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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T090000
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UID:10000133-1635066000-1635066000@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:PODCAST: Saga Boy: Antonio Michael Downing  in Conversation with Barbara Chirinos
DESCRIPTION:This event is a podcast. Click here to subscribe to Books & Ideas Audio\, where you can listen to the podcast! \nYou don’t need to RSVP or book a ticket to this event. This podcast will be released at 9:00am PDT on Sunday\, October 24. \nAntonio Michael Downing was raised by his indomitable grandmother in the lush rainforest of southern Trinidad\, but—at age 11—is uprooted to Canada when she dies. He is sent to live with his stern\, evangelical Aunt Joan in Wabigoon\, a tiny northern Ontario community where he is one of only a few Black children in the town. His memoir\, Saga Boy\, is a creative\, startling mash-up of memories and mythology as he shares the experience of growing up as an immigrant minority and longing for home. Eventually\, he becomes a “Saga Boy”: a Trinidadian playboy\, addicted to escapism\, attention\, and sex. When the inevitable crash happens\, he finds himself in a cold\, stone jail cell. Yet this is a story of pride and reclamation\, as Downing reclaims his Black identity and embraces a rich heritage. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear his unforgettable story.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/podcast-saga-boy-antonio-michael-downing-in-conversation-with-barbara-chirinos
LOCATION:Digital (Podcast)
CATEGORIES:Digital
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T103000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20210907T195448Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211021T204010Z
UID:10000135-1635071400-1635071400@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Gripping Tales With Linwood Barclay\, Cherie Jones\, and Eddy Boudel Tan
DESCRIPTION:These authors write in different genres but one thing connects them all: their ability to create spellbinding stories. Linwood Barclay is a household favourite for his prolific output of unputdownable thrillers. He returns with Find You First. Cherie Jones’ How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House has earned comparisons to Zadie Smith and Marlon James. The critically acclaimed debut follows four people in Barbados\, each desperate to escape their legacy of violence in a so-called “paradise.” Eddy Boudel Tan’s debut\, After Elias\, cemented him as an author to watch. He returns with The Rebellious Tide\, described as a “propulsive\, unpredictable adventure.” Discover three new works you’ll be recommending as soon as you turn the last page. \nModerated by Rob Wiersema. \n\nPresented in partnership with the BCIT Alumni Association. \nLinwood Barclay (appearing virtually)\nCherie Jones (appearing in-person)\nEddy Boudel Tan (appearing in-person)\nRob Wiersema (appearing in-person)
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/gripping-tales-with-linwood-barclay-cherie-jones-and-eddy-boudel-tan
LOCATION:Revue Stage
CATEGORIES:Theatre
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T110000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20210907T200036Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211024T173032Z
UID:10000136-1635073200-1635073200@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Hunting by Stars:  Cherie Dimaline in Conversation  with David A. Robertson
DESCRIPTION:The Marrow Thieves is a slim volume with a sweeping story and expansive impact. Since publication in 2017\, it has won multiple awards\, been mentioned in countless “best of” lists\, and remained firmly on the bestseller list for not only months\, but years. It demonstrated that Cherie Dimaline is an astonishing literary gift; one of the most influential writers of her generation. She releases the sequel to the story to much anticipation. Hunting by Stars continues the adventure in a dystopian world where the Indigenous people of North America are being hunted for their bone marrow and ability to dream. In this intimate conversation\, Dimaline shares the themes and writing process behind this latest work\, the evolution of modern writing as she sees it\, and what’s next for this remarkable author. \nUpdated: Please note that this is now a DIGITAL event\, over Zoom. \n\nThis 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. \nThis event is Pay What You Can! Book a ticket to this event to receive a link to watch the livestream wherever you are. After the Festival\, you’ll also receive access to a recording of the event\, which will be available to rewatch for one week. \nThis event is not included in the Digital Pass. \nThis event cannot be watched at our  in-person cinema\, The Nest. \nCheck out our Festival FAQ for Festival & box office information.\nView our full lineup or just our digital events
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/hunting-for-stars-cherie-dimaline-in-conversation-with-david-a-robertson
LOCATION:Digital (Zoom)
CATEGORIES:Digital,Cinema & Streaming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T110000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20210907T200415Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211013T183434Z
UID:10000137-1635073200-1635073200@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:The International Sunday Brunch With Joshua Ferris\, Claire Fuller\, Linda Boström Knausgård\, Jaap Robben\, and Jeff VanderMeer
DESCRIPTION:UPDATE: Please note that Pilar Quintana is no longer joining this event. \nSunday is made for slow\, quiet mornings of contemplation\, relaxation… and deliciousness. Enjoy a cozy morning at home with your favourite brunch\, and listen to readings from a range of fascinating international writers\, each sharing their favourite passages from new releases. Joshua Ferris (A Calling for Charlie Barnes) is a New Yorker 40 Under 40 and PEN/Hemingway award recipient; Desmond Elliott Prize-winner Claire Fuller presents her Women’s Prize shortlisted novel\, Unsettled Ground; Jeff VanderMeer\, a Nebula and Shirley Jackson Award winner\, returns to bestseller status with Hummingbird Salamander; Jaap Robben was longlisted for the Booker and offers another tender tale in Summer Brother; and Linda Boström Knausgård shares a poignant\, nuanced story of overcoming mental illness and isolation. Share some eggs with these literary stars. \n\n\n\n\nHosted by Kathryn Gretsinger. \n\nThis event is Pay What You Can! Book a ticket to this event to receive a link to watch the livestream wherever you are. After the Festival\, you’ll also receive access to a recording of the event\, which will be available to rewatch for one week. \nThis event is included in a Digital Pass. The $100 pass includes access to the whole digital lineup in one convenient package. If you choose a pass\, there’s no need to book tickets individually or keep track of multiple emails. Click here if you’d like to purchase a Digital Pass instead of ordering a ticket to this event. \nThis event is also simulcast at our in-person cinema\, The Nest. Many of our digital events are also streaming onsite at The Nest. Please note that seating at this venue is first-come-first-served by donation at the door. Read more about The Nest Cinema. *You may watch cinema events in The Nest\, or stream comfortably from home. \nCheck out our Festival FAQ for Festival & box office information.\nView our full lineup or just our digital events \n\n\n\n\nPresented in partnership with SFU’s Department of World Languages and Literatures.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/the-international-sunday-brunch-with-joshua-ferris-claire-fuller-linda-bostrom-knausgard-pilar-quintana-jaap-robben-and-jeff-vandermeer
LOCATION:Cinema (The Nest) and At-Home Viewing
CATEGORIES:Cinema & Streaming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T130000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20210907T200639Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211004T184414Z
UID:10000138-1635080400-1635080400@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:The Magician and the Mayflies: One-to-One with Andrew O’Hagan and Colm Tóibín
