastest events to sell-out every year, Word! is an understandable favourite of students and teachers alike: an opportunity to be captivated by spoken word artists from Canada and beyond. Stewarded by Writers Fest Spoken Word Curator and Slam Poetry Champion, Jillian Christmas, this performance is no exception, featuring Emma Field, an active performer in the Vancouver Slam scene, Taran Kootenhayoo, an actor, playwright and poet, and a member of Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, and South African born, Vancouver based poet and vocalist, Vuyo Mgoduka.

Animal Kingdom

How do we incorporate ancient teachings into stories that speak to modern life? Aviaq Johnston, Karen McBride and Richard Van Camp discuss drawing from Indigenous stories to create imaginative adventures, in this first Festival event from Guest Curator Tanya Talaga. In Johnston’s Those Who Dwell Below, a young boy must embrace his destiny as a shaman to defeat a vengeful spirit at the bottom of the ocean. McBride’s Crow Winter dances on the boundaries between worlds, as protagonist Hazel is guided by Algonquin demigods to save her home. Van Camp’s humorous depiction of Northern life in Moccasin Square Gardens is studded with legendary monsters—and extraterrestrials. Join them for a conversation about craft that promises to be nothing short of magical.

Love Sucks

B R ETT H U S O N , R AC H EL P O LI Q U I N

Sy MontgoMery, New York Times bestselling author of The Soul of an Octopus

Info: 1:00 pm–2:15 pm, THE NEST Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

● S UI TA B LE F O R GR A D E S 2 – 5

● SU I TAB L E F OR GR ADE S 2–5 Graphic novels aren’t just for superheroes! Combining laugh-out-loud adventure with eye-catching images, visual storytelling is a dynamic way to spark a passion for reading in young children. Whether battling aliens in space or tending to unexpected antics in a fourth grade classroom, these two authors use the graphic novel format to absorb kids in hilarious, creative worlds. Ashley Spires (P.U.R.S.T. Adventure Series) and Aron Nels Steinke (Mr. Wolf’s Class) each present their acclaimed series in this celebration of art and reading. Young audience members will be endlessly entertained and get hooked on a different way to read.

The Rise of Wolf 8

Winterlust

rick Mcintyre

Bernd Burnner

OctOber 2019

NOvember 2019

In the Valleys of the Noble Beyond JoHn Zada August 2019

Available wherever books are sold greystonebooks.com

Perfect for any young animal lover, Brett Huson (The Grizzly Mother, The Sockeye Mother) and Rachel Poliquin (Beastly Puzzles) are sure to foster curiosity in the natural world. Exploring the Skeena River, Huson shares both scientific and traditional Gitxsan terminology for this delicate ecosystem. Poliquin provides a fresh approach to inquirybased learning in Beastly Puzzles, asking kids to draw unexpected connections between animals to deduce their mystery identities. Eye-opening and educational, kids will be delighted by the captivating approach these two authors bring to the world around us.

Word! (1)

Under Pressure TA N YA LLOYD K YI Info: 1:00 pm–2:15 pm, REVUE STAGE Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

● S UI TA B LE F O R GR A D E S 6 – 9 We all experience stress—that sweaty, heart-racing feeling. It’s a natural reaction as old as humanity, and while it may have been useful when we were fighting off lions in the wild, feeling flustered isn’t always so helpful in our daily lives. In this supportive, illuminating conversation, veteran children’s author Tanya Lloyd Kyi shares fascinating facts about the origins of stress; wacky historical experiments in the name of science; and—most importantly—practical ways to stress-bust in everyday life, whether sitting a test, facing a sticky situation with friends or embarking on an unexpected challenge. Underlining the importance of sharing your feelings with others, Under Pressure: The Science of Stress is an essential tool for dealing with the complexity of young lives. Generously supported by the Rix Family Foundation.

Shamans, Warriors & Tricksters

Presented in partnership with Vancity.

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WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER

Word! (2)

at the Telus Studio Theatre

E MMA F I E L D, TA R A N K O OT E N H AYO O, V U YO M G O D U K A Host: Jillian Christmas Info: 10:15 am–11:45 am, GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

2019 Griffin Poetry Prize Winner

● SU I TAB L E F OR GR ADE S 8–12 AND A DU LTS One of the fastest events to sell-out every year, Word! is an understandable favourite of students and teachers alike: an opportunity to be captivated by spoken word artists from Canada and beyond. Stewarded by Writers Fest Spoken Word Curator and Slam Poetry Champion, Jillian Christmas, this performance is no exception, featuring Emma Field, an active performer in the Vancouver Slam scene, Taran Kootenhayoo, an actor, playwright and poet, and a member of Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, and South African born, Vancouver based poet and vocalist, Vuyo Mgoduka.

iSBn: 978-1-77214-119-1 | $18

Quarrels by eve Joseph

“As distillations of life, these poems, with beauty and charm, hold their own credibility: an omnipresent, merely-in-glimpses-tangible marvelousness, miraculously fastened to the pages of a single slender volume that will fit into most pockets and assure magnificent company on any given journey.” (From the Griffin Prize Judges’ Citation)

www.anvilpress.com | info@anvilpress.com

TANYA BOT E J U, C H E R I E D I M A L I N E , H U M B L E T H E P O E T, TA SH A SP I L L E TT Moderator: Jael Richardson Info: 10:15 am–11:45 am, PERFORMANCE WORKS Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

MFA

WED NOV 6 2019 / 7:30PM

Writer Ivan Coyote and musician Sarah MacDougall blend song, story and animation in a haunting and hilarious multimedia odyssey about growing up queer in a cold, cold place.

The Four Questions

Trader Time

IN CREATIVE WRITING

● SU I TAB L E F OR GR ADE S 8–12 AND A DU LTS Senator Murray Sinclair, chair of The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, said all Indigenous youth must ask themselves four questions: Who Am I? Where do I come from? What is my purpose? Where do I belong? But these questions can be asked by all of Canada’s children. As Senator Murray Sinclair explained, in order to truly reach reconciliation, we need to change the way we act and think. In this second event from Guest Curator Tanya Talaga, a remarkable conversation between Tanya Boteju (Kings, Queens and In-Betweens), Cherie Dimaline (The Marrow Thieves & Empire of Wild), Humble The Poet (Things No One Else Can Teach Us) and Tasha Spillett (Surviving the City) will empower kids with a sense of community and belonging. Presented in partnership with Vancity.

Seattle Pacific University’s low-residency MFA program is for apprentice writers who want to pursue excellence in the craft of writing and care about the relationship between faith and literature. Merit scholarships available. CORE FACULTY

Susanna Antonetta Bryan Bliss Scott Cairns Robert Clark Robert Cording Chigozie Obioma Jeanne Murray Walker Lauren F. Winner Sara Zarr

GENRES

Poetry Fiction Creative nonfiction Young-adult fiction

LEARN MORE

spu.edu/mfa 800-601-0603

chancentre.com

WHAT’S O N

WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER

Fairies, Unicorns & Woodland Creatures C ALE AT KI N S O N , DA L L A S H U N T, A SH L E Y SP I RE S Info: 10:15 am–11:30 am, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

● SU I TAB L E F OR GR ADE S K–3 What do fairies know about science? What do scientists know about unicorns? What do woodland creatures know about baking? Knowledge comes from the most unexpected places in this heartwarming and imaginative session of play with beloved picture book authors Cale Atkinson (Unicorns 101), Dallas Hunt (Awâsis and the World-Famous Bannock) and Ashley Spires (Fairy Science). Kids will learn how to maintain a unicorn’s special sparkle, cook world famous bannock and conduct scientific experiments—all the while being reminded of the importance of dreaming big and thinking outside the box.

New Series to Sink Your Teeth Into MIC H AE L H UTC H I N S O N , AV I AQ JO H N STO N , KE V I N S Y LV ES T E R Moderator: France Perras Info: 10:15 am–11:45 am, REVUE STAGE Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

● SU I TAB L E F OR GR ADE S 5–7 What’s better than a great book? A whole series of page-turning adventures. An empowering mystery series described as “Hardy Boys meets the rez,” Michael Hutchinson’s The Case of Windy Lake introduces The Mighty Muskrats: four intrepid cousins working to solve a suspicious disappearance. Those Who Dwell Below draws from the Inuit mythology of author Aviaq Johnston’s childhood to create a rich, other-worldly journey, as young Pitu continues on his quest as a shaman. Almost Epic Squad: Mucus Mayhem author Kevin Sylvester shares his hilarious, unconventional superhero: Jessica Flem, a girl who can turn her snot-filled tissues into magical helpers to fight evil. Engaging and charming, young readers will be drawn into new worlds they won’t ever want to leave.

Canadian Biographies E L I ZA B E TH M AC L E OD

Biblioasis Presents

Info: 10:15 am–11:30 am, THE NEST Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

● SU I TA BL E FOR G R A DES 2 –5 Meet Elsie MacGill. She was the world’s first female aeronautical engineer, born in 1905, who pioneered her career and the famous Hawker Hurricane plane. As a feminist, she championed women’s rights—many of which we enjoy today. Discover the fascinating life of MacGill and other incredible Canadians, including astronaut Chris Hadfield, civil rights activist Viola Desmond and record-breaking Indigenous athlete Tom Longboat with author Elizabeth MacLeod. The Canadian Biography series will delight kids with bright, comic illustrations, and the empowering message this series offers— especially timely given an increase in encouraging interest in STEM.

The Fictionals: Build Your Own Adventure AV I AQ J O H N S TON , TA R A N K OOTE NH AYOO, M A R I K O TA M A K I Host: Daniel Chai Info: 1:00 pm–2:30 pm, PERFORMANCE WORKS Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

● SU I TA BL E FOR G R A DES 8 –1 2 A ND A DU LT S Watch new stories unfold in front of your eyes during this creative, side-splitting mashup of books and laughter, as three warm, imaginative YA authors team up with improv comedy group The Fictionals. Audience members will enjoy readings from Aviaq Johnston’s adventure story based on Indigenous mythology, Those Who Dwell Below, spoken word poems from Taran Kootenhayoo, and anecdotes from Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me author, Mariko Tamaki. Then, The Fictionals will create brand new stories for students to enjoy—all the while learning how to use their imagination in new and powerful ways to create ideas right on the spot!

At Vancouver Writers Fest 2019

Put your words to work Bachelor of Arts; Creative Writing » Collaborative learning space » Nurturing environment for young writers » Job-ready graduates Learn more kpu.ca/creativewriting

WHAT’S O N

WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER

THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER

TANYA BOT E J U, B R I A N F R A N C I S, S AR A H HE N S T R A

CA L E AT K I N S O N, A RON N E L S S TE I NK E , H O L M A N WA N G

J U L I E F L E TT, DA L L A S H U NT, B RETT H U S O N

S EA N H A R R I S O LI VER , TA S H A S P I LLETT, M A R I K O TA M A K I

K I R S TI E HUDSON, CAREY NEWMAN

Moderator: Shannon Ozimy Info: 1:00 pm–2:30 pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

Info: 1:00 pm–2:15 pm, THE NEST Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

M I C H A EL C H R I S TI E, RO B YN H A R D I N G , K A R EN M C B R I D E, JES S E TH I S TLE, G . W I LLOW W I LS O N

Goodreads: YA Edition

● SU I TAB L E F OR GR ADE S 9–12 AND A DU LTS How do stories help us discover our own authenticity? Compassionate and intelligent, these three YA authors share the difficult—but undoubtedly rewarding—journey of finding yourself. Drag queen Miss Dee Dee La Bouche helps Nima Kumara-Clark come out of her shell in Tanya Boteju’s Kings, Queens and In-Betweens. In Brian Francis’ Break in Case of Emergency, Toby Goodman grapples with upsets in her family to create community on her own terms. Sarah Henstra’s We Contain Multitudes is an exhilarating and emotional novel about the growing relationship between two teen boys, told through letters. Witty and empowering, join these authors for a candid conversation that proves the hottest books for young adults are those that don’t shy away from tough questions.

Birds, Bannock & Bears

Art Alive

Info: 1:00 pm–2:15 pm, REVUE STAGE Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

● S U I TA BL E FOR G R A DES 2 –3

● SU ITABLE F O R G R A DES 2 –5 Stories come to life in an eclectic celebration of art and words. Whether dynamic diagrams, hilarious comics or winsome felt puppets, these enchanting presentations demonstrate the many diverse ways artwork enriches storytelling. Multi-talented artists and authors Cale Atkinson (Unicorns 101), Aron Nels Steinke (Mr. Wolf’s Class) and Holman Wang (Great Job, Mom! & Great Job, Dad!) create artwork on stage and share their beloved, funny and utterly charming stories. Kids will be captivated by these demonstrations of boundless creativity and inspired to tap into their own artistic passions.

In this delightful afternoon of language and learning, Wapisewsipi author Dallas Hunt (Awâsis and the WorldFamous Bannock), Gitxsan author Brett Huson (The Sockeye Mother & The Grizzly Mother) and Cree-Métis author Julie Flett (Birdsong) lead kids on a fun, lively journey through the woods. When young Awâsis accidentally loses her Kohkum’s worldfamous bannock, she works together with her forest friends to recover the celebrated recipe. In the Skeena River, a grizzly bear teaches her cubs about their environment. A young girl forms a friendship with an elderly neighbour through a shared love of art and nature. Through beautiful images and dynamic presentations, the authors introduce children to Indigenous languages and cultures and enriching perspectives—making for a perfect afternoon for hungry minds and adventurous hearts. Presented in partnership with Vancity.

ARTS UMBRELLA COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

All Roads Lead to Writing

Witness Blanket

Graphic Novels Galore

Info: 10:15 am–11:30 am, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

Moderator: Izzy Laird Info: 10:15 am–11:45 am, PERFORMANCE WORKS Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

Moderator: Bill Richardson Info: 10:15 am–11:45 am, GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

● S UI TA BLE F OR G RADES 4– 7 Photos, letters, hockey sticks, braids, bricks, dolls: these are just some of the hundreds of items that reside in The Witness Blanket: a living work conceived and created by Indigenous artist Carey Newman. In Coast Salish tradition, these blankets uplift the spirit, protect the vulnerable or honour the strong. This vast and beautiful ‘blanket’ of wood and objects does all three: acknowledging the trauma inflicted on Indigenous peoples by the residential school system, and pay tribute to stories of loss, strength and resistance required for healing. In a moving, informative presentation, Newman and co-author Kirstie Hudson will share some of these powerful stories in addition to Newman’s own: the journey of creating this work, his inspiration, and how The Witness Blanket will continue to evolve.

● S UI TA B LE F O R GR A D E S 8 – 1 2 A N D A D ULT S

● S UI TA B LE F O R GR A D E S 8 – 1 2 A N D A D ULT S Michael Christie (Greenwood) was a professional skateboarder before his Giller-longlisted debut. High school dropout Jesse Thistle (From the Ashes) struggled with homelessness, crime and addiction before he turned his life around—and channelled it into his extraordinary memoir. Between the two of them, Robyn Harding (The Arrangement) and G. Willow Wilson (The Bird King) have experimented with almost every form, from journalism to superhero comics, while Karen McBride (Crow Winter) balances her passion for novel-writing and teaching. Sharing their surprising paths to the page, this conversation offers refreshing perspective on the age-old question “What should I be?”, underlining that while we may not know what our careers will be, passion is paramount for both good writing and good living.

When the alchemy is right, smart narratives and dynamic illustrations can come together to tell bold, boundarydefying stories of all stripes—and these three acclaimed authors are proof of just that. Sean Harris Oliver’s Redpatch confronts the horrors of WWI, as a young Métis soldier travels from Canada to French battlefields. Tasha Spillett’s Surviving the City is a powerful tale of friendship between two Indigenous girls, tackling colonial violence and cultural resurgence. Festival favourite Mariko Tamaki (Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me) captures high school heartbreak as a toxic relationship spirals out of control. These three storytellers take you behind their panels, sharing their tips and tricks for creating stunning comics and composing harmony across multiple mediums.

