The 21st Annual Festival Concludes

Word Vancouver has wrapped up for another year. Thank you to everyone that participated and attended! We had a great time, and we hope you did too.

We enjoyed events from September 23 to 26 at venues including SFU Harbour Centre, The Cottage Bistro, Banyen Books & Sound, Christianne’s Lyceum, Historic Joy Kogawa House, CBC Studio 700, and the VPL Central Branch. The festival culminated with the main day on Sunday, September 27 in and around Library Square, where attendees delighted in author readings, writing workshops, panel discussions, entertainment, public typing stations, and more!

The 2015 festival saw the debut of our Family Stage, which featured family-friendly entertainment and activities all day long on our main festival day. Surrounding the Family Stage were plenty more kids and family activities, found under the Kids’ Lit and Kids’ Words tents. Thank you to those who donated to our Chimp campaign to help fund this new family programming!

Also new to the festival was our Underground Words + Art venue. This venue was devoted to everything comics and chapbooks and featured panels, workshops, readings, and exhibitors.

This year’s festival may have come to an end, but we’re already excited about next year’s! Look for details in the new year about the 2016 festival.

Workshops at Word

Looking to learn from the experts? Be sure to attend one of the many fantastic workshops at this year’s Word Vancouver! As with all Word Vancouver events and presentations, they are all FREE!

Alessandra Naccarato

As in the past, a full day of workshop programming will take place at the Vancouver Public Library Central Branch on Saturday, September 26, in both the Alma VanDusen and Peter Kaye Rooms. These workshops will include “Writing the Unexpected” with Alessandra Naccarato, “What Are the Outside Influences on Your Characters?” with Bennett R. Coles, “Wading into the Swamp: Getting Messy with Writing” with Daniela Elza, “Children’s Publishing Workshop” with Robin Mitchell Cranfield, “Non-Fiction Editing Workshop” with Scott Steedman, and “Crossing Boundaries: Writing in Different Genres” with Ian Weir. (Please note that reserving your 10-minute session for both the “Children’s Publishing Workshop” and “Non-Fiction Editing Workshop” is recommended. You can do so by emailing us.)

David Lasky

In addition to those on Saturday, you will also find plenty more workshops at Library Square on Sunday, September 27, the main festival day. Writing Talks workshops will include “Digital Publishing Strategies” with John Maxwell, “What Are Your Publishing Options?” with Julie Salisbury, and “How to Captivate Readers through the Senses” with Helen Polychronakos. In Word Talks you’ll find “Establishing and Growing Your Digital Footprint” with Trevor Battye and Suzanne Norman; and in Magazine Words, “Pitch Perfect” with Dan Post and AnnMarie MacKinnon. You can also join comics artists and chapbook makers in Underground Words + Art for “Comics Workshop for Beginners” with David Lasky, “Visual Storytelling” with Ken and Joan Steacy, and “Poems Fit to Print and Fold: A Chapbook Workshop” with Kevin Spenst. (Please note that the participant limit for the Underground workshops is 12, so pre-registering is recommended. You can do so by emailing us.)

Be sure to check out our program guide for full details about these workshops and all the programming at this year’s festival.

Comics and Chapbooks at Word

Word Vancouver is very pleased to host lots of great comics and chapbooks programming at this year’s festival! With a whole venue devoted to comics and chapbooks this year, you’ll find programming all day long on Sunday, September 27.

Underground Words + Art will be located in the Alice MacKay Room, which is inside the library and downstairs. Here you will find 20+ comics and chapbooks exhibitors, including Vancouver Comic Con, Jonathon Dalton, Colin Upton Comics, Gustafson Chapbooks Series, and Phantacea Publications. A full list of Underground exhibitors can be found on the site map page of our program guide on page 35.

In addition to visiting the exhibitors in Underground Words + Art, you can also take part in hands-on workshops, such as “Comics Workshop for Beginners” with David Lasky, “Visual Storytelling” with Ken and Joan Steacy, and “Poems Fit to Print and Fold: A Chapbook Workshop” with Kevin Spenst; join a panel of experts for “The Chapbook: For Love or Money” and “Comics: DIY and Self-Publishing”; and enjoy chapbook readings from The City Series: Number One–Vancouver and Cascadia.