DESCRIPTION:Imagine the comfort of conversation between two old friends and the fierce ideas of two award-winning\, legendary writers sharing ideas. You can expect both from this conversation between long-time confidantes\, Colm Tóibín and Andrew O’Hagan\, as they discuss their latest works and individual writing processes. Tóibín’s latest book is his most dazzling and ambitious yet\, telling the story of German writer Thomas Mann. The Magician is a profound meditation on creative ambition\, civic responsibility\, queer desire\, and the pull of history. Booker-shortlisted author and London Review of Books editor-at-large\, O’Hagan\, shares a finely tuned drama in Mayflies: a story of friendship\, making life one’s own\, and the impermanence of human condition. Overhear a conversation between two greats. \n\nThis event is Pay What You Can! Book a ticket to this event to receive a link to watch the livestream wherever you are. After the Festival\, you’ll also receive access to a recording of the event\, which will be available to rewatch for one week. \nThis event is included in a Digital Pass. The $100 pass includes access to the whole digital lineup in one convenient package. If you choose a pass\, there’s no need to book tickets individually or keep track of multiple emails. Click here if you’d like to purchase a Digital Pass instead of ordering a ticket to this event. \nThis event is also simulcast at our in-person cinema\, The Nest. Many of our digital events are also streaming onsite at The Nest. Please note that seating at this venue is first-come-first-served by donation at the door. Read more about The Nest Cinema. *You may watch cinema events in The Nest\, or stream comfortably from home. \nCheck out our Festival FAQ for Festival & box office information.\nView our full lineup or just our digital events
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/the-magician-and-the-mayflies-one-to-one-with-andrew-ohagan-and-colm-toibin
LOCATION:Cinema (The Nest) and At-Home Viewing
CATEGORIES:Cinema & Streaming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T133000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20210907T201137Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210917T223915Z
UID:10000139-1635082200-1635082200@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Emerge
DESCRIPTION:Join SFU Creative Writing to hear readings from emerge 21: the annual anthology from the students of The Writer’s Studio program at Simon Fraser University. You’ll receive a tantalizing taste of work from the emerging authors who have participated in the illustrious program this year\, and discover new voices in the writing community\, from novelists to poets to essayists. For aspiring authors\, hear from writers who have turned a dream of creating into a reality with the help of professional mentors. Join this immersive celebration of new talent! \n\nThis event is Pay What You Can! Book a ticket to this event to receive a link to watch the livestream wherever you are. After the Festival\, you’ll also receive access to a recording of the event\, which will be available to rewatch for one week. \nThis event is included in a Digital Pass. The $100 pass includes access to the whole digital lineup in one convenient package. If you choose a pass\, there’s no need to book tickets individually or keep track of multiple emails. Click here if you’d like to purchase a Digital Pass instead of ordering a ticket to this event. \nThis event cannot be watched at our  in-person cinema\, The Nest. \nCheck out our Festival FAQ for Festival & box office information.\nView our full lineup or just our digital events \nPresented in collaboration with SFU Creative Writing.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/emerge
LOCATION:Digital (Zoom)
CATEGORIES:Digital
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T140000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20210907T201456Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210916T215437Z
UID:10000140-1635084000-1635084000@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Blending Genres With Hiromi Goto\, Harold R. Johnson\, and Renée Sarojini Saklikar
DESCRIPTION:It’s achievement enough to publish a literary work\, but one that combines genres—and excels in all of them—is a talent that few possess. Hiromi Goto has produced acclaimed poetry and novels—and now Shadow Life\, a graphic novel that’s steeped in literary fiction with poetic magical realism. Harold R. Johnson is an acclaimed fiction and non-fiction writer. In The Björkan Sagas\, he merges myth\, fantasy\, and history into an epic of exploration and adventure. Renée Sarojini Saklikar is an award-winning author\, lawyer\, and poet whose latest work was 10 years in the making. Bramah and the Beggar Boy is intellectually\, geographically\, and temporally wide-ranging: ambitious in scope. As the publisher explains\, “The portal is deep. The portal is open. Take a deep breath. Jump.” \n\n\n\n\nModerated by Rachel Rose. \n\n\n\n\n\nAward Ceremony\nFollowing this event\, the Vancouver Writers Fest is proud to host the VMI Warland Between Genres Award. Vancouver Manuscript Intensive directors Rachel Rose and Elee Kraljii Gardiner are pleased to introduce the inaugural VMI Warland Between Genres Award\, judged by Wayde Compton. Named in honour of Betsy Warland\, this award celebrates works that disrupt convention about what a book should be\, how it should read\, what it should sound like\, and what subject matter is acceptable. This award honours Warland’s trajectory and ethos by celebrating the importance of the hybrid and unclassifiable.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/blending-genres-with-hiromi-goto-harold-r-johnson-and-renee-sarojini-saklikar
LOCATION:Waterfront Theatre\, 1412 Cartwright St.\, Vancouver\, British Columbia\, BC V6H 3R7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Theatre
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T153000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20210907T202408Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211007T182219Z
UID:10000141-1635089400-1635089400@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:The Afternoon Tea with Myriam Chancy\, Linden MacIntyre\, Casey Plett\, Jael Richardson\, Ian Williams\, and Alix Ohlin
DESCRIPTION:THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT\nOne of the Festival’s signature events returns as a live\, Live event! Nibble on scones with clotted cream and jam\, munch on sandwiches and quiches\, and quaff carefully chosen tea selections as you listen to celebrated writers reading their latest works. This year’s featured authors include some of CanLit’s favourite names\, including Myriam Chancy (What Storm\, What Thunder: A Novel)\, Linden MacIntyre (The Winter Wives)\, Casey Plett (A Dream of a Woman)\, Jael Richardson (Gutter Child)\, Ian Williams (Disorientation)\, and Alix Ohlin (We Want What We Want). What better way to enjoy the return of our physical Festival with fellow bibliophiles? \n\n\n\n\nHosted by Bill Richardson. \n\n\n\n\n\nGenerously sponsored by the Faris family in memory of Yulanda Faris. \nYouth discounts not available for this event. \nUpdate: Please note that Zoe Whittall\, originally scheduled for this event\, can no longer attend.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/the-afternoon-tea-with-myriam-chancy-linden-macintyre-casey-plett-jael-richardson-ian-williams-and-zoe-whittall
LOCATION:Performance Works
CATEGORIES:Theatre
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T153000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20210907T202614Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211004T184439Z
UID:10000142-1635089400-1635089400@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Animal: Lisa Taddeo in Conversation with Tara McGuire
DESCRIPTION:Of her international bestseller Three Women\, Lisa Taddeo has told the press\, “I thought I was writing a quiet little book.” But her debut was one of the most celebrated books of 2019\, named on 30 “best of” lists and hailed with praise such as “a dazzling achievement” and “an astonishing masterpiece.” But if Three Women was a silent classic\, Animal roars. It shares the world of Joan\, who—after enduring a lifetime of cruelty from men—begins to transform from prey into predator. “Honestly\, sometimes I think it’s the only recourse. Killing men in times like these\,” she explains. Raw\, scorching\, and dazzling\, Animal is an exhilarating read. Taddeo shares more about her writing process\, working through misogyny on the page\, and what inspired the evolution of Joan. \n\nThis event is Pay What You Can! Book a ticket to this event to receive a link to watch the livestream wherever you are. After the Festival\, you’ll also receive access to a recording of the event\, which will be available to rewatch for one week. \nThis event is included in a Digital Pass. The $100 pass includes access to the whole digital lineup in one convenient package. If you choose a pass\, there’s no need to book tickets individually or keep track of multiple emails. Click here if you’d like to purchase a Digital Pass instead of ordering a ticket to this event. \nThis event is also simulcast at our in-person cinema\, The Nest. Many of our digital events are also streaming onsite at The Nest. Please note that seating at this venue is first-come-first-served by donation at the door. Read more about The Nest Cinema. *You may watch cinema events in The Nest\, or stream comfortably from home. \nCheck out our Festival FAQ for Festival & box office information.\nView our full lineup or just our digital events
