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SUMMARY:Margaret Atwood in Conversation
DESCRIPTION:Presented with the support of Penguin Random House Canada.\n\n\n\nSOLD OUT\nHow does one of the greatest storytellers of our time write her own life? Internationally renowned literary legend Margaret Atwood joins us with her long-awaited autobiography\, Book of Lives—a must-read for fans of her deeply influential body of work\, and anyone who wants to learn more about the life of this Canadian icon. This event will also include a special musical element! \nBeginning with her unconventional\, nomadic childhood spent mostly in the wild forest of northern Quebec\, Atwood unfolds the story of her life\, linking seminal moments to the books that have shaped our literary landscape\, from the cruel year that spawned Cat’s Eye to the Orwellian 1980s Berlin where she wrote The Handmaid’s Tale. In pages bursting with bohemian gatherings\, her magical life with the writer Graeme Gibson\, and major political turning points\, we meet poets\, bears\, and larger-than-life characters that seem to come straight from the pages of one of her own novels. She’ll share more about how her life has shaped her art\, and vice versa\, in this conversation with Carol Off spanning the entirety of her staggering career.  \nThere will be no book signing at this event. \n 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/atwood-book-of-lives
LOCATION:Orpheum Theatre\, 601 Smithe St.\, Vancouver\, BC\, V6B 3L4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Special Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20251115T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20251115T210000
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250904T201303Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250926T220732Z
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SUMMARY:Chris Hadfield in Conversation with André Picard
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Book Warehouse\, and with the support of Penguin Random House Canada and SFU. \nTickets for this event include a copy of Final Orbit (a value of $39).  \nA veteran of three space flights\, capsule communicator for 25 shuttle missions\, and former commander of the International Space Station\, Chris Hadfield is one of the most seasoned and accomplished astronauts in the world. He’s since turned his talents and experience to writing works of both fiction and nonfiction that bookstores can hardly keep on the shelves. His internationally bestselling books have topped the charts for months in Canada. Hadfield joins us in Vancouver with his new interstellar thriller\, Final Orbit\, probing China’s secret role in the 1970s Space Race between the US and the USSR. \nFull of intrigue and real history\, Final Orbit captures with heart-palpitating clarity the beauty and terror of survival 270 miles above Earth. This novel could only be written by one of the most experienced astronauts alive. Don’t miss this chance to hear Hadfield in conversation about his journeys to the stars with moderator André Picard\, both on and off the page.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/chris-hadfield
LOCATION:Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema\, SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts\, 149 W Hastings St\, Vancouver
CATEGORIES:Special Event
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251020
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251027
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250909T211545Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250911T195116Z
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SUMMARY:2025 Festival
DESCRIPTION:Click here to browse all Festival events.\nOur flagship Festival returns from October 20–26\, 2025\,  featuring 130 local and international authors in 85+ events for youth and adults that will spark empathy\, action\, and transformation. \nThis year’s Festival program will explore the issues and themes dominating the cultural and political sphere\, and open the door to wider understanding. It will dig deep into what it means to be Canadian\, and our role in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape. Most of all\, it will offer readers of all ages an opportunity to hear from some of the finest authors working today\, and discover new books from every genre that deserve a place on your shelf. \nWe’re thrilled to welcome this year’s Guest Curator\, Canisia Lubrin\, author of The World After Rain and Code Noir\, the latter of which won the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction and the Danuta Gleed Literary Award this year. She has curated four events that will offer a refreshing perspective on our particularly unstable present world.  \nGet your tickets to hear from celebrated\, bestselling authors such as Elamin Abdelmahmoud\, Margaret Atwood\, Mona Awad\, Kate Beaton\, Chloe Dalton\, Kiran Desai\, Cory Doctorow\, Emma Donoghue\, Christine Estima\, Chris Hadfield\, Bob Joseph\, Guy Gavriel Kay\, R.F. Kuang\, Eve Lazarus\, Dennis Lee\, Jen Sookfong Lee\, Silvia Moreno-Garcia\, Walter Mosley\, Susan Orlean\, Arundhati Roy\, Merilyn Simonds\, Niigaan Sinclair\, Curtis Sittenfeld\, Saeed Teebi\, Madeleine Thien\, Miriam Toews\, and many more!
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/2025-festival-event
LOCATION:BC
CATEGORIES:Theatre
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250918T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250918T200000
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250811T165055Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250813T173424Z
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SUMMARY:Incite: Bob Joseph
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Vancouver Public Library.\n\n\n\nWhen Bob Joseph released 21 Things™ You May Not Know About the Indian Act\, it spent an entire year on the BC bestsellers list and enlightened hundreds of thousands of Canadians about the complex issues connected to the Indian Act. The book ignited conversations around questions like: “Can we get rid of the Indian Act?” and “What would that look like\, and would it work?” Joseph returns with an essential new read that shows us the current path forward\, in which Indigenous self-governance is not only already happening\, but is also an absolute necessity that we need more of sooner rather than later. \nIn this Incite event\, Joseph will present on some examples of Indigenous self-government arrangements that are already working\, and share future possibilities from his new book\, 21 Things™ You Need to Know About Indigenous Self-Government. A certified Master Trainer who has been providing training on Indigenous relations since 1994\, Joseph will then hold an extended audience Q+A session for both in-person and online audience members\, where he will answer questions with his trademark deep wisdom and empathy. This is an unmissable event for understanding the future of decolonization. \nBooks will be for sale at the event from Massy Books. \nAbout Incite\nPresented by the Vancouver Writers Fest and Vancouver Public Library\, Incite is a free quarterly series offering fascinating conversations with celebrated authors and emerging talents. Incite is open to all\, in-person at the VPL’s Central Library or online. Books will be for sale and most events will have a signing after the talk. Can’t make the date? Sign up for the livestream to receive the recording in your inbox! 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/bob-joseph
LOCATION:Vancouver Public Library – Central Library
CATEGORIES:Incite Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250917T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250917T210000
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250708T204634Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250718T232905Z
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SUMMARY:Arundhati Roy in Conversation with Naomi Klein
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with UBC Centre for Climate Justice and Indian Summer Festival\, and with the support of Simon & Schuster Canada. \nArundhati Roy’s first novel\, The God of Small Things\, won the Booker Prize and made her an international household name. She has gone on to publish multiple acclaimed books—including The Ministry of Utmost Happiness—and to challenge injustices around the world as a prominent political and environmental activist. Her impact has been recognized with the PEN Pinter Prize and Time’s 100 most influential people distinction—as well as sedition charges and prosecution by the Indian government. Get up close and personal with the author’s fascinating debut memoir. \nMother Mary Comes to Me is a soaring account of how Roy became the person and the writer she is\, shaped by circumstance\, but above all by her complex relationship to the extraordinary\, singular mother she describes as “my shelter and my storm.” Mary’s death in September 2022 prompted Roy to trace her complex relationship with the mother she ran away from at age eighteen. The author takes us on an intimate journey from her childhood in Kerala\, India\, where her single mother founded a school\, to the writing of her prizewinning novels and essays\, through today. \nRoy speaks with award-winning journalist\, author and activist—as well as her longtime friend—Naomi Klein\, about her latest book and her work to date\, the intricacies of thorny love\, and living on the frontlines of humanism.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/roy-klein
