AfterWords Literary Festival celebrates writers, readers, ideas to Oct. 2

The AfterWords Literary Festival, a celebration of writers, readers and the ideas that bring them together, has an inspired program and list of participating writers for its fourth annual festival, including virtual and in-person events in Halifax, taking place until Sunday, Oct. 2.

The festival offers a mix of readings, conversations and workshops geared to beginners and professional writers alike, and brings together international, Canadian and Nova Scotian writers. 

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We asked AfterWords Literary Festival Co-Director Stephanie Domet a few questions about the festival:

What's new for this year's festival? 

"New this year at AfterWords is programming for young readers and writers, in English and French.

"We're welcoming Lawrence Hill, with his first book for young readers, Beatrice and Croc Harry, along with local favourites Lauren Soloy and Briana Corr Scott.

"Plus, Chad Lucas is leading a workshop for young writers between the ages of 10 and 14, and there's a panel for those who love YA graphic novels, which will be great for readers of all ages from about 12 on up to adult. That's all happening at Halifax Central Library on Saturday, Oct. 1.

"Sunday, Oct. 2, we turn things over to a trio of authors who write in French for young readers — Fabien Melanson, Denis M. Boucher and Nico. Denis will also teach a French-language workshop for young writers on Sunday."

You have a dynamic list of authors in your lineup. Were there any of these names that you just had to have at this year's festival?

"We consider every author a have-to have! But we are particularly keen to hear what the writers in our series Engaging the Climate have to say. We've put together a slate of writers including Catherine Bush, Waubgeshig Rice, Sue Goyette and Madhur Anand, who are all writing about the climate emergency and imagining their way — and our way! — into the near future.

"Our headliner for this program is Kim Stanley Robinson, who wrote The Ministry for the Future, and who is widely acknowledged as the best science fiction writer of our time. Stan considers himself a writer of utopian fiction, rather than dystopian, and we are deeply intrigued by that, and are eager to hear what he has to say about the challenges we will have to face together, and how we can meet them with imagination, empathy and creativity."

Is there one author already creating a buzz before the festival begins?

"I think people are excited — and rightly so — to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Lawrence Hill's The Book of Negroes. Lawrence is coming to town with his debut book for young readers, and he has graciously agreed to serve as a host this year, too, so he'll be interviewing Lisa Moore on Saturday, Oct. 1 at the McInnis Room.

"And then his publisher got in touch to say, 'Hey, there's this significant anniversary happening, is there room to celebrate it at AfterWords?' And we had to say yes!

"So Lawrence Hill will be in conversation with the great Sylvia D. Hamilton to cap off a week of AfterWords, Sunday, Oct. 2 in the evening at the McInnis Room.

"I also want to mention Amanda Parris, who we are so lucky to have with us on Thursday, Sept. 29. She's a playwright and radio host, and a film and TV writer—she is unstoppable, and so talented.

"In our household we just binge-watched her CBC Gem series The Revenge of the Black Best Friend, and now we are counting the days till we get to see her in person, in conversation with local filmmaker Juanita Peters."

Like many festivals that have grown during the pandemic, the hybrid model seems to be here to stay. Does it grow your audience? 

"We're really pleased to be able to continue to offer some virtual programming — it's a way to get a little closer to a truly accessible festival. We have some virtual writing workshops, some of our in-conversation events are virtual — with Nicole Chung and Chelene Knight, and then our Engaging the Climate event with Catherine Bush, Waubgeshig Rice and Kim Stanley Robinson also have a live-stream option in addition to a live, in-person option.

"We hope to expand this access in years to come — whether someone is across the country, or across the street but prefers to access the festival virtually for whatever reason, we want to be where our audience is."

Who is involved from the local literary community?

"We are uncommonly blessed with amazing writers in our local community, and we are so glad to celebrate just a few of them at AfterWords this year, including Alexander MacLeod and Elaine McCluskey, KR Byggdin, Luke Hathaway, Anna Quon, and from outside Halifax but still in Atlantic Canada, David Huebert, and Katherine Alexandra Harvey.

"Plus we have our first-ever Mi'kmaq Storytellers Circle, featuring shalan joudry, Theresa Meuse, and Raymond Sewell. Obviously as the co-executive director, I'm enthusiastic about every single piece of our programming, but I hope audiences will see the incredibly rich and inviting world that writing and stories offer them."