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5 events,
A@S: A Boy is Not a Ghost
A@S: A Boy is Not a Ghost
A Boy is Not a Ghost by Edeet Ravel Middle-Grade Fiction, Ages 9 - 12 A sequel to the award-winning A Boy Is Not a Bird, about a boy exiled to Siberia during World War II. Based on a true story. Ripped from his home, with his father imprisoned in a Siberian gulag, twelve-year-old Natt […]
A@S: Borders
A@S: Borders
Borders by Thomas King, illustrations by Natasha Donovan Middle-Grade Fiction Graphic Novel, Ages 10-14 A stunning graphic-novel adaptation based on one of Thomas King’s most celebrated short stories, presented by Métis artist Natasha Donovan. On a trip to visit his older sister, who has moved away from the family home on the reserve to Salt […]
1. Uncle Tom: Distorted Nostalgia
1. Uncle Tom: Distorted Nostalgia
In Uncle: Race, Nostalgia, and the Politics of Loyalty, Professor and author Cheryl Thompson turns a critical eye to the character of Uncle Tom, tracing the evolution of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s martyr slave from a literary character to racial trope. Through the lens of literature, politics and pop culture, Cheryl examines what has become an […]
WS1. How to Craft a Compelling Story
WS1. How to Craft a Compelling Story
In this hilarious and empowering workshop, Richard Van Camp will share the two most powerful words you have as a writer to help you sculpt and hone your stories. He'll also talk to you about writing from revenge for your characters and for yourself. Writing can be healing, mending and renewing. We are going to […]
2. Love is in the Air: An Unconventional Romance
2. Love is in the Air: An Unconventional Romance
Satellite Love is the beautifully crafted and inventive debut novel by artist and writer Genki Ferguson. Originally imagined as a short film, this tale of loneliness, alienation, love, and impermanence garnered high praise and was snapped up by Penguin Random House while he was still a student at Emily Carr University in the Film + […]
10 events,
WS2. The Voice of the Poem
WS2. The Voice of the Poem
How to Write for Performance As a poet, writer, and dancer, Abena Beloved Green seeks to create, engage, and elevate through words and movement. In this workshop co-presented by Calliope Collective, Abena will draw on her knowledge of multiple artistic disciplines to guide participants through the process of writing a creative piece with an emphasis […]
3. FFT: Before Attica: The Kingston Pen’s Forgotten Riot
3. FFT: Before Attica: The Kingston Pen’s Forgotten Riot
On April 14, 1971, one of the most violent and devastating prison riots in Canadian history erupted behind the walls of Kingston Pen. Yet fifty years later, few know the real story, and few are willing to talk about it. In Murder on the Inside: The True Story of the Deadly Riot at Kingston Penitentiary, […]
4. FFT: Spinning a Good Yarn: A Cross-Canada Road Trip
4. FFT: Spinning a Good Yarn: A Cross-Canada Road Trip
*** POSTPONED TO A LATER DATE *** Anyone who’s ever been gifted a hand-knit item (or gone through the effort of making one) will understand the artistry, time, and care that goes into the craft. In Unravelling Canada: A Knitting Odyssey, author, storyteller, and knitting designer Sylvia Olsen takes us on a cross-country knitting journey that […]
WS3. Beginnings and Endings
WS3. Beginnings and Endings
While every element of crafting a story is important, the beginning and end of a piece are likely the most memorable for a reader. A strong start draws the reader in, while a strong ending leaves them with a sense of satisfaction and a desire to read more. In this masterclass, Mark Anthony Jarman will […]
5. Adventuring Within: Reconnecting with Our Deepest Self
5. Adventuring Within: Reconnecting with Our Deepest Self
In a modern world where connectivity is near constant, the idea of disconnecting can feel nerve-wracking, antisocial, or unproductive. Yet a pause - for a breath, an hour, or more - can help us feel restored, reinvigorated, and reinspired. In this event focussing on her book In Praise of Retreat: Finding Sanctuary in the Modern […]
6. Privilege, Power, and Dead Billionaires
6. Privilege, Power, and Dead Billionaires