LOCATION:Vancouver Playhouse\, 600 Hamilton St\, Vancouver\, British Columbia\, V6B 2P1\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Special Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250913T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250913T210000
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250509T125027Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250913T203825Z
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SUMMARY:R. F. Kuang: Katabasis
DESCRIPTION:Presented with the support of HarperCollins Canada. \nBestselling literary superstar R. F. Kuang joins us for one night only on the Vancouver stop of her Katabasis tour! \nHot off the trail of her 2023 novel\, Yellowface—an instant New York Times bestseller which has now been optioned by Lionsgate TV—Katabasis is a dark academia fantasy in which two graduate students must put aside their rivalry and journey to Hell to save their professor’s soul—perhaps at the cost of their own. \nWith nothing but the tales of Orpheus and Dante to guide them\, enough chalk to draw the Pentagrams necessary for their spells\, and the burning desire to make all their academic trauma mean anything\, rivals Alice Law and Peter Murdoch must set off across Hell to save a man they don’t even like: their thesis advisor\, Professor Jacob Grimes. \nGet your signed copy of this coveted new release. The cost of the ticket and book bundle includes: \n\nOne (1) pre-signed deluxe limited edition copy of Katabasis.\nA custom Canadian tour stamp (available at a table in the lobby; stamp your copy of Katabasis or other R.F. Kuang books!)\n\nRebecca can personalize only one book per person—either a pre-signed Katabasis or one (1) backlist title.\nNo photos are allowed in the signing line. \nThe author of Babel and The Poppy War trilogy joins us for an enchanting evening of conversation with Michelle Cyca\, and audience Q+A\, at the Granville Island Stage (1585 Johnston St) on September 13. \nA limited number of admission-only tickets (no book included) are available for those who face financial barriers and would like to request an accessibly priced ticket for this event. Contact boxoffice@writersfest.bc.ca to purchase.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/kuang-katabasis
LOCATION:Granville Island Stage
CATEGORIES:Special Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250624T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250624T210000
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250515T233744Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250515T233744Z
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SUMMARY:Books\, Booze & Chill @ The Liberty Distillery
DESCRIPTION:Click here for Tickets \n  \nJoin us for Volume 5 of Books\, Booze & Chill presented by The Liberty Distillery and in partnership with Vancouver Writers Fest \nGrab a book and come join fellow readers at The Liberty Distillery on Granville Island for a book club with a twist — or maybe a splash. Your ticket includes one craft cocktail of your choice from a select menu. \nWe’re not a regular book club — we’re a quiet book club. Here\, everyone brings their own book and we co-read together. \nWait\, What? Yup! No awkward introductions. No pressure to impress with your literary hot takes. Just you\, your book\, and a relaxed ambiance. \nBooks. Booze. Great company. No reading homework. Bring a book (or books) you want to ‘swap’ and meet new friends at the same time. The Vancouver Writers Fest is pleased to provide door prizes for the event! \nBring your current read or that book you keep meaning to start\, order a cocktail (or mocktail)\, and settle into a cozy seat at The Liberty Distillery to get your reading on. \nWant to chat about your book? Awesome. Prefer to stay in your own reading bubble? That’s totally fine. This is your space to blend sips and stories.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/books-booze-jun24
LOCATION:The Liberty Distillery\, 1494 Old Bridge Street\, Vancouver\, BC\, V6H 3S6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Books Booze & Chill
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250618T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250618T204500
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250516T165519Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250612T201057Z
UID:10000324-1750275000-1750279500@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Books & Ideas: Robert Macfarlane – Is A River Alive?
DESCRIPTION:This event is sold out.\n\nPresented in partnership with Pacific Salmon Foundation. \nIt’s been an unforgettable inaugural season of Books & Ideas—our pre-Festival literary and social series on Granville Island—and we’re honoured to close out the 2025 series in the company of bestselling author and celebrated naturalist Robert Macfarlane\, who joins us with his vital new book\, Is a River Alive? \nAt the heart of Is a River Alive? is a single\, transformative idea: that rivers are not mere matter for human use\, but living beings\, who should be recognized as such in both imagination and law. Around the world\, rivers are dying from pollution\, drought and damming. But a powerful “rights of nature” movement is underway to re-animate our relationships with these vast\, mysterious presences whose landscapes we share. This young movement has lit up activists\, artists\, law-makers\, and politicians across six continents—and become the focus for revolutionary thinking about rivers in particular. Macfarlane’s book flows like water on a mind-expanding journey through northern Ecuador\, to southern India\, to northeastern Quebec. \nIs A River Alive? is at once a literary work of art\, a rallying cry\, and a catalyst for change. Macfarlane joins us and local environmental non-profit Pacific Salmon Foundation to discuss a radical re-imagination of not only rivers but life itself\, in conversation with award-winning journalist Laura Lynch\, host of CBC’s What on Earth radio show that explores solutions to climate change. Books will be for sale at the event from Upstart & Crow\, with a book signing after the talk. \n\nWe do our best to make our events low-barrier\, accessible experiences for our community. A limited number of accessibly priced tickets are available for purchase. To discuss other ways we can make these events more accessible to you\, please reach out to us at boxoffice@writersfest.bc.ca or 604-681-6330.\nAbout Books & Ideas\nLaunched in January 2025\, Books & Ideas is a new event series from the Vancouver Writers Fest on Granville Island\, home of the Writers Fest’s celebrated annual literary festival. With an intimate theatre venue and a pop-up bar for socializing\, attendees are invited to connect more deeply with other members of the local literary community—and meet the esteemed authors who grace the stage—in a modern space for exchanging ideas. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/robert-macfarlane
LOCATION:Performance Works
CATEGORIES:Books & Ideas
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250617T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250617T200000
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250515T165057Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250515T174339Z
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SUMMARY:Incite: BC and Yukon Book Prizes