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/animal-lisa-taddeo-in-conversation-with-tara-mcguire
LOCATION:Cinema (The Nest) and At-Home Viewing
CATEGORIES:Cinema & Streaming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T170000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20210907T203038Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211004T184506Z
UID:10000224-1635094800-1635094800@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Yusef Salaam in Conversation with Matt Galloway
DESCRIPTION:Dr. Yusef Salaam was fifteen years old when his life was upended. Wrongly convicted with four other boys in the “Central Park Jogger case\,” he spent years behind bars. In 2002\, their sentences were overturned\, and they became known as the “Exonerated Five” across the globe. Now\, Dr. Salaam—a poet\, inspirational speaker\, and prison reform activist—shares his story as a call to action for a more just system of law\, and an example of how frustration and anger can be channeled into action. The recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama speaks with CBC The Current’s Matt Galloway about his vision for future justice. This promises to be a riveting\, inspiring event—and one that offers a deeply important perspective on how we can all contribute to equity. \n\nThis event is Pay What You Can! Book a ticket to this event to receive a link to watch the livestream wherever you are. After the Festival\, you’ll also receive access to a recording of the event\, which will be available to rewatch for one week. \nThis event is included in a Digital Pass. The $100 pass includes access to the whole digital lineup in one convenient package. If you choose a pass\, there’s no need to book tickets individually or keep track of multiple emails. Click here if you’d like to purchase a Digital Pass instead of ordering a ticket to this event. \nThis event is also simulcast at our in-person cinema\, The Nest. Many of our digital events are also streaming onsite at The Nest. Please note that seating at this venue is first-come-first-served by donation at the door. Read more about The Nest Cinema. *You may watch cinema events in The Nest\, or stream comfortably from home. \nCheck out our Festival FAQ for Festival & box office information.\nView our full lineup or just our digital events
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/yusef-salaam-in-conversation-with-matt-galloway
LOCATION:Cinema (The Nest) and At-Home Viewing
CATEGORIES:Cinema & Streaming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211024T190000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20210907T203557Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211004T234453Z
UID:10000225-1635102000-1635102000@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Danny Ramadan Presents: A Night of Storytelling
DESCRIPTION:The Night of Storytelling returns in its seventh year with a new home at the Vancouver Writers Fest. Join Syrian-Canadian author Danny Ramadan as he brings Queer\, Trans\, and Two-Spirit authors to the Revue Stage for a night of readings\, stories\, and joy under the theme “Evil Exes.” Each of the four authors will read from their work\, before talking candidly about what constitutes an evil ex\, and the tipping point between lovers and foes (they might even spill the tea on an ex or two). \nDanny Ramadan will be joined by Amber Dawn\, Jaz Papadopoulos\, David Ly\, and Brandi Bird. \n\nPresented thanks to the support of UBC Creative Writing.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/danny-ramadan-presents-a-night-of-storytelling
LOCATION:Revue Stage
CATEGORIES:Theatre
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211110T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211110T180000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20210907T194840Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211104T001458Z
UID:10000134-1636567200-1636567200@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:The Human Connection: With Hiromi  Goto and Will McPhail
DESCRIPTION:Update: We’re pleased to announce that this event has been rescheduled for Wednesday\, November 10\, at 6 pm PT. The event will be prerecorded and released on YouTube\, where it will be available to watch on demand for 1 week!\nIf you’ve already purchased a ticket to this event\, you don’t need to do anything else! Just sit back and you’ll receive the link in your email. If you don’t have your ticket yet\, they are Pay What You Can and available for purchase now. \n  \nIt’s an understatement to say that we have each explored and understood isolation in different ways over the past 18 months. Unexpectedly\, suddenly\, and universally we were alone. As we slowly emerge from such seclusion\, two exceptional graphic novelists talk about the need for human connection\, and how that manifests in various forms. Hiromi Goto shares an empowering tribute to older women in Shadow Life\, sharing the story of Kumiko: a 76-year-old bisexual widow up for anything… including a smack-down with Death. The New Yorker cartoonist\, Will McPhail\, offers an equally exquisite work about the other end of the age spectrum\, as a millennial attempts to evolve from performative actions in life to truly connecting with people with In. Each author has built a career exploring the absurdities and complexities of being human. In this warm\, relatable conversation they discuss why connection is essential for our nature\, too. \n\n\n\n\nModerated by Taylor Brown-Evans. \n\n 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/the-human-connection-with-hiromi-goto-and-will-mcphail
LOCATION:Digital (YouTube)
CATEGORIES:Digital
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211124T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211124T180000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20211101T215151Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211102T212600Z
UID:10000228-1637776800-1637776800@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:The Care We Dream Of with Zena Sharman\, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha\, jaye simpson\, and Joshua Wales
DESCRIPTION:Join us on November 24 for the ONLINE launch of The Care We Dream Of: Liberatory and Transformative Approaches to LGBTQ+ Health. CART (real-time captioning) and ASL interpretation are provided. \nFeaturing editor/author Zena Sharman in conversation with contributors Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha\, jaye simpson\, and Joshua Wales. \nZena Sharman\, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha\, jaye simpson and Joshua Wales come together to celebrate the launch of The Care We Dream Of. Join us for an evening of discussing what health and healing might look like if every aspect of our health care were rooted in a commitment to the flourishing and liberation of all LGBTQ+ people. LGBTQ+ health care doesn’t look like this today\, but it could. This is the care we dream of. \nAbout the book:\nThe Care We Dream Of is not quite an essay collection\, and not quite an anthology. Instead\, it’s a hybrid kind of book that weaves together essays on topics like queering health and healing\, transforming the health system\, kinship\, aging\, and death\, alongside stories\, poetry and non-fiction pieces. The book also includes interviews with activists\, health care workers and researchers whose work offers insights into what liberatory and transformative approaches to LGBTQ+ health can look like in practice. \nThis online event is Pay What You Can (starting at $0)!  Book a ticket to this event to receive a link to watch the livestream wherever you are. Can’t make the scheduled time? Ticket holders will receive access to a recording of the event\, including ASL and captioning\, which will be available to rewatch for one month. \nThis event is offered in partnership with Arsenal Pulp Press in celebration of Arsenal Pulp Press’s 50th anniversary! \nIron Dog Books is the local (Vancouver) bookselling partner for this event. If you’re near Vancouver\, please support Iron Dog by buying a copy of The Care We Dream Of in-store.  If you’re far\, please order your copy through your near-to-you local indie #shoplocal.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/the-care-we-dream-of
