The artistic director of the Vancouver Writers Fest Leslie Hurtig previews the 31st annual offering that runs 15-21 October 2018, featuring 100-plus authors, how special the festival is to the city and beyond, and her first year as its artistic director, with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

The Vancouver Writers Fest runs 15-21 October 2018 here on Granville Island and at other venues in the city. It’s such a fun time featuring 100-plus authors. We continue the annual tradition of previewing the festival on this program with Leslie Hurtig, who joins me now. She’s had a long association with the festival but this is her first as its artistic director. I’ll get her to let us in on the various events, the great authors that are due to appear including Patrick deWitt, Deborah Levy, Rachel Kushner, Gary Shteyngart, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Kenneth Oppel, and Jodi Picoult, among many, many others. This year, a Guest Curator has programmed four events, the Metis author Cherie Dimaline. Ms. Hurtig succeeds Hal Wake, and is the Writers Fest’s third artistic director, following Hal and its founder Alma Lee. There is also, for the first time this year, Free Saturday, where events on Saturday, 20 October 2018, except the Literary Cabaret, will be free. 75% of tickets that day are available to reserve online, the remaining tickets will be available at the door of the event. Visit www.writersfest.bc.ca for tickets and information. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Leslie Hurtig; Ms. Hurtig, good morning.

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