From October 14-18, Victoria Festival of Authors (VFA) is celebrating its 11th year with over 50 luminary guests including American Book Award Winner and Booker Prize shortlisted author Ruth Ozeky (All Over Creation, A Tale for the Time Being), Amazon First Novel Winner Anakana Schofield (Malarky), BC Book Prize winner Jess Housty (Crushed Wild Mind), influential conservationist Suzanne Simard, and a wide range of talented and award-winning Canadian and local authors including Briony Penn, Robin Stevenson and Michael Nicholl Yahgulaanas.
Faced with people worried that a festival focused on books would be a stuffy or high-brow event, Festival Producer Laura Trunkey exclaims that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Theatre-based events are more like live podcasts than readings. All panel participants give short readings from their work, but the primary focus is on ideas. We group books together with similar themes, in some cases selecting work from varied genres. Thoughtful and engaging moderators are chosen to lead panelists in discussions that are captivating and, at times, revelatory.”
Other events leave the stage and transition to the forest. “Trail-based walks are readings, however there is space between them for audience members to have intimate conversations, either amongst themselves or with the featured readers.”
What’s more, this year VFA is hosting Kids Fest on October 17, a free event featuring 11 local authors. There will be snacks, crafts, facepainting and readings (with puppets!) by Elder Sky Bellefleur. “Kids Fest is about participation. Instead of reading, authors will guide children through activities related to their work.”
This year the festival is hosting an event with Nahlah Ayed and Massey Lecturer Leilani Farha.
They’re bringing award-winning illustrator Jackie Morris (The Lost Words, The Book of Birds)
from the UK for an event with Salt Spring Island naturalist and illustrator Don Gunn at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. “ Since 2016, our festival has grown and evolved, and it continues to inspire and connect Victoria residents with some of the best authors and poets in Canada and beyond,” Laura Trunkey says. “If you haven’t yet attended, give us a try. We’re certain you’ll be back!”
