Literature

Victoria Festival of Authors handout photo

Calling all book lovers

Victoria Festival of Authors returns with a stellar lineup

  • Sep 26, 2022

 

Cedar Bowers author handout photo

Cedar Bowers on long list for Scotiabank Giller Prize

Nominated for first novel Astra

  • Oct 6, 2021

 

Writers gather June 30 at the 5th Street Bar and Grill in Victoria to launch Shifting Landscapes: Wandering Words, Vol. II. (Photo by Laura Foubister)

Greater Victoria writers come together while working apart

15 local authors launch Shifting Landscapes: Wandering Words, Vol. II

 

VIU’s ‘Portal’ magazine is turning 30 years old. (Image courtesy Chantelle Calitz)

Vancouver Island University’s literary magazine ‘Portal’ celebrates 30 years

Virtual launch featuring contributor readings took place April 30

VIU’s ‘Portal’ magazine is turning 30 years old. (Image courtesy Chantelle Calitz)
Nanaimo Harbourfront Library librarian April Ripley led the effort to create a Vancouver Island poetry booklet in recognition of National Poetry Month. (Josef Jacobson/The News Bulletin)

Nanaimo Harbourfront Library publishes booklet for National Poetry Month

Collection features winners of ‘Poem in your Pocket’ contest

Nanaimo Harbourfront Library librarian April Ripley led the effort to create a Vancouver Island poetry booklet in recognition of National Poetry Month. (Josef Jacobson/The News Bulletin)
Gabriola Island poet Naomi Beth Wakan’s latest book is ‘Wind on the Heath.’ (Photo courtesy Elias Wakan)

Former Nanaimo poet laureate revisits past poems in latest collection

Gabriola Island’s Naomi Beth Wakan presents career-spanning ‘Wind on the Heath’

Gabriola Island poet Naomi Beth Wakan’s latest book is ‘Wind on the Heath.’ (Photo courtesy Elias Wakan)
WILDLIFE TREE: Tofino Poet Laureate Christine Lowther stands next to a giant cedar tree on District Lot 114, the site of Tofino’s controversial affordable housing project. The tree was pinned with an official Ministry of Forests yellow wildlife tree sign to educate fallers that the tree needs to be left standing for food, shelter and nesting. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Tofino author Christine Lowther calling for poetry about trees

“I’m thrilled to be of service to trees through poetry.”

WILDLIFE TREE: Tofino Poet Laureate Christine Lowther stands next to a giant cedar tree on District Lot 114, the site of Tofino’s controversial affordable housing project. The tree was pinned with an official Ministry of Forests yellow wildlife tree sign to educate fallers that the tree needs to be left standing for food, shelter and nesting. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Juno-winning Toronto dub poet Lillian Allen is VIU’s Gustafson Distinguished Poet for 2021. (Photo courtesy Karen Lee)

Juno-winning dub poet is VIU’s Gustafson Distinguished Poet this year

Lillian Allen will present online lecture, reading and Q-and-A

Juno-winning Toronto dub poet Lillian Allen is VIU’s Gustafson Distinguished Poet for 2021. (Photo courtesy Karen Lee)
Creativity Commons manger Jonathon Bigelow is printing copies of ‘Alone but Not Alone: Poetry in Isolation’ using the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library’s Espresso Book Machine. (Photo courtesy Corinne Shortridge)

‘Alone but Not Alone: Poetry in Isolation’ features poets from across Vancouver Island

Nanaimo Harbourfront Library releases COVID-19-themed poetry anthology

Creativity Commons manger Jonathon Bigelow is printing copies of ‘Alone but Not Alone: Poetry in Isolation’ using the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library’s Espresso Book Machine. (Photo courtesy Corinne Shortridge)
Dover Bay Secondary School student Victoria Hathfield’s poem <em>Dear Santa</em> appears in<em> Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas is in the Air</em>. (Photo courtesy Darren Lee)

Nanaimo high schooler has first poem published in ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’

Victoria Hathfield’s ‘Dear Santa’ appears in new Christmas-themed edition of anthology series

