September 9, 2008
Writers Festival enters its third decade with world-renowned lineup to attract thousands of readers in October
(September 8, 2008, Vancouver, BC)—The 21st Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival will host 100 international writers and thousands of readers next month, featuring a lineup of award winning and bestselling authors from around the globe.
Canadian author Miriam Toews, whose novel A Complicated Kindness won the Governor General’s award in 2004, presents her new work, The Flying Troutmans, on September 15 to Vancouver audiences, along with Joan Barfoot, author of the Giller Prize shortlisted Luck. John Ralston Saul talks about his new book A Fair Country: Telling Truths About Canada on October 8, food for thought during the Canadian federal election campaign. Award-winning author J.B. MacKinnon and actor Mia Kirschner present their collaboration I Live Here on October 16.On November 26 Mary Lou Finlay, former host of CBC’s As It Happens is the Festival’s guest with her collection, The As It Happens Files.
“We broke attendance records at last year’s Festival and many of the events were sold out. As a result we are expanding the Festival this year to 69 events to provide more opportunities for readers to see and hear some of the finest writers in the world,” says Hal Wake, Artistic Director of the Festival. Also new this year is a late night event at the Backstage Lounge on Granville Island that will feature music and stories with author performers Ivan E. Coyote, Kinnie Starr, Paul Quarrington and Willy Vlautin.
Noted Canadian novelists Austin Clarke, Rawi Hage, Joseph Boyden and David Bergen will also be part of the stellar lineup, as well as Festival favourites Mark Billingham, Gillian Slovo and Linda Grant from the UK, Damon Galgut from South Africa and C.C. Humphreys, Patrick Lane and Donna Morrissey from Canada. Ronald Wright will deliver the final event of the Festival, the Bill Duthie Memorial Lecture. Wright’s new book, What is America?,is provoking vigorous and timely discussion about the U.S., its history and its future.
Chinese and American authors are also prominent in this year’s programming, with U.S. writers Sharon Olds, Ursula K. LeGuin, George Pelecanos, Meg Wolitzer and environmentalist/novelist Peter Matthiessen. Chinese/UK novelist Xiaolu Guo, whose first novel, A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers was nominated for the Orange Prize, is appearing with fellow Chinese emigrants Qui Xiaolong, author of the Inspector Chen mysteries, and young adult novelist Ting-xing Ye.
Adding to the “international” in the name of the Writers Festival are Gail Jones from Australia, Anja Sicking from the Netherlands, Stephane Audeguy and Geoffroy de Pennart from France, Stefano Benni from Italy, Leonie Swann from Germany and Elizabeth Knox from New Zealand.
The Spreading the Word program for schools features 34 events for grades K–12 this year. The Festival’s broad range of programming includes spoken word events, French-language events for adults and children, graphic novels, an event with international authors reading in their native tongues with simultaneous translations and the Moving Stories Film Festival—a mini festival showcasing short films adapted from the written word.
“As we have over the last two decades, we will introduce readers to celebrated authors and new writers from around the globe who are making the literary world take notice. The Writers Festival is an amazing mix of writers and readers that is very satisfying for both,” says Wake.
Tickets for the Festival are on sale through VancouverTix, on-line at www.vancouvertix.com or by phone 604-629-VTIX (604-629-8849). Vancouver Tix surcharges will apply. Tickets will also be available at the Writers Festival box office, 1398 Cartwright Street. Complete program details are available at www.writersfest.bc.ca.
For more information on the Festival, contact:
Judith Walker, Media Relations Manager – (604) 921-4029
media@writersfest.bc.ca
Vancouver International Writers Festival – October 21-26, 2008
www.writersfest.bc.ca