Presented in partnership with Vancity.

Naturally Great Books for Kids—Available Now , H E L LO ! CROW

greystonekids.com

Arts Programming Where It’s Needed Most

G ER ELCH I M EG B LACKCRAN E I LLU STRATED BY J I U ER

Arts Umbrella opens doors for all young people so they can grow their confidence and creativity. Our donor-funded community programs harness the same magic and expertise as our tuition-based classes and bring the Arts Umbrella experience to the children and communities in Metro Vancouver who would most benefit from them. by

C A N DAC E S AVAG E C H E L S E A O ’ BY R N E

illustrated by

Can You Hear the Trees Talking?

Learn how your school can get involved at artsumbrella.com/communityprograms

Birdsong Julie Flett

The Moose of Ewenki

Gerelchimeg Blackcrane Peter Wohlleben, international bestselling Illustrated by Jiu Er author of The Hidden Life of Trees

Hello, Crow!

Spur, A Wolf’s Story

Candace Savage Illustrated by Chelsea O’Byrne

Eliza Robertson Illustrated by Nora Aoyagi

WHAT’S O N

TH URSDAY 24 OCTOBER

37 37

THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER

S AR A C A S S IDY, MI C H A E L H U T CH I N SO N , TANYA L L OY D K Y I

CAT H E RI N E G A R R E T, K I R A N TH E M U S E , SA M P E T E RS, M I K A P I E R R E , J E NI F E R W I L L I A M S

DE R E K M A S C A R E NH A S, Z A L I K A R EI D -B EN TA , H A S S A N G H E DI S A NTU R

R A ES C A LVER T, S EA N H A R R I S O LI VER

C A RO LI N E A D D ER S O N , S A R A C A S S I DY

TED S TAUNTON, KEVIN SY LVEST ER

Moderator: France Perras Info: 10:15 am–11:45 am, REVUE STAGE Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

Host: Jillian Christmas Info: 1:00 pm–2:30 pm, GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

Moderator: Anne Fleming Info: 1:00 pm–2:30 pm, PERFORMANCE WORKS Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

Info: 1:00 pm–2:15 pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

Info: 1:00 pm–2:15 pm, THE NEST Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

Info: 1:00 pm–2:15 pm, REVUE STAGE Price: $20 / $9.50 for student groups

● S UI TA B LE F O R GR A D E S 8 – 1 2 A N D A D ULT S

● S UI TA B LE F O R GR A D E S 3 – 6

● S UI TA BLE F OR G RADES 4– 6

● SU I TAB L E F OR GR ADE S 4–7

● SU ITABLE F O R G R A DES 8 –1 2 A ND A DU LT S

● S U I TA BL E FOR G R A DES 1 0 –1 2 A ND A D ULT S

As recent news proves (including the worldwide Youth for Climate strikes), kids are at the forefront of our changing world. Sara Cassidy (Nevers), Michael Hutchinson (The Case of Windy Lake), and Tanya Lloyd Kyi (Mya’s Strategy to Save the World) are each devoted to amplifying children’s voices in their work. In a special morning of bold presentations, they’ll speak to their uplifting stories of youth taking charge of their own lives and improving their communities. Whether solving mysteries on a reserve, navigating an eccentric 18th century village or trying to win a Nobel Peace Prize, these are books that cultivate the ambition, passion and curiosity of the next generation, and affirm that they can take on anything the future throws their way.

The 2019 Van Slam Team includes some of the finest slam poets in the city: those who have ranked in the top four at Van Slams throughout the year. Catherine Garret, Kiran the muse, Sam Peters, Mika Pierre and Jenifer Williams dazzle judges and audiences with their uplifting and bold solo and ensemble pieces. Immerse yourself in the work of these exemplary spoken word performers before they tour across North America as ambassadors of Vancouver’s vital slam scene.

Canada’s new generation of authors write powerfully to the challenge of balancing cultures and communities. Derek Mascarenhas’ nationally lauded Coconut Dreams traces Indian Canadian Aiden and Ally Pinto’s youth, growing up in a predominantly white Canadian suburb. First-generation cultural expectations clash with second-generation expectations as Jamaican Canadian Kara Davis searches for authenticity in Zalika Reid-Benta’s sharp-witted Frying Plantain, praised by Quill and Quire as “honest and penetrating.” In Hassan Ghedi Santur’s The Youth of God, teenage Somali immigrant Nuur is pulled between his religious calling and his academic gifts. Deftly capturing contemporary Canada, these authors speak to how, while everyone’s path to belonging may look different, none of us are alone in our journeys.

An explosive graphic novel, Redpatch is a potent and necessary perspective on Canadian involvement in WWI. Following a young Métis soldier from Vancouver Island to the trenches of France, Redpatch confronts the horrors of war—bringing the under-represented contributions of over four thousand Indigenous soldiers to life. In a high-energy multimedia presentation, co-authors Raes Calvert and Sean Harris Oliver share the creation process of the graphic novel, including video footage from a once in a lifetime research trip to Nootka Island. It’s both a fascinating glimpse into a unique creative process and powerful demonstration on making history immediate, accurate and eye-opening for our times.

Talk about adventures! These two veteran children’s authors know how to keep kids on the edge of their seats with stories that range across oceans. A fearless feline, Pudding Tat: Adventuring Cat travels the world in 1901, managing to plunge over Niagara Falls in a barrel and even voyage on the ill-fated Titanic in Caroline Adderson’s latest work. Meanwhile, on pirate ship The Greasy Lobster, one poor orphan is stuck gutting fish in the galley—until fortune appears in the least likely of places. Perhaps he’ll be able to turn his luck around, even on a ship full of thieving pirates! Kids are sure to be transported by Sara Cassidy’s Scallywag on the Salish Sea, and the humorous presentations from both authors.

You’ve never seen superpowers like these before. Exposed to a mysterious element at birth, thirteen years later four teenagers have developed strange abilities, including snot golems and artistic shapeshifting. Now, these unexpected heroes must think creatively and use their almost-epic powers to save Dimly, Manitoba and the world. A smash hit series full of daring exploits, friendship and laughter, beloved Scholastic authors Ted Staunton and Kevin Sylvester take kids behind these off-the-wall adventures. In addition to sharing uproarious stories and engaging illustrations, they’ll invite audiences to think about their own abilities in new ways—making for a completely epic afternoon.

Empowered Kids

The Fiction of Belonging

Van Slam

Vancouver’s longest established independent bookstore! Author Readings ∙ Books ∙ Music ∙ Jewellery ∙ Gifts & More

Redpatch

The Book Publishing and Book Arts Collection at Simon Fraser University Library

Epic Squad

Pirates & Pudding

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THECULTCH.COM

The Holidays AT THE CULTCH

with two original works from local playwrights!

East Van Panto: Pinocchio

3608 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver 604-732-7912 or 1-800-663-8442 www.banyen.com

With a focus on publishers in British Columbia, this collection contains examples of elegantly bound books, gorgeous illustrations, and whimsical play with book arts. To visit, contact SFU Library Special Collections at 778.782.5674 | scrb@sfu.ca

Theatre Replacement NOV 20, 2019–JAN 05, 2020 YORK THEATRE IMAGES (L TO R): TIM MATHESON / TINA KRUEGER KULIC

Holiday at the Elbow Room Café Zee Zee Theatre DEC 10–29, 2019 HISTORIC THEATRE

FE STIVAL AT A G L A N C E

38 38

MONDAY 21 OCTOBER 01 Between the Pages: An

15 Word! (2)

Emma Field, Taran Kootenhayoo, Vuyo Mgoduka 10:15–11:45 am Granville Island Stage

Evening with the Scotiabank Giller Prize Finalists 7:30 pm The Vancouver Playhouse

TU ESDAY 22 OCTOBER 02 Pen to Power

Ivan Coyote, Humble The Poet, Alicia Tobin 10:15–11:45 am Granville Island Stage 03 Comics & Comedy

Ashley Spires, Aron Nels Steinke 10:15–11:30 am Waterfront Theatre 04 Love Sucks

09 Truth-Telling

Annahid Dashtgard, Anna Mehler Paperny, Lorimer Shenher 6:00–7:15 pm Waterfront Theatre 10 Hope Matters

Columpa Bobb, Tania Carter, Lee Maracle 6:00–7:15 pm The NEST

Brian Francis, Sabina Khan, Mariko Tamaki 10:15–11:45 am Revue Stage

11 An Evening with

05 Word! (1)

12 International

Emma Field, Taran Kootenhayoo, Vuyo Mgoduka 1:00–2:30 pm Granville Island Stage 06 Shamans, Warriors

& Tricksters Aviaq Johnston, Karen McBride, Richard Van Camp 1:00–2:30 pm Waterfront Theatre 07 Animal Kingdom

Brett Huson, Rachel Poliquin 1:00–2:15 pm The NEST 08 Under Pressure

Tanya Lloyd Kyi 1:00–2:15 pm Revue Stage

WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER

Emma Donoghue 8:00 pm Performance Works Showcase Tash Aw, Chigozie Obioma, Joanne Ramos 8:00 pm Revue Stage 13 The Alma Lee

Opening Night Event: Tanya Talaga in Conversation with Jael Richardson 8:30 pm Waterfront Theatre 14 CanLit Fiction

Showcase Michael Christie, Sarah Henstra, Richard Van Camp 8:30 pm The NEST

16 The Four Questions

Tanya Boteju, Cherie Dimaline, Humble The Poet, Tasha Spillett 10:15–11:45 am Performance Works

17 Fairies, Unicorns

& Woodland Creatures Cale Atkinson, Dallas Hunt, Ashley Spires 10:15–11:30 am Waterfront Theatre 18 Canadian Biographies

Elizabeth McLeod 10:15–11:30 am The NEST

19 New Series to Sink

Your Teeth Into Michael Hutchinson, Aviaq Johnston, Kevin Sylvester 10:15–11:45 am Revue Stage 20 The Fictionals: Build

Your Own Adventure Aviaq Johnston, Taran Kootenhayoo, Mariko Tamaki 1:00–2:30 pm Performance Works 21 Goodreads: YA Edition

Tanya Boteju, Brian Francis, Sarah Henstra 1:00–2:30 pm Waterfront Theatre 22 Art Alive

Cale Atkinson, Aron Nels Steinke, Holman Wang 1:00–2:15 pm The NEST

THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER

23 Birds, Bannock

31 All Roads Lead

& Bears Julie Flett, Dallas Hunt, Brett Huson 1:00–2:15 pm Revue Stage

to Writing Michael Christie, Robyn Harding, Karen McBride, Jesse Thistle, G. Willow Wilson 10:15–11:45 am Granville Island Stage

24 Whose Water Is It,

Anyway? Maude Barlow, Candis Callison, Sarah Cox 6:00–7:15 pm Performance Works 25 Lee Maracle:

A Life’s Work 6:00–7:15 pm The NEST 26 Masters of Creative

Non-Fiction Charlotte Gray, Linden MacIntyre 6:00–7:15 pm Revue Stage 27 Tash Aw in

Conversation with Eleanor Wachtel 7:30 pm Waterfront Theatre 28 The Lives of Girls

& Women Mona Awad, Nazanine Hozar, Alix Ohlin, Laisha Rosnau 8:30 pm Performance Works 29 Writing the Edge

of the World Michael Crummey, Joan Thomas 8:30 pm The NEST 30 The Fictionals:

Improv X Literature Tanya Boteju, Dina Del Bucchia, Andrew Kaufman, Alicia Tobin 8:30 pm Revue Stage

32 Graphic Novels Galore

Sean Harris Oliver, Tasha Spillett, Mariko Tamaki 10:15–11:45 am Performance Works

33 Witness Blanket

Kirstie Hudson, Carey Newman 10:15–11:30 am Waterfront Theatre

34 Empowered Kids

Sara Cassidy, Michael Hutchinson, Tanya Lloyd Kyi 10:15–11:45 am Revue Stage 35 Van Slam

Catherine Garrett, Kiren the muse, Sam Peters, Mika Pierre, Jenifer Williams 1:00–2:30 pm Granville Island Stage 36 The Fiction

of Belonging Derek Mascarenhas, Zalika Reid-Benta, Hassan Ghedi Santur 1:00–2:30 pm Performance Works

39 Epic Squad

Ted Staunton, Kevin Sylvester 1:00–2:15 pm Revue Stage

40 Prose Under Pressure

Michael Crummey, Steven Price, Laisha Rosnau 6:00–7:15 pm Waterfront Theatre 41 Night Class:

Brief Craft Lessons from UBC Creative Writing Kevin Chong, Sara Graefe, Tariq Hussain, Sarah Leavitt, Emily Pohl-Weary, Sheryda Warrener 6:00–7:15 pm The NEST 42 Thrills & Chills

Stephen Chbosky, Robyn Harding, Nathan Ripley 6:00–7:15 pm Revue Stage 43 A Tribute to

Stephen King Rosetta Allan, Tanya Boteju, Stephen Chbosky, Armando Lucas Correa, Ivan Coyote, Cherie Dimaline, Charlotte Gray, David Moscrop, Sara Peters, Nathan Ripley, Lorimer Shenher, Tanya Talaga, Robert Wiersema, Jenny Heijun Wills 8:00 pm Performance Works 44 Bina, Bunny

Raes Calvert, Sean Harris Oliver 1:00–2:15 pm Waterfront Theatre

& The Idiot Mona Awad, Elif Batuman, Anakana Schofield 8:30 pm Waterfront Theatre

38 Pirates & Pudding

45 Politics & Prose

37 Redpatch

Caroline Adderson, Sara Cassidy 1:00–2:15 pm The NEST

Michael Christie, Nazanine Hozar, Joanne Ramos 8:30 pm Revue Stage

FES TI VA L AT A G LA N C E

FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER 46 Democracy in Flux

Adam Gopnik, Harold R. Johnson, David Moscrop 10:15–11:45 am Granville Island Stage

47 Buzzworthy Books

Marina Endicott, Anosh Irani, Ruby Porter, Steven Price 10:15–11:45 am Performance Works 48 Educating with

the Witness Blanket Kirstie Hudson, Carey Newman 10:15–11:30 am Waterfront Theatre 49 Linden MacIntyre

in Conversation 10:15–11:30 am The NEST 50 Reinventing the Novel

Sara Peters, Anakana Schofield, Bindu Suresh 10:15–11:45 am Revue Stage

51 Voices for Change

Harold R. Johnson, Daniel Heath Justice, Carey Newman, Tanya Talaga 1:00–2:30 pm Granville Island Stage 52 Big Stories,

Small Packages Philip Huynh, Anosh Irani, Zalika Reid-Benta, Bill Richardson 1:00–2:30 pm Performance Works 53 Rooted in the Past

Rosetta Allan, Armando Lucas Correa, Joan Thomas 1:00–2:30 pm Waterfront Theatre

54 Poetry Four Ways

Dina Del Bucchia, Kaie Kellough, Deborah Landau, Sara Peters 1:00–2:30 pm Revue Stage 55 The Art of

Building Suspense Rosetta Allan, Stephen Chbosky, Iona Whishaw 6:00–7:15 pm Waterfront Theatre 56 The Fascinating

World(s) of Wu Ming-Yi Darryl Sterk, Wu Ming-Yi 6:00–7:15 pm The NEST 57 The Poetry Bash

Billy-Ray Belcourt, Kayla Czaga, Eve Joseph, Kaie Kellough, Deborah Landau, Souvankham Thammavongsa 8:00 pm Performance Works 58 European Showcase

Helena Janeczek, Tom Lanoye, Wilfried N’Sondé 8:00 pm Revue Stage

59 American Women

SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER BOOKS & IDEAS A DAY OF PAY WHAT YOU CAN EVENTS Thanks to the support of the Y.P. Heung Foundation, Government of British Columbia and Raincoast Books. 61 An Earthling’s Guide