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Vancouver Public Library and BC and Yukon Book Prizes. \nMeet acclaimed local writers and celebrate their trailblazing new books at this Incite event\, featuring authors shortlisted for this year’s BC and Yukon Book Prizes! We’re thrilled to welcome all five finalists for the 2025 Jim Deva Prize for Writing That Provokes\, which recognizes writing that challenges or provokes the ideas and forces that shape what writing\, art\, and/or society can become. \n\nCarleigh Baker\, Last Woman: Stories — A blistering short story collection that delves into fear for the future\, intergenerational misunderstandings\, and the complexities of belonging.\nBilly-Ray Belcourt\, Coexistence: Stories — A must-read collection of intersecting stories about Indigenous love and loneliness from the author of A History of My Brief Body and A Minor Chorus.\nChristopher Cheung\, Under the White Gaze: Solving the Problem of Race and Representation in Canadian Journalism — A candid investigation into the state of race in Canadian media today that challenges the way we think about the news\, and calls on newsrooms to think critically about representation.\nSarah Leavitt\, Something\, Not Nothing: A Story of Grief and Love — A poignant and beautifully illustrated graphic memoir articulating cartoonist Sarah Leavitt’s grief after her partner of twenty-two years\, Donimo\, died with medical assistance.\nLoghan Paylor\, The Cure for Drowning — A boundary-pushing love story and wartime Canadian historical novel that boldly centres queer and non-binary characters in unprecedented ways.\n\nThe prize’s namesake\, Jim Deva\, opened Little Sister’s Gay and Lesbian Bookstore and Art Emporium with his partner Bruce Smyth\, and was a pillar of the LGBTQ+ community\, championing the rights of the queer community\, sex workers\, and anyone who was not free to be themselves. In a time of fraying social connections and disturbing attacks on the rights of multiple marginalized communities\, we are honoured to gather and discuss books that challenge\, comfort\, and inspire visions of a more empathetic society. The event will be hosted by Megan Cole\, the BC & Yukon Book Prizes Interim Executive Director. \nAbout Incite\nPresented by the Vancouver Writers Fest and Vancouver Public Library\, Incite is a free quarterly series offering fascinating conversations with celebrated authors and emerging talents. Incite is open to all\, in-person at the VPL’s central branch or online. Books will be for sale by Book Warehouse\, a division of Black Bond Books\, and most events will have a signing after the talk. Can’t make the date? Sign up for the livestream to receive the recording in your inbox! 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/bcybp-2025
LOCATION:Vancouver Public Library – Central Library
CATEGORIES:Incite Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250603T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250603T204500
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250429T180029Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250528T182346Z
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SUMMARY:Books & Ideas: Scott Turow – Presumed Guilty
DESCRIPTION:#1 New York Times bestselling author Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent redefined the legal thriller genre\, and was turned into a box office smash hit starring Harrison Ford\, and more recently an Apple Original series starring Jake Gyllenhaal that became Apple TV+’s most-watched drama series ever. Now\, Turow joins us with his highly anticipated new court drama\, Presumed Guilty—a suspenseful\, emotionally charged thriller that follows retired judge Rusty as he’s called back to court by a case too close to home. \n“Presumed Guilty takes you out of your comfort zone and challenges you to think long and hard about the most important issues we face as a country… Few novelists are his peer when it comes to prose\, plot\, and character. No one does it better.” —David Baldacci\, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author \n“Every gift that made Scott Turow a phenomenon is on display in Presumed Guilty. Deep-focus plotting\, implacable pace\, lapidary prose\, stunning climax. But above all… insight. The truth is\, Turow is just better at this than the rest of us.” —Greg Iles\, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author \n“This is manna for legal-thriller fans.” —Booklist\, starred review \n“Turow keeps readers guessing… This easily ranks among Turow’s best.” —Publishers Weekly\, starred review \nTurow speaks with award-winning author and screenwriter Susin Nielsen\, the creator of Global TV’s “Family Law”\, on June 3 at Revue Stage. Books will be for sale at the event from Book Warehouse / Black Bond Books\, with a book signing after the talk. \n\nWe do our best to make our events low-barrier\, accessible experiences for our community. A limited number of accessibly priced tickets are available for purchase. To discuss other ways we can make these events more accessible to you\, please reach out to us at boxoffice@writersfest.bc.ca or 604-681-6330.\nAbout Books & Ideas\nLaunched in January 2025\, Books & Ideas is a new event series from the Vancouver Writers Fest on Granville Island\, home of the Writers Fest’s celebrated annual literary festival. With an intimate theatre venue and a pop-up bar for socializing\, attendees are invited to connect more deeply with other members of the local literary community—and meet the esteemed authors who grace the stage—in a modern space for exchanging ideas. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/scott-turow
LOCATION:Revue Stage
CATEGORIES:Books & Ideas
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250527T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250527T210000
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250501T201410Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250501T201440Z
UID:10000322-1748372400-1748379600@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Books\, Booze & Chill @ The Liberty Distillery
DESCRIPTION:Click here for Tickets \n  \nJoin us for Volume 4 of Books\, Booze & Chill presented by The Liberty Distillery and in partnership with Vancouver Writers Fest \nGrab a book and come join fellow readers at The Liberty Distillery on Granville Island for a book club with a twist — or maybe a splash. Your ticket includes one craft cocktail of your choice from a select menu. \nWe’re not a regular book club — we’re a quiet book club. Here\, everyone brings their own book and we co-read together. \nWait\, What? Yup! No awkward introductions. No pressure to impress with your literary hot takes. Just you\, your book\, and a relaxed ambiance. \nBooks. Booze. Great company. No reading homework. Bring a book (or books) you want to ‘swap’ and meet new friends at the same time. The Vancouver Writers Fest is pleased to provide door prizes for the event! \nBring your current read or that book you keep meaning to start\, order a cocktail (or mocktail)\, and settle into a cozy seat at The Liberty Distillery to get your reading on. \nWant to chat about your book? Awesome. Prefer to stay in your own reading bubble? That’s totally fine. This is your space to blend sips and stories.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/books-booze-may27
LOCATION:The Liberty Distillery\, 1494 Old Bridge Street\, Vancouver\, BC\, V6H 3S6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Books Booze & Chill
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250522T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250522T204500
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250416T172953Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250416T201329Z
UID:10000319-1747942200-1747946700@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Books & Ideas: Worlds of Short Fiction
DESCRIPTION:The month of May celebrates one of our favourite narrative forms at the Writers Fest: short stories! Discover some of this season’s most brilliant collections at Books & Ideas on Granville Island. These tales are compact but impactful\, bringing readers on transformative journeys through worlds inner\, outer\, and imagined. \nAndré Alexis\, author of the Giller Prize-winner Fifteen Dogs\, transports us from 19th century Trinidad and Tobago to small-town Ontario\, and beyond\, in his highly anticipated new collection\, Other Worlds. Blending poignant philosophical inquiry and wry humour tinged with the absurd\, these captivating stories playfully employ a multitude of literary genres\, including gothic horror and isekai. \nFriendships fail\, families stumble\, and neighbours know each other’s business in Welcome to the Neighbourhood by local author (not to mention former Vancouver Writers Fest staff!) Clea Young. Distinctly rooted in the Pacific Northwest\, Young’s stories deftly explore loneliness and connection\, love and loss\, fear and fortitude\, and perhaps most evocatively the labyrinthine inner lives of women. \nThe author of five acclaimed novels\, Catherine Bush joins us with her searing debut short story collection. Bush’s stories tackle the condition of our restless\, unruly world amidst the tumult of viruses\, climate change\, and ecological crises. Here\, she brings to life unusual and perplexing intimacies: a man falls in love with the wind; a substitute teacher’s behaviour with a student brings unforeseen risks; a woman becomes fixated on offering foot washes to strangers. \nJoin us for readings and a panel conversation moderated by award-winning Vancouver author Caroline Adderson. Books will be for sale at the event from Upstart & Crow\, and the authors will sign after the talk. \n\nWe do our best to make our events low-barrier\, accessible experiences for our community. A limited number of accessibly priced tickets are available for purchase. To discuss other ways we can make these events more accessible to you\, please reach out to us at boxoffice@writersfest.bc.ca or 604-681-6330.\nAbout Books & Ideas\nLaunched in January 2025\, Books & Ideas is a new event series from the Vancouver Writers Fest on Granville Island\, home of the Writers Fest’s celebrated annual literary festival. With an intimate theatre venue and a pop-up bar for socializing\, attendees are invited to connect more deeply with other members of the local literary community—and meet the esteemed authors who grace the stage—in a modern space for exchanging ideas. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/worlds-of-short-fiction
