Vancouver Writers Fest Celebrates 35th Anniversary with Expansive International Lineup for 2022 In-Person Festival Program
Featured authors include: Jonathan Escoffery, Nathan Harris, Wayne Johnston, Guy Gavriel Kay, Marsha Lederman, Malinda Lo, Dr. Gabor Maté, Lisa Moore, Noor Naga, Heather O’Neill, Tom Perrotta, Danny Ramadan, Eliza Reid, Iain Reid, Bill Richardson, Buffy Sainte-Marie, John Elizabeth Stintzi, Douglas Stuart, Joshua Whitehead and Xiran Jay Zhao.
Vancouver, BC – Vancouver Writers Fest welcomes more than 100 authors from across the globe for an expansive, in-person Festival to celebrate its 35th anniversary, returning to venues across Granville Island and schools across the Lower Mainland from October 17 — 23, 2022.
“We’ll talk about the state of modern journalism, the loss of reproductive rights, the rise of Indigenous storytelling and the ongoing climate crisis. We’ll celebrate debut novels, the Scotiabank Giller Prize shortlist, 80s song lyrics as poems and two of today’s most successful novelists-turned-screenwriters. We’ll also have two feature events celebrating the work of Mavis Gallant, hosted by beloved Vancouver author, Bill Richardson. We’re delighted to present discussions exploring topics that have shaped our lives over these last few years, and to celebrate the storytelling that’s helped us to understand the complex world around us,” she continued.
The Festival welcomes bestselling and 2021 Scotiabank Giller Prize-winning author of American War and What Strange Paradise, Omar El Akkad, as this year’s Guest Curator. “Perhaps as a result of having spent so much time in isolation over these last years, my curatorial intent with many of this year’s panels veered in the direction of home and community — where we anchor ourselves and what we grasp for when these anchors are, through fate or malice, suddenly lifted,” he commented.
El Akkad’s events include What Home Means, exploring how our relationship to this essential part of our lives changes over time; Memory of Self, and how we confront our many pasts; Generational Fiction: Stories of Lineage, History and Things Passed Down; and Writing Across Cultures.
Other events at the Festival include An Evening with Billy-Ray Belcourt, whose debut novel A Minor Chorus is longlisted for the Giller Prize; a conversation with Shuggie Bain and Young Mungo author, Booker Prize-winner Douglas Stuart; CBC Writers and Company Eleanor Wachtel in conversation with international literary sensation Pierre Jarawan; the launch of one of the most anticipated poetry books of the year, Queer Little Nightmares; and a conversation about Latin American Brilliance with exceptional writers.
Iconic Festival offerings such as the Poetry Bash, Literary Cabaret, Afternoon Tea, and Sunday Brunch continue, and patrons can celebrate the 35th Anniversary with two special events: an 80s Dance Party on Thursday, September 22 at The Fox Cabaret, followed by a hilarious evening of authors reading their favorite 80s song lyrics in Don’t You Want Me, Baby? on Thursday, October 20.
This year’s Youth Events include writing workshops, keynotes and discussions with bestselling and beloved children’s authors including Kenneth Oppel, Kirstie Hudson and Carey Newman, Tanya Lloyd Kyi, Ashley Spires, S.K. Ali, Johanna Wagstaffe, Kevin Sylvester and Xiran Jay Zhao. Writers in the Classroom—designed to connect children and youth to authors through live, interactive events—will also return to classrooms throughout October.
The full lineup of events can be viewed on the Writers Fest website.
Events in Theatres are $25, all-inclusive. This does not include the Literary Cabaret ($50), The Sunday Brunch ($55), or Afternoon Tea ($55). Youth events are $10.
A new Digital Festival will broadcast 30 events from the October Festival in December. Further details—and which events will be featured—will be shared in November.
The Vancouver Writers Fest will ensure that in-person events comply with COVID-19 protocols. The Festival strongly encourages masks to be worn in venues. Masks may be required in some events. Up-to-date safety protocols will be added to the website.
A new Digital Festival will broadcast 30 events from the October Festival in December. Further details—and which events will be featured—will be shared in November.
The Vancouver Writers Fest will ensure that in-person events comply with COVID-19 protocols. The Festival strongly encourages masks to be worn in venues. Masks may be required in some events. Up-to-date safety protocols will be added to the website.
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