68 Naomi Klein

to Outer Space Bob McDonald 10:30 am–12 noon Granville Island Stage

in Conversation with Kathryn Gretsinger 2:00–3:30 pm Chan Centre

62 The Interviews with

69 On Belonging:

Marsha Lederman Aleksandar Hemon, David Moscrop, Jenny Heijun Wills 11:00 am–12:30 pm Performance Works

Indigenous Strength and Hope in the Wake of Genocide Cassandra Blanchard, Alicia Elliott, Tanya Talaga 4:00–5:30 pm Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema (SFU Woodward’s)

63 Mystery Three Ways

Sarah Leavitt, Nathan Ripley, Iona Whishaw 11:00 am–12:30 pm Waterfront Theatre 64 A Morning of

Cozy Classics Holman Wang 10:30–11:45 am Revue Stage 65 Best Canadian Poetry

Billy-Ray Belcourt, Kayla Czaga, Dallas Hunt, Souvankham Thammavongsa 2:00–3:30 pm Waterfront Theatre 66 YA Rising

Elif Batuman, Joanne Ramos, G. Willow Wilson 8:30 pm Waterfront Theatre

Nafiza Azad, Sabina Khan, Kit Pearson 2:00–3:30 pm The NEST

60 Freeman’s

Adult Life Sarah Leavitt, Teresa Wong 2:00–3:30 pm Revue Stage

Aleksandar Hemon, Lauren Markham 8:30 pm The NEST

67 The Pictures of

70 Difficult Inheritances

Jesse Thistle, Ayelet Tsabari, Jenny Heijun Wills 5:00–6:30 pm Waterfront Theatre 71 Love & Obsession

Lynn Coady, Adam Foulds, Andrew Kaufman 5:00–6:30 pm Revue Stage 72 The Literary Cabaret

Ivan Coyote, Cherie Dimaline, Tom Lanoye, Sean Michaels, Zalika Reid-Benta, Bindu Suresh 8:00 pm Performance Works 73 Adam Gopnik

in Conversation with Marsha Lederman 8:30 pm Waterfront Theatre 74 The Essay:

Political Fuel Alicia Elliott, John Freeman, Lauren Markham 8:30 pm Revue Stage

SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER 75 Finding Home

79 Poets Talking

76 The Sunday Brunch

80 Emerge

Annahid Dashtgard, Ayelet Tsabari 10:30 am–12 noon The NEST Adam Foulds, Andrew Kaufman, Derek Mascarenhas, Ruby Porter, Bindu Suresh, Alicia Tobin 11:00 am–12:30 pm Performance Works

77 All About Oliver:

Lawrence Weschler in Conversation with Dr. Brian Goldman 11:00 am–12:30 pm Waterfront Theatre 78 Good Reads

Lynn Coady, Sean Michaels, Hassan Ghedi Santur 11:30 am–1:00 pm Revue Stage

Billy-Ray Belcourt, Eve Joseph 2:00–3:30 pm Waterfront Theatre 2:30–4:00 pm Revue Stage 81 The Afternoon Tea

Armando Lucas Correa, Cherie Dimaline, Marina Endicott, Philip Huynh, Bill Richardson, Rhea Tregebov 3:30–5:00 pm Performance Works

82 Beverley McLachlin

in Conversation with Laura Lynch 7:30 pm Granville Island Stage

Saturday Books & Ideas – Free Shuttle Bus Take advantage of our free shuttle to catch a ride to Granville Island. A continuous bus service will operate from the Main Street Skytrain Station (Main/Terminal) to Granville Island from 10 am–7 pm on Saturday, October 26. For more information visit writersfest.bc.ca.

WHAT’S O N

FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER

ADA M G O PN I K , H A RO L D R . J O H N S O N , DAV ID M O S C RO P

M A RI N A E N D I C OTT, A NO S H I R A N I , RU B Y P O R T E R , S TE V E N P R I C E

Moderator: Laura Lynch Info: 10:15 am–11:45 am, GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE Price: $20

Moderator: Jerry Wasserman Info: 10:15 am–11:45 am, PERFORMANCE WORKS Price: $20

● SU I TAB L E F OR GR ADE S 10–12 AND ADU LTS

● SU ITABLE F O R G R A DES 1 0 –1 2 A ND A DU LT S

Churchill’s remark that democracy is the worst form of government—except for all other forms— feels increasingly pressing when atrocities are committed even in the most liberal societies, and a crisis of faith—from Left and Right— undermines our institutions. Three of the finest political minds answer whether we’re facing a crisis of democracy. The New Yorker contributor Adam Gopnik argues for a resurgence in liberalism in A Thousand Small Sanities, while political commentator David Moscrop asks whether we are Too Dumb for Democracy? Harold R. Johnson shares an urgent condemnation of the Canadian State’s failure to deliver justice to Indigenous people in Peace and Good Order. A must-see.

Praised by Quill and Quire as one of “CanLit’s most innovative chameleons,” bestselling author Anosh Irani (Translated from the Gibberish) joins three talents to share their new work. Winner of New Zealand’s 2018 Michael Gifkins Prize, Ruby Porter’s atmospheric debut, Attraction, follows three women on a road trip, navigating the North Island and their relationships with one another. Marina Endicott’s The Difference, a sea voyage across the South Pacific in 1912, explores the notion of this word—between people, continents and species—while bestselling author Steven Price pulls readers into the mind of Giuseppe Tomasi, a dying prince, in the exquisite Lampedusa. This showcase of must-reads delves into the transformative power of art, and how it shapes us all.

SA RA P E T E RS, A N A K A N A S C H O F I E L D, B I N D U S U RES H

H A RO L D R . J O H N S O N, DA N I E L H EATH JU S TI C E, C A R E Y NE W M A N , TA NYA TA L AGA

Moderator: John Freeman Info: 10:15 am–11:45 am, REVUE STAGE Price: $20

Moderator: Shelagh Rogers Info: 1:00 pm–2:30 pm, GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE Price: $20

● SU ITABLE F O R G R A DES 1 0 –1 2 A ND A DU LT S

● S U I TA BL E FOR G R A DES 1 0 –1 2 A ND A D ULT S

After decades of violence and ignorance, Canadian media is finally beginning to give Indigenous authors their due. Demonstrating a variety of ways to write for change, Daniel Heath Justice (Why Indigenous Literature Matters), Harold R. Johnson (Peace and Good Order), Carey Newman (Picking Up the Pieces) and Tanya Talaga (Seven Fallen Feathers, All Our Relations) join Shelagh Rogers for a penetrative conversation on the role literature plays in facilitating justice and resurgence, as curated by Talaga. Together, they share knowledge and reflect on the work they see rising to the fore, the stories that most need to be heard, and what comes next. These are the authors holding our country to account; these are the voices that matter.

Presented in partnership with The Writer’s Studio at SFU.

Presented in partnership with Vancity.

Democracy in Flux

Linden MacIntyre in Conversation Interviewer: Tara Henley Info: 10:15 am–11:30 am, THE NEST Price: $26

● SU I TAB L E F OR GR ADE S 10–12 AND ADU LTS Regardless of genre or medium, former CBC Fifth Estate co‑host Linden MacIntyre is an undisputed master storyteller, recognized with ten Gemini Awards, an International Emmy, the Scotiabank Giller Prize and a Libris Award—just to name a few! For decades, his work has played an integral role in helping Canadians understand our unfolding histories. Now, in captivating conversation, he discusses his newest work, The Wake. With relentless energy and erudite prose, MacIntyre captures the endurance and bravery of generations of Newfoundlanders, examining how the devastating 1929 tsunami irrevocably changed the fate of the province. It’s a triumphant interrogation of the unshakeable entanglements between humans and nature, one that could only be written by an author of MacIntyre’s voracious talent.

Buzzworthy Books

Reinventing The Novel

Educating with the Witness Blanket K I R S TI E H U D S O N, C A R E Y NE WM A N Info: 10:15 am–11:45 am, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $20

● S U I TA BL E FOR G R A DES 1 0 –1 2 A ND A D ULT S How can we meaningfully engage our communities and our children in discussions about reconciliation? Art and stories are one powerful way into dialogue. In this conversation for adults, educators and students, Indigenous artist Carey Newman and co-author Kirstie Hudson speak to The Witness Blanket: a collection of photos, letters, hockey sticks, braids, bricks, dolls and other hundreds of items that reside in this living work. Newman and Hudson will speak to how we can acknowledge the trauma inflicted on Indigenous peoples by the residential school system, and pay tribute to stories of loss, strength and resistance required for healing. Presented in partnership with Vancity.

Voices for Change

My Father, Fortune-tellers & Me, a memoir Eufemia Fantetti Mother Tongue Publishing Memoir $21.95 26 Knots Bindu Suresh Invisible Publishing Fiction $19.95

Rue des Rosiers Rhea Tregebov Coteau Books Fiction $24.95

Agness, Murderess Sarah Leavitt

Fishing for Birds Linda Quennec

Freehand Books Graphic novel $29.95

Inanna Publications Fiction $22.95

Fresh Pack of Smokes Cassandra Blanchard

Little Fortress Laisha Rosnau

Nightwood Editions Poetry $18.95 Slagflower: Poems Unearthed From A Mining Town Thomas Leduc Latitude 46 Poetry $20.00

The Ticking Heart Andrew Kaufman

The Causes Cathy Stonehouse

Coach House Books Fiction $19.95

Pedlar Press Fiction $22.00

GREAT READS FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF THE LITERARY PRESS GROUP | LPG.CA

Wolsak & Wynn Fiction $20.00

Conscious Caregiving Guide Lise Leblanc Blue Moon Publishers Non-fiction / Wellness $19.99 Slinky Naive Caroline Szpak Anvil Press Poetry $18.00

WHAT’S O N

FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER

WH AT’S O N

SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER BOOKS & IDEAS—A DAY OF PAY WHAT YOU CAN EVENTS

Big Stories, Small Packages

Rooted in the Past

Poetry Four Ways

PHIL I P H UY N H , A N O S H I R A N I , Z ALIKA R E I D ‑ B E N TA , B I L L R I C H A RD S O N

RO S E T TA A L L A N, A R M A N DO L U C A S C O R R E A , JOA N T H O M A S

DI N A DE L B U C C H I A , K A I E K E L L O U G H , DE BOR A H L A N DAU, S A R A P E TER S

Moderator: Caroline Adderson Info: 1:00 pm–2:30 pm, PERFORMANCE WORKS Price: $20

Moderator: Tara Henley Info: 1:00 pm–2:30pm, WATERFRONT THEATRE Price: $20

Moderator: Billeh Nickerson Info: 1:00 pm–2:30 pm, REVUE STAGE Price: $20

●

SU I TAB L E F OR GR ADE S 10–12 AND ADU LTS

SU ITABLE F O R G R A DES 1 0 –1 2 A ND A DU LT S

Thank you to the Vancouver Writers Festival for your inspirational work with BC students and teachers. Meeting authors and exploring their work opens minds to new ideas and other worlds.

S U I TA BL E FOR G R A DES 1 0 –1 2 A ND A D ULT S

Meet four phenomenal poets unafraid to play with traditions in this afternoon of electric performances. Writers’ Trust nominee Dina Del Bucchia (It’s a Big Deal!) turns her signature wit to the minutiae of the 21st century, hilariously musing on everything from avocado toast to Instagram. Acclaimed audio artist Kaie Kellough bends sound and space in Magnetic Equator, forging new language as his words traverse personal ancestry and distant geography. Celebrated American poet, Deborah Landau’s Soft Targets is a tour-de-force on climate change and political tensions. Stegner fellow Sara Peters’ gut-wrenching, precise poemprose hybrid I Become a Delight to My Enemies is an experimental meditation of gendered violence and abuse. Reflecting on their singular crafts and reading their irreplicable work, this is a celebration of creativity pushed past its limits.

Thanks to the support of the Y.P. Heung Foundation, Government of British Columbia and Raincoast Books.

An Earthling’s Guide to Outer Space

A Morning of Cozy Classics

YA Rising

H O LM A N WA N G

N A FI ZA AZ AD, SABINA KHAN, KIT PEARSON

BO B M C D O N A LD

Info: 10:30 am–11:45 am, REVUE STAGE

Info: 10:30 am–12:00 pm, GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE

●

Moderator: Shannon Ozimy Info: 2:00 pm–3:30 pm, THE NEST

● S UI TA B LE F O R AGE S 1 0 TO 1 1 0

Whether Pride and Prejudice or The Empire Strikes Back, Holman Wang’s beautifully-detailed books abridge literary and cinematic classics into just 12 words and 12 needle-felted images. These original, exquisite and joyful interpretations have earned accolades in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, People, and The Globe & Mail, amongst others. Who would guess that Wang is also a lawyer by day? In this family-friendly event, the felt artist and author shares how he discovered his passion for children’s books, creates his art and juggles careers. He’ll also talk about his newest books, Great Job, Mom! and Great Job, Dad!, hailed by the School Library Journal as “masterpiece[s]”. Bring your little ones—and your own creative ambitions!

Join one of CBC’s most beloved personalities, Bob McDonald, for a mind-expanding, imagination-popping exploration of the universe. Answering some of our biggest questions about life on our big blue planet and our galactic neighbours—from Martian caves to storm clouds on Jupiter to the nebulae at the far end of the universe—he’ll share behind-the-scenes-at-the-space-station facts. You’ll find out how to become an astronaut, what dark matter really is, how an asteroid actually wiped out the dinosaurs, and more. Few can combine a love for rigorous scientific method with joyful, witty explorations quite like a science journalist. Audience members of all ages will be thrilled by his down-to-earth explorations of the stars.

S UI TA B LE F O R AGE S 5 TO 1 0 5

Presented in collaboration with the Vancouver International Children’s Festival.

● S UI TA BLE F OR AG ES 13 AND U P Full of immersive, emotional trials, young adult novels are beloved by readers of all ages for tackling issues of identity and belonging with spirit and passion. Three of YA’s most exciting voices are from our own province: Nafiza Azad (The Candle and the Flame), Sabina Khan (The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali) and Governor General’s Award winner Kit Pearson (Be My Love). In this enchanting afternoon event, these cherished writers share their newest works, the inspiration behind them, their own insights on why YA transcends boundaries to captivate diverse audiences and where the genre will go next. Together, they demonstrate the undeniable power this genre has to change hearts and empower readers.

PACIFIC MFA in WRITING

POETRY — FICTION — CREATIVE NONFICTION

WILLY VLAUTIN Author of The Motel Life

Work one-on-one with award-winning writers. A message from the BC Teachers’ Federation | bctf.ca

WWW.PACIFICU.EDU/MFA

AUTH O R B IO GR A P H I E S

FOR MODERATOR BIOGRAPHIES PLEASE SEE WRITERSFEST.BC.CA

Caroline Adderson

Mona Awad

(British Columbia) Event 38

(Quebec/United States) Events 28, 44

Caroline Adderson is an award-winning author of books for children and adults. Her work for adults has been nominated for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, two Commonwealth Writers’ Prizes, the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Governor General’s Literary Award and the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize. Her middle-grade novel, Middle of Nowhere, won the Sheila E. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize and was shortlisted for the CLA Children’s Book of the Year Award. She is also the author of the enormously successful Jasper John Dooley series. Caroline is program director of the Writing Studio at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. carolineadderson.com

Mona Awad is the author of 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl, a Scotiabank Giller Prize finalist that won the Colorado Book Award, the Amazon Canada First Novel Award, and an Honorable Mention from the Arab American Book Awards. The recipient of an MFA in Fiction from Brown University and a Ph.D. in English and Creative Writing from the University of Denver, she has published work in Time, VICE, Electric Literature, McSweeney’s, Los Angeles Review of Books, and elsewhere. Bunny is her second novel. mona-awad-grou.squarespace.com, @monaawadauthor

Rosetta Allan

Nafiza Azad

(New Zealand) Events 43, 53, 55

(British Columbia) Event 66

Rosetta Allan completed the Masters of Creative Writing at The University of Auckland with First Class Honours and was awarded a Sir James Wallace Masters of Creative Writing Scholarship. Her bestselling debut novel was Purgatory. Her second novel, The Unreliable People, was released by Penguin Books in May 2019. rosettaallan.com, @rosettaallan Appearance is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.

