Browsing CategoryLiterary Festivals

Jewish Book Festival in Vancouver

Jewish Book Festival, Vancouver | © Jocelyne Hallé Photography
With my friend, novelist Naz Hozar at the reception
Co-op radio interview selfie

I have done a little bit of touring this fall. In the beginning of the month I participated in The Wild Writers Festival in Waterloo, whereI took part in an amazing panel on diversity with Jael Richardson and Tasneem Jamal. I just loved talking to these two intelligent, talented women. Then, just yesterday, I came back from The Jewish Book Festival in Vancouver. I had a blast. In the photo, I am standing with some of the other festival authors, including famed Israeli novelist Assaf Gavron (far right), whom I enjoyed meeting at the reception. I am still sometimes surprised that I no longer live in…

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The Best Place on Earth is One Year Old!

How could it have been a year already? The Best Place on Earth is one year old today! I remember that this day last year was just as gloomy and miserable as today is. I remember feeling anxious and a little bit crazy and not as joyous as I had wanted to feel (that elated feeling came the following day, at my launch, which was hands down the best party I ever had) I remember that that morning I struggled to zip up my parka, which was starting to feel pretty tight on my hugely pregnant belly. I also remember…

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A Month in Photos (Yes, I’m a Bad Blogger)

Signing books at the Vancouver Writers' Fest bookstore. When I came by on the last day, I discovered the books were sold out!
Granville Island early morning fog.
With the lovely book seller.
Vancouver Writers' Fest participating authors.
At the Vancouver Writers' Fest with Theodora Armstrong
At the Random House party with Nancy Jo Cullen
With Priscila Uppal, and no, we have not planned it.
With my dear Naz Hozar
Naz is kicking Joseph Boyden's Butt
With Anne Fleming
I love booksellers
Before Out of Place, Panel discussion and reading With Xiaolu Guo, Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Rhea Tregebov
D.W. Wilson, who was on my panel in Vancouver, Faces in the Conflict, gave me this great idea: he asked authors who read with him to sign his reading copy. I immediately stole that idea, and now my reading copy is awesome and full of dedications by authors I was lucky enough to share the stage with this fall. I love it!
The view from the Vancouver Fest's book store back door. Isn't it gorgeous?
Elee Kraljii Gardiner hosting Place Identity
With Sheila Giffen from Cwila at Place Identity
The lovely Leesa Dean at the Wild Writers Festival in Waterloo
With Elisabeth de Mariaffi at the Wild Writers Festival in Waterloo
Reading from Tikkun at Out of Place at the Vancouver Writers' Fest
At Out of Place at the Vancouver Writers' Fest, with the brilliant Xiaolu Guo and Silvia Moreno-Garcia

I’ve been waiting for the right time to write in great length about my amazing trip to Vancouver, describe my time at The Vancouver Writers’ Fest, which was as unforgettable and dreamy as I had hoped. I wanted to write about the panels and how well they went, the parties and late nights at the hospitality suite with my new talented friends (Saleema Nawaz, Theodora Armstrong, Angie Abdou, Shaena Lambert) and my dear old friends (Nancy Jo Cullen, Naz Hozar), the inspiring events that made me want to go home and write, write, write, how Thomson Highway renamed my book…

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Cover Girl! (Sort Of)

The Jewish Independent interviewed me for their cover story! Their questions were insightful and interesting and I enjoyed answering them. The online version is posted here. ************ I’m back in Ontario (more about my amazing time in Vancouver soon!) and thrilled to be taking part at the Wild Writers Festival in Waterloo this coming weekend. I’ll be doing two panels on Saturday, November 9. How Geography Defines the Writer, at 11:10 with Tamas Dobozy, Christine Pountney, and Donna Morrissey, and Writers at Risk, at 3:10 with Oakland Ross and Karen Connelly.

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A Weekend in Victoria

At the Regent Hotel
Cafe Mexico
at Love Familiar, with Shaena Lambert, Dede Crane and Matt Rader. And no, I'm not beep-boxing.
With Saleema Nawaz
With Will Johnson
With Angie Abdou and Saleema Nawaz

Ahhhh, Victoria. I adore this city. Probably because it is Sean’s hometown, where he was born and raised, and where his family still lives. And the mild weather and natural beauty sure don’t hurt. After a decade of regular visits, I now have my own history in the city, so when we drive its streets I spot my own landmarks and memories, see old versions of myself everywhere. For example, the first time Sean took me to meet his family for Christmas, he and I had lunch at Café Mexico downtown. I remember I still used a non-digital SLR and…

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My West Coast Mini Book Tour

I’m thrilled to be heading to Vancouver and Victoria for a mini-book tour in a few days. Vancouver is one of my homes (I’ve written about it here). I lived there for eleven years and I still miss it. When I got my book deal I promised my friends in the city that I’d fly there to launch my book after I do my Toronto Launch. But then I ended up having a baby instead. The Best Place on Earth is now six months old, a little old for a launch, but I still wanted to celebrate it with my…

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Reviews, Interviews and Events (and Why I Love Book Bloggers)

Tickets for the Vancouver International Writers Festival have gone on sale today, and apparently some events are already sold out! Here are the links to my two events, Faces in the Conflict, with  Nadeem Aslam, Michael Winter, and D.W. Wilson (buy it here) and Out of Place, with  Xiaolu Guo and Silvia Moreno-Garcia (buy it here). More about how to buy tickets here. And here is a short video about the festival, just because.   ****  The Victoria Writers’ Festival has also started their ticket sale. I’m participating in two events; the first one is Love Familiar, readings and panel discussion with Dede Crane, Matt Rader, and Shaena Lambert.…

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The Best Place on Earth is Going Places: Fall Events

I love summer. It is my favourite season. In my early twenties I chased sunshine and managed to live in perpetual summer for four years. I spent much of that time on beaches, dressed in sarongs and bikini tops, shells braided into my hair, swinging on hammocks and sleeping in huts on the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, the Med. I arrived in Vancouver at the end of this four-year stretch, on the first day of summer of all days. I brought with me a suitcase overflowing with tie-dye tank tops, flimsy halter tops, and summer dresses…

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