6 And Introducing...

Michael Christie* Ontario	Rosemary Nixon Alberta	Thomas Pletzinger Germany
Harry Whitehead United Kingdom

Michael Christie*, Ontario

Michael Christie received his MFA in Creative Writing from UBC. Prior to this, he worked in a homeless shelter in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and provided outreach to people with severe mental illness. Along with being a nearly washed-up professional skateboarder, he’s currently a senior writer for Color Magazine, an award-winning skateboarding/art publication. He lives in Galiano Island, B.C. Read more

* We are pleased to announce that Michael Christie will be appearing at the festival.

Rosemary Nixon, Alberta

Rosemary Nixon penned her acclaimed new novel, Kalila, on two continents over 15 years. She is the author of two previous short story collections, Mostly Country and The Cock’s Egg, winner of the Howard O’Hagan Short Fiction Award. Nixon has taught creative writing at the University of Calgary, Chinook College and at the Sage Hill Writing Experience. She was Canadian Writer-in-Residence for the Markin-Flanagan Distinguished Writers Program and is now Writer-in-Residence at the University of Windsor. Read more

Thomas Pletzinger, Germany

Thomas Pletzinger was born in 1975 in Münster, Germany. His critically acclaimed debut novel, Bestattung eines Hundes (Funeral for a Dog), has recently been translated into English. Pletzinger has received various literary awards and fellowships, including the 2009 Uwe-Johnson-Förderpreis. Read more

Harry Whitehead, United Kingdom

Harry Whitehead worked for many years as a location manager in the film business. He has master’s degrees in creative writing and medical anthropology, and a Ph.D. from Lancaster University. He has published a number of short stories and articles and teaches creative writing at the University of Leicester. The Cannibal Spirit is his first novel. Read more

Tuesday, October 18, 2011 - 8:00pm
Revue Stage
$19

First novels are a “hold your breath” moment for writers. This evening meet four who are riding the wave of critical acclaim, publishing first novels after many years of teaching writing and publishing in other print forms. Pletzinger’s novel, in translation from the original German, has elicited unrestrained fanfare; Nixon’s novel was received with the words “You are about to read greatness.” Whitehead’s work has been called “masterful.” And Price’s novel was reviewed in late spring as “a real feat….you feel this book creep into your very organs.”

Come and discover new novelists well worth waiting for.

Tickets will be available for purchase at the venue 45 minutes in advance.

* Programming details have changed since the Festival Program was printed:
We regret that Steven Price will not be appearing at this event.
We are pleased to announce that Michael Christie will be appearing at the festival.

6 And Introducing...

2011 Festival