For Word Vancouver’s 20th anniversary, the free festival of reading and writing pulled no pages. This year, look forward to 100 readings, 150 authors, and 20 workshops featuring Canada’s top literary talents.
Experience author readings at The Paper Hound, Banyen Books & Sound, The Cottage Bistro, Christianne’s Lyceum, and Historic Joy Kogawa House Sept. 24-26.
Then Sunday, Sept. 28 – the main day of the festival – a mix of Canada’s most memorable non-fiction and fiction authors, like Wayde Compton, Nancy Lee, Doretta Lau (just shortlisted for the City of Vancouver Book Award), Grant Lawrence, and Kim Fu, will converge on the Canada Writes tent for readings.
The Book Bag Treasure Hunt is back, and new this year: Chapbooks – those whimsical, coverless, cheaply produced books that have been around since the 16th century – will be celebrated with a workshop, exhibits, readings, and a panel discussion. Check out the Cap Art Vending Project, a vending machine created by Capilano University’s Anne Stone that releases a miniature chapbook, poem, or story written by a creative individual for only a nickel.
There’s also plenty of all-ages entertainment on Sunday, with poet Jillian Christmas, singer Chelsea D.E. Johnson, and Barbara Adler and Ten Thousand Wolves taking to the mainstage. The Vancouver Youth Poetry Slam Team, followed by rap artists Calvin “Kalconix” Tiu and Rick “Big Love” Kumar headline later that afternoon.
For the full calendar of events, see WordVancouver.ca.