Nafiza Azad is a self-identified island girl. She has hurricanes in her blood and dreams of a time she can exist solely on mangoes and pineapple. Born in Lautoka, Fiji, she currently resides in BC, Canada where she reads too many books, watches too many K-dramas and writes stories about girls taking over the world. Her debut YA fantasy, The Candle and the Flame, was released by Scholastic in 2019. nafizaazad.com, @nafizaa

Cale Atkinson

Maude Barlow

(British Columbia) Events 17, 22

Maude Barlow is the international bestselling author of 19 books, including the bestselling Blue Water trilogy. She is the honorary chair of the Council of Canadians. She served as senior advisor on water to the 63rd president of the UN General Assembly and was a leader in the campaign to have water recognized as a human right by the UN. In 2005, she won the prestigious Right Livelihood Award, the “alternative Nobel.” She lives in Ottawa, Ontario. @maudebarlow

Tash Aw

Elif Batuman

Tash Aw is the author of four critically acclaimed novels, The Harmony Silk Factory, Map of the Invisible World, and Five Star Billionaire, which won the Whitbread First Novel Award, a regional Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, and has been twice longlisted for the Man Booker Prize; they have also been translated into 23 languages. His short fiction has won an O. Henry Prize and been published in A Public Space and the landmark Granta 100, amongst others. His new novel is We, the Survivors. tash-aw.com, @tash_aw

WRITE THE STORIES THAT MATTER There’s never been a greater need or better time for quality journalism. Be part of the new media and write the stories that matter. Join Langara’s Journalism program and learn from award-winning journalists, get practical experience, and earn the skills needed for a career in an ever-changing world.

Learn more. www.langara.ca/journalism

(Ontario) Event 24

Cale Atkinson is an illustrator and animator living lakeside with his family in Kelowna, BC. Believing in tea more than sleep, Atkinson is constantly working on numerous projects. He is the illustrator of many children’s books, including If I Had a Gryphon, and he wrote and illustrated Where Oliver Fits and Sir Simon: Super Scarer and many more. His work can also be found in animated shorts, television and games. cale.ca, @2dcale

(United Kingdom) Events 12, 27

A U TH O R B I O G R A P H I ES

(United States) Events 44, 59 Elif Batuman has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 2010. She is the author of The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them. The recipient of a Whiting Writers’ Award, a Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Award and a Paris Review Terry Southern Prize for Humor, she also holds a PhD in comparative literature from Stanford University. The Idiot is her first novel. She lives in Brooklyn, NY. elifbatuman.com, @bananakarenina Elif Batuman is presented thanks to the donors of the Hal Wake Legacy Fund.

Develop the skills and techniques to confidently communicate your stories with Langara’s one-year Digital and Print Publishing diploma. Gain hands-on experience and build a professional portfolio that includes online publishing, website creation, and a print publication with a readership of over 40,000.

Learn more. www.langara.ca/publishing

AUTH O R B IO GR A P H I E S

A U TH O R B I O G R A P H I ES

Billy-Ray Belcourt

Raes Calvert

Michael Christie

Armando Lucas Correa

(Alberta) Events 57, 65, 79

(British Columbia) Event 37

(British Columbia) Events 14, 31, 45

(United States/Cuba) Events 43, 53, 81

Billy-Ray Belcourt (he/him) is a writer and academic from the Driftpile Cree Nation. His debut book of poems, This Wound is a World, won the 2018 Griffin Poetry Prize and was named the Most Significant Book of Poetry in English by an Emerging Indigenous Writer at the 2018 Indigenous Voices Award, amongst others. Billy-Ray is a Ph.D student and a 2018 Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholar in the Department of English and Film Studies at the University of Alberta and a 2016 Rhodes Scholar. billy-raybelcourt.com, @billyrayb

Raes Calvert is a Vancouver based writer/actor, and the Co-Artistic Director of Hardline Productions. Calvert is of Métis descent and in recent years has become one of the country’s leading indigenous performers, having appeared in The Children of God (Citadel/NAC), Les Filles du Roi (The Cultch), and Redpatch (Arts Club/Citadel/Hardline). He was recently honoured at the 2017 Hnatyshyn Foundation Indigenous Arts Awards for his contribution to indigenous theatre in Canada. @raescalvert

Michael Christie is the author of the novel If I Fall, If I Die, and the story collection The Beggar’s Garden, which were both nominated for numerous awards. His most recent novel, Greenwood, is an environmental epic that spans 125 years. A former carpenter and homeless shelter worker, he divides his time between Victoria and Galiano Island, where he lives with his wife and two sons in a timber frame house that he built himself. Greenwood is his latest book. michaelchristie.net

Armando Lucas Correa is an award-winning journalist, editor and author, and the recipient of several awards from the National Association of Hispanic Publications and the Society of Professional Journalism. He is the author of the international bestseller The German Girl, which is now being published in thirteen languages. He lives in New York City with his partner and their three children. He joins us to discuss The Daughter’s Tale. armandolucascorrea.com, @armandocorrea

Cassandra Blanchard

Tania Carter

Lynn Coady

Sarah Cox

(British Columbia) Event 69

(British Columbia) Event 10

(Ontario) Events 71, 78

Cassandra Blanchard was born in Whitehorse, Yukon and is part of the Selkirk First Nation. Fresh Pack of Smokes is her first book. She currently lives on Vancouver Island.

Tania Carter is an actor, playwright and poet whose work has appeared in anthologies and scholarly journals. A member of the Stó:lō Nation, she holds a BA in World Literature and a Masters Degree in Theatre, with a specialization in Playwriting. Carter is a co-author of Hope Matters, written collaboratively with her mother Lee Maracle and sister Columpa Bobb. After living in Toronto for twenty years, she now lives in British Columbia.

Columpa Bobb

Sara Cassidy

(Manitoba) Event 10

(British Columbia) Events 34, 38

Columpa Bobb is an award-winning theatre performer, producer, director and playwright. For more than a decade Bobb ran Canada’s largest and most extensive empowerment through the arts training program for Indigenous youth in Winnipeg, which culminated in the creation of Urban Indigenous Theatre Company, Manitoba’s only professional theatre organization by and for Indigenous people. Bobb is a co-author of Hope Matters, written collaboratively with her mother Lee Maracle and sister Tania Carter. @columpa

Sara Cassidy’s books have been short-listed for the Chocolate Lily Award, the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award and the Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize, and two were Junior Library Guild selections. Her poetry, fiction and nonfiction for adults have been widely published. She lives in Victoria, British Columbia. Her latest work is Nevers. saracassidywriter.com, @saracassidywrit

Tanya Boteju

Stephen Chbosky

(British Columbia) Events 16, 21, 30, 43

(United States) Events 42, 43, 55

Tanya Boteju is a teacher and writer living on unceded Coast Salish territories (Vancouver, BC). She spends much of her life in a classroom, teaching English to clever and sassy young people. When Boteju isn’t teaching or writing, she’s biking, reading or drinking tea from unicorn mugs. Boteju is grateful for her extroverted wife who builds her bookshelves while also encouraging her to be social. Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens is her first novel. tanyaboteju.com

Stephen Chbosky is the author of the multi-millioncopy bestselling debut novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower. In 2012, Chbosky wrote and directed an acclaimed film adaptation of his novel, starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller. He also directed the acclaimed 2017 film Wonder starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay. Imaginary Friend is Chbosky’s long-awaited second novel. @stephenchbosky

(British Columbia) Event 24 Lynn Coady is the author of six works of fiction, the most recent of which is a novel called Watching You without Me. Her novel The Antagonist was nominated for the Giller Prize for fiction in 2011 and her collection of short stories, Hellgoing, won the award in 2013. She lives in Toronto where she writes and watches TV.

lynncoady.com, @lynn_coady

see program for event details

Moccasin Square Gardens short stories

Richard Van Camp Master TłĮchǫ storyteller and bestselling author Richard Van Camp captures the shifting and magical nature of the North in this stunning collection of short stories. “Richard Van Camp has gleaned the old in the new. He holds the endangered precious out, and shows us where it is kept.” —Tantoo Cardinal, award-winning film and television actor

$19.95 • paperback • fiction

www.douglas-mcintyre.com

Sarah Cox is an award-winning journalist based in Victoria, B.C. She writes about Canada’s natural world for the online investigative news outlet The Narwhal. Sarah’s first book Breaching the Peace: The Site C Dam and a Valley’s Stand Against Big Hydro won a 2019 BC Book Prize (the Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize) and was a finalist for the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing and shortlisted for the George Ryga Award for Social Awareness in Literature. @sarahcox_bc

A U TH O R B I O G R A P H I ES

Ivan Coyote

Dina Del Bucchia

(British Columbia/Yukon) Events 2, 43, 72

(British Columbia) Events 30, 54

Ivan Coyote is the author, co-author or co-editor of twelve books, including Tomboy Survival Guide, shortlisted for the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Nonfiction Prize and an American Library Association Stonewall Honor Book. They are also the creator of four short films, three albums that combine storytelling with music, and six full-length theatre productions. Coyote is an audience favourite at storytelling, literary, film and folk music festivals. Coyote lives in Vancouver and Whitehorse, Yukon. Their new book, Rebent Sinner, is out from Arsenal Pulp Press in fall 2019. ivancoyote.com, @ivancoyote

Dina Del Bucchia is the author of the short story collection Don’t Tell Me What to Do and four collections of poetry: Coping with Emotions and Otters, Blind Items, Rom Com, written with Daniel Zomparelli, and the newly released, It’s a Big Deal! She is a senior editor of Poetry Is Dead magazine, the Artistic Director of the Real Vancouver Writers’ Series and hosts the podcast Can’t Lit with Jen Sookfong Lee. dinadelbucchia.com, @delbauchery

Michael Crummey

Cherie Dimaline

(Newfoundland) Events 29, 40

(British Columbia) Events 16, 43, 72, 81

Michael Crummey’s first novel, River Thieves, was a finalist for the 2001 Scotiabank Giller Prize, and his second novel, The Wreckage, was a finalist for the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize. His third novel, Galore, won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize (Canada and the Caribbean) and was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award. His novel, Sweetland, was also a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award. He lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland. His latest work is The Innocents. @michaelcrummey

Cherie Dimaline’s young adult novel The Marrow Thieves shot to the top of the bestseller lists when it was published in 2017, and stayed there for more than a year. It won the Governor General’s Literary Award, the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature, and was a finalist for the Trillium Book Award, among other honours. Dimaline became the first Indigenous writer in residence at the Toronto Public Library. From the Georgian Bay Métis Community in Ontario, she now lives in Toronto. cheriedimaline.com, @cherie_dimaline

Kayla Czaga

Emma Donoghue

(British Columbia) Events 57, 65

(Ontario) Event 11

Kayla Czaga is the author of one previous collection of poems, For Your Safety Please Hold On, and the chapbook Enemy of the People. Her work has been awarded the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award and the Canadian Authors Association’s Emerging Writer Award and has been nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Award, the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize and the Debut-litzer. She lives in Victoria, BC. Dunk Tank is her second full-length collection. kaylaczaga.com, @kaylaczaga

Emma Donoghue was born in Dublin in 1969 and has been living since 1998 in London Ontario. She is best known for her fiction (internationally bestselling winner of the Rogers Writers’ Trust Prize, Room, The Wonder, Frog Music, The Lotterys series) and also writes for screen (Oscar-, Golden Globe- and Bafta-nominated) and stage. Akin is her latest novel. emmadonoghue.com, @edonoghuewriter

Annahid Dashtgard

Alicia Elliott

(Ontario) Events 9, 75

(Ontario) Events 69, 74

Annahid Dashtgard (M.Ed.) is the co-founder of Anima Leadership, a highly respected international consulting company specializing in issues of diversity and inclusion. Previously she was a leader in the anti-corporate globalization movement, responsible for several national political campaigns and frequently referred to as one of the top activists to watch in the 1990s. Her writing has appeared in The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, and Briarpatch magazine. Dashtgard lives in Toronto with her husband and children. Breaking the Ocean is her first book. animaleadership.com,

Alicia Elliott is a Tuscarora writer from Six Nations of the Grand River living in Brantford, Ontario, with her husband and child. Her writing has been published by The Malahat Review, The Butter, Room, Grain, The New Quarterly, The Globe and Mail, VICE and Maclean’s, among others. She’s currently Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Fiddlehead, Associate Nonfiction Editor at Little Fiction | Big Truths, and a consulting editor with The New Quarterly. Accolades include winning Gold at the National Magazine Award and a nomination for a 2018 National Magazine Award. She is recipient of 2017/18 Geoffrey and Margaret Andrew Fellow at UBC and the 2018 RBC Taylor Emerging Writer Prize. @wordsandguitar

@annahid

Appearance generously supported by Tourism Vancouver.

EVENT Magazine’s 32nd Annual

NON-FICTION CONTEST Cash Prizes

$1,500 • $1,000 • $500 Deadline:

October 15 Non-Fiction Contest winners feature in every volume since 1989 and have received recognition from the Canadian Magazine Awards, National Magazine Awards and Best Canadian Essays. All entries considered for publication. Entry fee of $34.95 includes a one-year subscription. We encourage writers from diverse backgrounds and experience levels to submit their work.

Visit eventmagazine.ca Jeremy Thomas, Unsplash

AUTH O R B IO GR A P H I E S

Marina Endicott

Adam Foulds

(Alberta) Events 47, 81

(Ontario) Events 71, 76

Marina Endicott’s novel Good to a Fault won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best Book, Canada and the Caribbean, and was a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize. Her next, The Little Shadows, was short-listed for the Governor General’s award and long-listed for the Giller Prize, as was her last book, Close to Hugh. Her new novel is The Difference. Endicott lives in Alberta most of the time. marinaendicott.com, @marinaendicott

Adam Foulds is a poet and novelist from London, England, now resident in Toronto. He has been the recipient of a number of literary awards, including the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year, the European Union Prize for Literature and the E. M. Forster Award. His 2009 novel, The Quickening Maze, was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2010. He was named as one of Granta Magazine’s Best of Young British Novelists in 2013 and of the Poetry Book Society’s Next Generation Poets in 2014. He joins us to discuss his latest work, Dream Sequence. @adamsjfoulds

The Fictionals Comedy Co.

Brian Francis

Events 20, 30

(Ontario) Events 4, 21

The Fictionals Comedy Co. have been performing in Vancouver and beyond since 2010. Their trademark brand of improv pushes the boundaries of comedy, including collaborations with comic book artists, slam poets and a Chinese String Orchestra. The Fictionals perform weekly at Cafe Deux Soleils, monthly at the Rio Theatre, regularly at Yuk Yuk’s Vancouver and at conventions and special events all over town. Come see where the improvisers and authors’ imaginations take you this year! thefictionals.com, @thefictionals

Brian Francis’ second novel, Natural Order, was selected by the Toronto Star, Kobo and Georgia Straight as a Best Book of 2011. His first novel, Fruit, was a 2009 Canada Reads finalist and is an Amazon and 49th Shelf “100 Canadian Books to Read in a Lifetime” title. This fall, his YA novel debut, Break in Case of Emergency, will be published by HarperCollins Canada. brian-francis.com, @briantfrancis

Emma Field

John Freeman

(British Columbia) Events 5, 15

(United States) Events 60, 74

Emma Field is a spoken-word artist that hopes to coax the playful parts of her audiences out into the open. She was Vancouver’s Youth Grand Slam Champion in 2017 and was a member of the 2016 championship team of Hullabaloo, BC’s Provincial Youth Poetry Festival. Emma is also one wheel of The Tiny Tricycle Poets, a travelling, vlogging poetry collective with an ego problem.

