Vancouver Writers Festival 2012

Comments 27 by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Vancouver Writers Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with its biggest line-up to date on Granville Island from October 16th to 21st, 2012. Over the course of six days the festival will host 77 events with a variety of panel discussions, interviews, musical collaborations, and more.

Events

Event categories include Biography/Personal Experience, Contemporary Global Issues, Crime Writers, French, Graphica/Comics, Interviews, Intimate Evenings, Late Night, Literary Fiction, Music, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Readings, Science & Speculative Fiction, Spoken Word, The Literary World, and Theatre. Everything kicks off with the Literati Gala on Monday October 15th. Taking place at the Fairmont Waterfront, the gala will be hosted by Gloria Macarenko with performances by Vancouver Good Noise Gospel Choir.

Authors

Over over 130 authors will be participating in a variety of events. Margaret Atwood, Martin Amis, Lynda Barry, Michael Chabon, Jian Ghomeshi, Douglas Coupland, Cory Doctorow, Anne Perry… just to name a few.

Collaborations

Electric Company Theatre will have a theatrical installation and collaboration events will include Chor Leoni, Ruby Slippers Theatre, singers from Christ Church Cathedral, former Rheostatics leader Dave Bidini and Radio-Canada.

Tickets

Tickets are currently on sale for the festival and can be purchased online, by calling 604-629-VTIX (604-629-8849), or in person at the Writers Fest box office on Granville Island at 1398 Cartwright Street.

Project Bookmark

This is such a neat initiative. Project Bookmark Canada is a charity that places text from stories and poems in the exact physical locations where literary scenes are set — on plaques that look like big bookmarks. There are 10 bookmarks around Ontario and a few have been unveiled in Newfoundland. Vancouver’s first bookmarks will be placed in Chinatown at the intersection of Pender and Gore with a passage from Wayson Choy’s novel The Jade Peony in both English and Mandarin. The unveiling will take place Monday October 15th, leading up to the festival.

Spoken World

On Wednesday October 17th the Vancouver Writers Festival will host a spoken word event called Spoken World with three of the best spoken words artists. Hosted by Brendan McLeod on Wednesday October 17th at 9:00pm at Performance Works, tickets are $30.

Storyteller Ivan Coyote has a reputation for swinging her audience from hysterical laughter to tears in the space of a few paragraphs. England’s Lemn Sissay is an official Olympic poet, whose landmark poems engage readers on the streets of Manchester and London. C.R. Avery, beatbox poet, harmonica player, raconteur and one-man band, has performed throughout the world and recorded more than 15 albums. Be moved. Be amazed. Be there.

If you would like to attend Spoken World at the Vancouver Writers Festival I have a pair of tickets up for grabs. Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win tickets to #SpokenWorld @VanWritersFest from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/efLZ5

I will draw one winner at random from all entries next Friday, October 12, 2012 at 12:00pm. Follow the Vancouver Writers Festival on Facebook and Twitter for more event information.

Update The winner is Lyn!

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27 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. Alex MitchellFriday, October 5th, 2012 — 1:25pm PDT

    This looks like fun!

  2. MaryFriday, October 5th, 2012 — 2:00pm PDT

    I’d love to attend!

  3. VictoriaFriday, October 5th, 2012 — 5:10pm PDT

    I’d love to go to this. Spark some creative writing in me instead of just work-writing. lol

  4. graceFriday, October 5th, 2012 — 6:21pm PDT

    Let me win!

  5. EmilyFriday, October 5th, 2012 — 7:33pm PDT

    Oh gosh, a chance to go to the writers fest for FREE? Count me in.

  6. MargaretFriday, October 5th, 2012 — 10:16pm PDT

    Have enjoyed Spoken Word, Literary Cabaret, Sunday Brunch and other VIWF events — would love to attend this year!

  7. GinnyFriday, October 5th, 2012 — 11:21pm PDT

    I hope I win; it sounds great!

  8. TeresaSaturday, October 6th, 2012 — 3:13pm PDT

    Yes please!

  9. LouisaSaturday, October 6th, 2012 — 3:25pm PDT

    Have attended the VIWF for years – this is a great venue, awesome line up of writers/artists. Thanks for the contest!

  10. JoleneSunday, October 7th, 2012 — 2:33am PDT

    🙂

  11. TomSunday, October 7th, 2012 — 11:56am PDT

    It should be a fascinating event.

  12. samaahMonday, October 8th, 2012 — 2:07pm PDT

    This is going to be amazing 🙂

  13. ChipMonday, October 8th, 2012 — 2:13pm PDT

    Sounds like this would be a fantastic event!

  14. HeatherMonday, October 8th, 2012 — 2:17pm PDT

    I’ve lived here 3 years and keep missing this event. I hope to make it this year!

  15. DebbieTuesday, October 9th, 2012 — 9:09am PDT

    I’m really excited for this show! If anyone hasn’t been to Cafe deux Soleils on Commercial Drive for the Poetry Slam nights on Mondays…you must go and check it out. Lots of great local talent and visiting guests!

  16. leahTuesday, October 9th, 2012 — 3:47pm PDT

    I’d love to go 🙂

  17. NikkiTuesday, October 9th, 2012 — 4:35pm PDT

    Looks like a fun event!

  18. MaiaTuesday, October 9th, 2012 — 5:18pm PDT

    I always get inspired after this event. I’ll be there for sure!

  19. KendallTuesday, October 9th, 2012 — 9:02pm PDT

    What a great event! I would love to attend.

  20. Lois PattersonWednesday, October 10th, 2012 — 4:51pm PDT

    No one should miss Ivan E. Coyote.

  21. cindyWednesday, October 10th, 2012 — 7:55pm PDT

    i love that ivan coyote

  22. LYNThursday, October 11th, 2012 — 8:26am PDT

    I’d love to attend this event.

  23. MikeThursday, October 11th, 2012 — 8:28am PDT

    These authors andtheir writings interest me;
    I hope to win the tickets. Thanks.

  24. IsabelThursday, October 11th, 2012 — 2:56pm PDT

    Gotta love Ivan and C.R.! Always a treat… I hope to win this!

  25. GillianThursday, October 11th, 2012 — 3:45pm PDT

    I would love to go!

  26. ChrisThursday, October 11th, 2012 — 5:26pm PDT

    I speak the word

  27. AmyThursday, October 11th, 2012 — 6:36pm PDT

    I love this festival!

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