LOCATION:Revue Stage
CATEGORIES:Books & Ideas
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersfest.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025_Worlds-of-Short-Fiction_banner.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250508T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250508T210000
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250403T164520Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250402T211709Z
UID:10000316-1746732600-1746738000@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Madeleine Thien in Conversation with David Chariandy
DESCRIPTION:Madeleine Thien is one of the most renowned Canadian novelists of our time. The Booker Prize-shortlisted author of Do Not Say We Have Nothing joins us in Vancouver to launch The Book of Records\, her long-awaited new novel that stunningly captures the infinite joys of art and intellectual endeavour. \nIn “The Sea\,” a sprawling\, mysterious building-complex that endlessly receives migrants from everywhere and seems to exist somewhere outside of normal space and time\, adolescent Lina cares for her ailing father. As she grows up in the building\, Lina spends many hours listening to the fascinating tales of three eccentric neighbours: Bento (who bears an uncanny resemblance to Baruch Spinoza)\, a Jewish scholar in seventeenth-century Amsterdam who was excommunicated for his radical thought; Blucher (whose life mirrors Hannah Arendt)\, a philosopher whose academic promise in 1930s Germany became a quest to survive Nazi persecution; and Jupiter (or shades of Du Fu)\, a poet of Tang Dynasty China whose brilliance went unrecognised by the state. \nAnd when she is finally told her father’s account of how the two of them came to reside in The Sea\, the combined force of these stories sets her on her own path into the unknown future—a voyage in which time occupies space uniquely to bring us to “a place that our minds have not yet been to.” (Yiyun Li) \nThe Book of Records is a humane and profound feat of storytelling that has been named a most anticipated release of the year by the Toronto Star\, Literary Hub\, Esquire\, and The Washington Post. Thien sits down in conversation with award-winning Canadian author David Chariandy. Books will be for sale by Book Warehouse / Black Bond Books. \nThe ANNEX – 823 Seymour St\, Vancouver\, BC
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/thien-chariandy
LOCATION:The Annex\, 823 Seymour St\, Vancouver\, BC\, V6B 3L4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Special Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersfest.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025_Madeleine-Thien_social-banner.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250429T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250429T204500
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250331T162539Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250331T180356Z
UID:10000315-1745955000-1745959500@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Books & Ideas: Spring Poetry Bash
DESCRIPTION:Atmospheric and vivacious\, the Poetry Bash is one of our most beloved returning events at the Vancouver Writers Fest. We’re thrilled to bring the magic to this springtime edition featuring four exciting Canadian poets\, curated by poet and KPU Creative Writing instructor Billeh Nickerson. \nFarah Ghafoor’s Shadow Price is a stunning debut collection that asks what gives life value\, in a world that burns under our capitalist lens. In Stages of Tanning Words and Remembering Spells: Part 1: Scraping Lungs Like Hide\, Tawahum Bige explores how voice emerges for a young Two Spirit growing up in so-called “Surrey\, BC\,” far from his Łutselk’e Dene territories. In Your Nature by Estlin McPhee is a lyrical debut that shows us a world in which precedent for gender transition is everywhere—if you know how to look. And in her tenth volume of poetry\, Parade of Storms\, Evelyn Lau turns her focus on the weather: storms\, floods\, wildfires\, and the other effects of intensifying climate change. \nThese evocative poems capture the power of poetry to address questions both political and personal. Join us for readings\, a panel conversation\, book sales and signings\, and an evening of connecting with poets and poetry lovers. \n\nWe do our best to make our events low-barrier\, accessible experiences for our community. A limited number of accessibly priced tickets are available for purchase. To discuss other ways we can make these events more accessible to you\, please reach out to us at boxoffice@writersfest.bc.ca or 604-681-6330.\nAbout Books & Ideas\nLaunched in January 2025\, Books & Ideas is a new event series from the Vancouver Writers Fest on Granville Island\, home of the Writers Fest’s celebrated annual literary festival. With an intimate theatre venue and a pop-up bar for socializing\, attendees are invited to connect more deeply with other members of the local literary community—and meet the esteemed authors who grace the stage—in a modern space for exchanging ideas. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/spring-poetry-bash
LOCATION:Revue Stage
CATEGORIES:Books & Ideas
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersfest.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025_Spring-Poetry-Bash_banner.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250429T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250429T203000
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250403T000305Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250403T000305Z
UID:10000317-1745953200-1745958600@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Books\, Booze & Chill @ The Liberty Distillery
DESCRIPTION:Click here for Tickets \n  \nJoin us for Volume 3 of Books\, Booze & Chill presented by The Liberty Distillery and in partnership with Vancouver Writers Fest \nGrab a book and come join fellow readers at The Liberty Distillery on Granville Island for a book club with a twist — or maybe a splash. Your ticket includes one craft cocktail of your choice from a select menu. \nWe’re not a regular book club — we’re a quiet book club. Here\, everyone brings their own book and we co-read together. \nWait\, What? Yup! No awkward introductions. No pressure to impress with your literary hot takes. Just you\, your book\, and a relaxed ambiance. \nBooks. Booze. Great company. No reading homework. Bring a book (or books) you want to ‘swap’ and meet new friends at the same time. The Vancouver Writers Fest is pleased to provide door prizes for the event! \nBring your current read or that book you keep meaning to start\, order a cocktail (or mocktail)\, and settle into a cozy seat at The Liberty Distillery to get your reading on. \nWant to chat about your book? Awesome. Prefer to stay in your own reading bubble? That’s totally fine. This is your space to blend sips and stories.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/books-booze-apr29
LOCATION:The Liberty Distillery\, 1494 Old Bridge Street\, Vancouver\, BC\, V6H 3S6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Books Booze & Chill
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersfest.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/https___cdn.evbuc_.com_images_973996863_2579411772821_1_original.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250426T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250426T210000
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250310T210405Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250326T193508Z
UID:10000313-1745695800-1745701200@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:The NEW Shock Doctrine: An Evening with Naomi Klein
