The printed word is not dead and the Word Vancouver festival is living proof. A six-day festival organized by the Vancouver Book and Magazine Fair, this Sunday the festival will descend on the downtown branch of the library for its final and biggest day.
Unlike many niche festivals, Word caters to a broad audience and includes workshops, book readings, author panels and hands-on demos.
Since some of our highlights happen at competing times, there may be some tough choices ahead.
Grant Lawrence reads from Dirty Windshields
Did you know that Grant Lawrence was the lead-singer of a Vancouver-born rock and roll band, The Smugglers? The CBC radio host and Westender columnist will read from his latest book, Dirty Windshields, chronicling the nitty gritty of life on the road during his 16 years of touring.
Sunday Sept. 24, 12:30 p.m., Community Garden (Alma VanDusen Room), Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch (350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver). Free.
Rodney DeCroo reads his latest poetry
The infamously sullen singer-songwriter, Rodney DeCroo (who toured with Rae Spoon over a decade ago), reads from his second collection of poetry, Next Door to the Butcher Shop. His work explores “the permeability of memory and uncovers heart-wrenching beauty from shadowy grit.”
Sunday Sept. 24, 12:25 p.m., Sunrise Suite (South Plaza), Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch (350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver). Free.
Dina Del Bucchia reads from Don’t Tell Me What to Do
Host of the Can’t Lit podcast and editor of Poetry is Dead magazine, Dina Del Bucchia will read from her new book, Don’t Tell Me What to Do, a collection of short stories that includes complicated, self-reflective characters who grapple with the seemingly benign contradictions of modern life.
Sunday Sept. 24, 4:15 p.m., Suspension Bridge (Homer Street), Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch (350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver). Free.
Danny Ramadan reads from his book about life in Syria
Local columnist and refugee rights activist, Ahmad Danny Ramadan, will read from his new book The Clothesline Swing. The Syrian-Canadian writer’s latest work is “the story of two lovers anchored to the memory of a dying Syria.”
Sunday Sept. 24, 11 a.m., Suspension Bridge (Homer Street),Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch (350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver). Free admission.
Eve Lazarus reads about Canada’s Sherlock Holmes
Bestselling author Eve Lazarus’s latest book, Blood, Sweat and Fear delves into the 42-year career of B.C.’s first forensics expert, John Vance. A notable crime writer, Lazarus will read from her book, illuminating the impact of Vance’s sophisticated scientific skills and the impact he had on solving crimes in the early 1900s.
Sunday, Sept. 24, 11 a.m., Community Garden (Alma VanDusen Room), Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch (350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver). Free.
Jónína Kirton hosts a writing workshop for writers of mixed backgrounds
The Métis/Icelandic poet Jónína Kirton facilitates a writing workshop called “Feeling a Little Mixed – or – Do I Have a Story to Tell You?” Aimed at “persons of between,” Kirton’s workshop encourages people to embrace their hybrid identities and “see the possibilities in the weaving” of culture through words.
Sunday, Sept. 24, 1 p.m., Port of View (Alice MacKay Room), Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch (350 W. Georgia St, Vancouver). Free.
Bookmaking Demos
How do books get made? Go find out at this all-day exhibit where you can watch “hands-on demonstrations by professional artists.” Case binding, fold books, pop-up books and more!
Sunday, Sept. 24, all day, The Promenade (in the Atrium), Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch (350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver). Free.