Additional comics programming will be in Writing Talks, also located downstairs in the library in the Peter Kaye Room. Here you will find I Thought I Told You to Shut Up, a documentary screening with David E. Boswell, as well as readings from Julian Lawrence (The Adventures of Drippy the Newsboy Vol 1: Drippy’s Mama) and Michael Kluckner (Toshiko).

For more details about all things comics and chapbooks at this year’s festival, be sure to check out our program guide and website.

Tons of Family Activities

This year Word Vancouver will have even more fun and activities for kids and families! 2015 marks the launch of our Family Stage, which will feature family-friendly fun and entertainment all day long on Sunday, September 27. Here you’ll find performances by Dixie Star Storytelling, Sharon Shorty (the current VPL Storyteller in Residence), Vancouver Youth Theatre, and Fiddlin’ Frenzy. You will also enjoy readings from award-winning Australian author Aleesah Darlison as well as Grant Lawrence, Mike McCardell, Nan Gregory, and Kathryn Shoemaker, who will share their favourite children’s books. In addition, there will be interactive sessions with Maura Camino, including Spanish Storytime and Spanish Music Time. Visit our website for a full listing of Family Stage entertainment.

Returning for this year’s festival is Kids’ Words, which will feature author and illustrator readings from Deborah Hodge (West Coast Wild: A Nature Alphabet), Julie Flett (Dragonfly Kites), Robin Stevenson (The Summer We Saved the Bees), Brandee Bublé (Jayde the Jaybird), Robert Heidbreder (Song for a Summer Night), and more! If you’re looking for YA programming for your teens and tweens, you’ll find them in Authors’ Words, with readings from Darren Groth (Are You Seeing Me?) and Rachel Hartman (Shadow Scale). Kids’ Lit will also return with fun, interactive family activities provided all day long by FortisBC, Maura Camino, Christianne’s Lyceum, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, Decoda Literacy Solutions, Frontier College, and WestCoast Families.

In addition to Sunday’s programming, be sure to join us at Christianne’s Lyceum on Friday, September 25, for “Adventure Awaits!” Following readings from Tiffany Stone, Elisa Gutiérrez, Kathy Beliveau, and Lee Edward Födi, children will be invited out to the Lyceum’s garden for a magical glow-in-the-dark treasure hunt!

Check out our website and official program guide for a full listing of festival events and activities.

Interested in supporting our children’s and family programming? Help us help kids fall in love with books and reading by donating to our Chimp campaign!

Word Vancouver is Back in 3 Weeks!

In just three weeks, Word Vancouver will return for its 21st annual festival! The main festival day will take place at Library Square on Sunday, September 27, with satellite events taking place at locations throughout the city from Wednesday, September 23 to Saturday, September 26. And as always, everything is FREE!

Our main festival day you know and love will feature an exhibitor marketplace, author readings, workshops, panel discussions, entertainment, and more. Author readings will include Arthur Black (Paint the Town Black), Stan Persky (Post-Communist Stories), Emily Urquhart (Beyond the Pale), and George Bowering (Ten Women) in Canada Writes; Rachel Hartman (Shadow Scale), Owen Laukkanen (The Stolen Ones), and Ashley Little (VPL Writer in Residence) in Authors’ Words; Julie Flett (Dragonfly Kites), Robin Stevenson (The Summer We Saved the Bees), and Troy Wilson (The Duck Says) in Kids’ Words; and Sandy Shreve (Waiting for the Albatross), Daphne Marlatt (Liquidities), Chelene Knight (Braided Skin), and John Pass (Forecast) in Poetry On The Bus.

At the same time these author readings are taking place, you will also find workshops and panels such as “How to Captivate Readers through the Senses with Helen Polychronakos” and “Getting Started and Staying Motivated as a Published Children’s Book Author” in Writing Talks and Word Talks; and Magazine Words will once again feature presentations, readings, and panels from local literary magazines such as Room Magazine and Ricepaper Magazine.