DESCRIPTION:Click here to purchase tickets from The Chan Centre. \nFor any questions regarding tickets\, contact The Chan Centre:\n604-822-2697 or chan.tickets@ubc.ca \n\nPresented by UBC Centre for Climate Justice\, Vancouver Writers Fest\, and Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. \nEighteen years after it was first published\, Naomi Klein’s groundbreaking book\, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism\, is back on the bestseller lists—for reasons much against her will. The Trump Administration has put the world into a state of shock\, using the rolling chaos it creates to push through the most radical pillage of the public sphere ever attempted. It is rushing through a drastic realignment of the international order: one in which Canada is intensely vulnerable. Tariffs may be just the beginning. \nIn this vital event\, Naomi Klein will be joined by her brother and collaborator Seth Klein\, author of A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency. In conversation with CBC Radio’s Elamin Abdelmahmoud\, the two will discuss pressing topics such as: \n\nThe historical roots of Trump’s tactics\, and what is new and uniquely dangerous about his uses of shock and fear.\nThe apocalyptic mood of the ascendant authoritarian right.\nWhy incrementalism and simple retaliation to Trump and the populist right are not enough.\nWhy a robust response to Trump’s economic attack requires hurting him where he’s most vulnerable—the oil and gas industry—rather than rushing to extract more fossil fuels\, metals\, and minerals\, especially without Indigenous consent.\n\nRather than responding to the current crisis with panic and despair\, how can we treat it as a portal; an opening to leap into a better version of society? Hear an argument for why Canada and BC need to seize this moment to build an economy far less vulnerable to external shocks\, that takes the transition from a fossil fuel and extraction-based economy seriously. Attendees will leave inspired by what is possible\, and armed with practical policy ideas for charting Canada’s path in a time of crisis. \nGeneral Admission: $40\nYouth Tickets (Under 25): $20\nPremium Seating (Gold): $80\nPremium Seating (Silver): $60 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/naomi-klein-2025
LOCATION:The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts\, 6265 Crescent Rd\, Vancouver\, BC\, V6T 1Z1\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Special Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersfest.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025_April-26_Naomi-Klein_banner_with-guests.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250425T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250425T230000
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250121T195508Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250324T172229Z
UID:10000308-1745607600-1745622000@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Whisky & Words 2025
DESCRIPTION:*Early Bird Tickets on Sale Now*\nRaise a glass to the art of storytelling and fine whisky! \nEvery year\, the Vancouver Writers Fest presents Whisky & Words\, an extraordinary whisky-tasting event you won’t want to miss. Delight in unlimited pours of exceptional whiskies from around the world alongside artisanal craft spirits and local brews. \nIndulge in mouthwatering bites and explore rare whiskies and unique experiences at our exciting silent auction. Join us for a remarkable evening filled with indulgence\, community\, and celebration—all in support of the transformative power of storytelling. Who knew that championing the arts could taste so good! \n\n\n\nVIP Entry\n*Early Bird Special*\n$160 + tax/fees\nEnjoy an extra hour of exclusive whiskies and intimate conversations with brand ambassadors from\naround the world.\nGeneral Admission Entry\n*Early Bird Special*\n$125 + tax/fees\nEnjoy whiskies from around the world and learn about this ancient spirit while browsing the silent auction in a vibrant atmosphere.\n\n\n\nWho’s Pouring\nEnjoy unlimited tastings from Liberty Distillery\, Alimentaria Mexicana\, Shelter Point\, Central City Brewers & Distillers\, Odd Society Spirits\, Craftwork Spirits\, TS Global\, Tomintoul\, Magnum Scotch Malt Whisky Cream Liqueur\, Walsh Whiskey\, Ardbeg & Glenmorangie\, Fettercairn Highland Single Malt Distillery\, Roots and Wings Distillery \nWhy Whisky & Words Matters\nAs our largest annual fundraiser\, Whisky & Words helps ensure that the Vancouver Writers Fest can continue to inspire\, educate\, and connect our community through the power of words. By joining us\, you’re not just savouring fine spirits—you’re investing in a future filled with stories that matter. \nAnd as a registered charity\, we’ll provide a tax receipt for 75% of your ticket value.  \nNo minors. Must be 19+ to attend.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/whisky-words-2025
LOCATION:Performance Works
CATEGORIES:Special Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersfest.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Whisky-2025_showpass-banner.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250416T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250416T200000
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250313T163047Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250311T182509Z
UID:10000314-1744830000-1744833600@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Incite: Garth Mullins on Surviving the War on Drugs
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Vancouver Public Library.\n\n\n\nGarth Mullins was born into a world too bright for him to fully see\, and too unforgiving to fully accept him. Bullied by both kids and adults\, who mocked his albinism and trivialized his blindness\, Garth turned to activism and punk rock\, and discovered a scene that embraced him for who he was. And yet he still couldn’t quell a haunting pain that had overwhelmed him since he was a child—until he tried heroin. \nGarth’s experience as a heroin user—including dopesickness\, incarceration and overdose—is an all-too-common story for those struggling with drug addiction. Crackdown is an intimate portrait of his relationship with opioids\, and a searing indictment of a broken system. With street drugs getting more toxic by the day\, drug users and their families\, friends\, and communities are left to pay the price. And for Garth\, it was this revelation that propelled him to the forefront of drug user activism. \nGarth joins us at Incite in conversation with The Globe and Mail health reporter Andrea Woo. These two award-winning journalists will discuss a radical reimagining of our approach to drug use\, and lead us to envisage a system that helps rather than punishes. \nAbout Incite\nPresented by the Vancouver Writers Fest and Vancouver Public Library\, Incite is a free quarterly series offering fascinating conversations with celebrated authors and emerging talents. Incite is open to all\, in-person at the VPL’s central branch or online. Books will be for sale by Book Warehouse\, a division of Black Bond Books\, and most events will have a signing after the talk. Can’t make the date? Sign up for the livestream to receive the recording in your inbox! 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/incite-crackdown
LOCATION:Vancouver Public Library – Central Library
CATEGORIES:Incite Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersfest.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025_Incite-04-16_web-banner.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250404T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250404T204500
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250225T174508Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T170921Z
UID:10000311-1743795000-1743799500@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Books & Ideas: Barry Sonnenfeld in Conversation
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with VIFF. \nBooks will be sold at the event by Book Warehouse/Black Bond Books\, and the talk will be followed by a book signing!  \nOne-of-a-kind filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld tells stories only he can tell. In this hilarious and enlightening new memoir\, he provides an inside glimpse into how Hollywood really works (or doesn’t)\, from his blockbuster career with iconic actors\, studio execs\, and producers. \nBest Possible Place\, Worst Possible Time delivers a cavalcade of delightful stories spanning Sonnenfeld’s four-decade Hollywood career\, from mega-franchises like The Addams Family and Men in Black; the critical favourites\, Get Shorty and Pushing Daisies; to the icons\, Will Smith\, John Travolta\, and Michael Jackson; and even the projects that got away: Forrest Gump\, Ali\, and anything starring Jim Carrey. \nFrom battling with studio executives and producers to bad-script-solving on set to coaxing actors into talking faster\, Sonnenfeld provides an entertaining master class in how to make commercial art in the face of constant human foible. Don’t miss hearing the icon in conversation with author\, film critic\, and year-round VIFF programmer Tom Charity at Books & Ideas\, a presentation of the Vancouver Writers Fest.  \n\nWe do our best to make our events low-barrier\, accessible experiences for our community. A limited number of accessibly priced tickets are available for purchase. To discuss other ways we can make these events more accessible to you\, please reach out to us at boxoffice@writersfest.bc.ca or 604-681-6330.\nAbout Books & Ideas\nLaunched in January 2025\, Books & Ideas is a new event series from the Vancouver Writers Fest on Granville Island\, home of the Writers Fest’s celebrated annual literary festival. With an intimate theatre venue and a pop-up bar for socializing\, attendees are invited to connect more deeply with other members of the local literary community—and meet the esteemed authors who grace the stage—in a modern space for exchanging ideas. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/barry-sonnenfeld
