All times noted in the schedule are PDT – Pacific Daylight Time, or UTC – 7 (Coordinated Universal Time).
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Ever wondered if your manuscript or book idea has what it takes to make it onto library and bookstore shelves? Curious about the pressures literary agents, editors and publishers face? Wish you could ask a publisher what was the best pitch they ever received? Want to know what the latest trends in Canadian publishing are? Got questions about earning a living as a writer?
This session is an opportunity to chat with, and learn from, a cross-section of publishing decision-makers in Canada’s book world. Moderator Katherine Fawcett will kick off the session with three publishers, Adrienne Kerr (Simon & Schuster), Claire Lin (Douglas & McIntyre) and Julia McDowell (Penguin Random House Canada), and literary agent Gemma Paynter (PS Literary Agency), before dividing the audience into small groups to create intimate chat rooms with the guest speakers. Get ready for lively conversations, juicy details and interesting insights from industry insiders.
Moderator: Katherine Fawcett
Sponsored by: SFU Continuing Studies: The Writer’s Studio
Take your shot at getting your work in front of a Canadian publishing industry professional. This year we welcome decision-makers from a variety of Canadian publishing houses and literary agencies. Lock in 15 minutes of one-on-one time to get advice on publishing, or pitch your manuscript. Come prepared with a five-minute pitch and/or questions for these publishers, editors and agents.
Ticket includes one 15-minute pitch on a first-come, first-choice basis. Choose up to four pitches total. Pro tip: Research these publishers and agents before registering to ensure a good fit for your work. Read their bios and Google the kinds of books they publish.
Generations of families reveal ties that bind, family dynamics that are passed down, and hidden secrets that, over time, have astonishing impacts. Michelle Good is the award-winning and bestselling author of Five Little Indians. Her latest novel, Eliza Sunshine, delivers a powerful family saga following three generations of Cree women and the storytelling tradition that connects them to each other. In Fancy Gap, the powerful, unforgettable debut by Zak Jones, three estranged generations in Appalachia grapple with loss, poverty, and their individual demons, until an explosive climax brings them together in apocalyptic deliverance. Join local writer, editor and actor Brandon Barrett in a conversation about their novels, exploring the crucible of three generations of kin, and how familial foundations shape the generations that follow.
Moderator: Brandon Barrett
Sponsored by: Penguin Random House & Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre
For twenty-five years, The Whistler Writers Fest has nurtured and built an energetic literary community in the Sea to Sky Corridor. Come along and celebrate the deeply personal, courageous and gripping new publications by emerging and legendary local authors, Heather Hendrie (Where the Eff is My Red Tent?: On Periods, PMDD and Hormone Hell), bronwyn preece (hiking beyond: poems from the trail) and Brad Sills (Echoes on the Wind: A Reflection on Fifty Years of Search & Rescue in British Columbia’s Coast Mountains). As part of the 25th Anniversary of the festival, we invite you to get involved in our game of local literary trivia to win delightful door prizes! Everyone is welcome, and celebratory refreshments will be served.
Moderator: Lisa Richardson
Sponsored by: Nesters Market
Congratulations, you’ve finished your manuscript. Now what? How do you find a publisher? Do you need an agent? Should you hire an editor first? Should you consider self-publishing? What is hybrid publishing? What about e-books and audiobooks? How do royalties and advances work? How do you approach bookstores? This session includes checklists, resource guides and practical advice on how to avoid rookie mistakes, regardless of the publishing path you choose.
Presented by: Vivalogue Publishing
Young readers will be delighted by the rich imagery and touching family story of Springtime in Kitkatla, by award-winning author Kim Spencer (Weird Rules to Follow, Here for a Good Time). Illustrated by Karlene Harvey, the picture book follows Wałaas and her dzi’i (grandmother), who travel by fishing boat to their family’s reserve of Kitkatla for spring break. For Wałaas, Kitkatla always feels like home, and she spends her days wandering the shore, enjoying traditional foods like fresh chiton and sea urchin, and listening to the adults speak Sm’algya̱x.
Are you curious about what it’s like to be inside an editor’s mind as they work? Editors Lynn Duncan (Vivalogue Publishing & Tidewater Press) and Brian Kaufman (Anvil Press & subTerrain Magazine) will choose back-cover book descriptions out of a hat to edit in real time, in front of the audience. In this event we reveal the inner workings of how different editors address creative, stylistic and technical craft considerations with the goals of honoring the author’s intention, and elevating the description of their book.