Award-winning novelist, short story writer, scriptwriter and photographer Thomas King is back with a stand-alone thriller that takes a sly and satirical look at politics, greed, and privilege. Mixing a smart whodunnit with a darkly humorous commentary on corporate and government corruption and inequality, Sufferance is being praised as one of his finest books to […]
WSS4. How to Read a Poem
WSS4. How to Read a Poem
Many readers are intimidated by the idea of poetry. Whether the hesitancy stems from memories of verses recited in boring monotone in English classes or fear of an indecipherable maze of impenetrable imagery, poetry isn’t always our first choice for recreational reading. In this free and friendly seminar, Kingston’s Poet Laureate Jason Heroux will offer […]
15. Book Lover’s Banquet
15. Book Lover’s Banquet
Lay the table, uncap your pen and get your notepads ready – here’s your backstage pass to the publishing industry! Ben McNally of Toronto’s Ben McNally Books is back to give you another round of insightful book recommendations for discerning readers. This time Danielle joins her father for a lively, face-paced and wide-reaching discussion of […]
00. Gunplay (After the Gun Goes Off)
00. Gunplay (After the Gun Goes Off)
Join the DAN School of Drama and Music at Queen’s University in partnership with Kingston WritersFest for the international debut stage reading of Gunplay (After the Gun Goes Off). When Darryl and his friend Niko get caught using a pellet gun in the alley beside an elementary school, it triggers an active shooter response, hitting […]
7. The Long Term Crisis in LTC
7. The Long Term Crisis in LTC
One of the greatest crises brought to light during the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly been the deplorable conditions that many of Canada’s long-term care residents find themselves living in. In this event, moderated by Ben Charland, Globe and Mail health reporter André Picard (Neglected No More: The Urgent Need to Improve the Lives of Canada's […]
9 events,
WSS5. Doing the Research
WSS5. Doing the Research
The inspiration for writing about historical events can come from anywhere. For Catherine Fogarty, it was a chance encounter with a “This Day in History” column in a national newspaper that led her to write Murder on the Inside: The True Story of the Deadly Riot at Kingston Penitentiary. But a spark alone won’t get […]
8. Herbariums: Meditations on Forgotten Flora
8. Herbariums: Meditations on Forgotten Flora
In Field Study: Meditations on a Year at the Herbarium, award-winning poet and novelist Helen Humphreys continues her series of nature meditations by taking a deep look at the mostly forgotten world of herbariums. With the help of archival photos, illustrations, and her own drawings, Helen reflects on the humble beauty of herbariums from the […]
9. (Ad)Verse: Indigenous-Settler Relations
9. (Ad)Verse: Indigenous-Settler Relations
scoff·law /ˈskôflô/ noun INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN: a person who flouts the law, especially by failing to comply with a law that is difficult to enforce effectively – Oxford English Dictionary. The shady machinations of colonial legal proceedings in Canada are brilliantly captured in this personification of Garry Thomas Morse’s titular character. The sharp, funny, and playful […]
WS6. Building Earths and Bending Genres: World-Building
WS6. Building Earths and Bending Genres: World-Building
Every story that we write has its roots in a world that comes from somewhere—whether it’s the world that we all know, a world that’s completely imagined, or some mixture of the two, the process of world-building is crucial to anchoring your narrative and helping your story to shine. But how exactly does one go […]
10. The Voices of Ghosts
10. The Voices of Ghosts
A long-buried bone found in the forest. A generation of women united by unspoken trauma. Mass graves unearthed. Voices united in protest. A secret that can no longer be hushed, and the slow, quixotic quest to bring those responsible to justice. In this event, authors Kim Echlin (Speak, Silence) and Judith McCormack (The Singing Forest) […]
11. Une Femme Disparaît / The Lady Vanishes
11. Une Femme Disparaît / The Lady Vanishes
Jocelyne Saucier avec Rhonda Mullins La Lecture et La Conversation Événement en français L'auteur francophone primée Jocelyne Saucier revient sur la scène du Kingston WritersFest avec un mystère d'une petite ville décrit comme Away From Her rencontre Strangers on a Train. Avec Rhonda Mullins, traductrice du livre français-anglais, Jocelyne parle de son dernier ouvrage, And […]