LOCATION:Digital (Zoom)
CATEGORIES:Special Event,Digital
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220126T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220126T190000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20220114T230328Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220114T233855Z
UID:10000232-1643223600-1643223600@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:INCITE: Damon Galgut in Conversation with John Freeman
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Vancouver Public Library. \nThe new year has come\, and with it\, a dazzling new season of Incite! Kick off the 2022 season with Damon Galgut\, in celebration of his 2021 Booker Prize win for his novel\, The Promise\, in conversation with beloved Festival moderator and editor\, John Freeman.  \nIn an exclusive pre-recorded event streamed from dual locations in South Africa and the UK\, Galgut will share insights from both the process and pages of his recent tour de force\, set in the town of his birth. Raved about in media\, including The Guardian\, Harper’s Magazine and The New York Times (Editor’s Choice)\, The Promise is an incisory\, kaleidoscopic look at grief and guilt during a white family’s decline amidst South Africa’s transition out of apartheid—and the deterred promise the family has failed to keep for one of their servants. \nThis won’t be an event to miss! RSVP early. \nFrom the publisher: Haunted by an unmet promise\, the Swart family loses touch after the death of their matriarch. Adrift\, the lives of the three siblings move separately through the uncharted waters of South Africa; Anton\, the golden boy who bitterly resents his life’s unfulfilled potential; Astrid\, whose beauty is her power; and the youngest\, Amor\, whose life is shaped by a nebulous feeling of guilt. \nReunited by four funerals over three decades\, the dwindling family reflects the atmosphere of its country—one of resentment\, renewal\, and\, ultimately\, hope. The Promise is an epic drama that unfurls against the unrelenting march of national history\, sure to please current fans and attract many new ones. \nIncite events are free and open to the public\, but an RSVP is required. We encourage you to pick up The Promise at your favourite independent bookseller\, or use our Festival Bookstore partner\, kidsbooks. \nThis is an online\, pre-recorded event. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/incite-damon-galgut
LOCATION:Digital (YouTube)
CATEGORIES:Incite Event
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220201T210000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220201T210000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20211215T214552Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220121T235431Z
UID:10000230-1643749200-1643749200@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:People Change: Vivek Shraya in Conversation with Marsha Lederman
DESCRIPTION:In partnership with PuSh Festival.  \nDirectly following the Tuesday\, February 1 one-woman performance of How to Fail as a Popstar at PuSh Festival\, acclaimed musician and author Vivek Shraya will join Vancouver Writers Fest for a one-to-one conversation with Marsha Lederman on her new work\, People Change\, a meditation on change\, from its varied manifestations to its inevitability in our lives. \nFrom the publisher: We change our haircuts and our outfits and our minds. We change names\, titles\, labels. We attempt to blend in or to stand out. We outgrow relationships\, we abandon dreams for new ones\, we start fresh. We seize control of our stories. We make resolutions. \nIn fact\, nobody knows this better than Vivek Shraya\, who’s made a career of wearing many hats: artist\, performer\, musician\, writer\, model\, teacher. In People Change\, she reflects on the origins of this impulse\, tracing it to childhood influences from Hinduism to Madonna. What emerges is a meditation on change itself: why we fear it\, why we’re drawn to it\, what motivates us to change\, and what traps us in place. \nAt a time when we’re especially contemplating who we want to be\, this slim and stylish handbook is an essential companion—a guide to embracing our many selves and the inspiration to discover who we’ll become next. \nThis incredible dialogue will take place in Performance Works from 9:00pm\, and will last for approximately 45 minutes\, followed by book sales of People Change\, as well as How to Fail as a Popstar.  \nIn accordance with public health orders\, the venue will be seated at 50% capacity\, masks must be worn at all times\, and proof of vaccination will be required for entry. Book early—tickets will sell quickly!
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/vivek-shraya
LOCATION:Performance Works
CATEGORIES:Theatre
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220203T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220203T190000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20220118T002131Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220118T005741Z
UID:10000233-1643914800-1643914800@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Michael Schur\, Author\, How to Be Perfect
DESCRIPTION:In partnership with VIFF and Simon & Schuster Canada.  \nFrom VIFF: From Michael Schur\, creator of The Good Place and co-creator of Parks and Recreation\, comes How to Be Perfect – an equally hilarious and thought-provoking guide to ethical living. The fascinating\, funny book combines humour and philosophy (two of Schur’s specialties) to “deal with the large and small ethical challenges we all face every day.” One of our generation’s best writers and most adept comedic minds explores the ethical morass through very relatable dilemmas (“Should I punch my friend in the face for no reason?”\, “Can I still enjoy great art if it was created by terrible people?”). Just as Chidi used humour and philosophy to transform Eleanor into a less selfish person in The Good Place\, Schur “takes readers on a journey through the 2\,500-year discussion of ethics\, explaining and poking fun at these grand ideas\, and sketching a road map for how we ought to act.” VIFF is thrilled to host Schur as he takes a deep dive into how moral philosophy and ethics can make us better people. \nThis is an online livestream event. Can’t make it? A recording of the event will be available to watch on VIFF Connect. \nClick here to learn more and book tickets on the VIFF website.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/michael-schur
LOCATION:Digital (VIFF Connect)\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Digital
GEO:56.130366;-106.346771
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220206T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220206T170000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20211214T214453Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211214T214453Z
UID:10000229-1644166800-1644166800@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Winter Book Club: Heather O’Neill in Conversation with Claire Cameron
DESCRIPTION:Join us for our Winter Book Club event\, featuring Canada Reads winner and the bestselling author of The Lonely Hearts Hotel\, Heather O’Neill\, for the release of her much-anticipated new work\, When We Lost Our Heads (HarperCollins). Tune in for this virtual\, live event on February 6 at 5pm PT\, moderated by Claire Cameron\, author of the #1 national bestselling novel\, The Bear. \nTicket buyers to our Winter Book Club will receive a hardcover of When We Lost Our Heads as part of their purchase. \nCalled a “dazzling\, delicious dream” by Mona Awad and “a lovely\, uncanny take on the historical novel\, told with O’Neill’s trademark wit and empathy for human foibles” by Scotiabank Giller Prize-winner Esi Edugyan\, O’Neill’s latest work is a masterpiece of beautiful\, alarming wonder. \nWhen We Lost Our Heads is a spellbinding story about two young women whose friendship is so intense it not only threatens to destroy them\, it changes the course of history. United by their passion and intensity\, Marie and Sadie attract and repel each other in ways that set them both on fire. Marie\, with her bubbly charm\, sees all the pleasure of the world\, whereas Sadie’s obsession with darkness is all-consuming. Soon\, their childlike games take on the thrill of danger and become deadly. \nJoin us for this exceptional dialogue on gender and power\, sex and desire\, class and status\, and the terrifying strength of the human heart when it can’t let someone go. \nA copy of When We Lost Our Heads (a value of $32.99 + tax) is included in your ticket price. Book delivery and pickup is fulfilled by kidsbooks. Books will be available for shipping or pickup around January 19\, but may ship later due to supply chain delays (official on-sale February 1). See your purchase confirmation email for full details.\n \nThis is an online event.  \nPresented in partnership with SFU Continuing Studies.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/heather-oneill-winter-book-club