Frequent service between Sunset Beach, Granville Island, Kitsilano, Yaletown, the Village, and otherdestinations around False Creek!

@FalseCreekFerry

Plan your trip

www.granvilleislandferries.bc.ca 604-684-7781

A U TH O R B I O G R A P H I ES

John Freeman is a literary critic and writer. He was the editor of Granta and his work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times and The Paris Review. His writing has appeared in almost 200 English-language publications around the world and has been translated into more than twenty languages. His latest publications are Freeman’s: California, featuring Golden State authors writing on issues from immigration rights to climate change, and Dictionary of the Undoing, a collection of essays that redefine what it means to be a literary citizen. freemansbiannual.com, @freemanreads

The Bridge Prize national Short Story award Celebrating excellence in short-story fiction writing by Canadian post-secondary students The Bridge Prize, presented by the University of Lethbridge School of Liberal Education, intends to inspire and motivate the next generation of Canadian literary artists as they transition to careers as professional writers. The Bridge Prize Jury

Thomas King Author (Head Juror)

Shelly Ambrose Executive Director and Publisher of The Walrus

Charles Demers Author

Leslie Hurtig Artistic Director, Vancouver Writers Fest

Aritha van Herk Author

The top prize: $7,500 Three additional finalists: $1,000 Each winning author will also receive a $200 gift card courtesy of Munro’s Books. Submit your short story today!

Julie Flett

Adam Gopnik

(British Columbia) Event 23

(United States) Events 46, 73

Julie Flett, a Cree-Métis author, illustrator and artist, has received numerous awards for her books, including an esteemed Governor General’s Award and the American Indian Library Association Award. Her work has been reviewed widely, including in the New York Times, The Globe and Mail, and Publishers Weekly. Her latest work is Birdsong. julieflett.com, @flett_julie

Adam Gopnik is a staff writer at The New Yorker; he has written for the magazine since 1986. Gopnik has three National Magazine awards, for essays and for criticism, and also a George Polk Award for Magazine Reporting. In March of 2013, Gopnik was awarded the medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters. The author of numerous bestselling books, including Paris to the Moon, he lives in New York City. A Thousand Small Sanities is his latest book. adamgopnik.com, @adamgopnik Appearance generously supported by Tourism Vancouver.

Submission Deadline: January 20, 2020

go.uleth.ca/thebridgeprize

The founder and lead donor of The Bridge Prize is Terry Whitehead, a Vancouver-based alumnus of the University of Lethbridge.

The Bridge Prize Corporate Partner:

AUTH O R B IO GR A P H I E S

A U TH O R B I O G R A P H I ES

Charlotte Gray

Nazanine Hozar

Michael Hutchison

(Ontario) Events 26, 43

(British Columbia) Events 28, 45

(Ontario) Events 19, 34

Charlotte Gray’s ten previous non-fiction bestsellers include The Massey Murder and The Promise of Canada, both of which won major awards. The Discovery Channel miniseries Klondike was based on Gold Diggers, her book about the Yukon Gold Rush. Her new book is Murdered Midas. Gray lives in Ottawa and is a Member of the Order of Canada and an adjunct research professor at Carleton University. charlottegray.ca, @charlottejgray

Nazanine Hozar was born in Tehran, Iran, and lives in Vancouver, Canada. Aria is her first novel. Along with its publication in Canada it will be published in the UK and several other European territories in 2020.

Michael Hutchinson is a member of the Misipawistik Cree Nation, north of Winnipeg. Spring 2020 will see the publication of his new Mighty Muskrats Mystery, The Case of the Missing Auntie, and he joins the Festival to discuss The Case of Windy Lake. He currently works in communications for the Assembly of First Nations in Ottawa. Spring 2020 will see the publication of his new Mighty Muskrats Mystery, and he joins the Festival to discuss The Case of Windy Lake. His greatest accomplishments are his two lovely daughters. @mike_hutchins0n

Robyn Harding

Kirstie Hudson

Philip Huynh

(British Columbia) Events 31, 42

(British Columbia) Events 33, 48

(British Columbia) Events 52, 81

Kirstie Hudson is an editor and writer in Victoria, British Columbia. She worked for the CBC for eighteen years at stations in Toronto, Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Victoria. In her award-winning career as a journalist, her work has been recognized with a Jack Webster Award, Radio Television Digital News Association awards and an international Gabriel Award. Over the years she has covered hundreds of stories, including the making of the Witness Blanket.

Philip Huynh was born in Vancouver, BC, where his parents met after fleeing Vietnam during the war. A graduate of the University of British Columbia, Huynh is also a practicing lawyer. Huynh’s stories have been widely published in literary journals. His fiction has also been published in two editions of the Journey Prize anthology and cited for distinction in The Best American Stories. He lives in Richmond, BC, with his wife and twin daughters. He joins the Festival with The Forbidden Purple City.

Robyn Harding is the internationally bestselling author of The Arrangement, Her Pretty Face, and The Party, finalist for the Arthur Ellis award for best crime novel. She has also written and executive produced an independent film. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with her family.

@pchuynh

Aleksandar Hemon

Dallas Hunt

Anosh Irani

(United States) Events 60, 62

(British Columbia) Events 17, 23, 65

(British Columbia) Events 47, 52

Aleksandar Hemon is the author of My Parents/This Does Not Belong to You and The Lazarus Project. He teaches at Princeton University. aleksanderhemon.com, @sashahemon

Dallas Hunt is Cree and a member of Wapsewsipi (Swan River First Nation) in Treaty 8 territory in Northern Alberta. He has had work published in the Malahat Review, Settler Colonial Studies, and American Indian Culture and Research. He is an Assistant Professor of Indigenous Literature at UBC. His first children’s book, Awâsis and the World-Famous Bannock, was published through Highwater Press in 2018, and was nominated for the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award.

Anosh Irani‘s most recent novel, The Parcel, was a finalist for the Governor General’s Award, the Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, and the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. His plays The Bombay Plays: The Matka King & Bombay Black and The Men in White were both finalists for the Governor General’s Literary Award. Translated from the Gibberish is his latest work. anoshirani.com

@dallas_hunt

Sarah Henstra

Brett Huson

Helena Janeczek

(Ontario) Events 14, 21

(British Columbia) Events 7, 23

(Italy) Event 58

Sarah Henstra is the author of the Governor General award-winning The Red Word as well as the YA historical fiction Mad Miss Mimic. She is a professor of English at Ryerson University, where she teaches courses in Gothic Literature, Fairy Tales & Fantasy, and Women in Fiction. Some of her best story ideas come from class discussions. Her latest YA book is We Contain Multitudes. sarahhenstra.com

Brett Huson is Gitxsan from their unceded territory in the Northwest Interior of British Columbia. Growing up in this strong matrilineal society, Huson developed a passion for the culture, land and politics of his people, and a desire to share their knowledge and stories. Huson has worked in the film and television industry, and is an executive board member for such organizations as Ka Ni Kanichihk and Indigenous Music Manitoba. Mothers of Xsan is his first series and he is a winner of the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada Award. bretthuson.ca, @thegitxsan

Helena Janeczek was born in Munich in a Polish Jewish family, and has been living in Italy for over thirty years. Her novels have gained many literary awards and have been translated into many languages. With “The Girl with the Leica,” she won the Strega Prize, Italy’s most prestigious literary award, and was a finalist for the Campiello Prize. She lives in Milan, Italy. helenajaneczek.com, @helenajaneczek Appearance is made possible thanks to the support of the Italian Institute of Culture in Toronto.

AUTH O R B IO GR A P H I E S

A U TH O R B I O G R A P H I ES

Harold R. Johnson

Andrew Kaufman

Taran Kootenhayoo

Sarah Leavitt

(Saskatchewan) Events 46, 51

(Ontario) Events 30, 71, 76

(British Columbia) Events 5, 15, 20

(British Columbia) Events 41, 63, 67

Harold R. Johnson is the author of Peace and Good Order: The Case for Indigenous Justice in Canada. His other recent books are Clifford and Firewater: How Alcohol Is Killing My People (and Yours), which was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Non-fiction. Born and raised in northern Saskatchewan, he is a graduate of Harvard Law School and managed a private practice for several years before becoming a Crown prosecutor. Johnson is a member of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation and lives in the north end of Saskatchewan with his wife, Joan. @haroldrjohnson

Andrew Kaufman was born in Wingham Ontario, hometown of Alice Munro, which makes him the second best writer from a town of three thousand. His novel The Tiny Wife won the ReLit Award. Born Weird was a Globe and Mail best book of the year. His work has been published in thirteen countries and translated into eleven languages. He currently lives in Toronto. @severalmoments

Taran Kootenhayoo, a Denesułjné and Nakoda Sioux actor, playwright and spoken-word poet, is from Treaty 6 territory in Alberta. Taran currently pays rent in Vancouver on the unceded and unsurrendered territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. He has written and co-written over 6 plays since graduating from Capilano University’s Acting for Stage and Screen program in 2015. He signed with Premiere Talent Management and is a member of Full Circle’s First Nation Performance Ensemble. @tkoootz

Sarah Leavitt is the author of the graphic memoir Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother, and Me, published in Canada, the US, UK, Germany, France and Korea. It was a finalist for the Writers’ Trust NonFiction Prize in 2010, and is currently in development as a feature-length animation. Leavitt teaches comics classes at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. sarahleavitt.com

Aviaq Johnston

Kaie Kellough

Tanya Lloyd Kyi

Linden MacIntyre

(Nunavut) Events 6, 19, 20

(Quebec) Events 54, 57

(British Columbia) Events 8, 34

(Ontario) Events 26, 49

Aviaq Johnston’s debut novel, Those Who Run in the Sky, won the Indigenous Voices Award for Most Significant Work of Prose in English by an Emerging Indigenous Writer in 2018, was a finalist for the 2017 Governor General’s Literary Award for Young People’s Literature, and a 2017 Honour Book for the Burt Award for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Young Adult Literature. She is also the author of the bestselling picture book, What’s My Superpower? @aviakattack

Kaie Kellough is a novelist, poet, and sound performer. His sound and media collaborations have appeared across Canada, in Europe, and in Australia. His most recent book is Magnetic Equator, which investigates migration and family ancestry as it drifts between South and North America. His novel Accordéon a dystopian hallucination set against the 2012 Québec Student Strike, was nominated for the Amazon/ Walrus First Novel Award. His upcoming work is Dominoes at the Crossroads. kaie.ca, @kkaaiiee

Tanya Lloyd Kyi is the author of more than 25 fiction and non-fiction books for children and young adults. When not writing, she likes to bake, read and play tennis. Her favourite meal is breakfast, her favorite color is blue and her favorite children’s book is A Wrinkle in Time. Kyi grew up in the small town of Creston, BC, but now lives in Vancouver with her husband and two children. Her new non-fiction book for children is called Under Pressure: The Science of Stress. tanyalloydkyi.com, @tanyakyi

Linden MacIntyre’s bestselling first novel, The Long Stretch, was nominated for a CBA Libris Award, while his boyhood memoir, Causeway: A Passage from Innocence won both the Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction and the Evelyn Richardson NonFiction Award. His second novel, The Bishop’s Man, was a #1 national bestseller and the winner of the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Dartmouth Book Award for Fiction and the CBA Libris Fiction Book of the Year Award. His other novels include Why Men Lie, Punishment and The Only Café.

Eve Joseph

Sabina Khan

Deborah Landau

Elizabeth MacLeod

(British Columbia) Events 57, 79

(British Columbia) Events 4, 66

(United States) Events 54, 57

(Ontario) Event 18

Eve Joseph’s first two books of poetry The Startled Heart and The Secret Signature of Things were both nominated for the Dorothy Livesay Award. Her nonfiction book In the Slender Margin was published by HarperCollins in 2014 and won the Hubert Evans award for nonfiction. Her most recent book of poetry Quarrels was nominated for the Dorothy Livesay Award and won the 2019 Griffin Poetry Prize. evejoseph.com

Sabina Khan is the author of The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali, a YA Contemporary, out now from Scholastic. She is an educational consultant and a karaoke enthusiast. After living in Germany, Bangladesh, Macao, Illinois and Texas, she has finally settled down in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, with her husband and three daughters, one of whom is a fur baby. sabina-khan.com, @sabina_writer

Daniel Heath Justice

Naomi Klein

Tom Lanoye

Lee Maracle

(British Columbia) Event 51

(Ontario) Event 68

(Belgium) Events 58, 72

(Ontario) Events 10, 25

Daniel Heath Justice (Cherokee Nation) is a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Literature and Expressive Culture at the University of British Columbia. A widely published scholar in Indigenous literary studies, he is the co-editor of the groundbreaking Oxford Handbook of Indigenous American Literature and author of a Cherokee literary history, a cultural history of badgers and an Indigenous epic fantasy series. danielheathjustice.com, @justicedanielh

Naomi Klein is an award-winning journalist, columnist, and author of the New York Times and international bestsellers The Shock Doctrine, No Logo, This Changes Everything and No Is Not Enough. A Senior Correspondent for The Intercept, reporter for Rolling Stone and contributor for both The Nation and The Guardian, Klein is the inaugural Gloria Steinem Endowed Chair in Media, Culture, and Feminist Studies at Rutgers University. She is co-founder of the climate justice organization The Leap. naomiklein.org, @naomiaklein

Tom Lanoye is an award-winning Belgian novelist, poet, playwright and stage performer. He is the author of more than fifty works of poetry, drama and fiction, and his work has been translated into fifteen languages. His bestseller Speechless was awarded several major awards and has been adapted for screen in 2017. Lanoye has won many prestigious European literary prizes. When not on stage, Lanoye lives in Antwerp and Cape Town. lanoye.be, @tomlanoye

Lee Maracle is the author of numerous books, including My Conversations with Canadians, finalist for the Toronto Book Award and the First Nation Communities READ Award. Her latest book is Hope Matters, written with daughters Columpa Bobb and Tania Carter. Maracle has received many awards and recognitions and is an Officer of the Order of Canada. A member of the Stó:lō Nation, she lives and teaches in Toronto. Maracle is a finalist for the 2020 Neustadt International Prize for Literature. @maraclelee

Deborah Landau is the author of four books of poetry. She was educated at Stanford, Columbia and Brown, where she earned her PhD. Currently she is the director of the NYU Creative Writing Program and lives in New York City. deborahlandau.com, @landaudeborah

E lizabeth MacLeod has written biographies, picture books, cook books and many more. She has won many awards, including the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction, as well as children’s choice awards (Red Cedar, Silver Birch, Red Maple, etc.) across Canada. MacLeod loves discovering amazing stories and sharing them with readers. She’s very nosy so she enjoys finding out how people had the courage to fight for justice or the persistence to overcome problems.