LOCATION:Revue Stage
CATEGORIES:Books & Ideas
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersfest.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025_Barry-Sonnenfeld_banner-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250325T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250325T203000
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250306T194418Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250306T194940Z
UID:10000312-1742929200-1742934600@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Books\, Booze & Chill @ The Liberty Distillery
DESCRIPTION:Click here for Tickets \n  \nJoin us for Volume 2 of Books\, Booze & Chill presented by The Liberty Distillery and in partnership with Vancouver Writers Fest \nGrab a book and come join fellow readers at The Liberty Distillery on Granville Island for a book club with a twist — or maybe a splash. Your ticket includes one craft cocktail of your choice from a select menu. \nWe’re not a regular book club — we’re a quiet book club. Here\, everyone brings their own book and we co-read together. \nWait\, What? Yup! No awkward introductions. No pressure to impress with your literary hot takes. Just you\, your book\, and a relaxed ambiance. \nBooks. Booze. Great company. No reading homework. Bring a book (or books) you want to ‘swap’ and meet new friends at the same time. The Vancouver Writers Fest is pleased to provide door prizes for the event! \nBring your current read or that book you keep meaning to start\, order a cocktail (or mocktail)\, and settle into a cozy seat at The Liberty Distillery to get your reading on. \nWant to chat about your book? Awesome. Prefer to stay in your own reading bubble? That’s totally fine. This is your space to blend sips and stories.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/books-booze-mar25
LOCATION:The Liberty Distillery\, 1494 Old Bridge Street\, Vancouver\, BC\, V6H 3S6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Books Booze & Chill
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersfest.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/https___cdn.evbuc_.com_images_973996863_2579411772821_1_original.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250303T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250303T204500
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250210T232009Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250211T223837Z
UID:10000310-1741030200-1741034700@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Canada Reads with Jamie Chai Yun Liew and Said M’Dahoma
DESCRIPTION:Canada Reads is back! Join Jamie Chai Yun Liew\, author of the shortlisted novel Dandelion\, and chef Saïd M’Dahoma for a thought-provoking conversation leading up to CBC’s Canada Reads. In this intimate exchange\, Saïd and Jamie will “break bread” together over a story that nourishes both the heart and the mind\, weaving through personal narratives\, shared experiences\, and the universal power of food to bring people together. \nKnown as The Pastry Nerd by his 200\,000+ social media followers\, Saïd M’Dahoma chose Dandelion by Jamie Chai Yun Liew as the one book all Canadians should read in 2025. Also the winner of the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award\, Dandelion is a deeply affecting novel in which an Asian woman and new mother named Lily traces the journey of her own mother—who disappeared when Lily was eleven—from a small British Columbia mining town to Southeast Asia\, seeking to learn who she really is and where she belongs.  \n“What Dandelion brilliantly does is that it shows that there’s not just one immigrant story\,” M’Dahoma shared on CBC Radio’s Commotion. “There are so many different stories\, so many different dreams and aspirations that immigrants can have when they come… I think it just changes the perspective that some people might have about immigrants and how diverse immigrants can be.” \nHear them in conversation on Monday\, March 3 at the Revue Stage (1601 Johnston St\, Vancouver).  \n\nWe do our best to make our events low-barrier\, accessible experiences for our community. A limited number of accessibly priced tickets are available for purchase. To discuss other ways we can make these events more accessible to you\, please reach out to us at boxoffice@writersfest.bc.ca or 604-681-6330.\nAbout Books & Ideas\nLaunched in January 2025\, Books & Ideas is a new event series from the Vancouver Writers Fest on Granville Island\, home of the Writers Fest’s celebrated annual literary festival. With an intimate theatre venue and a pop-up bar for socializing\, attendees are invited to connect more deeply with other members of the local literary community—and meet the esteemed authors who grace the stage—in a modern space for exchanging ideas. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/canadareads2025
LOCATION:Revue Stage
CATEGORIES:Books & Ideas
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersfest.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025_Canada-Reads_web-banner.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250225T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250225T200000
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20250129T215017Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250218T215457Z
UID:10000309-1740510000-1740513600@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Incite: David A. Robertson on Living with Anxiety
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Vancouver Public Library.\n\n\n\nFrom the outside\, David A. Robertson looks as if he has it all. The author of over 25 books in various genres\, his achievements include numerous awards—not to mention a loving family and a platform for speaking on Indigenous perspectives\, cultures and concerns. But what we see on the outside rarely reveals what is happening inside.  \nRobertson lives with “little monsters”: chronic\, debilitating health anxiety and panic attacks accompanied\, at times\, by depression. During the worst periods\, he finds getting out of bed to walk down the hall an insurmountable task.  \nThe Canadian Mental Health Association reports that by the time we reach 40 years of age\, half of Canadians will have—or previously have had—a mental health problem. Generalized anxiety disorders are on the rise\, particularly among young people aged 15–24. In All the Little Monsters: How I Learned to Live with Anxiety\, Robertson shares his personal story with warmth and candidness\, in the hope of making other people’s mental health journeys a little less lonely. \nDavid A. Robertson joins us at Incite in conversation with Vancouver Writers Fest Artistic Director Leslie Hurtig. He’ll speak about the tools that have helped him carry on\, including community\, therapy\, medication\, and the simple question he asks himself on repeat: what if everything will be okay? \nBooks will be for sale courtesy of Book Warehouse/Black Bond Books\, with a signing afterwards. Can’t make the event time? Register for the livestream option and we’ll send you a link to watch the recording!  \nJoin us for Incite all year-round\, in-person or online! This quarterly series is free and open to all\, offering conversations with celebrated authors and emerging talents. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/incite-little-monsters
LOCATION:Vancouver Public Library – Central Library
CATEGORIES:Incite Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersfest.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025_Incite-02-25_social-banner.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250210T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250210T204500
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20241219T173026Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250120T231225Z
UID:10000306-1739215800-1739220300@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Neko Case: The Harder I Fight the More I Love You
DESCRIPTION:Singer\, songwriter\, producer\, visual artist\, and writer Neko Case has long been revered as one of music’s most influential artists. In The Harder I Fight the More I Love You\, Case brings her trademark candor and precision to a memoir that traces her evolution from an invisible girl “raised by two dogs and a space heater” in rural Washington state to her improbable emergence as an internationally-acclaimed talent. This spellbinding meditation on art and identity will delight both long-time fans and those who have never heard her music.\n\nCase’s luminous writing has been called “as piercing and beautiful as her gorgeous singing” (Susan Orlean) and “full of moments that kaleidoscope your view of the world into something new” (Rebecca Makkai). Discover this raw and moving memoir as she sits down with Vancouver writer and musician Aaron Chapman on Monday\, February 10. \nWe do our best to make our events low-barrier\, accessible experiences for our community. A limited number of accessibly priced tickets are available for purchase. To discuss other ways we can make these events more accessible to you\, please reach out to us at info@writersfest.bc.ca or 604-681-6330.\nAbout Books & Ideas\nLaunching in January 2025\, Books & Ideas is a new event series from the Vancouver Writers Fest on Granville Island\, home of the Writers Fest’s celebrated annual literary festival. With an intimate theatre venue and a pop-up bar for socializing\, attendees will be invited to connect more deeply with other members of the local literary community—and meet the esteemed authors who grace the stage—in a modern space for exchanging ideas. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/neko-case