LOCATION:Digital (Zoom)
CATEGORIES:Digital
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220209T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220209T190000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20220121T235413Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220122T000350Z
UID:10000143-1644433200-1644433200@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:INCITE: Hot Bestsellers with Nita Prose and Jessamine Chan
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Vancouver Public Library. \nGet ready for some of the most talked about books of the season! Our second Incite event features two new instant bestsellers: Nita Prose delivers a Clue-like\, locked-room mystery in her debut novel The Maid\, and Jessamine Chan’s The School for Good Mothers follows a young mother who lands in a government reform program where custody of her child hangs in the balance. They’ll speak with Ashley Audrain\, internationally bestselling author of The Push\, in a livestream event on February 9 at 7pm PT. \nThe Maid follows twenty-five-year-old Molly Gray\, who struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others\, but delights in her work as a hotel maid. Molly’s orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black\, only to find him dead in his bed. Molly’s unusual demeanour has the police targeting her as their lead suspect\, while friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black. But will they be able to find the real killer before it’s too late? \nNamed one of the most anticipated books of the year by Glamour\, W magazine\, PopSugar\, The Rumpus\, Book Riot\, The Globe and Mail\, Chatelaine\, and Canadian Living\, The Maid is a heartwarming debut\, which reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart. \nThe School for Good Mothers is a taut and explosive page-turner that has been called “horrifyingly unbelievable and eerily prescient all at once” (Vogue) and “impossible to put down and impossible to forget” (Library Journal). \nFrida Liu is struggling. She doesn’t have a career worthy of her Chinese immigrant parents’ sacrifices. She can’t persuade her husband\, Gust\, to give up his wellness-obsessed younger mistress. Only with Harriet\, their cherubic daughter\, does Frida finally attain the perfection expected of her. Harriet may be all she has\, but she is just enough. \nUntil Frida has a very bad day. Because of one moment of poor judgment\, a host of government officials will now determine if Frida is a candidate for a Big Brother-like institution that measures the success or failure of a mother’s devotion. Jessamine Chan’s debut is a transgressive novel of ideas about the perils of “perfect” upper-middle class parenting; the violence enacted upon women; the systems that separate families; and the boundlessness of love. \nThis conversation is sure to be just as riveting as the authors’ page-turning novels. RSVP now! \nIncite events are free and open to the public\, but an RSVP is required. We encourage you to purchase the books at your favourite independent bookseller\, or use our Festival Bookstore partner\, kidsbooks. \nThis is an online\, live event. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/hot-bestsellers
LOCATION:Digital (YouTube)
CATEGORIES:Incite Event
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220223T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220223T190000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20220210T190400Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220210T190408Z
UID:10000145-1645642800-1645642800@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Incite: Marlon James in Conversation with Cherie Jones
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Vancouver Public Library and TELUS. \nMarlon James’ Black Leopard\, Red Wolf was a show-stopping tour de force of literary fantasy\, an instant bestseller\, and the first book in what has now become a highly-anticipated series\, the Dark Star Trilogy. James returns to shelves—and the Vancouver Writers Fest’s virtual stages—with Moon Witch\, Spider King\, heralded by writers such as Neil Gaiman and Salman Rushdie\, and praised by Buzzfeed as “even more brilliant than the first” and “the literary equivalent of a Marvel Comics universe” by The New York Times. This is sure to be one of the most anticipated events of the season. As the Washington Post reports: “Stand aside\, Beowulf.” \nJoined by Cherie Jones\, 2021 Festival guest and the acclaimed\, award-winning author of How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House\, this spectacular Incite event will explore rich narratives and powerful reimaginings\, emotive writing and more\, from two of the industry’s most respected visionaries. Submit your questions in advance! \nFrom the publisher: In Black Leopard\, Red Wolf\, Sogolon the Moon Witch proved a worthy adversary to Tracker as they clashed across a mythical African landscape in search of a mysterious boy who disappeared. In Moon Witch\, Spider King\, Sogolon takes center stage and gives her own account of what happened to the boy\, and how she plotted and fought\, triumphed and failed as she looked for him. It’s also the story of a century-long feud—seen through the eyes of a 177-year-old witch—that Sogolon had with the Aesi\, chancellor to the king. It is said that Aesi works so closely with the king that together they are like the eight limbs of one spider. Aesi’s power is considerable—and deadly. It takes brains and courage to challenge him\, which Sogolon does for reasons of her own. \nBoth a brilliant narrative device—seeing the story told in Black Leopard\, Red Wolf from the perspective of an adversary and a woman—as well as a fascinating battle between different versions of empire\, Moon Witch\, Spider King delves into Sogolon’s world as she fights to tell her own story. Part adventure tale\, part chronicle of an indomitable woman who bows to no man\, it is a fascinating novel that explores power\, personality\, and the places where they overlap. \nIncite events are free and open to the public\, but an RSVP is required. We encourage you to pick up Moon Witch\, Spider King at your favourite independent bookseller. \nThis is an online\, pre-recorded event. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/marlon-james
LOCATION:Digital (YouTube)
CATEGORIES:Incite Event
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220309T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220309T190000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20220224T235849Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220301T210230Z
UID:10000147-1646852400-1646852400@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Incite: Sheila Heti in Conversation with Billy-Ray Belcourt
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Vancouver Public Library and TELUS. \nSheila Heti\, internationally acclaimed author of the novel Motherhood\, a New York Times Best Book of the Year\, joins our next Incite event with her tenth book\, Pure Colour. This latest work is a contemporary bible\, an atlas of feeling\, and a shape-shifting epic; Esquire called it one of the Best Books of 2022 to “Provoke\, Persuade and Perturb You.” A philosopher of modern experience\, Heti has reimagined what a book can hold. On March 9\, she’ll share the secrets of Pure Colour with Griffin Poetry Prize-winning author Billy-Ray Belcourt. \nPure Colour is a galaxy of a novel: explosive\, celestially bright\, huge\, and streaked with beauty. The Guardian called it a “mystical\, wildly original study of grief and love”\, and “a book that says something new for our difficult times.” As Kirkus Reviews put it\, this is “that rarest of novels—as alien as a moon rock and every bit as wondrous.” Join us at this live\, virtual event to be put under the spell of Heti’s luminous creation myth\, which has been included in lists of the most anticipated new books by The Globe and Mail\, CBC Books\, Publishers Weekly\, The A.V. Club\, Vulture\, and more. \nIncite events are free and open to the public\, but an RSVP is required. We encourage you to pick up Pure Colour at your favourite independent bookseller. \nThis is an online\, live event. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/sheila-heti
LOCATION:Digital (YouTube)
CATEGORIES:Incite Event
