The 2011 Whistler Readers and Writers Festival includes some of the best workshops it has had to offer, and taught by some of the biggest names this festival has attracted. Let's meet these fine literary specimens, shall we?
• Miriam Toews: Her 2004 novel A Complicated Kindness , about a disillusioned Mennonite teenager who dreams of escaping to New York City to hang out with Lou Reed, spent over a year on the bestsellers list. It was also nominated for the Giller Prize and won the 2006 edition of Canada Reads. Basically, it's one of the most popular Canadian novels of the past decade and has thrust Toews into literary notoriety, which is not an oxymoron. Her latest novel, Irma Voth, about a jaded Mennonite teenager living with her family in the Mexican desert, was released earlier this year.
Where to catch her: At the opening night gala on Saturday, 8 p.m. (Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre), where she'll read from and discuss Irma Voth ; at the "What Makes a Book Last...or Fade Fast" panel discussion at the Aava on Saturday, 3:45 p.m., on what constitutes a classic book in the age of self-publishing; at the Lit Grit Tribute Breakfast at the Aava on Sunday, 10 a.m., where she'll discuss her career over breakfast.
• Wayne Johnston: Newfoundland-born author writes historical fiction set in his home province. His 1998 novel, The Colony of Unrequited Dreams , a historic account of Joey Smallwood, was short listed for the Giller Prize, as well as the 2003 edition of Canada Reads . His following three novels were nominated for the Giller Prize as well, including his latest, A World Elsewhere . His 1990 novel The Divine Ryans was adapted into a 1999 film, for which Johnston wrote the screenplay.
Where to catch him: At the Lit Grit Tribute Breakfast at the Aava on Sunday, 10 a.m., where he'll discuss his career over breakfast.
• John Glenday: The Scottish poet has been short listed for two prestigious poetry prizes, the Ted Hughes Award and the Griffin Poetry Prize, for his 2010 collection Grain. He also works as an addictions counsellor, having graduated as a psychiatric nurse. He sits on the Board of the Scottish Poetry Library and is a judge on the 2011 National Poetry Competition in the U.K.
Where to catch him: At the opening night gala on Saturday, 8 p.m. (Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre), where he'll read from and discuss Grain; at his own reading event at the Aava on Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
• Barbara Adler: Vancouver spoken-word poet is about as busy as poet's get. She's a member of accordion-and-drum duo Fang, for one. For another, she's coming up with new writing projects for herself that seem, on the face of it, insurmountable. And they can be. For her latest project, Beast Pieces, she would, for five days a week, write, record and post a new piece about animals. Was it a success? See for yourself at www.badler.ca/beast_pieces.
Where to catch her: Creative 5 Eclectic at 8 p.m. at the Elephant and Castle, where she'll do her spoken word stuff that articulates, oh, so well, the vitality of youth-driven British Columbian creativity.
• Angie Abdou: Her debut novel, The Bone Cage , was named as a finalist for this year's edition of Canada Reads. Shortly after the debates, it was selected as the MacEwan Book of the Year for the 2011-2012 academic year, joining the ranks of Margaret Atwood, Yann Martel, David Adam Richards and Annabel Lyon. Her latest novel, The Canterbury Trail , was released earlier this year.
Where to catch her: At the opening night gala on Saturday, 8 p.m. (Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre), where she'll read from and discuss The Canterbury Trail ; at the "Where Does the Truth Lie" panel discussion at the Aava on Saturday at noon, where she'll represent fiction alongside Randy Boyagoda to discuss where truth begins and ends; at the "How to Create and Push Around Your Characters" workshop at the Aava on Saturday at 1:15 p.m.
• Sarah Selecky: This year's Writer-in-Residence is a rising star in Canadian literary circles. Her short story collection, This Cake is for the Party , was a finalist for the Giller Prize and 2010 Frank O'Connor Award.
Where to catch her: the opening night gala on Saturday, 8 p.m. (Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre), where she'll read from and discuss her short stories; the "Why Fiction Matters" panel on Saturday, 9 a.m., at the Aava; the "Revision: Making a Commitment to Your Work" workshop on Saturday, 3:45 p.m., at the Aava. At the Lit Grit Tribute Breakfast at the Aava on Sunday, 10 a.m.
For more information on workshops, events and authors, visit www.theviciouscircle.ca .
