Tonight’s PEN Canada Benefit marks the start of the 32nd annual International Festival of Authors at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. Renowned designer and innovator Bruce Mau will be interviewed by the CBC’s Mary Hynes, and images of his work will be featured, as well.
Tickets are $50 ($20 for students) and all proceeds go to PEN Canada, an organization committed to defending the freedom of expression of writers, in Canada and internationally, who have been forced into silence for writing the truth as they see it.
I’ll be among the PEN Canada volunteers there, so drop by and say hello if you come out to join us. If you can’t make it to the benefit, you still have lots of chances to check out the festival as there are more than 50 readings and events between now and the end of October!
You can download a PDF schedule of all the readings and events here. This year’s lineup is as strong as ever, featuring a pantheon of excellent writers. You’re sure to find some of your favourites in the list of participants below.
Authors Participating in the 32nd IFOA:
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Elizabeth Abbott Siri Agrell Shelley Ambrose Bert Archer Edem Awumey Ken Babstock Anita Rau Badami Garvia Bailey Brent Bambury Russell Banks Linwood Barclay Gary Barwin Kate Beaton Steven W. Beattie Gal Beckerman Peter Behrens David Bezmozgis Alan Bissett Clark Blaise Paulette Bourgeois Joseph Boyden Kyle Buckley Stevie Cameron Kate Cassaday James Chatto Michael Christie Brenda Clark Stephen Clarke Claro Daniel Clowes Lynn Coady Susan G. Cole Irwin Cotler Douglas Coupland Julia Creet Richard Crouse Rana Dasgupta Lauren B. Davis Lewis DeSoto Suzanne Desrochers Patrick deWitt Claudia Dey Joe Dunthorne Esi Edugyan Yvvette Edwards Marina Endicott Anne Enright Nuruddin Farah Will Ferguson |
Peter Filkins Jim Fleck Charles Foran Brian Francis Niels Frank Christopher Frey Zsuzsi Gartner Larry Gaudet Gary Geddes Jian Ghomeshi Amitav Ghosh Douglas Gibson Rachel Giese David Gilmour Brooke Gladstone Rodge Glass Dr. Brian Goldman Francisco Goldman Michal Govrin Shilpi Somaya Gowda Wayne Grady James Grainger Linda Grant Roger Greenwald Conor Grennan Danielle Groen Lev Grossman David A. Groulx Richard Gwyn Jennifer Haigh Chad Harbach Peter Harris Johan Harstad Elizabeth Hay Dermot Healy Jesse Hirsh David Homel Polly Horvath C.C. Humphreys Helen Humphreys Glen Huser Nancy Huston Mary Hynes Kirstin Innes Frances Itani Mary Ito Heather Jessup Wayne Johnston Stephen Kelman |
Vish Khanna Lauren Kirshner Joshua Knelman Dany Laferrière Lazer Lederhendler Prue Leith Martin Levin Michael Lista Lesley Livingston Nicole Lundrigan Stuart MacBride John Macfarlane Margaret MacMillan Rabindranath Maharaj Lee Maracle Sandra Martin Patricia Marx Bruce Mau Ben McNally Tessa McWatt Mark Medley Janine Messadié Bruce Meyer Denise Mina Erin Morgenstern Kim Moritsugu Nick Mount Bharati Mukherjee Riel Nason Peter Nesselroth Carol Off Michael Ondaatje Katrina Onstad Seamus O’Regan Helen Oyeyemi Louise Patten Tom Perrotta Alison Pick Ruth Roach Pierson Thomas Pletzinger Andrew Pyper Sina Queyras Ian Rankin Kathy Reichs Gayla Reid David Adams Richards Josh Ritter Peter Robinson Damian Rogers |
Shelagh Rogers Emma Ruby-Sachs Justin Rutledge Dr. Michael Schneider John Burnham Schwartz Olive Senior Seth Clay Shirky Gary Shteyngart Rachel Simon Johanna Skibsrud Lori Starr Zoë Strachan Meaghan Strimas Susan Swan H. Masud Taj Mariko Tamaki Drew Hayden Taylor Timothy Taylor John Terpstra Souvankham Thammavongsa Madeleine Thien Paula Todd Miriam Toews Becky Toyne Simon Toyne Sylvia Tyson Jane Urquhart Guy Vanderhaeghe Marieke van der Pol Vikki VanSickle Dan Vyleta Eleanor Wachtel Zachariah Wells Andrew Westoll Colson Whitehead Harry Whitehead Nathan Whitlock Zoe Whittall D.W. Wilson Sarah Winman Meg Wolitzer Daniel Woodrell Stuart Woods Kyle Carsten Wyatt Nora Young Alexi Zentner |