Vancouver Writers Fest once again bringing wildly impressive lineup of authors to the city

by Sara Harowitz on August 31st, 2023 at 7:42 AM

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Book people!!!! Need we say more?

The Vancouver Writers Fest continuously brings some of the world’s best contemporary authors to our fair city, and 2023’s edition is no exception.

Running from October 16 to 22, this year’s celebration of books features over 125 authors across more than 85 events throughout the city. Planned by artistic director Leslie Hurtig and guest curator Elamin Abdelmahmoud, there’s such a richness of choice here the only hard part will be narrowing it down.

A few highlights:

On October 17, Indigenous writer Alicia Elliott (A Mind Spread Out on the Ground; And Then She Fell) and young adult author Carrie Mac (Last Winter; Wildfire) will discuss how writing about mental illness can be a form of healing, and how personal excavation also comes at a cost.

On October 18, Ashley Audrain (The Whispers; The Push), Mona Awad (Bunny; Rogue) and Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Mexican Gothic; Silver Nitrate) will come together for an event perfectly dubbed She’s A Scream. They’ll be talking about their shared penchant for writing about the dark and the chilling, whether that be through ghosts or the patriarchy.

On October 19, pop author (she’s been translated into more than 30 languages) Celeste Ng (Little Fires Everywhere; Our Missing Hearts) will be in conversation with Jael Richardson. And on October 20, revered writer (and burgeoning literary titan) Lauren Groff (Matrix; Fates and Furies; The Vaster Wilds) will be in conversation with Alix Ohlin.

There is a heck of a lot more on offer. Word to the wise: get your tickets early.