WS7. Two Paths to a Draft: Finding your material through form
WS7. Two Paths to a Draft: Finding your material through form
In this interactive online workshop, Susan Olding will analyze sample texts, review differing approaches to beginning a piece of writing, flex our writing muscles with a few prompts, and consider the importance of form and structure across the genres. You’ll go away with resources and suggestions for further reading, writing, and reflection. This workshop should […]
12. The Robertson Davies Lecture
12. The Robertson Davies Lecture
Camilla Gibb’s five internationally acclaimed novels: Mouthing the Words, The Petty Details of So-and-so’s Life, Sweetness in the Belly, The Beauty of Humanity Movement, and most recently, The Relatives, as well as the memoir, This Is Happy have garnered awards including the Trillium Book Award, the City of Toronto Book Award and the CBC Canadian […]
13. Brazen Tongues: Celebrating the Unashamed Self
13. Brazen Tongues: Celebrating the Unashamed Self
Speaking openly about women’s sexual lives and desires, outside of the fantasy or the male gaze, is still viewed as a rare and bold activity. In this event, author and poet Amber Dawn (My Art is Killing Me and Other Poems) and poet Molly Cross-Blanchard (Exhibitionist) address the subject head-on, talking with Aara Macauley about […]
10 events,
WSS8. Building a Productive Writing Group
WSS8. Building a Productive Writing Group
The Villanelles are a super-supportive, tight-knit community of authors who write poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction and children’s literature, and workshop each other’s poetry and prose on a regular basis. They know that insightful, productive writer’s groups don’t happen by accident; they’re built by hard-working writers. In this one-hour panel, the Villanelles share tools and perspectives […]
14. The Lost Boy: Fiction
14. The Lost Boy: Fiction
Omar El Akkad was born in Egypt and grew up in Qatar before moving to Canada with his family. An award-winning journalist and author, he has traveled the world covering many important news stories, including the war in Afghanistan, military trials in Guantanamo Bay, and Egypt’s Arab Spring revolution. In a conversation with interviewer Jamal […]
17. Words as Solace: The Joy of Reading
17. Words as Solace: The Joy of Reading
Written over the course of a decade peppered with grief and loss Big Reader: Essays explores themes of memory, loss, womanhood, disappointment, and joy, all underpinned by an abiding love of books. Author Susan Olding hopes the book leaves reader feeling “grateful for the incredible gift that reading is, especially in times like ours, where […]
WS9. No Poem or Story Begins Until the Word “But” Appears
WS9. No Poem or Story Begins Until the Word “But” Appears
In this workshop, Steven Heighton will lead the group to consider a literary ingredient that’s both vital and invisible: the emotional or dramatic pivot/hinge marked by the word “but” or some equivalent term. This hinge signals the complication, and thus the conflict, at the heart of any story or poem; it’s a switch that ends […]
16. The Long Shadow of War
16. The Long Shadow of War
Award-winning author Guy Vanderhaeghe is back with his first new novel in nearly a decade, and readers will agree it was worth the wait! Along with interviewer Eric Friesen, the author of such titles as A Good Man, The Last Crossing, and The Englishman’s Boy, will discuss his lavish, suspenseful and beautifully written new novel […]
18. Deep Diversity: Enacting Authentic Change
18. Deep Diversity: Enacting Authentic Change
With more than 25 years experience in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion, Shakil Chodhury has developed award-winning training and tools for organizations seeking to improve their diversity outcomes. In this event, the author of Deep Diversity: A Compassionate Approach to Achieving Racial Justice will share his personal and professional story and offer ways […]
WS10. Writing the Quest: Inanna
WS10. Writing the Quest: Inanna
The ancient stories of Inanna from Mesopotamia are the oldest written poetry and song in the world. They tell about Inanna’s journey from a young goddess in a storm to the all-powerful goddess of justice, about her quest for wisdom and love and a new home. This archetypal story resonates with contemporary writers. In Kim […]
