LiterASIAN spotlights talent of Asian Canadian authors

Now celebrating its fifth year, LiterASIAN was the first Canadian literary arts festival featuring writers of Asian descent. The festival runs from September 21–24, 2017 at various locations around Vancouver. Attendees can see established and emerging authors at readings, panel discussions, and workshops. (Note, some events are ticketed while others are free.)

Festival founder, Jim Wong-Chu passed away earlier this year, so the 2017 festival is his honour—recognizing his passion and enthusiasm for encouraging a community of Asian Canadian writers in Vancouver. The festival mandate is to foster community by promoting and celebrating the works of Asian Canadian writers and artists, but all are welcome to attend. In fact, we’re holding a giveaway for festival passes so you can attend (see below for details).

---

Here are some authors featured at the festival we think you’ll definitely want to see. You can check out the full event listing on our Event Calendar, or visit LiterASIAN.com.

Terry Watada has a multitude of publications in a variety of genres, including four poetry collections, two novels, nonfiction, manga, short stories, and a children’s biography. His second novel, The Three Pleasures, was published in the spring by Anvil Press.

Terry will be presenting a writing workshop on Sunday, September 24 titled “Writing Tips and Publishing Secrets”. Terry will also be reading at a free book launch event on Saturday September 23, along with Leanne Dunic, Leslie Shimotakahara, and Eleanor Guerrero-Campbell.

Catherine Hernandez is a proud queer, woman of colour, radical mother, activist, theatre practitioner, burlesque performer, and writer. Recently shortlisted for the Toronto Book Award, Scarborough (Arsenal Pulp Press) is Catherine’s first full-length fiction. She received the Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop Emerging Writers’ Award in 2016.

Catherine will be part of a free reading and book launch on the evening of Thursday, September 21 along with Janie Chang, Jen Sookfong Lee, and Julia Lin.

Julia Lin is a writer and editor, mentored by MG Vassanji during the 2009 Humber Creative Writing program. She was the co-editor of AlliterAsian: Twenty Years of Ricepaper Magazine (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2015), and her most recent book is a biography titled Shadows of the Crimson Sun (Mawenzi House, 2017).

In addition to the book launch on September 21, Julia will be presenting a writing workshop on Sunday, September 24 titled “Technique to Find the Emotional Core of a Story”.

---

Win 1 of 3 Passes to LiterASIAN

LiterASIAN has given us 3 passes to the festival to giveaway to our readers. Valued at $20 each, these will allow entry into any of the readings, workshops, and panel discussions (reception not included). Three winners will be randomly selected from all valid entries. Winners will be announced on September 18.

Giveaway begins: September 11
Giveaway ends: September 15 (midnight PDT)

Three ways to enter:
(Yes, you can do all 3 to increase your odds)

1. Leave a comment on this blog post telling us what LiterASIAN event you’re most interested in;
2. Tweet this contest (tagging @ReadLocalBC and @literASIAN);
3. Share this contest on Facebook (tag Read Local BC and LiterASIAN)

Please log your entries with Rafflecopter below to ensure we see them all. Winners must be available to pick up their tickets in-person at LiterASIAN.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Any personal information collected will only be used by Read Local BC to administer this giveaway and will not be shared with any third parties.