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Art & Books

The best of the fest

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS at Harbourfront Centre venues (see IFOA listings), October 24 to November 3. $18, PEN Canada Benefit $100, Alice Munro Tribute $25. 416-973-4000, ifoa.org.


The Authors Festival remains one of the world’s most prestigious literary events. But when Stephen King headlines, the writer of the TV series The Wire is on the slate and you’ve inaugurated a special program for writers under 40, you’re definitely aiming to shed the 10-day event’s image as a major snob fest. Not to say the icons aren’t here – Margaret Atwood, Wayson Choy and Alistair MacLeod are all on the program. It’s just that the 34th instalment’s range is wider than ever. Let NOW’s guide – with interviews, reviews and more – direct you to the best of the fest.


Andrew Pyper

October 24

The annual PEN benefit in support of writers silenced for their political views presents Stephen King and his son Owen King, interviewed by Canada’s own genre king, Andrew Pyper. 8 pm, Fleck Dance Theatre.


October 25

Non-fiction scribes up for the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize – Thomas King (The Inconvenient Indian), J.B. MacKinnon (The Once And Future World) and Andrew Steinmetz (This Great Escape) – read from their shortlisted works. 8 pm, Studio Theatre.


Sahar Delijani

October 26

Determined not to let the fest be only a celebration of established authors, IFOA has initiated the Brave New Word series focusing on up-and-coming talents. Diversity reigns at a round table with Shani Boianjiu, Sahar Delijani, Anthony Marra and Abdellah Taïa. Noon, Brigantine Room.


October 27

Which has more impact on narrative – form or idea? Nadeem Aslam, Jami Attenberg, Peter Bagge and Sam Lipsyte share their thoughts. The range here is huge – Bagge’s a graphic novelist, and Aslam writes about war-torn Afghanistan – so the discussion has great potential. Noon, Brigantine Room.


October 28

The five finalists for the Governor General’s Award – Joseph Boyden (The Orenda), Eleanor Catton (The Luminaries), Colin McAdam (A Beautiful Truth) Shyam Selvadurai (The Hungry Ghosts) and Kenneth Bonert (The Lion Seeker) – read from their shortlisted works. 8 pm, Fleck Dance Theatre.


Steve Paikin

October 29

It’s role reversal time, when ex-federal Liberal leader Bob Rae asks The Agenda host Steve Paikin about his new book, Paikin And The Premiers, based on conversations aired on TVO. 7 pm, Studio Theatre.


Wayson Choy

October 30

Need a crash course on how to write? Learn from some of the best when Humber School for Writers teachers

Wayson Choy, Hari Kunzru, Francine Prose, Richard Scrimger and Olive Senior talk about the process from start to finish. 9 pm. Studio Theatre.


October 31

The Journey Prize, Canada’s premier short story award, turns 25 this year, and IFOA celebrates by gathering writers who have contributed to the iconic Journey anthologies. Hear Steven Galloway, Elizabeth Hay, Miranda Hill, Alistair McLeod, Pasha Malla, Lisa Moore and Alissa York talk about how short stories kick-started their careers. 8 pm, Fleck Dance Theatre.


November 1

What is it about East Coast writers? Maritimers Chad Pelley, Michael Crummey and Writers’ Trust fiction and Giller finalist Lisa Moore answer that question. 8 pm, Brigantine Room.


November 2

The reality of being queer is changing everything about the family. Alison Wearing, S. Bear Bergman and Susan G. Cole, who also moderates, discuss the ways their unique experiences have transformed their ideas about family. 11 am, Studio Theatre.


November 3

Justin Cartwright, Mary Novik and Elizabeth Ruth, all authors delving into historical issues, talk about the challenges of rewriting and respecting history. 3 pm, Studio Theatre.

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