19. Fantastic Figures: the Magic in All Bodies
19. Fantastic Figures: the Magic in All Bodies
Mermen, ogres, centaurs, and witches dwell on the pages of Amanda Leduc’s novel The Centaur’s Wife and Therese Estacion’s poetry collection Phantompains. In these two unique and beautifully crafted works, the narrator navigates trauma, grief, pain, and hope through a surreal and fantastical landscape. But these fabled figures also provide a lens into the lives […]
20. The Big Idea: Addressing a Crisis
20. The Big Idea: Addressing a Crisis
Major world events don’t usually happen according to a schedule, but sometimes the consequences of tactical decisions can be seen miles off. When war, politics, and photo ops collide, the collateral damage often falls to those with no choice in the matter. In this unscripted year, we are taking the opportunity to use the Big […]
21. Brave New Words: A Dark Debut/ Un début sombre
21. Brave New Words: A Dark Debut/ Un début sombre
Content warning – this event discusses subject matter that some audience members might find distressing. Discretion is advised. Kevin Lambert is not even 30 years old, and already he is making a big name for himself in Quebec, and building a reputation for his controversial subject matter and powerful, poetic, inventive prose. Here with the […]
7 events,
22. The Ache of Memory: Fathers, Sons, and Loss
22. The Ache of Memory: Fathers, Sons, and Loss
“Paintings are rarely sequential by nature,” says author David Macfarlane. “Paintings show you everything about themselves at the same time. This doesn’t mean you see everything at the same time in a painting. Seeing a painting is another matter.” Like stepping back from the details of a painting to take in its whole, Likeness: Fathers, […]
WS11. The Art of Translation
WS11. The Art of Translation
“Writers make national literature, while translators make universal literature.” – José Saramago In this workshop, Governor General’s Literary Award-winning translator Rhonda Mullins will give you an inside look into the world of translating in Canada. From getting started as a translator to developing a style and voice that faithfully brings the spirit of the original […]
23. Selected Poems: A Mid-Career Retrospective
23. Selected Poems: A Mid-Career Retrospective
Steven Heighton is no stranger to the Kingston WritersFest stage. As a bestselling novelist, essayist, memoir writer and now musician, his passion for writing and the creative life is writ large. This Fall, Steven is back with Selected Poems 1983–2020 - his seventh volume of poetry, which features curated pieces from his past six collections, […]
24. A Brief Interlude: Stories of Music
24. A Brief Interlude: Stories of Music
“He writes with immediacy and verve, cutting out the unnecessary to leave only the most vivid.” — Literary Review of Canada Short stories tend to get short shrift in the world of readers. But there is much to be said for less is more. In this event, Mark Anthony Jarman joins Adrian Michael Kelly to […]
WS12. Taking Care: How to Balance Art with Self-Compassion
WS12. Taking Care: How to Balance Art with Self-Compassion
Art can be a transformative and healing practice, but it can also take its toll. From self-doubt, burnout, creative block to public scrutiny, there are many potential pitfalls to navigate for both budding and established artists. In this workshop, Kirsteen Macleod talks about the toll that the quest for honesty, vulnerability and truth can take […]
25. Making Mischief: The Trickster Trilogy
25. Making Mischief: The Trickster Trilogy
Fans of magical realism, compelling family dramas, supernatural battles, and dark, humorous coming-of-age stories are in for a treat with this refreshingly unique trilogy about an Indigenous teen who discovers he may be the son of the magical Trickster. The first book in Eden Robison’s trilogy, Son of a Trickster landed her a Giller Prize […]
26. On Property
26. On Property
In On Property: Policing, Prisons, and the Call for Abolition, his 96 page pamphlet for Biblioasis’ Field Notes series, academic and writer Rinaldo Walcott offers an urgent, persuasive, and far-reaching call for a new ethics of care. In this event, Rinaldo will discuss the links between property, policing, and the ways in which the racism […]
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