Participants are encouraged to submit a one-paragraph description of their unpublished book to enter into the hat for potential selection. Email writers@whistlerwritersfest.com before Oct. 9.
Storytelling is as ancient as humanity itself. Humans seem driven to tell stories whether it’s through painting on cave walls, dance, song, or the written word. It is a fascinating drive and we will begin our session with a conversation about why we write and what about our writing leaves us feeling we’ve met our goal and what things stand in the way of that.
We will look at what vehicles we use to give life to our imagination on the page in the form of character and plot as well as looking at the relationship between character and plot. We will also spend some time looking at structure what role it takes in creating a powerful foundation for story. We will engage in one or two writing exercises that we will discuss as a group.
Looking for support and a big picture take on your latest creative writing project? We’re thrilled to offer the generous and experienced expertise of two editors and mentors to help you move your writing forward: Katherine Fawcett, award-winning author, editor and creator of the But Kicker writing course; and this year’s Whistler Writer in Residence, author Stella Leventoyannis Harvey, former SFU Writer’s Studio mentor. Sign up for a one-on-one critique session. Submit 3,000-4,000 words of fiction writing in advance, and meet for 20 minutes at the festival to discuss your manuscript and receive suggestions on theme, character development, point of view, voice, pacing, dialogue and more. Writing submissions are due by Oct. 15. Space is limited. This workshop must be purchased separately from the Festival Workshop pass.
In the spirit of reconciliation, we welcome author, moderator and Gitxaała Nation member Kim Spencer (Springtime in Kitkatla, Here for a Good Time) in conversation with Josh Anderson of the Lil’wat Nation, and co-author of Útszan ti Smáwal̓a (Healing the Spirit): An Introduction to Ceremony, Traditional Spirituality and Healing; poet Lasänmą, author of the debut poetry collection Spruce to Cedar; and Squamish Nation cultural storyteller Tsawaysia Spukwus (Dominique Nahanee). Four guest artists share their truths and how healing can happen, through traditional ceremonies, stories, and reconnecting with culture, language and the land.
Come early to get your seat and browse the gift shop for authentic Indigenous art and keepsakes, and visit the Thunderbird Cafe for Indigenous-inspired specials, pastries and Spirit Bear Coffee.
Moderator: Kim Spencer
Sponsored by: Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre
The Whistler Independent Book Awards have grown to be recognized as one of the leading literary prizes in the country, and the only Canadian awards exclusively for self-published authors. We invite you to celebrate the achievement of the 2026 finalists of the Whistler Independent Book Awards (WIBA), nominated in children’s literature, fiction, non-fiction and poetry categories. Come join us as we shine a spotlight on the esteemed finalists, who will read from their works in a cornucopia of thoughtful, heartening and revelatory short readings. Winners in each category will be announced at Reading Event 6: Characters on the Edge, and go on to present their books in reading events throughout the festival.
Moderator: Deborah Wade
Join thriller author and moderator Amber Cowie as she leads a conversation with two brilliant and fascinating writers capable of creating characters with minds as complex as the gripping situations in which they find themselves.
International bestselling author of The Drowning Woman, Robyn Harding’s latest novel is Strangers in the Villa, a psychological thriller about a couple rocked by infidelity who moves to a villa in Spain’s Costa Brava to rebuild their relationship, only to welcome a pair of visitors who have no intention of leaving. A.D. Sui is the Nebula-award winning author of The Dragonfly Gambit, and now, Our Infinite and Inevitable Ends. This sapphic cli-fi thriller is a love letter to hope in the bleakest of times, combining the multiverse-bending drama of This Is How You Lose the Time War with the cat-and-mouse chase of Killing Eve.
Tonight we celebrate the festival’s 25th Silver Anniversary by dressing in outfits that are shiny, sparkly, silver, orange and green! Bring your friends, enjoy a beverage from the cash bar, shout “hi ho silver!” in the photo booth, and win prizes in a thrilling audience-participation word game. During the evening, Deborah Wade will announce the much-anticipated winners of the Whistler Independent Book Awards.
Moderator: Amber Cowie
Sponsored by: Whistler Independent Book Awards
Every story has a rhythm. Every word and sentence is felt in the body.
In this embodied writing workshop, we will explore rhythm as a doorway into story. Through music, movement, and guided writing prompts, participants will discover how the five rhythms, each with its own quality and energy, can support and shape the creative process.
