Mark your calendars!
With the 2025 Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival just a few months away, we are ready to unveil the exciting details of this year's event. After nearly a year of dedicated planning, the Festival Committee is proud to present a lineup that promises to captivate, inspire, and engage our community of literature enthusiasts.
Mark Your Calendars: Join us from July 18th to 20th, 2025, as Denman Island warmly welcomes an exceptional group of authors from across the country. Tickets will be available for purchase starting May 15on our website.
Introducing Our Esteemed Authors:
- Caroline Adderson: An acclaimed author of five novels and three short story collections, Caroline's work has garnered nominations for the Giller Prize, the Governor General’s Literary Award, and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize.
- Fiona Tinwei Lam: Former Vancouver poet laureate (2022-24), Fiona has authored three poetry collections and a children's book. Her work has been shortlisted for the City of Vancouver Book Prize and featured in over 45 anthologies.
- Sarah Leavitt: Author of the graphic memoir Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother, and Me, Sarah's work is currently being adapted into a feature-length animation. She also teaches in the School of Creative Writing at UBC. Sarah will be presenting her latest book, Something, Not Nothing: A Story of Grief and Love.
- Lenore Newman: Director of the Food and Agriculture Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley, Lenore's expertise in food security is showcased in her award-winning books, including Speaking in Cod Tongues and Lost Feast.
- Janika Oza: Author of A History of Burning, Janika's novel has received multiple accolades, including the 2024 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature and a finalist spot for the 2023 Governor General’s Award for Fiction.
- Drew Hayden Taylor: An award-winning playwright, novelist, filmmaker, and journalist from the Curve Lake First Nation in Ontario, Drew's diverse body of work spans stand-up comedy to serving as Artistic Director of Native Earth Performing Arts.
- Adam Shoalts: An intrepid explorer and bestselling author, Adam’s latest book, Where the Falcon Flies, chronicles his extraordinary 3,400-kilometre solo canoe journey from Lake Erie to the Labrador Sea, tracing ancient bird migration routes and reflecting on the natural world.
- Timothy Taylor: Bestselling author known for novels that delve into contemporary issues, Timothy is also an award-winning journalist with a passion for food, travel, and culture. His latest work, The Rise and Fall of Magic Wolf, continues to showcase his narrative prowess.
- John Vaillant: A Vancouver-based author and freelance writer, John's latest book, Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World, was a 2024 Pulitzer Prize Finalist in General Nonfiction. His work is a powerful indictment of the fossil fuel industry’s threat to human survival on the planet.
In addition to solo readings, these authors will participate in Main Stage events—engaging in conversations about literary topics and sharing insights into their writing journeys.
Workshops and The Writing Week:
We are excited to offer The Writing Week, a five-day intensive program designed for aspiring writers seeking to advance their projects with guidance from Suzette Mayr. Suzette is the winner of the 2022 Giller Prize. Her latest novel, The Sleeping Car Porter, delves into the life of Baxter, a Black man navigating his role as a train porter in 1929 while harbouring dreams of becoming a dentist.
Several shorter workshops, each lasting three hours, will be conducted on the Thursday preceding the official festival kickoff. These sessions provide an excellent opportunity for attendees to hone their craft under the mentorship of our featured authors. Information on Workshop topics and registration can be found here and Writing Week, here.
Stay tuned for more details on when tickets for the Writing Week and Workshops will become available.
Experience the Intimacy of Denman Island's Festival:
Unlike larger literary festivals, Denman Island offers a uniquely intimate setting where attendees can interact closely with authors during lunches, dinners, coffee breaks, and as they explore the village. This close-knit atmosphere has been a hallmark of our festival, fostering meaningful connections between writers and readers.
Whether you're a returning participant or considering your first visit, we invite you to immerse yourself in the vibrant literary community that flourishes on Denman Island each summer. Come for the stories, stay for the connections, and leave inspired.
We look forward to welcoming you this July!
Jane Edwards and Howard Stewart
2025 Festival Committee Co-Chairs
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