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220323T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220323T190000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20220308T202403Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220308T210303Z
UID:10000150-1648062000-1648062000@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Incite: Short Stories\, Big Ideas
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Vancouver Public Library and TELUS. \nMuch like sunny days in Vancouver\, short stories never go out of fashion. Come join us for a thrilling night of buzzworthy tales from authors dominating the genre at our next Incite! \nSharing themes of restlessness and fragmented lives\, this trio of critically-acclaimed short story collections are beguiling explorations of unexpected bonds and people adrift. Rawi Hage (Stray Dogs\, Knopf Canada)\, Angélique Lalonde (Glorious Frazzled Beings\, Groundwood Books)\, and Christopher Evans (Nothing Could Be Further From The Truth\, Groundwood Books) masterfully wield humour and complexity in their “tiny worlds.” \nJoin us for an incredible conversation with these three powerhouse authors\, moderated by Festival friend and Journey Prize-shortlisted author\, Anna Ling Kaye. \nABOUT THE BOOKS \nCalled a “superb collection” by Maclean’s\, Stray Dogs is a captivating and cosmopolitan collection of stories from the award-winning author of Beirut Hellfire Society and the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award winning novel\, De Niro’s Game. As his publisher notes\, the stories are “wise\, humane\, relevant and caustically funny\, revealing the singular vision of Hage at his best.” \nOne of the most discussed books of 2021\, Lalonde’s Glorious Frazzled Beings was a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and was named a CBC Best Book of the Year. “A haunting dream of a book” according to David Chariandy\, this is a collection that sings a love song to the homes we make\, keep\, and break. \nThe characters in Nothing Could Be Further from the Truth are\, as his publisher notes\, “people with strays—those who fall for the allure of nostalgia\, grapple with male fragility\, deny family trauma\, and acquiesce to authority.” John Elizabeth Stintzi lauds the collection as “fracturing the mundane to reveal a bedrock of absurdity.” \nIncite events are free and open to the public\, but an RSVP is required. We encourage you to pick up these collections at your favourite independent bookseller. \nThis is an online\, live event. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/short-stories-big-ideas
LOCATION:Digital (YouTube)
CATEGORIES:Incite Event
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220406T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220406T190000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20220325T172532Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220325T172532Z
UID:10000151-1649271600-1649271600@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Incite: Transcendent Poetry
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Vancouver Public Library and TELUS. \nWe’re hosting three poets whose collections are just in time for National Poetry Month! Join us for a fascinating evening in conversation with writers at the cutting edge of poetry in Canada. \nInternationally-acclaimed and Giller-shortlisted author Shani Mootoo shares with us an anticipated return to poetry. Cane | Fire (Book*hug Press) is deeply personal—akin to a poetic memoir—and shares evocative depictions of moves from Ireland to San Fernando and finally to Canada. We begin to understand how life can not only be shaped\, but reimagined. \nEach One a Furnace (Penguin Random House)\, from the GG-winning author Tolu Oloruntoba\, trails the global mobility of birds to chronicle the struggle within and between cultures. It is a deeply powerful work that explores how those unable to be at rest in the world may take to improbable flight. \nJason Purcell is known across the country for their exceptional (co-owned) store\, Glass Bookshop\, in Edmonton. Their debut collection\, Swollening (Arsenal Pulp Press) examines the queer\, sick body as a reaction to an ill world and asks it how to move on toward hope. \nThey are joined in conversation by moderator\, writer and poet\, Shazia Hafiz Ramji. \nIncite events are free and open to the public\, but an RSVP is required. We encourage you to pick up these collections at your favourite independent bookseller. \nThis is an online\, live event. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/transcendent-poetry
LOCATION:Digital (YouTube)
CATEGORIES:Incite Event
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220420T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220420T190000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20220405T204106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220405T212539Z
UID:10000235-1650481200-1650481200@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Incite: Creativity and Motherhood
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Vancouver Public Library and TELUS. \nAt a time when the challenges of parenthood have only increased\, and “work/life” balance feels increasingly complex in the midst of the pandemic\, we’re delving into the often-underexplored topic of creativity and parenthood. \nJoin author and co-editor Jen Sookfong Lee\, along with co-editor Stacey May Fowles and contributors Jónína Kirton and Kellee Ngan from Good Mom on Paper: Writers on Creativity (Book*hug Press) in an event that promises solace\, celebration and humour. \nWith further contributions by Heather O’Neill\, Lee Maracle\, Jael Richardson\, Jennifer Whiteford\, Rachel Giese and Teresa Wong—amongst others—this anthology goes beyond the clichés to share the often-invisible challenges of a literary life with little ones and to celebrate the systems that nurture writers who are mothers. \nLet’s talk about two of the fundamental joys\, and challenges\, of life. \nFrom the publisher: Good Mom on Paper is a collection of twenty essays that explore the fraught\, beautiful\, and complicated relationship between motherhood and creativity. These texts disclose the often-invisible challenges of a literary life with little ones: the manuscript written with a baby sleeping in a carrier\, missing a book launch for a bedtime\, crafting a promotional tour around child care. But they also celebrate the systems that nurture writers who are mothers; the successes; the intricate\, interconnected joys of these roles. Honest and intimate\, critical and hopeful\, this collection offers solace and joy to creative mothers and asks how we can better support their work. \nMothers have long been telling each other these vital stories in private. Good Mom on Paper makes them available to everyone who needs them. \nIncite events are free and open to the public\, but an RSVP is required. We encourage you to pick up the book at your favourite independent bookseller. \nThis is an online\, live event. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/creativity-motherhood
LOCATION:Digital (YouTube)
CATEGORIES:Incite Event
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20220504
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20220505
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20220517T212809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220517T212809Z
UID:10000241-1651622400-1651708799@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Incite: Kiss the Red Stairs with Marsha Lederman
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Vancouver Public Library and TELUS. \nIn a powerful and intimate Incite event\, long-time Festival friend\, moderator\, and award-winning journalist Marsha Lederman returns to our in-person stages for the launch of her stunning memoir on intergenerational trauma\, monumental change\, and survival. Kiss the Red Stairs: The Holocaust\, Once Removed explores the impact of a generation’s anguish on her family\, beginning when Lederman was only five years old\, and asked her mother why she didn’t have any grandparents. \nIn conversation with Kathryn Gretsinger\, another beloved moderator of the Festival\, this heart-to-heart explores the rippling effect of Lederman’s family history throughout her own life\, including being a mother to a young son\, experiencing a difficult divorce\, and an ever-present need to explore and understand the stories and experiences of those that have gone before.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/incite-05-04-2022-multimedia
LOCATION:Digital (YouTube)
CATEGORIES:Incite Event,Digital,Multimedia