No dance experience is required. This workshop is for writers of all levels and genres who are curious about accessing creativity through the body, music and rhythm. Please bring hardcopy writing tools, ie: paper and pen or pencil to write with. Laptops are not permitted for use in this workshop, with the exception of disability accommodation. Participants should wear comfortable clothes so they can move easily (think yoga, jogging, Pilates).
What happens to us when we hide parts of ourselves to survive? How do we endure through the forces that shape us? Author and moderator Clea Young discusses these questions with three authors of fiction. Tara Gereaux’s extraordinary novel Wild People Quiet asks us what we will do for our community, for our families, for our friends, even at our own expense. It examines the harrowing effects of choosing to live as someone else—and the radiant peace that comes from finally living one’s truth. Brian Kaufman’s short fiction collection Cascadia Subduction Shift pries open the lid on childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood to reveal an ungoverned world of adventure, risk, danger, and violence. The novel ferries us across the fierce and turbulent waters of “coming of age” to a distant and—presumably—calmer shore. This year’s fiction authors will be joined by the 2026 Winner of the Whistler Independent Book Award for fiction.
Moderated by: Clea Young
Sponsored by: Capilano University
Ma is a Japanese concept relating to the space between things. It has been described as “the silence between the notes that make the music.” This workshop will play with the idea of the space between prose and poetry and how poetic thinking can flourish in the gap between the two genres. We will work with exercises in both poetry and prose in order to explore a kind of cross-pollination. There will be writing prompts. The workshop will focus on exploration as opposed to working toward final, polished pieces.
The publishing industry is constantly evolving, as evidenced by the industry-wide response to generative AI’s intrusions into the world of writing. Key players are actively setting strong, human-first precedents across the board. In this presentation, we’ve got the author-focused guide to this ever-shifting landscape.
First, we’ll define the line between AI-assisted tools (which can protect or facilitate human authorship) and generative AI (which can trigger a cascading series of risks). Next, we’ll review the ways your book will be negatively impacted when choosing to use generative AI – from editing and reader reception to the realities of how it affects your book’s production, publication, and ultimate ability to succeed. Whether you plan to self-publish or pitch traditional agents, this session provides a practical overview of what’s at stake.
Sponsored by: FriesenPress
Is it possible for offline work and purpose to survive in an AI world? Can you imagine household appliances with a moral imperative? Author and moderator Alli Vail explores these questions and more with multi-awarding winning authors, Anakana Schofield (The Library of Brothel) and Glenn Dixon (The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances). Riotous, dramatic, passionate and funny, Library of Brothel is a cri de coeur for human connection and the right to meaningful work. In The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances, where even the smallest of appliances are sentient, a young Roomba vacuum sets out to save the humans of her house from a rising technological power in this compelling, original novel. These are bedazzling, absurd and inventive works that help us question what is meaningful and important in this digital age.
Moderated by: Alli Vail
Sponsored by: Preszler Injury Lawyers
Author and moderator Leslie Anthony discusses true stories of the impact of alienation and isolation from family due to distance, and a story of healing and transformation in midlife. Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho (The Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street) shares her intimate geopolitical memoir about a family separated by distance and borders, split between Taiwan and Canada in the wake of shifting global powers. From six-time Olympic medalist, author and humanitarian Clara Hughes, comes Learning to Breathe, a vulnerable, funny, wise and fascinating memoir about one human’s healing journey, the terrors and joys of midlife change, and the potential for new beginnings at any stage. This year’s event will include the 2026 Winner of the Whistler Independent Book Award for non-fiction.
Moderator: Leslie Anthony
Sponsored by: The Grocery Store
Join us for the celebratory launch of Stella Harvey’s gripping dystopian novel, Disruption, set in a fractured landscape scarred by displacement, disease, and fear. Author and moderator Rebecca Wood Barrett leads a conversation on the themes of the price of safety, the power of curiosity, and the courage it takes to challenge a system built on control. In the novel, security comes at the cost of freedom in a nation rebuilt after a civil war. Curious about the world beyond the towering border wall, young Kitianna refuses to accept the limits imposed by constant surveillance and authoritarian rule. As her questions draw the attention of The Authorities, her parents must risk everything to protect her while hiding dangerous secrets of their own.
