Celebrate Creativity This November At BurlLITFest
BurlLITFest is back! Burlington Public Library is excited to announce its 2023 Burlington Literary Festival lineup. The celebration of authors, books, and creativity runs the full month of November—and it's FREE to attend!
This year's BurlLITFest is chock-full of Canadian literary talent. Speakers include such luminaries as actor and author R.H. Thomson in a fireside chat with journalist Ian Brown, acclaimed historical fiction author Jennifer Robson, Olympian-turned-broadcast journalist Perdita Felicien, and bestselling essayist and debut novelist Alicia Elliott, to name a few.
Guest BurlLITFest authors Jennifer Robson, Perdita Felicien, and R.H. Thomson
“We are excited to bring such a wide range of writing talent and experience to our book-loving community this year,” says CEO Lita Barrie. “Our festival is all about finding delight in the written word, connecting with others, and learning something new.”
Further highlights include an intimate writer's workshop with a bestselling memoirist, a lively and entertaining evening with four local crime novelists, and thought-provoking presentations by writers tackling a range of timely and relevant social justice topics, including the climate crisis, the plight of migrant workers, and racial inequality. And new this year, we offer writing workshops just for kids taught by popular Burlington children's authors!
Event Lineup
This year’s festival includes a combination of in-person and virtual programming. Registration opens on October 18 at noon. All BurlLITFest events are free, and a Burlington Public Library card is not required to attend.
Author Talks
Women of Crime with Melodie Campbell, Vicki Delany, Jennifer Hillier & Hannah Mary McKinnon, November 8
R.H. Thomson with Ian Brown, November 10
Historical Fiction with Jennifer Robson, November 13
Climate Justice in So-Called Canada, November 14
Cozy Mystery Queen, Melodie Campbell, November 15
Why Representation Matters in Writing with Sarah Raughley, November 16
In Conversation with Alicia Elliott, November 20
Art of Screenwriting with Chandler Levack, November 22
The Truth About Migrant Work with Gabriel Allahdua, November 23
Author & Athlete Perdita Felicien, November 26
Is AI the End of Real Authors? with Navneet Alang, November 27
Writing Workshops for Adults
The Writers Room with Brian Henry, November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Writing a Memoir with Impact with Samra Zafar, November 7
Journaling for Creativity & Wellness with Lynda Monk, November 21
The Aspiring Author's Guide to Self-Publishing with Karl Mamer, November 26
BurlLITFest Open Mic, November 30
Writing Workshops for Kids
From Idea to Story with Sylvia McNicoll, November 4
Draw with Feeling! with Jennifer Faria, November 11
Prescription for Descriptions with Jennifer Maruno, November 18
Writing in Rhyme with Lana Button, November 25
Finish Strong! How to Write Endings with Jennifer Mook-Sang, November 26
Library Speakers Consortium Partner Events
Tune in to top authors from around the world at live virtual events presented by BPL's digital resource, Library Speakers Consortium. Guest authors appearing this month include actor John Stamos, poet Joy Harjo, and dystopian novelist Naomi Alderman.
See You at the Festival
Mark the date! Registration for BurlLITFest events opens on Wednesday, October 18, at noon. Avoid disappointment and register early. All events are free and open to all.
