The artistic director of the Vancouver Writers Fest Leslie Hurtig talks to Joseph Planta about this year’s edition of the gathering of writers and readers online, what to expect and more.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

One of the great events of the fall in this town is the Vancouver Writers Fest that third week in October on Granville Island and sometimes throughout the city. It’s a great time for writers and readers, and the dozens of volunteers who care about books and ideas to come together and welcome writers near and far. This year the festival is still on, but it’s taking a different form. Much like everything else that we hold dear, this year’s Vancouver Writers Fest will be online. But if you’ve seen the guide around town, there are still over forty events and over seventy writers participating. And the events are carefully programmed and curated with the same eye that festivals past have always boasted. Leslie Hurtig, the artistic director of the festival joins me now to preview the events that begin on Monday, 19 October that run until 25 October 2020. There are also special events that have been happening since September through to the end of the year, featuring conversation with authors. Visit www.writersfest.bc.ca for more information on the various events and the stellar writers that will be appearing. I’ll get Leslie to tell us how it will work this year, and how we can watch the various panels. Some will be previously recorded but some will be live. And the list of authors is always impressive. Ivan Coyote was brought on as a guest curator, and I’ve already talked to Ivan in an interview that can be found elsewhere on this website. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Leslie Hurtig; Ms. Hurtig, good morning.

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