New for this year’s festival are Underground Words + Art, featuring comic and chapbook exhibitors and programming, and the Family Stage, featuring family friendly activities and entertainment. Programming in Underground Words + Art will include a “Comics Workshop for Beginners with David Lasky,” readings from the chapbook Cascadia, and the panel “Comics: DIY and Self-Publishing.” Family Stage programming will include Dixie Star Storytelling, Vancouver Youth Theatre, and Fiddlin’ Frenzy.

In addition to the main festival day programming, you are invited to join us on Wednesday, September 23 at SFU Harbour Centre for the Launch Party for The Revolving City: 51 Poems and the Stories Behind Them; Thursday, September 24 at The Cottage Bistro for Pandora’s Collective Twisted Poets Literary Salon; Friday, September 25 at Christianne’s Lyceum for “Adventure Awaits,” Banyen Books & Sound for a presentation and book signing with Kemila Zsange, Historic Joy Kogawa House for “Adventures in Song and Story with Grant Lawrence,” and CBC Studio 700 for the Pandora’s Collective Literary Awards Gala; and Saturday, September 26 at the VPL Central Branch for a full day of professional development sessions on a variety of topics.

For a full list of programming, take a look at our official program guide, or visit the Schedule page on our website for the most up-to-date information.

Word Vancouver Returns in 3 Months!

Summer is in the air, and that means Word Vancouver is just around the bend! From September 23-27, you can enjoy everything from author readings and live entertainment to workshops and panels. And it’s all FREE! We are still firming up this year’s programming, but a lot of exciting events have already been confirmed.

John Vaillant

As always, our main festival day (Sunday, September 27) will feature many author readings from fiction and non-fiction writers, children’s authors, and poets. This year’s author appearances will include John Vaillant (The Jaguar’s Children), Alix Hawley (All True Not a Lie In It), Michael Christie (If I Fall, If I Die), Charles Demers (The Horrors: An A to Z of Funny Thoughts on Awful Things), and Aislinn Hunter (The World Before Us).

Children’s and YA readings will be back outside on Library Square and will include Susin Nielsen (We Are All Made of Molecules), Australian author Aleesah Darlison (Spider Iggy), and the illustrator of Dennis Lee’s latest children’s collection Jeremy Tankard (Melvis and Elvis). There will also be a family entertainment stage and activities.

Poets such as Dina Del Bucchia and Daniel Zomparelli (Rom Com), Kevin Spenst (Jabbering with Bing Bong), and Amber Dawn (Where the words end and my body begins) will once again enthrall audiences on the ever popular Poetry Bus.

In addition to all the author readings and entertainment on Library Square, you will find panels and workshops inside the library, a few of which will feature comics and chapbooks! Comics workshops will be facilitated by David Lasky and Ken Steacy, and a chapbook workshop by Kevin Spenst.

As in the past, there will be plenty of other events taking place throughout the city during the four days leading up to Sunday’s main event. We are once again partnering with Pandora’s Collective for their Twisted Poets Literary Salon as well as their Pandora’s Collective Literary Awards Gala. Other events from Wednesday, September 23 to Saturday, September 26 are expected to take place at Banyen Books & Sounds, The Paper Hound, Historic Joy Kogawa House, and the VPL Central Branch. Stay tuned for more details!

Plans for the 2015 Festival Have Begun!

This year marks our 21st annual festival! Word Vancouver will return during the last week of September with events taking place throughout the city from Wednesday, September 23 to Sunday, September 27. Our main festival day, Sunday the 27th, will once again take place at Library Square in beautiful downtown Vancouver. There you will find author readings, panel discussions, workshops, a bustling exhibitor marketplace, and more!

Are you interested in exhibiting at this year’s festival? It’s a great way to connect with other book and magazine lovers! All the details, including the registration form, can be found in the Exhibitor Registration Package, now available on our website. If you register by February 15, you’ll receive our early bird rate!

Other ways to get involved with Word Vancouver include volunteering, advertising in our official program guide, and suggesting festival programming to organizers. There are also some great ways to help show your support for Word Vancouver! You can become a member of the Vancouver Book & Magazine Fair Society, adopt an author reading at the festival, make a donation to the festival, or even become a sponsor.

The festival may be eight months away, but the plans are now underway. We look forward to seeing you all in September!