AUTH O R B IO GR A P H I E S

Terry’s Legacy

“The Vancouver Writers Fest is an important part of my life and a significant contributor to our cultural community. This is why I have pledged a gift in my will and named the Festival as a beneficiary in my life insurance. I want to ensure that the conversations about books and ideas continue long after I turn my final page.” —Terry Whitehead Join Terry in the Vancouver Writers Fest’s Postscript Society by leaving a gift in your will or life insurance. Leaving an enduring legacy helps the Festival live on and is simpler than it sounds. For more information contact: Andrew Forshner, Development Director aforshner@writersfest.bc.ca | 604.262.2080

A U TH O R B I O G R A P H I ES

Lauren Markham

Beverley McLachlin

Carey Newman

(United States) Events 60, 74

(British Columbia) Event 82

(British Columbia) Events 33, 48, 51

Lauren Markham is a writer focusing on issues related to youth, migration, the environment, and her home state of California. Her work has appeared in outlets such as Guernica, Harper’s, Orion, The New York Times and VQR, where she is a Contributing Editor. Markham is the author of the award-winning book, The Far Away Brothers: Two Young Migrants and the Making of an American Life, which has recently been adapted for Young Adult readers. laurenmarkham.info, @laurenmarkham

Beverley McLachlin is a former Chief Justice of Canada, the first woman to hold that position and the longest-serving Chief Justice in Canadian history. Throughout her prestigious career, she has served on many courts, including the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the British Columbia Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. Her first novel, Full Disclosure, was an instant national bestseller. Her memoir, Truth Be Told, releases this fall. Appearance generously supported by Tourism Vancouver.

Carey Newman or Hayalthkin’geme is a multidisciplinary artist and master carver. Through his father he is Kwakwaka’wakw from the Kukwekum, Giiksam, and WaWalaby’ie clans of Fort Rupert, and Coast Salish from Cheam of the Stó:lō Nation along the upper Fraser Valley. Through his mother he is English, Irish, and Scottish. In his artistic practice he strives to highlight Indigenous, social or environmental issues. Newman was named to the Order of British Columbia in 2018. He joins us with Picking Up the Pieces. witnessblanket.ca, @blueravenart

Derek Mascarenhas

Vuyo Mgoduka

Wilfried N’Sondé

(Ontario) Events 36, 76

(British Columbia) Events 5, 15

(United States) Event 58

Derek Mascarenhas is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies Creative Writing Program, a finalist for the Penguin Random House of Canada Student Award for Fiction and a nominee for the Marina Nemat Award. Mascarenhas is one of four children born to parents who emigrated from Goa, India, and settled in Burlington, Ontario. A backpacker who has traveled across six continents, Mascarenhas lives in Toronto. Coconut Dreams is his first book. derekmascarenhas.ca,

Vuyo Mgoduka is a South African born, Vancouver based poet, and vocalist. They use their platform to promote Equality and selfawareness. Vuyo believes in using art as a healing modality to bring about unity and progress. They have featured locally as a guest at Showcase mixtape, Vancouver poetry slam and on the radio show Wax Poetics and performs regularly at Stew Jams.

Wilfried N’Sondé was born in the Congo and grew up in France. He is considered one of the shining lights in a new generation of African and Afropean writers. His work has received critical acclaim and been recognized with awards including the Prix des Cinq Continents de la Francophonie and the Prix Senghor de la création littéraire. His latest work is The Silence of the Spirits. Appearance is made possible thanks to the support of the Consulate General of France in Vancouver.

@dpmasca

Karen McBride

Sean Michaels

Chigozie Obioma

(Quebec) Events 6, 31

(Quebec) Events 72, 78

(United States) Event 12

Karen McBride is an Algonquin Anishinaabe writer from the Timiskaming First Nation in the territory that is now Quebec. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and English, as well as a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa. Most recently, McBride graduated with a Master of Arts in the Field of Creative Writing from the University of Toronto. Crow Winter is her debut novel.

Sean Michaels is a novelist, short story writer and critic. Born in Stirling, Scotland and raised in Ottawa, he eventually settled in Montreal, where he founded the pioneering music blog Said the Gramophone in 2003. In 2014, Michaels received the Scotiabank Giller Prize for his debut novel, Us Conductors. His second book, a heist novel called The Wagers, will be published in September. He enjoys cold water, warm madeleines and songs with colours in their titles. byseanmichaels.com, @stgramophone

Chigozie Obioma’s debut novel, The Fishermen, won the inaugural FT/Oppenheimer Award for Fiction, the NAACP Image Awards for Debut Literary Work, and the Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction; and was a finalist for the 2015 Man Booker Prize. Obioma was named one of Foreign Policy’s 100 Leading Global Thinkers of 2015. He is an assistant professor of Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. An Orchestra of Minorities is his second novel and has been nominated for the 2019 Booker Prize. chigozieobioma.com

Bob McDonald

David Moscrop

Alix Ohlin

(British Columbia) Event 61

(Ontario) Events 43, 46, 62

(British Columbia) Event 28

Bob McDonald has been the host of CBC Radio’s Quirks & Quarks since 1992. He is a regular science commentator and correspondent on CBC News Network and CBC TV’s The National. He has been honoured with numerous awards, including from The Royal Canadian Institute, the Royal Society of Canada, and he is an Officer of the Order of Canada (2011). In 2014, an asteroid designated 2006XN67 was officially named BobMcdonald. McDonald lives in Victoria, BC. His latest book is An Earthling’s Guide to Outer Space. @CBCQuirks

David Moscrop is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Communication at the University of Ottawa, a contributing columnist for the Washington Post, a writer with Maclean’s Magazine, and a political commentator for radio, print, and television. Too Dumb for Democracy? is his first book. He’s now working on his second—a book about the end of the world. davidmoscrop.com, @david_moscrop

Alix Ohlin’s latest novel is Dual Citizens. Her previous novel, Inside, was a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize. She lives in Vancouver and chairs the Creative Writing Program at UBC. alixohlinauthor.com, @alixohlin

AUTH O R B IO GR A P H I E S

A U TH O R B I O G R A P H I ES

Sean Harris Oliver

Rachel Poliquin

Zalika Reid-Benta

(British Columbia) Events 32, 37

(British Columbia) Event 7

(Ontario) Events 36, 52, 72

Sean Harris Oliver’s work has appeared throughout Canada and the US in a variety of arts festivals, public readings and theatre productions. As a writer, his two most recent scripts have gone on to earn numerous distinctions, including being named a finalist for the 2017 Playwright’s Guild of Canada’s Carol Bolt Award for Redpatch and a Jessie Richardson Theatre Award nomination for “Outstanding New Script” for The Fighting Season. Oliver is a graduate of Studio 58. seanharrisoliver.com,

Zalika Reid-Benta is a Toronto-based writer whose first book, Frying Plantain, has been recently published. In 2011, George Elliott Clarke recommended her as a “Writer to Watch.” She received an M.F.A. in fiction from Columbia University in 2014 and is an alumnus of the 2017 Banff Writing Studio. She is currently working on a young-adult fantasy novel drawing inspiration from Jamaican folklore and Akan spirituality. zalikareidbenta.com, @literati167

@seanholiver

Rachel Poliquin writes about animals, mostly. She has written about taxidermied zebras, heroic sled dogs and 800,000 jars of pickled fish. But she particularly likes celebrating unexpected animal heroes—the lowly, lumpy, supposedly boring but quietly extraordinary. She is the author of Beastly Puzzles: A Brain-Boggling Animal Guessing Game and the critically-acclaimed Superpower Field Guide Series for children. Poliquin has a Ph.D in the history of science and has a background in visual arts, cultural history and natural history. rachelpoliquin.com, @ravishingbeasts

Anna Mehler Paperny

Ruby Porter

Bill Richardson

(Ontario) Event 9

(New Zealand) Events 47, 76

(British Columbia) Events 52, 81 Ruby Porter is a prose-writer, poet and artist. She tutors creative writing at the University of Auckland, and in high schools. She was the winner of the Wallace Foundation Short Fiction Award in 2017, and the inaugural winner of the Michael Gifkins Prize in 2018, with her debut novel Attraction.

Anna Mehler Paperny is an award-winning reporter for Reuters based in Toronto. She has reported for The Globe and Mail, Global News, The San Francisco Chronicle and Maclean’s Magazine, from Xinjiang, Haiti, Guantanamo Bay and across Ontario and British Columbia. She won an award for her investigation into deaths in Canadian prisons. Her first book, Hello I Want to Die Please Fix Me, explores our failure to treat and address debilitating depression and suicidality—and the cost of that failure. annamehlerpaperny.com, @amp6

Appearance is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.

Kit Pearson

Steven Price

Nathan Ripley

(British Columbia) Event 66

(British Columbia) Events 40, 47

(Ontario) Events 42, 43, 63

Kit Pearson has written twelve middle-grade novels for children. Her newest, Be My Love, is about a young teen in 1951 falling in love with another girl. She has won many awards for her work, including the Governor General’s Award for Awake and Dreaming and the BC Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence. She was recently appointed a member of the Order of Canada. She lives in Victoria with her partner, Katherine Farris. kitpearson.com

Steven Price’s most recent novel, By Gaslight, was a #1 bestseller, longlisted for the Giller Prize, and named a Book of the Year by the Globe & Mail, CBC, the Writer’s Trust of Canada and NPR. His other books include a novel, Into that Darkness, and two poetry collections: Anatomy of Keys, and Omens in the Year of the Ox. He lives in Victoria. His latest novel is Lampedusa.

“I Saw Three Ships is a fantasy with a great sense of fun...Wonderful and unusual... A funny and moving work that focuses on devotion and longing.” —Uptown.

BILL RICHARDSON I Saw Three Ships

WEST END STORIES

Bill Richardson lives in southwestern Manitoba, in the rural municipality of Louise, and in Vancouver’s West End, which is where the eight linked stories in his new collection, I Saw Three Ships, are set. This fall, he’s the writer in residence at the University of Manitoba’s Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture.

Bindu Suresh

Don’t miss this special interview between CBC North by Northwest Host Sheryl MacKay and the insightful author of innovative and striking debut novel 26 Knots.

Nathan Ripley is the pseudonym of Toronto resident and Journey Prize winner Naben Ruthnum. Find You in the Dark, Ripley’s first thriller, was an instant bestseller and an Arthur Ellis Awards finalist for Best First Novel. As Naben Ruthnum, he is the author of Curry: Eating, Reading, and Race. His latest book is Your Life Is Mine. @NabenRuthnum

Sara Peters

Joanne Ramos

Laisha Rosnau

(Ontario) Events 43, 50, 54

(United States) Events 12, 45, 59

(British Columbia) Events 28, 40

Joanne Ramos was born in the Philippines and moved to Wisconsin when she was six. She graduated with a BA from Princeton University. After working in investment banking and private-equity investing for several years, she became a staff writer at The Economist. She currently serves on the board of The Moth. She lives in New York City with her husband and children. Her first novel is The Farm.

Laisha Rosnau is author of two novels, Little Fortress and The Sudden Weight of Snow, and four collections of poetry. Her work has been the recipient of Dorothy Livesay Award and Acorn-Plantos Award, and has been nominated for several awards, including the Amazon First Novel Award and three times for CBC Literary Awards. Rosnau teaches at UBC Okanagan and she and her family are resident caretakers of Bishop Wild Bird Sanctuary in Coldstream, BC. Her latest book is Little Fortress. laisharosnau.com, @laisharosnau

Sara Peters was born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and lives in Toronto. She completed at MFA at Boston University, and was a Stegner fellow at Stanford. Her work has appeared in Slate, The Threepenny Review, and Poetry magazine. Her first book is 1996. I Become a Delight to My Enemies is her second book.

CBC’s Booked @ VPL:

Saturday October 26 at 11:00am

Vancouver Public Library, 350 W Georgia St. Moltabano Family Theatre, Level 8

Free!

Presented in partnership with CBC North By Northwest, Vancouver Public Library and Vancouver Writers Fest.

AUTH O R B IO GR A P H I E S

60 60

A U TH O R B I O G R A P H I ES

61 61

Hassan Ghedi Santur

Tasha Spillett

Darryl Sterk

(Ontario) Events 36, 78

(Saskatchewan) Events 16, 32

(Alberta/Taiwan) Event 56

Hassan Ghedi Santur, author of The Youth of God, emigrated from Somalia to Canada at age thirteen. He has a BA in English Literature and an MFA from York University, and an MA from Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. He has worked as a radio journalist for CBC and his print journalism has appeared in The New York Times, among others. In 2010, he published his debut novel Something Remains and is currently working on his third novel, Other Worlds, Other Lives. hsantur.wordpress.com,

Tasha Spillett, author of Surviving the City, draws her strength from both her Nehiyaw & Trinidadian bloodlines. She is a celebrated educator, award-winning author and scholar, but is most heart-tied to community lead work that centers land and water defence, and the protection of Indigenous women and girls. Spillett is a PhD Candidate at the University of Saskatchewan, where she holds a Vanier Canada Award and is currently working on a graphic novel series and an Indigenous welcome-baby book.

@hgsantur

@TashaSpillett

Darryl Sterk is from Edmonton! But according to his daughter when she was a little baby, he is now Taiwanese. In addition to Taiwanese, he has been trying to learn the indigenous Taiwanese language Seediq. He is honoured to have the opportunity to translate Wu Ming-Yi’s fiction and sometimes non-fiction over the past half-dozen years, and has translated a lot of other literary works by Taiwanese writers for The Chinese Pen and Books From Taiwan. Appearance is made possible thanks to the support of the Taiwan Ministry of Culture and the Taiwan Academy.

Anakana Schofield

Ashley Spires

Bindu Suresh

(British Columbia) Events 44, 50

(British Columbia) Events 3, 17

(Quebec) Events 50, 72, 76

Anakana Schofield won the Amazon.ca First Novel Award and the Debut-Litzer Prize for Fiction in 2013 for her debut novel Malarky. Martin John, her critically acclaimed second novel, was shortlisted for the Giller Prize. Schofield contributes criticism and essays to publications including London Review of Books blog, The Guardian, The Irish Times, and The Globe and Mail. Her latest novel, Bina, is published by Knopf Canada. anakanaschofield.com, @AnakanaSchofiel

shley Spires grew up in Tsawwassen, BC and now A lives in Ladner, having made an educated decision to never move from BC again. She is the creator of the Binky the Space Cat series of junior graphic novels and the bestselling The Most Magnificent Thing, soon to be an animated short film. When not drawing, she is often jogging with her dog Gordon or cuddling her growing brood of cats. Fairy Science is her latest book. ashleyspires.com, @ashleyspires

Bindu Suresh, a former journalist and current paediatrician, is the author of short stories that have appeared in various literary publications. She studied literature at Columbia University and medicine at McGill University. Born in Wales, she grew up in Canada and has spent equal parts of her life in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. She currently lives in Montreal. 26 Knots is her first book.

Lorimer Shenher

Ted Staunton

Kevin Sylvester

(British Columbia) Events 9, 43

(Ontario) Event 39

(Ontario) Events 19, 39

Lorimer Shenher is a writer and former police officer currently working in television development. His second book, This One Looks Like a Boy: My Gender Journey to Life as a Man, was released March 31st of this year and was a Quill & Quire star reviewed selection. His first book, the acclaimed That Lonely Section of Hell: The Botched Investigation of a Serial Killer Who Almost Got Away, tells of his previous incarnation as a female police detective working in vain to solve the mystery of Vancouver’s missing women. lorimershenher.com, @ShenherLorimer

Ted Staunton is the award-winning author of over forty books for young people. A popular presenter across Canada and elsewhere, he also teaches writing at George Brown College in Toronto. When not being bookish he’s often picking tunes music with The Maple Leaf Champions Jug Band and other roots musicians. What Blows Up is his latest book in the multi-author series The Almost Epic Squad.