LOCATION:Performance Works
CATEGORIES:Books & Ideas
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersfest.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2025_Neko-Case_banner-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250130T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250130T204500
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20241219T173004Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250120T231140Z
UID:10000305-1738265400-1738269900@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Timothy Caulfield: The Certainty Illusion
DESCRIPTION:Telling what’s real from what’s fake should be easy. In today’s world\, that’s far from the case. Bestselling author and Canada Research Chair Timothy Caulfield joins the Vancouver Writers Fest on Thursday\, January 30 to lift the curtain on the forces contributing to our information chaos\, in The Certainty Illusion: What You Don’t Know and Why It Matters. \nCaulfield unpacks why it’s so difficult—sometimes even for experts—to escape the fake\, helping us recognize and combat the forces that threaten to pull us under. This accessible\, actionable deep dive into our misinformation crisis is required reading for anyone seeking the truth. “Celebrities\, charlatans\, and even the science community: nobody is safe from Caulfield’s laser focus on exposing misinformation and those who perpetuate it.” —Abby Langer\, author of Good Food\, Bad Diet. \nCaulfield speaks with  award-winning journalist and author Marsha Lederman about fake news\, and the noble pursuit of truth in science\, academia\, politics\, and life.  \nWe do our best to make our events low-barrier\, accessible experiences for our community. A limited number of accessibly priced tickets are available for purchase. To discuss other ways we can make these events more accessible to you\, please reach out to us at info@writersfest.bc.ca or 604-681-6330.\nAbout Books & Ideas\nLaunching in January 2025\, Books & Ideas is a new event series from the Vancouver Writers Fest on Granville Island\, home of the Writers Fest’s celebrated annual literary festival. With an intimate theatre venue and a pop-up bar for socializing\, attendees will be invited to connect more deeply with other members of the local literary community—and meet the esteemed authors who grace the stage—in a modern space for exchanging ideas. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/timothy-caulfield
LOCATION:Revue Stage
CATEGORIES:Books & Ideas
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250117T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250117T204500
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20241219T173044Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241218T220522Z
UID:10000307-1737142200-1737146700@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter
DESCRIPTION:New York Times technology reporters Kate Conger and Ryan Mac headline the first Books & Ideas event with one of the most shocking and defining stories of our time: the $44 billion dollar deal behind Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter—and the seismic political\, social\, and financial fallout that is still rapidly unfolding—masterfully told in Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter. Don’t miss them in conversation with Kathryn Gretsinger. \nThe billionaire entrepreneur and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has become inextricable from the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. In 2022\, Musk made an unsolicited offer to purchase the company for the unimaginable sum of $44 billion dollars. This was followed by a showdown unlike anything in business or media that has come before\, and ended with Musk being sued to close the deal. The richest man on earth now controls one of the most powerful media platforms in the world—but at what price? \nWith unparalleled sources from within and around the company—including exclusive interviews\, unreported documents\, and internal recordings at Twitter following the billionaire’s takeover—Conger and Mac follow the inner workings of the company as Musk lays siege to it\, first from the outside as one of its most vocal users\, and then from within as a contentious and mercurial leader. With Musk now making headlines for his interference in American politics\, this is an essential and timely conversation. “You couldn’t hope for a better ringside seat on the unfolding drama.” —The Guardian \nWe do our best to make our events low-barrier\, accessible experiences for our community. A limited number of accessibly priced tickets are available for purchase. To discuss other ways we can make these events more accessible to you\, please reach out to us at info@writersfest.bc.ca or 604-681-6330.\nAbout Books & Ideas\nLaunching in January 2025\, Books & Ideas is a new event series from the Vancouver Writers Fest on Granville Island\, home of the Writers Fest’s celebrated annual literary festival. With an intimate theatre venue and a pop-up bar for socializing\, attendees will be invited to connect more deeply with other members of the local literary community—and meet the esteemed authors who grace the stage—in a modern space for exchanging ideas. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/conger-mac
LOCATION:Revue Stage
CATEGORIES:Books & Ideas
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241216
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250201
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20241127T181758Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250117T215524Z
UID:10000304-1734307200-1738367999@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:2024 Digital Festival
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Libro.fm and Peliplat\, and with the generous support of Hotfusion Communications Inc. \n\nOur flagship Festival filled our stages and our minds with brilliant conversation\, countless moments of connection and inspiration\, and the exceptional works of authors from across Canada and the world. Now\, experience it again—or for the very first time—with the Digital Festival: a curated selection of 26 events representing some of the most outstanding offerings from our 2024 Festival\, each professionally-recorded. Watch on-demand from December 16 through January 31.  \n\n\n\n\nGive the gift of literature! Enjoyable over the winter holidays and beyond\, the Digital Festival makes a truly exceptional gift for your favourite book lover. Print this festive gift certificate if you’d like to give your recipient something that can be slipped in a card or stocking.\n\n\n\nBuy a pass\, get a free audiobook! You’ll receive a free audiobook credit from our friends at Libro.fm when you purchase a Digital Festival pass at the full-access price ($100). Your credit can be used for an audiobook of your choice from their catalog of 500\,000+ audiobooks. Credits will be e-mailed once the Digital Festival ends.  \nPurchase the level of access you plan to enjoy. As the Digital Festival features 26 events (with in-person tickets averaging $27)\, we value the Digital Festival’s full-access pass at $100. We invite you to consider how much you’ll watch\, as well as your ability to support this investment in accessible programming\, when selecting a payment option. If the options provided present a barrier to you\, please reach out to us at info@writersfest.bc.ca.  \n26 fully-captioned\, full-length events from the 2024 Festival are included in this all-access pass:\n\n\n\n(Click on an event title to read the full description from our October Festival program.) \n01. Elizabeth Renzetti in Conversation with Charmaine de Silva \n02. Rachel Kushner in Conversation with Alix Ohlin \n03. Dionne Brand in Conversation with Kimberly Bain \n04. The Mystery QueensFeaturing Ann Cleeves\, Beverley McLachlin\, & Nita Prose with moderator Alison Broddle \n05. Jane Urquhart in Conversation with Marsha Lederman \n06. Ecosystems for ChangeFeaturing Diana Beresford-Kroeger\, & Dr. Jennifer Grenz\, with moderator Sarah Cox \n07. What I’ve Done For WritingFeaturing Heather O’Neill\, Brandon Taylor\, & Jenny Heijun Wills with moderator Kim Thúy \n08. The Poetry BashFeaturing Stephen Collis\, Jess Housty\, Evelyn Lau\, Michael Turner\, shō yamagushiku\, Daniel Zomparelli\, & Zehra Naqvi\, with host Aislinn Hunter \n09. Listening in the Age of RageFeaturing Ian Williams & Carol Off with moderator Kathryn Gretsinger \n10. On TranslationFeaturing George McWhirter\, Michelle Winters\, & Yilin Wang with moderator Bill Richardson \n11. The ConversationsFeaturing Myriam J. A. Chancy\,  Anne Enright\, & Jón Kalman Stefánsson with moderator Aislinn Hunter \n12. Science and FictionFeaturing Richard Powers & James Bradley\, with moderator Claudia Casper \n13. The Knowing\, with Tanya TalagaModerated by Candis Callison \n14. Highway to the Danger Zone: Lyrics NightFeaturing Rajinderpal S. Pal\, Nick Cutter\, Kate Black\, Andrea Warner\, Elliott Gish\, Jenny Heijun Wills\, Drew Hayden Taylor\, Kirsten McDougall\, Robert J. Wiersema\, Canisia Lubrin\, & Roddy Doyle\, with host Elamin Abdelmahmoud and DJ Ice B \n15. Anne Michaels in Conversation with Minelle Mahtani \n16. Nathan Thrall in Conversation with Carol Off \n17. Roddy Doyle in Conversation with Jerry Wasserman \n18. Rebuilding Pillars of SocietyFeaturing Gregor Craigie & Jane Philpott\, with moderator André Picard \n19. On Grief and Trauma: Personal and Global Featuring Dr. Gabor Maté & Raja G. Khouri\, with moderator Elamin Abdelmahmoud \n20. The Literary CabaretFeaturing Roddy Doyle\, Anne Enright\, Richard Powers\, Jón Kalman Stefánsson\, Brandon Taylor\, & Ayelet Tsabari\, with music by Benjamin Millman and the Oxymorons \n21. Drawing Out Family HistoriesFeaturing Tessa Hulls\, Teresa Wong\, & Sarah Leavitt with moderator Emily Chou \n22. Fright NightFeaturing Nick Cutter & Marcus Kliewer\, with moderator Robert J. Wiersema \n23. On MatriarchsFeaturing Sadiya Ansari\, Tessa Hulls & Minelle Mahtani\, with moderator Anna Ling Kaye \n24. Chiller ThrillersFeaturing Emiko Jean\, Roz Nay\, & Drew Hayden Taylor\, with moderator Robert J. Wiersema \n25. Art Speaks: Dana Claxton and Dorothy GrantFeaturing Dana Claxton & Dorothy Grant\, with moderator Damara Jacobs-Petersen \n26. On Freedom: Timothy Snyder with The Current’s Matt Galloway
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/digital-festival-2024
LOCATION:Digital (YouTube)
CATEGORIES:Special Event,Digital
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20241119T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20241119T210000
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20241120T200312Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241120T223534Z
UID:10000295-1732044600-1732050000@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Daniel Levitin with Chor Leoni
DESCRIPTION:Tickets on sale now! \nMusic is perhaps one of humanity’s oldest medicines\, as well as its most universal. Neuroscientist\, musician\, and bestselling author Daniel J. Levitin reveals how the deep connections between music and the human brain can be harnessed for healing in his extraordinary follow-up to This Is Your Brain on Music—which revolutionized our understanding of the neuroscience of song. \nA work of dazzling ideas\, cutting-edge research\, and joyful celebration of the human mind\, I Heard There Was a Secret Chord explores the critical role music has played in human evolution. Long considered the remit of ancient practice and alternative medicine\, scientific evidence is emerging that music can offer profoundly effective treatment for a whole host of ailments\, from Alzheimer’s to PTSD\, depression\, pain\, and cognitive injury. It is\, in short\, one of the most remarkably promising new therapies available today. \nDiscover how music can create profound benefits for those both young and old\, as Levitin sits down with André Picard. This event will feature interludes by special musical guests Chor Leoni\, the transfixing JUNO Award-nominated Vancouver choir. \nTickets starting at $50.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/daniel-levitin
LOCATION:The Vancouver Playhouse
CATEGORIES:Special Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20241117T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20241117T203000
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20241120T200253Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241120T223441Z
UID:10000297-1731870000-1731875400@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Matty Matheson: Soups\, Salads\, Sandwiches
DESCRIPTION:This event is sold out.\nInnovative takes on kitchen staples\, from a Canadian culinary icon? Yes\, Chef! The Vancouver Writers Fest is delighted to present Matty Matheson—restaurateur\, New York Times bestselling author\, and executive producer and actor on FX’s The Bear—with a new cookbook that redefines cooking’s iconic trinity: soups\, salads\, and sandwiches.  \nThis trio makes up so many of our meals\, but is rarely given the attention it deserves—until now. Matty Matheson\, known for the bold flavours that he shares in his restaurants as well as with his 1.5 million YouTube subscribers\, has created a cookbook that will revolutionize how you think of these kitchen basics. He brings his larger-than-life personality to this entertaining evening of laughs\, stories\, and scrumptious recipes\, in conversation with Global News Anchor Sophie Lui. \nTickets come with a pre-signed copy of Matty Matheson: Soups\, Salads\, Sandwiches\, so you can live out your own chef dreams in the kitchen.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/matty-matheson
LOCATION:Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema\, SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts\, 149 W Hastings St\, Vancouver
CATEGORIES:Special Event
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241021
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241028
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20241120T200106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241120T223405Z
UID:10000296-1729468800-1730073599@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:2024 Festival
DESCRIPTION:Click here to browse all Festival events.\nOur flagship Festival returns from October 21–27\, 2024\,  featuring 120+ local and international authors at 88 events over one dazzling week of literary celebration. \nWe believe that when we connect people to exceptional books and authors\, new ideas and world-expanding dialogue will follow—and\, through that—a more empathetic\, inspired\, and just society. That’s certainly what propelled the Festival’s curation this year. \nThe 2024 Festival will feature some challenging conversations that ask us to consider new ideas and perspectives. There will be opportunities to dive into highly anticipated new releases in crime\, memoir\, fantasy\, poetry\, literary fiction\, graphic novels\, and more. And\, for younger audiences\, we’ll have engaging youth programming to inspire the next generation of authors and readers. \nWe’re thrilled to welcome award-winning author Kim Thúy as our Guest Curator; she has curated six brilliant events for youth and adults\, including a screening of her masterpiece novel\, Ru. \nGet your tickets to hear from celebrated\, bestselling authors such as Gabor Maté\, Carol Off\, Richard Powers\, Yulin Kuang\, Dionne Brand\, Anne Michaels\, Rachel Kushner\, Nita Prose\, Tanya Talaga\, Roddy Doyle\, Ann Cleeves\, Ian Williams\, Jane Urquhart\, Jody Wilson-Raybould\, and many more!
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/2024-festival
LOCATION:BC
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20241014T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20241014T210000
DTSTAMP:20260418T002200
CREATED:20241120T200004Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241120T223333Z
UID:10000294-1728934200-1728939600@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Malcolm Gladwell in Conversation with Ian Hanomansing
DESCRIPTION:Tickets on sale now! \nMalcolm Gladwell’s first book\, The Tipping Point\, changed the way we think and talk about the dissemination of ideas. Twenty-five years after its publication—and many New York Times-bestselling books later—Gladwell reframes the lessons of his groundbreaking debut for our confounding new era\, in Revenge of the Tipping Point.     \nWhat does the heartbreaking fate of the cheetah tell us about the way we raise our children? Why do Ivy League schools care so much about sports? What is the Magic Third\, and what does it mean for racial harmony? In this provocative new work\, Gladwell returns to the subject of social epidemics and tipping points\, this time with the aim of explaining the dark side of contagious phenomena. \nGladwell is one of our most influential thinkers\, and a “rock-star intellectual.” (The Guardian) He shares his unique perspective in conversation with CBC’s The National host Ian Hanomansing. Books will be available for purchase before and after the event\, courtesy of Book Warehouse. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/malcolm-gladwell
LOCATION:Orpheum Theatre\, 601 Smithe St.\, Vancouver\, BC\, V6B 3L4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Special Event
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