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Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­Writers Fest has impressive line-up

From a press release Some of the best authors in the world will help The Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­Writers Fest celebrate its 25 th anniversary this fall.
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­Courier Staff

From a press release Some of the best authors in the world will help celebrate its 25th anniversary this fall. The star-studded lineup includesMargaret Atwood, who appeared at the first festival in 1988, as well as prize-winning Canadian authorsAlistair MacLeod,Jane Urquhart,Vincent Lam,M.G. Vassanji andRawi Hage, Pulitzer Prize-winnerJunot Díaz, Canadian actorGordon Pinsentand many more.

Over six days in October, writers from Canada as well as some of the biggest international names in writing will join thousands of readers at the annual festival. The Writers Fest is set for Oct. 16 to 21 on Granville Island..Just two days before the Festival opens, the acclaimed UK writerMartin Amis will take part in a special event.

"This year we are celebrating by bringing favourites likeIvan E. Coyote,Patrick Lane,Kate Mosse andDonna Morrissey back to Vancouver. But because of our reputation we are also able to attract international names likeCory Doctorow,Nuruddin Farah,Junot Díaz andChris Cleave for the first time,"sHal Wake, artistic director of the Festival.

This year`s festival has 77 events over six days and nights. It offers a wide variety of conversations, panel discussions, interviews and musical collaborations. As a special commemoration of the Festivals 25th anniversary, Canadian literary giantAlistair MacLeod has written a short story specifically and exclusively for the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­Writers Fest, which will be unveiled at the Festival and available as a limited edition chapbook published by the Writers Fest.

Margaret Atwood will participate in a panel celebrating the 40th anniversary of the publication ofSurvival, her groundbreaking analysis of Canadian literature. Journalist and Giller Prize-winnerLinden MacIntyre will moderate the Festivals closing event, featuring two of this planets leading scientists,David Suzuki andTim Flannery, whose contribution to changing our attitudes and actions toward climate change has been profound.

Another featured event for the anniversary year is a theatrical installation by Vancouvers Electric Company Theatre.Initiation Trilogy is an adaptation of three literary works by local writers. The Festival will also present events in collaboration with Chor Leoni, Ruby Slippers Theatre, singers from Christ Church Cathedral, former Rheostatics leader Dave Bidini and Radio-Canada.

For grades K 12 students, the Festival features daytime events in both French and English that will bring more than 5,000 young readers to Granville Island.

Two days before the official launch of the Festival, famed British novelistMartin Amis presents his highly anticipated new novelLionel Asbo at Granville Island Stage. Two other special events will bookend the Festival.Michael Chabon, author of theNew York Times bestselling novelThe Yiddish Policemen's Union, talks about his latest book,Telegraph Avenue, on Sept. 26 at St. Andrews-Wesley United Church, and on Nov. 19, CBC radio hostJian Ghomeshi will talk about his forthcoming memoir,1982, at UBCs Frederic Wood Theatre.

Tickets for the Festival go on sale to the public on Wednesday, Sept. 5, through VancouverTix.com or by calling 604-629-VTIX (604-629-8849). Tickets will also be available at the Writers Fest box office, 1398 Cartwright Street.