Kevin Sylvester is an award-winning illustrator, author and broadcaster. Mucus Mayhem is part of the Almost Epic Squad series–along with books by Ted Staunton, Richard Scrimger and Lesley Livingston. All four books are illustrated by Britt Wilson. His latest picture book is Gargantua (Jr.): Defender of Earth. He is also the author and illustrator of the Neil Flambé Capers, the MINRs trilogy, Basketballog, Follow Your Stuff and many others. kevinsylvesterbooks.com, @kevinarts

The Vancouver Writers Fest bids a fond adieu to

Kanwer Singh (a.k.a. Humble The Poet)

Aron Nels Steinke

Tanya Talaga

(Ontario) Events 2, 16

(United States) Events 3, 22

(Ontario) Events 13, 43, 51, 69

Humble The Poet, a.k.a. Kanwer Singh, is a Canadianborn rapper, spoken-word artist, poet, internationally bestselling author and former elementary school teacher. He runs a wildly popular blog that has more than 100,000 monthly readers, and he has over 930,000 social media followers. His first book, Unlearn, sold nearly 30,000 copies. He has performed at concerts and festivals including Lollapalooza and has been featured in major media including BuzzFeed and the Huffington Post. He joins us to discuss Things No One Else Can Teach Us. humblethepoet.com,

Aron Nels Steinke is the Eisner Award-winning coauthor of The Zoo Box and creator of The Mr. Wolf’s Class graphic novel series. The New York Times has called this, “A vibrant, funny new series that charmingly captures the everyday antics of a fourth-grade classroom.” Steinke also teaches fourth and fifth grade in Portland, Oregon and has said, “My job is to empower, inform, inspire, and foster creativity, compassion and resilience in my students.” aronnelssteinke.blogspot.com,

Tanya Talaga is the acclaimed author of Seven Fallen Feathers: a multi-award winning, critics choice and national bestselling title, winner of the RBC Taylor Prize, the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing, and the First Nation Communities READ Award and the BC National Award for Nonfiction, and a national bestseller. Talaga was the 2017–2018 Atkinson Fellow in Public Policy and the 2018 CBC Massey Lecturer. She is author of the national bestseller All Our Relations: Finding The Path Forward. For more than twenty years she has been a journalist at the Toronto Star. talaga.ca, @TanyaTalaga

longtime Festival friend and collaborator, with grateful thanks for more than 30 wonderful Literary Cabarets.

tedstauntonbooks.com

@mrwolfcomics

@atbindusuresh

@humblethepoet

Appearance generously supported by Tourism Vancouver.

Maestro Sal Ferreras, Thank you, Sal!

AUTH O R B IO GR A P H I E S

A U TH O R B I O G R A P H I ES

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Mariko Tamaki

Alicia Tobin

Holman Wang

G. Willow Wilson

(Ontario/United States) Events 4, 20, 32

(British Columbia) Events 2, 30, 76

(British Columbia) Events 22, 64

(United States) Events 31, 59

Alicia Tobin is a comedian and writer living and working in Vancouver. She is the co-host of two popular podcasts, Retail Nightmares and Super! Sick! Podcast!, and the creator of Alicia Tobin’s Come Draw with Me, a live, entirely improvised comedy show that has been featured in a number of comedy festivals. She loves baked goods, animals, friendship and her miniature poodle, Hank Tobin. So You’re a Little Sad, So What? is her first book. retailnightmares.com, @AliciaATobin

Holman Wang is a lawyer who also makes children’s books. He is the co-creator of the board book series Cozy Classics and Star Wars Epic Yarns, featuring unique needle-felted artwork. His new picture books, Great Job, Mom! and Great Job, Dad!, celebrate all the tiny unpaid labours that accumulate to make us who we are as parents. Wang’s work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times and People, and exhibited around the world. holmanwang.com, @jackandholman

G. Willow Wilson is the author of the critically acclaimed novel Alif the Unseen, the memoir The Butterfly Mosque and the graphic novels Cairo, Air, and Vixen. She co-created the celebrated comic book series Ms. Marvel starring Kamala Khan, winner of the 2015 Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story, and recently debuted as writer of the Wonder Woman comics. She currently lives in Seattle. Her latest novel is The Bird King. gwillowwilson.com, @gwillowwilson

Souvankham Thammavongsa

Rhea Tregebov

Lawrence Weschler

Teresa Wong

(Ontario) Events 57, 65

(British Columbia) Event 81

(United States) Event 77

(Alberta) Event 67

Souvankham Thammavongsa is the author of four poetry books including, Light, winner of the Trillium Book Award for Poetry and, most recently, Cluster. Her writing has appeared in Harper’s, Granta, The Paris Review, The Journey Prize Stories and others. Her debut collection of fiction, How to Pronounce Knife, will be published by McClelland & Stewart in the spring of 2020. She was born in the Lao refugee camp in Nong Khai, Thailand, and was raised and educated in Toronto.

Lawrence Weschler, a longtime veteran of the New Yorker magazine and a regular contributor to NPR, is the director emeritus of the New York Institute of the Humanities at NYU, and the author of nearly twenty books, including Seeing is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees, Mr. Wilson’s Cabinet of Wonder, Everything That Rises and Vermeer in Bosnia. His latest book is the autobiography of Oliver Sacks, And How Are You, Dr. Sacks? lawrenceweschler.com

souvankham-thammavongsa.com

Rhea Tregebov is an award-winning poet and celebrated author of children’s picture books. She was born in Saskatoon and raised in Winnipeg. Her first novel, The Knife Sharpener’s Bell, was listed in the Globe and Mail’s top 100 books. Tregebov worked for many years as a freelance writer and editor in Toronto. From 2004 to 2017 she taught in the UBC Creative Writing Program. Now an Associate Professor Emerita, she continues to live and write in Vancouver. Rue des Rosiers is her latest book. rheatregebov.ca, @rheatregebov

Jesse Thistle

Ayelet Tsabari

Iona Whishaw

Wu Ming-Yi

(Ontario) Events 31, 70

(Ontario/Israel) Events 70, 75

(British Columbia) Events 55, 63

(Taiwan) Event 56

Jesse Thistle is Métis-Cree from Saskatchewan and raised in Toronto. He is a Ph.D Candidate in history at York University where he is also an Assistant Professor in Métis Studies. Thistle’s doctoral work on Métis road allowance communities has won the P.E. Trudeau and Vanier doctoral scholarships, and he is a Governor General medallist. He is the author of the Definition of Indigenous Homelessness in Canada, published through the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. His most recent work is a memoir, From the Ashes. jessethistle.com, @michifman

Ayelet Tsabari was born in Israel to a large family of Yemeni descent. Essays from her memoir, The Art of Leaving, won several awards including a National Magazine Award. Her first book, The Best Place on Earth, won the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature and the Edward Lewis Wallant Award, was selected as a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice and others. ayelettsabari.com, @ayelettsabari

Iona Whishaw was born in BC to English parents. Her early years were spent in a tiny English community by Kootenay Lake, and her youth in Mexico and the US. She has an MFA from UBC, has written poetry, a children’s book and short fiction prior to her Lane Winslow mystery series, which were initially inspired by her mother’s outing as a spy during the war. She retired as an award-winning High School Principal in 2014. Her latest book is A Deceptive Devotion. ionawhishaw.com, @ionawhishaw

Wu Ming-Yi is an award-winning novelist and also an artist, designer, photographer, literary professor, butterfly scholar, environmental activist, traveller and blogger, and is widely considered the leading writer of his generation in his native Taiwan. His work has been translated into nine languages and compared to that of writers such as Margaret Atwood, Haruki Murakami, David Mitchell and Yann Martel. His novel, The Stolen Bicycle, was a finalist for the International Booker Prize.

Joan Thomas

Richard Van Camp

Jenny Heijun Wills

(Manitoba) Events 29, 53

(Alberta) Events 6, 14

(Manitoba) Events 43, 62, 70

Joan Thomas is a Winnipeg writer, bringing her fourth novel, Five Wives, to the festival. Her books, which include The Opening Sky, Curiosity, and Reading by Lightning, have been nominated for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Governor General’s Award, and the International IMPAC-Dublin Literary Award, and have won the Amazon Prize, a Commonwealth Prize, and the McNally Robinson Prize. In 2014 Thomas was awarded the Writers’ Trust of Canada Engel/Findley Prize for midcareer achievement. joanthomas.ca, @joanthomas_sky

Richard Van Camp is an internationally renowned storyteller and best-selling author, a member of the Dogrib (TłĮchǫ) Dene Nation, and was born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. He is the author of dozens of books, including The Lesser Blessed, a Canadian classic. Van Camp uses oral story-telling skills and traditions to braid together pop culture with TłĮchǫ Dene customs and some Fort Smith grace in his short story collection Moccasin Square Gardens. richardvancamp.com,

Jenny Heijun Wills was born in Seoul, South Korea and was adopted and raised in a white family in Southern-Ontario, Canada. In 2008 she reunited with her family in Asia. She’s lived, studied, and worked in Toronto, Montreal, Boston, and Seoul. She teaches in the Department of English at the University of Winnipeg. Older Sister. Not Necessarily Related. is her first book. jennyheijunwills.com, @jennyheijun

Mariko Tamaki is a Canadian writer of comics and prose. She is the co-creator with Jillian Tamaki of Skim and of Caldecott and Printz Honor book This One Summer. Mariko also writes about superheroes for Marvel and DC Comics. She lives in Oakland, California. Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me is her latest book. marikotamaki.blogspot.com, @marikotamaki

Appearance made possible thanks to the generous support of Sam Znaimer in memory of Nancy Richler.

@richardvancamp

Teresa Wong is a Calgary writer who had three children in less than five years. At first, she feared motherhood would destroy her, but is pleasantly surprised to find herself continually remade. When the kids are asleep, she writes and draws pictures. When she is asleep, it’s never for long. Dear Scarlet is her first book. byteresawong.com, @byteresawong

Appearance is made possible thanks to the support of the Taiwan Ministry of Culture and the Taiwan Academy.

IN M E MRIE O RIA O BITUA SM

In Memoriam

In 2019 we bid farewell to literary greats: writers who transformed how we see the world and ourselves. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of these authors as we fondly remember them—and their visits to the Festival over the years. One of Canada’s most renowned writers, Patrick Lane’s accolades reflect the remarkable impact that his writing had on readers and his approach had on students. His vast body of work includes 25 volumes of poetry, fiction and non-fiction, and awards such as the Governor-General’s Award for Poetry, the Canadian Authors Association Award, three National Magazine Awards, and the office of the Order of Canada. Lane was a friend of the Festival, often gracing our stages and contributing to the tapestry of our community. His is survived by his wife, the much beloved poet Lorna Crozier. Award-winning cartoonist Teva Harrison illuminated every room she stepped into, enveloping audiences and fellow writers alike with her joyful, honest and deeply generous approach. Her graphic memoir, In-Between Days, documented living with an incurable illness and was the winner of 2017 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize for nonfiction, a finalist in the Governor General’s Award and a nominee for the Joe Shuster Award.

“A story about love, and how the lack of embodied love can starve a young person’s ability to make choices in their best interests... While nominally a work of fiction, The Youth of God should be read as a cautionary tale of what can transpire when atrisk youth are allowed to slip through the cracks.” —Quill and Quire, starred review

One of Canadian Literature’s revered veterans, Wayson Choy’s debut novel, The Jade Peony, quickly became a staple in the literary canon. Told from a queer Asian-Canadian perspective, it’s a remarkable work set in Vancouver’s Chinatown and, in addition to his three other works of fiction and non-fiction, offers an unprecedented window into the Chinese-Canadian experience. As an inspiration to other writers, few can rival Choy’s magnanimous support of others beginning their work in the industry. The loss of Greg Younging was acutely felt in the literary community. Formerly an Assistant Director of Research for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, the publisher of Theytus Books, a professor of Indigenous Studies at the UBC Okanagan campus and co-author of essential reading, Elements of Indigenous Style: A Guide for Writing By and About Indigenous Peoples, his legacy of reconciliation, creativity and the championing of Indigenous literature remains. After writing as a hobby, Andrea Levy became a household name with her novels about experiences of Jamaican British people, including Small Island, which won the 2004 Orange prize, the Whitbread book of the year and the Commonwealth Writers’ prize, sold more than one million copies around the world and inspired a 2009 TV adaptation. We were lucky to have her insightful mind and warm wit at the Festival. We remember these creative minds with fondness and respect.

THE YOUTH OF GOD Hassan Ghedi Santur Mawenzi House | $20.95

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Y E AR- RO UN D F E S T I VA L I N F O

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Attention all Educators: The Vancouver Writers Fest’s WRITERS IN THE CLASSROOM EDUCATION SERIES runs OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2019

Caroline Adderson

Youth Education Program Our Youth Education Program offers students the opportunity to interact with celebrated writers from across the globe in more than 40 events designed specifically for young people, teachers, schools and student groups. Each year, we reach more than 6,000 students across British Columbia—in their classrooms and at the Festival. Youth Education Programming comprises: — 30+ weekday Festival events featuring presentations and discussions with engaging authors from Canada and around the world, programmed with BC curriculum goals in mind. — 6,000 student attendees from the Lower Mainland, the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island. — Writer in the Classroom: 20 classroom-based events where writers visit schools across the Lower Mainland to engage students in important conversations. — Youth Writing Contest: A story writing contest for BC students, Grades 8-12 — with a cash prize. The Youth Education Program is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Government of British Columbia, the Rix Family Foundation and Bonnie Mah.

“The program offers such a unique opportunity for students to be able to meet and interact with real writers in a small, intimate setting, and my students were all very grateful for the experience. All in all, it was an educational experience on many levels for my students, and one that will stick with them.” — Laura Parker-Jervis, Teacher, Fraser Heights Secondary “My students were so excited to meet these authors and parents have emailed me back sharing how some of the children were so eager to write stories of their own after the authors’ visits. Authors have given students personal tips and advice that worked for them and ignited young minds to be open for new possibilities! Thank you so much for giving us this wonderful opportunity and I look forward to partaking in many more events and programs with the Vancouver Writers Festival.” — Soo Kim, Teacher, St. Augustine School “From what I learned, the author was trying to show that we are the same even though we grew up in different parts of the world, and that we should try to understand and become more open-minded of other people’s perspectives…from [this presentation] I gained a new perspective on life, learned tips on how to engage readers using imagery, and that hope and determination will always help you reach your goals.” — Student, Johnston Heights Secondary School If you are an educator interested in booking an author visit to your school, or finding out more about our education programs, contact: Leena Desai, Outreach Coordinator, ldesai@writersfest.bc.ca

Holman Wang

Tanya Boteju

The Vancouver Writers Fest provides up to 10 free author visits to schools across the Lower Mainland between October and November 2019. During each of these Writers in the Classroom events, an author will read from their work, discuss their writing process and chat in an intimate setting with up to 60 students for one class period. The program is suitable for Grades K-12. A detailed list of authors participating in the Writers in the Classroom series is available on our website at writersfest.bc.ca. To Book An Author For Your Class The Writers in the Classroom series is one of our most popular programs and applications are processed on a firstcome, first-serve basis. Email our Outreach Coordinator, Leena Desai, at ldesai@writersfest.bc.ca to apply. Your email should include the following information: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Name of the author you wish to book. The name of your school and its address. A phone number. The estimated number of students at the presentation. The time you would like to book the author for.

Note: Author presentations are flexible and are usually designed by the author after consultations with the teacher in charge of the class(es) they are going to be presenting to. The availability of authors is non-negotiable.