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220504T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220504T190000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20220419T230623Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220419T232035Z
UID:10000237-1651690800-1651690800@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Incite: Kiss the Red Stairs with Marsha Lederman
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Vancouver Public Library and TELUS. \nIn a powerful and intimate Incite event\, long-time Festival friend\, moderator\, and award-winning journalist Marsha Lederman returns to our in-person stages for the launch of her stunning memoir on intergenerational trauma\, monumental change\, and survival. Kiss the Red Stairs: The Holocaust\, Once Removed explores the impact of a generation’s anguish on her family\, beginning when Lederman was only five years old\, and asked her mother why she didn’t have any grandparents. \nIn conversation with Kathryn Gretsinger\, another beloved moderator of the Festival\, this heart-to-heart will explore the rippling effect of Lederman’s family history throughout her own life\, including being a mother to a young son\, experiencing a difficult divorce\, and an ever-present need to explore and understand the stories and experiences of those that have gone before. \nRSVP to join us for the first in-person Incite events in two years—a momentous occasion made even more special for the friends we’ll have together on stage. If you would prefer to join us online\, register to receive the livestream link! \nFrom the publisher \nFor readers of All Things Consoled by Elizabeth Hay and They Left Us Everything by Plum Johnson\, Kiss the Red Stairs is a compelling memoir by award-winning journalist Marsha Lederman. Marsha was five when a simple question led to a horrifying answer. Sitting in her kitchen\, she asked her mother why she didn’t have any grandparents. Her mother told her the truth: the Holocaust. \nDecades later\, her parents dead and herself a mother to a young son\, Marsha begins to wonder how much history has shaped her own life. Reeling in the wake of a divorce\, she craves her parents’ help. But in their absence\, she is gripped by a need to understand the trauma they suffered\, and she begins her own journey into the past to tell her family’s stories of loss and resilience. Kiss the Red Stairs is a compelling memoir of Holocaust survival\, intergenerational trauma\, divorce\, and discovery that will guide readers through several lifetimes of monumental change. \nIncite events are free and open to the public\, but an RSVP is required. We encourage you to pick up the book at your favourite independent bookseller. \nThis event can be attended in-person or online. At checkout\, we will ask you if you plan to join us online or in-person.  \nThe Vancouver Writers Fest encourages patrons to wear face masks at its events. While not currently mandated by the BC health authority\, face masks continue to offer assurance and safety for many of the communities the VWF serves. We thank you for your understanding and consideration.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/kiss-the-red-stairs
LOCATION:Vancouver Public Library – Central Library
CATEGORIES:Incite Event,Digital,Theatre
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220518T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220518T190000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20220429T220052Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220428T235720Z
UID:10000239-1652900400-1652900400@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Incite: Fiction as a Tempest
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Vancouver Public Library and TELUS. \nThis spring brings rare talents and heart-rending prose in the form of Janice Lynn Mather’s explosive short story collection Uncertain Kin (Doubleday Canada) and Tsering Yangzom Lama’s impassioned debut novel\, We Measure the Earth with Our Bodies (McClelland & Stewart). Joined by moderator Eddy Boudel Tan\, author of The Rebellious Tide (Dundurn Press)\, our final May Incite will feature an absorbing conversation on relationships\, displacement and longing\, as well as all of the minute and miraculous ways we find ourselves in the world. \nAbout the Books \nWe Measure the Earth with Our Bodies by Tsering Yangzom Lama \nA haunting first novel that recounts a Tibetan family’s fifty-year journey through exile and their struggles to forge new lives of dignity\, love\, and hope. Named one of Publisher Weekly‘s Writers to Watch\, and a most anticipated book of the year by The Millions and Ms. \nIn the wake of China’s invasion of Tibet throughout the 1950s\, Lhamo and her sister\, Tenkyi\, arrive at a refugee camp on the border of Nepal. As Lhamo tries to rebuild a life amid a shattered community\, hope arrives in the form of a young man named Samphel and his uncle. \nBreathtaking in scope and powerfully intimate\, We Measure the Earth with Our Bodies is a gorgeously written meditation on colonization\, displacement\, and the lengths we’ll go to remain connected to our families and ancestral lands. Told through the lives of four people over fifty years\, this beautifully lyrical debut novel provides a nuanced portrait of the world of Tibetan exiles. \nUncertain Kin by Janice Lynn Mather \nFrom Governor General’s Literary Award finalist Janice Lynn Mather comes a mesmerizing collection of linked stories that explores the beauty and brutality of being alive. \nSet against the vivid backdrop of The Bahamas\, eighteen luminous and haunting stories introduce women and girls searching for certainty and belonging as they navigate profound upheaval. The characters are bold and big-hearted\, complex and intimately familiar. They grapple with the bonds of kinship and the responsibilities of parenthood\, with grief\, longing\, betrayal\, coming of age and what it means to be a woman. \nTinged with folklore and the surreal\, Uncertain Kin is grounded by its emotional richness and breathtaking insight into our relationships with others—and ourselves. This extraordinary collection signals the debut of an important new voice in literature. \nIncite events are free and open to the public\, but an RSVP is required. We encourage you to pick up the book at your favourite independent bookseller. \nThis event can be attended in-person or online. At checkout\, we will ask you if you plan to join us online or in-person.  \nThe Vancouver Writers Fest encourages patrons to wear face masks at its events. While not currently mandated by the BC health authority\, face masks continue to offer assurance and safety for many of the communities the VWF serves. We thank you for your understanding and consideration.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/incite-may-18
LOCATION:Vancouver Public Library – Central Library
CATEGORIES:Incite Event,Digital,Theatre
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220601T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220601T190000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20220520T210012Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220520T174017Z
UID:10000242-1654110000-1654110000@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Incite: BC and Yukon Book Prizes
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Vancouver Public Library and TELUS. \nIt’s award season in BC! Join us for a celebratory night with six of the 2022 BC and Yukon Book Prize finalists from five prestigious award categories. Moderated by Megan Cole\, the Prize’s Director of Programming and Communications\, this much-anticipated panel will feature: \n\nIona Whishaw\, nominated for the Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award for A Lethal Lesson: A Lane Winslow Mystery (TouchWood Editions)\nHenry Doyle\, nominated for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize for No Shelter (Anvil Press)\nCedar Bowers\, nominated for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize for Astra (McClelland & Stewart | Penguin Random House Canada)\nNicola I. Campbell\, nominated for the Jim Deva Prize for Writing That Provokes for Spíləx̣m: A Weaving of Recovery\, Resilience\, and Resurgence (Highwater Press)\nKaren Duffek and kwəskwestən\, nominated for the Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize for Where the Power Is (Figure 1 Publishing)\n\nThis event will feature the finalists reading from their books\, as well as an audience Q&A. The finalists will be announced at a gala in Vancouver on September 24. \nIncite events are free and open to the public\, but an RSVP is required. Books will be on sale at the event from our official bookseller\, Black Bond Books/Book Warehouse. \nThis event can be attended in-person or online. At checkout\, we will ask you if you plan to join us online or in-person.  \nThe Vancouver Writers Fest encourages patrons to wear face masks at its events. While not currently mandated by the BC health authority\, face masks continue to offer assurance and safety for many of the communities the VWF serves. We thank you for your understanding and consideration.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/incite-june-1
