Hello, Vancouver

It seems every scribbler since Sophocles is descending on Vancouver today. We at the Bibliomanse are, well, we're still at the Bibliomanse, which is still in Emeryville, which is still very far from Vancouver ... but! We're pleased to say that Clark Blaise will be carrying the torch for Team Biblioasis at this year's 2011 Games. We're also excited to note that Anakana Schofield, who is publishing her first novel Malarky with us in spring of 2012, will participate in a panel discussion on Sunday. Take a look at the events below, and if you need a break from stalking Kate Beaton (which, um, is what I would be doing), then drop in and say hi.--TKM.

42 LAND OF PLENTY

Peter Behrens Quebec / United States

Clark Blaise Canada / United States

Ling Zhang Ontario

Host: John Burns
Friday, October 21, 2011 - 10:00am - 11:30am
Studio 1398
$17 / $8.50 for student groups (Buy Tickets Online)

Canada is populated largely by immigrants, all with stories that carry shadows of what they’ve left behind, and how they’ve been welcomed to their new land. In his new novel, Peter Behrens transports the O’Briens introduced in his award-winning first novel from Ireland to Canada. Clark Blaise’s collection of short fiction tackles the struggle between tradition and modernity faced by Indian immigrants to America. And Ling Zhang, whose last novel became the highest-grossing film in Chinese history, gives voice to Chinese immigrants to Canada’s West Coast in her multi-generational saga. Join three compelling storytellers whose fiction embraces the possibility of success in a new land, where roots are shallow and cultural identity and personal identity are often at odds.

54 CLARK BLAISE AND RUDY WIEBE IN CONVERSATION

Clark Blaise Canada / United States

Rudy Wiebe Alberta

Saturday, October 22, 2011 - 10:30am
Studio 1398
$17 (Buy Tickets Online)

When a writer releases a volume called Collected Stories, 1955–2010, you know that this is a writer with “legs,” who has certainly stood the test of time. When an author who has published 20 books of fiction and non-fiction releases his first collection of short stories in nearly 20 years (The Meagre Tarmac), you also know that you’re looking at great talent.Rudy Wiebe and Clark Blaise, now both in their 70s, sit down together this morning to talk about their lives as writers, the craft of the short story, the “Canadian experience” and anything else that leaps into their fertile, inquisitive and sharp minds.

68 VANCOUVER 125 LEGACY BOOKS

Sunday, October 23, 2011 - 4:00pm
Waterfront Theatre
$17 (Buy Tickets Online)

Vancouver’s 125th Birthday Party continues and this time we are celebrating our city’s literature and the republication of 10 lost Vancouver literary gems, ranging from the classic oral history of Daphne Marlatt and Carole Itter's Opening Doors to Vancouver's most notorious unsolved murder mystery in Edward Starkins' Who Killed Janet Smith? Come armed with your “Best of VanLit” lists as host Michael Turner talks with Vancouver literary devotees Anakana Scofield, Stephen Osbourne, Dan Francis and Jean Barman about what makes our city’s literature great and what titles you must have on your shelf.

A reception at The Dockside Lounge at the Granville Island Hotel to follow.