Moderator: Rebecca Wood Barrett
We are over the moon to welcome 2026 Canada Reads winning author Loghan Paylor in conversation with moderator kate heskett. Evocative, magical and luminously written, The Cure for Drowning is not only a brilliant, boundary-pushing love story but a Canadian historical novel that boldly centres queer and non-binary characters in unprecedented ways. Read the book in advance, and join us for this book club-style event. Each audience table will receive prompts about the novel to discuss. Audience insights and questions are then posed to Loghan and kate in a fulsome dialogue of this profound, historical love story and family saga. Harpist Alison Hunter will set the mood with touching, themed music to welcome guests.
Moderator: kate heskett
Sponsored by: RGF – Integrated Wealth Management
What better way to experience poetry and cultural storytelling than outside in nature? Moderator Tatiana Lee will guide us along the Salish Stroll Forest Walk and Fitzsimmons Creek to pause for readings by debut author Avis Blackbird (Lightning in Our Roots) and the City of Vancouver’s current Poet Laureate, Elee Kraljii Gardiner (sometimes, forest). Cultural talks with the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre’s Cultural Ambassador will take place throughout the event. This year we will be joined by the inaugural 2026 Winner of the Whistler Independent Book Award for Poetry. Dress for the weather, this event takes place rain or shine. Complimentary coffee, tea and light refreshments will fuel the walk.
Moderated by: Tatiana Lee
Children’s and YA authors have the capability to captivate, and cast a critical eye over topics of the day. Moderator and author Sara Leach will chat with four award-winning children’s and YA authors about the timely subject matter of their books, and how these artists weave hard facts and tough themes into stories that entertain. Gregor Craigie’s Sticking to the Facts: 10 Ways to Fight Misinformation gives real examples of fake news, and teaches how to spot it with ten concrete actions, including how to investigate a source, weigh the evidence, ask the experts and look in the mirror to check your own bias. Here for a Good Time, by bestselling author Kim Spencer, is a poignant coming-of-age YA novel, featuring an Indigenous teen girl grappling with the effects of intergenerational trauma while navigating school, family and young love. Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas’s RED: A Haida Manga, is an action-packed and dazzling graphic novel that is also a cautionary tale about the devastating effects of rage and retribution. The event will showcase 2026 Whistler Independent Book Awards winner for children’s fiction.
Moderator: Sara Leach
Moderator Jeanette Bruce engages three award-winning authors in important conversations about dismantling systems, bearing witness, and exploring how a sophisticated Indigenous tradition can function as sequential narrative art. Griffin Poetry prize winner Eve Joseph’s latest book, Dismantling, is occupied with the idea of poetic imagination and how that often elusive thing can transform the mundane into the mysterious. Yasuko Thanh (with author Hassan Kanafani) is the editor and co-author of Pizza Before We Die: An Eyewitness Account in Gaza, a heart-wrenching personal account of the ongoing devastation in Gaza by an ordinary citizen who bears witness to the undoing of his community and homeland. Originator of the Haida manga-verse, Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas is the creator of The Lost Haida Manga: A Compendium, a striking new collection tracing the origins and evolution of Haida Manga—a bold visual genre that blends North Pacific Indigenous iconography and framelines with the dynamic energy of graphic storytelling. The event includes a delicious breakfast, the Whiskey Jack Continental Buffet.
Moderated by: Jeanette Bruce
Join award-winning CBC Radio host, journalist and author Gregor Craigie (Sticking to the Facts: 10 Ways to Fight Misinformation) for an hour-long journalism workshop for middle-grade participants who want to try their hand at reporting. This class will give a brief overview of choosing a topic, researching it, conducting interviews, considering other perspectives, then writing a report. It will be an interactive presentation, asking participants to weigh in regularly over the course of the hour, and will offer practical solutions for participants in how to start reporting as soon as they get home — interviewing a family member, covering a local event, writing a headline on a shared topic, and brainstorming topics.
In-person $304 (save $34)
Treat yourself and gain access to 14 festival reading events. There is a limited quantity of these so get your reading pass today!
If you’re a member, you can save an additional 15%.
In-person $200 (save $22)
Get the most bang for your buck and elevate your writing practice with access to seven festival workshops, all for one price. There is a limited quantity. Note: This pass does not include Workshop 2: Pitch Your Work, or Workshop 6: The Little But Kicker, which must be purchased separately. Workshop 10 is for youth only.
If you’re a member, you can save an additional 15%.
Calling all writers! We’ve created a quiet space for you to reflect on your festival experience, read your new festival book, or take out your notebook and get writing. Pop in and say hi to the hosts, and meet other writers. Morning coffee, tea and treats are on hand to fuel your writing.