2024 Festival:
October 21–27

70: Good Reids

70: Good Reids

What’s it like to have a brother who’s an internationally bestselling author? Or a sister who’s the First Lady of Iceland and a literary entrepreneur? Or another brother who has a successful career with NASA? We thought we’d ask Iain Reid and Eliza Reid—a brother and sister duo who are now household names and literary royalty. Since Iain’s debut, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, he has captivated millions of readers with his intelligent page-turners. Eliza has welcomed dozens of other international bestsellers to the Iceland Writers Retreat. In addition to founding this innovative experience, she’s also one of the most powerful women in one of the most progressive countries in the world. Join us for this fun, insightful conversation about unlikely careers, behind-the-scenes insights, and more. Moderated by Claudia Casper.

Event Participants:

Claudia Casper

CLAUDIA CASPER is the author of four novels, including The Mercy Journals, winner of the 2017 Philip K. Dick Award for distinguished science fiction, and The Reconstruction, which is being adapted for film. She has taught writing at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and been a long-time mentor for Vancouver Manuscript Intensive.

Eliza Reid

ELIZA REID is the author of Secrets of the Sprakkar, and cofounder of the Iceland Writers Retreat. She grew up near Ottawa and moved to Iceland with her husband, Gudni Th. Jóhannesson, the President of Iceland. As First Lady, Reid actively promotes the country’s rich literary heritage. (CANADA/ICELAND)

Iain Reid

IAIN REID is the author of I’m Thinking of Ending Things, a New York Times bestselling debut novel. Oscar-winner Charlie Kaufman adapted the book for Netflix. His second novel, Foe, is being adapted for film, with Reid co-writing the screenplay. We Spread is his genre-defying third novel. (ONTARIO)