THANK S TO O U R D O N O R S

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TH A N K S TO O U R D O N O R S

COLLECTOR’S EDITION BENEFACTOR ($10,000+)

Judy Gale

Sean Jamieson

Vicki Hamill

Jennifer Sankey

Janie Chang

Averill Groeneveld-Meijer

Frank Leffelaar

Christopher Poseley

Marisa Tuzi

Crissy George

Lorey Lasley

Sandra Hamilton

Atul Shah

Marty Charach

Joanne Hall

Penelope Libby

Beverley Price

Graham Van Aggelen

Maureen & Larry Lunn

Sally Harding

Nisha Sikka

Jeff Charpentier

Sarah Hamilton

Jim Littleford

Stephanie Price

Shelagh Van Kempen

Colin & Helen Harris

Andy & Georgina Macdonald

Alison Hart

Anonymous

Bess Hirsch

Jane Slemon

Liz Chick

Rosamund Harrison

Sikee Liu

Ellen Volden

Moh Faris, Reema Faris, Ramona Chu & Yasmeen Strang in loving memory of Yulanda Faris

Leslie Hurtig

Cathy Paperny

John & Pam Hole

Diane Stuart

Francis Chouinard

Diane Hartley

Lakshmi Lochan

Lonnie Propas & Susan Ogul-Propas

Richard Johnston & Kathryn Fowler

Barbara Quinn

Stephanie Hollis

Thomas Chon Sun

Rachel Chu

Karin Hartner

Ramin Lohrasb

Heidi Pullem

Carole von Tiesenhausen

Mary Robertson

Simon Holwill

Terri Tatchell

Louise Clark

Kalin Harvey

Brenda Longland

Irene Regan

Sheera Waisman

Shirley Lew

Don & Bonnie Sheldon

Karen Howe

Isobel Cole

Paula Havard

Barbara Low

Julia Wallis

Judy McFarlane

David Williams

Violet & Grant Hughes

Susan & David Van Blarcom

Marc Rinfret

MEMBERS OF THE POSTSCRIPT SOCIETY Beth Coleman Talea Pecora Terry Whitehead Eagranie Yuh

David Conlin

Elizabeth Hay

Wendi Mackay

Jane Roberts

Jerry & Susan Wasserman

Harvey McKinnon

Thomas Woods

Mike Walker

Chelsea Conron

William Hay

Mary Mackay

Kathleen Roczkowskyj

THE ALMA LEE LEGACY FUND

Valerie Hunter

Kerri Watson

Jason Ip

Katherine Wreford

Barbara Cooper

Koreen Heaver

Doreen MacLean

Martin Roland

Beverley Watt

Roberta Rich

FIRST EDITION FRIEND ($250+)

Ronald Wright

Lynn Copeland

Julia Hedley

Judith MacPherson

Lorna Romilly

Wendy Webber

Amanda Ross & Neal McLennan

Carol Roberts

Deb Armour

Claudia Casper & James Griffin

Patricia Young

Stacey Copeland

Harry Hertscheg

Sydney Malcolm

Vera Rosenbluth

The Festival’s endowment fund at the Vancouver Foundation celebrates the accomplishments of Festival founder Alma Lee, enabling the Festival to thrive.

George Wharton

Andre & Brock Rowland

Sarah Armstrong

Lesley Johnson

Clea Young

Rhea Tregebov & Sam Znaimer

Marion Crowhurst

Heather Hodgins

Rylan Maschak

Jon Ross

Valerie White

Marsha Sibthorpe

Victoria Auston

Debbie Jung

Patricia Curtis

Darby Honeyman

Lee Massey

Shirley Rudolph

Marshall Wilensky

Ian & Jane Strang

Birgit & Robert Bateman

Michele Laurent

NEW EDITION FRIEND ($100+)

Kate Dahlstrom

Tamara Hunter

Carol Mayer

Anita Russo

Joseph Williams

Denis Walker

Jo Baxendale

Peter Leckie

Alexandros Alexiadis

Barbara Dawson

Tom Hunter

Sharon McKibbon

Anita Salchert

Nicola Willis

BESTSELLER EDITION BENEFACTOR ($2,500+)

Holman Wang

John Bechhoefer

Kirk Mackenzie

Janet Allwork

Michael Demers

Gillian Hurtig

Carol Beth McKimmon

Ana Santos

Elizabeth Wills

John & Susan Webster

Cigdem Arkuran

Laura Dochtermann

Sharon Jeroski

Rob McLean

Minna Schendlinger

Sandra Jakab & Bob Lesperance

Julie Blanchard

Linda MacKinley-Hay

Karen Winder

Terry Whitehead

Fran Maclean

Barry Auger

Kyla Epstein

Linda Johnston

Kathryn McNaughton

Hannah Sellam

Kelleen Wiseman

Joan & Paul Whitney

Shaena Lambert & Bob Penner

Dave Mason

Janice Barr

Lynda Erickson

Laurence Johnston

Pamela McPhail

Megan Sheldon

Carmen Wiseman

Deb Bergman Wood

Cathleen Boyle

Jim Mayhew

Erin Barrett

Reema Faris

Dana Johnston

Angela & George McWhirter

Susan Sheldon

Max Wyman

Connie Braun

Robert McLean

Joanna Baxter

Carmen Farrell

Victoria Mendes

Pippa Shepherd

Marian Yaremy

Doran Chandler

Gillian & Richard Beattie

Chris Fearn

Wesley Knapp & Kathleen L. MacKinnon

Sandra Moe

Leslie Shuparski

Laura Yazedjian

Lois Beckett

Allison Felker

Phyllis Kenney

Mark Moody

Krista Sigurdson

Ernest Yee

Lorne Beiles

Pamela Ferguson

Phil Kern

Mair Morris

Veronica Singer

Amy Yiu

Doug Beveridge

David Fernandes

Jessica Key

Barry Morrison

Helen Smith

Patricia & Terence Young

Russel Black

Cynthia Flood

Karen Keys

Lillian Nemetz

Louise Smith

Jordan Bower

Kathi Fugman

Matthew Kirchner

Claire Newell

Lynda Spratley

Linda Brandt

Livia Galbraith

Dolya Konoval

Elizabeth Newton

Rachel Stevens

John Brennand

Deborah & William Gibson

Lorraine Koren

Susin Nielsen

Kristin Stockley

Brian Brett

J Gilbert

Monica Kosmak

Caroline North

Yasmeen & Andrew Strang

NVM Private Giving Foundation

Kathleen Pearson

Cynthia Bruce

Jeffrey Gillham

Nancy Kotani

Bryndis Ogmundson

Sharon Street

Rix Family Foundation

Elaine Peddie

John Burgoyne

Louise Given

Fiona Lam

Nora Osborne

Wayne Sutherland

Y.P. Heung Foundation

CLASSIC EDITION BENEFACTOR ($5,000+) Bonnie Mah Joanie McEwan & Irwin Nathanson

Yosef Wosk

Alexia Jones Kelli Bodnar & Daryl Martini

Ebie & Ian Pitfield

LIMITED EDITION FRIEND ($500+) Stefania Alexandru

Jane Davidson

Jan Whitford & Michael Stevenson

Patti Allen

Charlene de Faye

Mary Lou Miles

Donald Shumka

Virginia & Richard Angus

Frances Dowdeswell

Kathryn Neilson

Linda Robbins & Paul Stein

Martha Baldwin

Catherine Doyle

William & Peggy New

Shannon Taylor & Lorne Folick

David & Terri Christopher

Anne Elliott

Carol Newson

Carla Cove

Martin Ferera

Nicole & Jason Nozick

SPECIAL EDITION BENEFACTOR ($1,000+)

Allan Seckel & Christine Dearing

Anne Fleming

Eduardo Ottoni

Dale Flexman

Susan Adams

Diana Debenham

Andrew Forshner

Lynda Prince & Paul Richardson

David Berkowitz & Kirsten Pendreigh

Katherine Doyle

Janet Fretter

Brian Duncan

Ian Gill

Natalia Cabrera

Kerri Godkin

Theresa Pearson

Darcy Therien

Lisa Cawley

Donald Fairbairn

Karen Gilmore

Deborah Campbell

Devon Goolieff

Simon Le Pine

Talea Pecora

Deborah Thomas

Ramona & Ed Chu

Colleen MacMillan & Rob Sanders

Darryl Lamb

Diana Filer

Zoe Grams

Deborah Roitberg

Rod Campbell

Sarah Gracey

Johanne Leach

Debbie Penner

Camilla Tibbs

Jude Coffin

Asha Fraser

Laurie Grant & Tony Ryan

Joseph Planta

Nicole Trevethan

Janice & Doug Dalzell

Stephen Greenham

Vanessa Lee

Anne & Tony Giardini

Diana Green

Brian Porter

Mark Turner

Meeru Dhalwala

Rob Griesdale

Nicholas Lee

Marilyn Goebel

Carol McClelland Sandy Garossino & Ravi Sidhoo

Tracy Jocelyn Ross John Sanders

Colleen Cattell Marilyn & Sheldon Chandler

Olga Volkoff

FOUNDATIONS Chris Spencer Foundation Helpalittle Foundation

Donations received between July 1, 2018 – July 9, 2019

HAL WAKE LEGACY FUND DONORS Linda Robbins & Paul Stein Yosef Wosk

LEAD DONORS: Colin & Helen Harris Jab Sidhoo Yosef Wosk The Vancouver Sun Cynthia Woodward Development Fund Sandra Garossino Sheahan & Gerald McGavin Rudy & Patricia Noth 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 & Sons Ltd. W.A.U. Nicoll Robertson Charitable Foundation Trust John Welson Jan Whitford & Michael Stevenson

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In t rodu cin g

WINE & WORDS Wine & Words is the latest addition to Liquidity’s line up of artistic experiences. In partnership with the Vancouver Writers Fest you have the opportunity to spend time in an intimate winery setting with some of the world’s best literary talents.

liquiditywines.com @liquiditywines

4720 Allendale Road, Okanagan Falls, BC

S P EC I A L EVEN TS

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In addition to our October Festival programming, we are thrilled to welcome the following authors to Vancouver as part of the Vancouver Writers Fest Special Events series, generously supported by Tourism Vancouver. Margaret Atwood in Conversation with Cherie Dimaline Acclaimed author Margaret Atwood joins the Vancouver Writers Fest this fall to discuss her forthcoming title, The Testaments. In this brilliant sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, she answers the questions that have tantalized readers for decades. Margaret Atwood’s sequel picks up the story fifteen years after Offred stepped into the unknown, with

the explosive testaments of three female narrators from Gilead. This event is organized in collaboration with the Canada Council for the Arts to celebrate the finalists and winners of the Governor General’s Literary Awards.

Generously supported by

Malcolm Gladwell in Conversation with Lisa Christiansen International bestselling author of The Tipping Point, Outliers and Blink, and host of the top-ranking podcast Revisionist History, visits Vancouver to discuss his latest work, Talking To Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don’t Know. How did Fidel Castro fool the CIA for a generation? A gripping intellectual adventure of history, psychology and

even recent scandals, Gladwell brings to light how bad we are at making sense of people we don’t know and the profound effect it has on our lives and the world.

Thursday, Sept 26 at 7:30 pm Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, 6265 Crescent Road, Vancouver Tickets: $50/30/15 tickets.ubc.ca A Vancouver Writers Fest Special Event

Thursday, Oct 3 at 7:30pm The Orpheum 601 Smithe Street, Vancouver Tickets: $50/30/15 theatrewire.com

Generously supported by A Vancouver Writers Fest Special Event

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Incite Incite is a free reading series presented by the Vancouver Writers Fest and the Vancouver Public Library. It offers intimate conversations with authors every second Wednesday from January to May.

Incite Captivating explorations of books and ideas.

Featured authors include world-famous best sellers and newly published talents from the West Coast and beyond. Hosted at the VPL’s central branch in downtown Vancouver, Incite provides a highly accessible opportunity for all members of the city’s community to engage with writers and ideas.

A Special Incite Event Tuesday, November 19 at 7:30pm Roundhouse Community Centre 181 Roundhouse Mews

Join the Vancouver Writers Fest and Arsensal Pulp Press on November 19 for a special Incite event celebrating the publication of Hustling Verse: An Anthology of Sex Workers’ Poetry, edited by Amber Dawn and Justin Ducharme.

Past authors include Susan Orlean, Yann Martel, Jillian Tamaki, Sharon Butala, Bif Naked, Micah White, John Vaillant, Eden Robinson and Guy Gavriel Kay.

STAY CONNECTED AT STRAIGHT.COM

Proud Media Sponsor

The Vancouver Writers Fest

Find details at writersfest.bc.ca this September.

The 2020 Incite series lineup will be announced in December 2019.

Vancouver's leading arts source.

Presented thanks to the support of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association and the Government of British Columbia.

BRIN GIN G GREAT W R I TERS TO VA N C OUV ER HELENA JANECZEK The Girl with the Leica • Europa Editions Winner of the Strega Prize, Italy’s most prestigious literary award, and was a finalist for the Campiello Prize.

LAWRENCE WESCHLER And How Are You, Dr. Sacks? • Farrar, Straus & Giroux Director emeritus of the New York Institute of the Humanities at NYU and longtime writer for New Yorker magazine.

DEBORAH LANDAU Soft Targets • Copper Canyon Press Winner of the Robert Dana Anhinga Prize for Poetry and in 2016 was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship.

TOM LANOYE Slaves to Fortune • World Editions Award-winning Belgian novelist, poet, and playwright. His bestseller Speechless was awarded several major prizes and has been adapted for screen.

G. WILLOW WILSON The Bird King • Grove Atlantic Critically-acclaimed author of Alif the Unseen and co-creater of the comic book series Ms. Marvel, winner of the 2015 Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story.

WU MING-YI The Stolen Bicycle • Text Publishing Company Award-winning novelist, longlisted for the Man Booker International Prize, and is widely considered the leading writer of his generation in his native Taiwan.

JOHN FREEMAN Freeman’s: California • Grove Atlantic Literary critic, poet, executive editor at Literary Hub and professor at NYU and the New School.

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For event listings, visit www.writersfest.bc.ca

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Simon & Schuster Canada welcomes our authors to

The Vancouver Writers Festival

The World Literature program at Simon Fraser University is proud to support the Vancouver Writers Fest and prolific Taiwanese writer

Wu Ming-Yi

Jesse Thistle

Nathan Ripley

Robyn Harding

Kings, Queens and In-Betweens

From the Ashes: My Story

Your Life is Mine

The Arrangement

of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way

and the acclaimed translator of his novel, The Stolen Bicycle

Darryl Sterk

Our Students Make Our Name

WRITING

BA, BFA, MFA Programs in Fiction, Poetry, Screenwriting, Playwriting & Creative Nonfiction “The help I received from my UVic advisors went above and beyond. I can’t thank them enough.”

Apply by November 27 banffcentre.ca

— Yasuko Thanh, MFA & Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize winner

Bob McDonald An Earthling’s Guide to Outer Space

Armando Lucas Correa

Beverley McLachlin

The Daughter’s Tale

Truth Be Told: My Journey Through Life and the Law

HELENE CYR

For more information about our dynamic program, visit: www.sfu.ca/worldlit

New faculty members: Deborah Campbell (CNF), Danielle Geller (memoir), Gregory Scofield (poetry)

Spring Writers Retreat

Apply by Dec. 1 – Master’s program March 31 – Bachelor’s program

writing.uvic.ca

Photo by Chelsea Yang-Smith.

Tanya Boteju

Literary Arts Programs

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MEET THESE AUTHORS!

The Vancouver Writers Fest presents

Malcolm Gladwell on his new book, “Talking to Strangers”

in conversation with CBC’s Lisa Christiansen

Thursday, Oct0ber 3 at 7:30pm The Orpheum

Tickets: theatrewire.com Presented in partnership with Tourism Vancouver, UBC Library and the Vancouver Foundation.

LINDEN MacINTYRE

EMMA DONOGHUE

KAREN McBRIDE

AYELET TSABARI

KIT PEARSON

BRIAN FRANCIS

CHARLOTTE GRAY

JOAN THOMAS

HUMBLE THE POET

FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF BOOK PUBLISHERS OF BC

Like Joyful Tears

Damage Done by the Storm

Kiskajeyi â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I Am Ready

by David Starr

by Jack Hodgins

by Michelle Sylliboy

Once Well Beloved by Michael Sasges

ronsdale press

rebel mountain press

royal bc museum

meet iona at the festival

Boonoonoonous Hair!

Clinging to Bone

Dance Me to the End

by Olive Senior, illus. Laura James

by Garry Gottfriedson

by Alison Acheson

by Iona Whishaw

tradewind books

ronsdale press

touchwood editions

Discover #BCBooks at ReadLocalBC.ca

A Deceptive Devotion