Dover Bay Secondary School student Victoria Hathfield’s poem <em>Dear Santa</em> appears in<em> Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas is in the Air</em>. (Photo courtesy Darren Lee)
Nanaimo poet Kamal Parmar’s latest book, ‘Still Waters,’ reflects on her mother’s experience with Alzheimer’s disease. (Photos submitted)

Nanaimo poet reflects on mother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease in new book

Kamal Parmar is presenting online readings from latest poetry collection, ‘Still Waters’

Nanaimo poet Kamal Parmar’s latest book, ‘Still Waters,’ reflects on her mother’s experience with Alzheimer’s disease. (Photos submitted)
Nanaimo librarian and “novice poet” April Hilland is launching a new low-barrier poetry journal called <em>Van Isle Poetry Collective</em>. (Photo courtesy Inspired Spirits Photography)

Nanaimo librarian launches new Vancouver Island poetry journal

Island-themed poems dominate inaugural issue of ‘Van Isle Poetry Collective’

Nanaimo librarian and “novice poet” April Hilland is launching a new low-barrier poetry journal called <em>Van Isle Poetry Collective</em>. (Photo courtesy Inspired Spirits Photography)
Toronto poet Robert Priest is presenting an online reading on Oct. 24. (Photo courtesy Allen Booth)

Nanaimo spoken word society presents online reading by prolific Toronto poet

Robert Priest to dip into 40-year catalogue for upcoming Zoom reading

Toronto poet Robert Priest is presenting an online reading on Oct. 24. (Photo courtesy Allen Booth)
VIU creative writing grad Spenser Smith has launched an online poetry school. (Photo courtesy S.B. Smith)

Vancouver Island University creative writing grad launches online poetry school

Spenser Smith credits VIU for preparing him to instruct others through ‘Line Break’

VIU creative writing grad Spenser Smith has launched an online poetry school. (Photo courtesy S.B. Smith)
Yasuko Thanh, left, and Carla Funk are the opening speakers in the Sidney Literary Festival’s 2020 spring Authors Reading Series. They’ll appear and read from their published works on Feb. 7 at the Shoal Centre in Sidney. Photos courtesy Sidney Literary Festival

Spring author’s reading series kicks off early in Sidney

Sidney and Peninsula Literary Society hosting Yasuko Thanh and Carla Funk for Feb. 7 event

  • Jan 14, 2020
Yasuko Thanh, left, and Carla Funk are the opening speakers in the Sidney Literary Festival’s 2020 spring Authors Reading Series. They’ll appear and read from their published works on Feb. 7 at the Shoal Centre in Sidney. Photos courtesy Sidney Literary Festival
Award-winning Greater Victoria author Esi Edugyan heads up a strong list of finalists for the 2019 City of Victoria Butler Book Prize. The finalists for this award and the Victoria Children’s Book Prize were announced Wednesday. Photo by Don Denton/Black Press

Edugyan leads short list for 2019 Butler Book Prize

Finalists announced for Victoria top literary awards, winners to be announced at Oct. 9 gala

Award-winning Greater Victoria author Esi Edugyan heads up a strong list of finalists for the 2019 City of Victoria Butler Book Prize. The finalists for this award and the Victoria Children’s Book Prize were announced Wednesday. Photo by Don Denton/Black Press
Veteran novelist and playwright Bill Gaston won the 2018 Butler Book Prize for his collection of short stories, A Mariner’s Guide to Self Sabotage, at the annual Victoria Book Prizes awards gala Wednesday night at the Union Club in Victoria. Photo by Jen Steele Photography

Bill Gaston, Monique Gray Smith capture Victoria Book Prizes for 2018

Butler Book Prize and Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize winners collect $5,000 each

Veteran novelist and playwright Bill Gaston won the 2018 Butler Book Prize for his collection of short stories, A Mariner’s Guide to Self Sabotage, at the annual Victoria Book Prizes awards gala Wednesday night at the Union Club in Victoria. Photo by Jen Steele Photography