Burlington Literary Festival (BurlLITFest) is back for its fourth year! Burlington Public Library is excited to announce its 2024 festival lineup of literary luminaries and spellbinding speakers. Last year’s events filled up quickly, so literature lovers should mark their calendars for Wednesday, October 16 when registration for this year’s free festival opens. The celebration of authors, books, and creativity runs the full month of November.
This year’s BurlLITFest showcases an incredible array of literary talent. Featured speakers include bestselling and award-winning writers such as UK author Paula Hawkins of The Girl on the Train fame, Ava Lee series creator Ian Hamilton and Beach Strip mystery series author John Lawrence Reynolds, contemporary fiction novelists Karma Brown, What Wild Women Do, together with Heather Dixon, The Summerville Sister, and veteran journalists Elizabeth Renzetti and Doug Saunders.
“We are excited to bring such a wide range of writing talent and experience to our book-loving community this year,” says Burlington Public Library CEO, Lita Barrie. “Our festival is all about finding delight in the written word, connecting with others, and learning something new.”
Further highlights include a celebratory talk about one of Canada’s most cherished authors, an engrossing look at Canadian social democracy by a distinguished academic and political leader, a lively panel of local children’s authors and illustrators, thought-provoking conversations on various topics with acclaimed emerging writers, music-inspired storytelling with Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, and writer’s workshops for adults, teens, and kids.
The festival caps off with the popular BurlLITFest Open Mic event. This is a fantastic opportunity for writers of all levels — from novice to professional — to take the stage and share their literary talent!
Event lineup
BurlLITFest features a diverse range of speakers and promises something for everyone! All events are free to attend, and a Burlington Public Library Card is not required. Most festival programs require advance registration, which opens at noon on October 16. Register online at www.bpl.on.ca/BurlLitFest or call 905.639.3611.
Author talks
- Celebrating Lucy Maud Montgomery’s 150th with Catherine Little, November 3
- An Afternoon with Paula Hawkins, November 5
- Steps to Publishing a Picture Book with panelists Lana Button, Jennifer Faria, Jennifer Maruno, and Anitha Rao-Robinson, November 7
- In Conversation with Anuja Varghese, November 10
- John and Ian Write a Mystery! An interactive event with John Lawrence Reynolds and Ian Hamilton, November 12
- Land of No Regrets with Sadi Muktadir, November 14
- Demystifying Women’s Fiction with Karma Brown and Heather Dixon, November 18
- Ed Broadbent on Seeking Social Democracy with Jonathan Sas and Luke Savage, November 21
- Monsters & Mystery with author Cheryl Isaacs, November 24 (teen program)
- Journalism About Issues That Matter with Elizabeth Renzetti and Doug Saunders, November 28
- BurlLITFest Open Mic, November 30
Writing workshops
- Writers Space for quiet writing and inspiration, November 11, 18, 25 afternoons
- Myths and Realities of Self-Publishing with author Anitha Krishnan, November 17
- Creating Diverse Stories and Characters with author Wanda Taylor, November 17
Events for kids
- Poetry In Your Story with Anitha Rao-Robinson, November 23
- Fun With Sound for Kids with HPO, November 29
- Musical Storytelling with HPO, November 29
Free to join, Burlington Public Library belongs to everyone in the community, providing open and equitable access to information, digital & print collections and resources, public computers, and a vast array of programs and services. Six full-service branches and a rural lending location offer welcoming spaces where visitors can explore, discover, reflect, learn, improve, create, and connect with others. Stay in touch with us online at bpl.on.ca and on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @BurlONLibrary.