LOCATION:Vancouver Public Library – Central Library
CATEGORIES:Incite Event,Digital,Theatre
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220625T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220625T130000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20220603T221621Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220621T181309Z
UID:10000243-1656162000-1656162000@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Virtual Summer Book Club: Leanne Betasamosake Simpson and Robyn Maynard in Conversation with Jónína Kirton
DESCRIPTION:A must-experience event. Three of the most revered authors and contemporary thinkers in Canada discuss essential questions of the 21st century.  \nWhen the world entered pandemic lockdown in spring 2020\, Robyn Maynard\, influential author of Policing Black Lives\, and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson\, renowned artist\, musician\, and author of Noopiming: The Cure for White Ladies\, began writing each other letters—a gesture sparked by a desire for kinship and connection in a world shattering under the intersecting crises of pandemic\, police killings\, and climate catastrophe. These letters soon grew into a powerful exchange about where we go from here\, and into one of the most anticipated books of the year\, Rehearsals for Living. \nIn this special event to celebrate the launch of their collaboration\, the writers join beloved Red River Métis/Icelandic poet\, author\, and facilitator\, Jónína Kirton. They’ll share their razor-sharp perspectives on histories of slavery and colonization and their ongoing legacies\, and explore what a different way forward looks like. More than simply an engaging discussion\, this event offers a new possibility for how we order our world — and an invitation to both demand and create it for our shared futures.\n \n— \nRehearsals for Living is a captivating and visionary work—part debate\, part dialogue\, part lively and detailed familial correspondence between two razor-sharp writers. By articulating to each other Black and Indigenous perspectives on our unprecedented here and now\, and reiterating the long-disavowed histories of slavery and colonization that have brought us to this moment\, Maynard and Simpson create something new: an urgent demand for a different way forward\, and a poetic call to dream up other ways of ordering earthly life. \n“What a pleasure and honor it is to read two such probing and principled minds in conversation and collaboration. Maynard and Simpson dare to confront the most wrenching challenges of our omnicidal times\, while finding joy and love along the way. A beacon of a book.” \n—Naomi Klein\, author of No Is Not Enough \n“In their inspired act of ‘writing together\, walking together\, witnessing these times together\,’ Robyn Maynard and Leanne Simpson illuminate in essential ways the entwined lives of Black and Indigenous peoples. Rehearsals for Living honours legacies of courageous revolt against the ongoing histories of dispossession\, incarceration\, and violence. It is a book of relation\, radical generosity\, and care – a book\, too\, of running children\, and the colour of the sky\, and of ‘holding within [ourselves] that nascent shimmering of possibility.’ Above all\, it is a book that poses and answers these most urgent questions: ‘how are we going to live and how are we going to live together?’” \n—David Chariandy\, author of Brother \n Prices include all taxes and fees. A copy of Rehearsals for Living ($32 value) is included in your ticket price\, and can be picked up at or shipped through Kidsbooks.  \nThis is a virtual event.  \nPresented in partnership with SFU Continuing Studies.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/summer-book-club-2022
LOCATION:Digital (Zoom)
CATEGORIES:Digital
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220628T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220628T210000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20220427T233004Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220527T235606Z
UID:10000238-1656444600-1656450000@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Run Towards the Danger with Sarah Polley
DESCRIPTION:This event has been rescheduled for Tuesday\, June 28 at 7:30pm.\n \nPresented in partnership with VIFF.\n \nCanadian writer\, director\, and Academy Award-nominated actor Sarah Polley joins the Vancouver Writers Fest in celebration of her evocative release\, Run Towards the Danger. A complex and exquisite collection of essays\, the book captures keystone moments in Polley’s life\, as well as the “fallibility of memory\, the mutability of reality in the mind\, and the possibility of experiencing the past anew\, as the person you are now but were not then.” \nWell-known for her role in the miniseries for Margaret Atwood’s novel Alias Grace (2017)\, her directorial debut Away from Her (2006)\, and her Oscar-nominated adapted screenplay for Alice Munro’s “The Bear Came Over the Mountain\,” Polley’s Hollywood credentials are significant and trail-blazing. \nRun Towards the Danger is her dialogue between her past and present\, exploring what it is to live in a body which is constantly becoming\, learning\, and changing. “These are the most dangerous stories of my life\,” says Polley. “The ones I have avoided\, the ones I haven’t told\, the ones that have kept me awake on countless nights. As these stories found echoes in my adult life\, and then went another\, better way than they did in childhood\, they became lighter and easier to carry.” \nJoin us for a dazzling special event on June 28 as Sarah Polley sits down with Vancouver Writers Fest Artistic Director Leslie Hurtig for an intimate\, one-on-one conversation. \nPrices include all taxes and fees. \nCopies of Run Towards the Danger will be on sale at the event thanks to our bookseller\, Book Warehouse. This event is in-person\, and will be located at the Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema at Goldcorp Centre for the Arts in downtown Vancouver. Parking information is available here. \nThe Vancouver Writers Fest requires masks be worn indoors at all times for this event. Face masks continue to offer assurance and safety for many of the communities the VWF serves. We thank you for your understanding and consideration.
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/sarah-polley
LOCATION:Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema\, SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts\, 149 W Hastings St\, Vancouver
CATEGORIES:Special Event,Theatre
GEO:49.2846966;-123.1119349
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220911T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20220911T130000
DTSTAMP:20260418T170140
CREATED:20220811T230649Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220812T213806Z
UID:10000155-1662901200-1662901200@writersfest.bc.ca
SUMMARY:Fall Digital Book Club: Emma Donoghue in Conversation
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with SFU Continuing Studies. \nLongtime Festival favourite and beloved novelist Emma Donoghue joins from Ireland to present her highly-anticipated release\, Haven\, for our Digital Book Club Fall selection. Called “a patient\, thoughtful novel with much to say about spirituality\, hope\, and human failure\, and about the miracle of mercy” by Esi Edugyan\, Haven\, set in the year 600\, follows three men in a small boat as they make their way toward an island their leader has seen in a dream. A Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize-winner and nominee for both the Man Booker and Orange Prizes\, Donoghue’s works regularly top international bestseller lists. Hear this fabulous storyteller in an intimate discussion speaking to craft\, the moors of Ireland\, and the roles of spirituality and faith in our fiction—and our lives. In conversation with bestselling author and columnist\, Robert Wiersema. \nTickets for our Digital Book Club include the price of admission\, as well as a hardcopy of Haven\, fulfilled by Kidsbooks. \nThis is a virtual event. 
URL:https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/fall-book-club-2022
LOCATION:Digital (Zoom)
CATEGORIES:Digital
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