Welcome publishers and authors! We encourage you to apply to be a part of the reading, seminar, and workshop events at our growing festival.

Who can apply?

We love to hear from publishers and authors, and value your interest in being a part of the festival. Our vision is to engage and celebrate emerging and established authors, side by side, and shine a light on both. Our priority is to feature Canadian literary authors, and storytellers living in the Sea to Sky Corridor.

In addition to reading events, we also have a strong craft component to the festival, which includes seminars and hands-on writing workshops. If you’re interested in sharing your knowledge by hosting a seminar or teaching a workshop, we’d like to hear about your content ideas.

We have two paths to apply to be a part of the festival. Traditionally published authors can submit an application here, or have their publicist connect directly with the artistic director, Rebecca Wood Barrett. If you are a self-published author, the path to appear at the festival is through the Whistler Independent Book Awards competition.

When can I apply?

Applications are now closed. Submissions for the 2025 festival will open March 1 – 31, 2025.

Entry to the Whistler Independent Book Awards is open between March 1 and April 30 every year.

What do I need to send in to apply?

To apply, please upload a short author bio, author photo, a summary of your book, a 500-word excerpt from your book, and any reviews the book has enjoyed. If you’d like to apply to host a seminar or teach a workshop, please include a short synopsis in your package as well.

When will I hear from you?

We will get back to you by the end of June. We know that you need to schedule ahead, and we’ll try to get back to you as soon as we can! When we program our festival, it’s like putting together a puzzle. We place authors and events one at a time. Then we like to carefully consider the mix of how different authors and events will fit together to make up a varied, exciting picture! Please don’t hesitate to contact us though if you want to know where we are in the process or if you just want to touch base. We always enjoy hearing from you.

If I am invited to travel to the festival as a guest author, how are expenses covered?

In most cases the publisher covers the cost of transportation to Vancouver. The Festival handles the ground transportation from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Whistler. We also provide an honorarium for each event you’re involved with at the festival, a per diem, mileage from Vancouver if you’re driving and accommodation as required in our festival hotel, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.

We look forward to receiving your application.