The wild card

Wild Card Question. If you could take a literary pilgrimage vacation, where would it be? What writer or work would you celebrate?’

by Dietrich

I wrote a recent post here on literary pilgrimages, so I’m going to focus on a twist of the second part of the question and celebrate writers and their work. 

Let me start with this group of talented authors who reside within these imaginary walls — the Minds. I’ve had the honor of being among these very talented individuals for some time, and I’ve had the pleasure of reading many of their fine novels. I’ve also had the good fortune of getting together with most of them at various writing events and conventions, and I’ve gotten to know them even better by interviewing each of them on my own blog, Off the Cuff. Josh is the one exception to the interviews, and that one will be posted on August 1st, and knowing Josh, that’s something to look forward to.

Of course, the best way to celebrate writers and their work is to read their books. It’s a chance to celebrate the diversity of voices by diving into their stories. And reading is such a great way to escape, to lift your spirits, and it can certainly inspire and encourage the next generation of wordsmiths.

Attending festivals, conventions, and writer events — which all are designed to celebrate writers — I’ve had the good fortune of meeting many other authors over the past decade or so. And I’ve found them to be a very supportive bunch. 

And I’m sure that’s what I’ll find at this year’s Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA), the second annual MOTIVE. It’s Canada’s largest crime and mystery writing festival, and it takes place June 2nd to 4th. For fans of the genre, it’s a great opportunity to check out over forty writer panels, readings, and master classes. It’s also a rare chance to meet some very interesting international authors and get signed copies of their books.

I will be heading there tomorrow, and I’ll be in conversation with my friend and fellow author Sam Wiebe, talking about a Tale of Two Crime Cities, discussing the importance of story setting and how and why we each set our recent novels in Toronto and in Vancouver. That takes place on Saturday, June 3rd, 11:30 AM.

For more information about the festival and all its events, check out TIFA’s site here.

Also, my publisher ECW Press has arranged a launch for my new one, The Get, while I’m in Toronto. That takes place at Supermarket Bar at 268 Augusta Avenue, right in Kensington Market where the story is set. It’s also on Saturday, June 3rd at 3:00 PM. I hope to see you there.