23 Jun

2022 Atlantic Book Awards Festival Virtual Events

Creating Short Fiction Collections

Join acclaimed short story writer Alexander MacLeod (Light Lifting, Animal Person) in conversation with the nominees for the award named for his father, the Alistair MacLeod Prize for Short Fiction: David Huebert (Chemical Valley), Amber McMillan (The Running Trees), and 

Claire Wilkshire (The Love Olympics). Learn more about the intricacies of their characters’ lives as they weave their way in and out of these collections of short fiction. 

Presented in partnership with the Writer’s Federation of Nova Scotia.


Small Town Mysteries 

Sit it on storytelling with nominees of the Margaret and John Savage First Book Award (Fiction). Alexandra Harrington (The Last Time I Saw Her), C. S. Porter (Beneath Her Skin), and Colin Sweets Arsenault (Short Mercy) have all written riveting debut novels rife with mystery. Learn how small towns on the East Coast play a role in the works of these three authors. Moderated by Morgan Murray (Dirty Birds).

Presented in partnership with the Cabot Trail Writers Festival and the Writer’s Federation of Nova Scotia. 


Indigenous Voices

Join us for a special presentation by nominees for this year’s Atlantic Book Awards. June is National Indigenous History Month, a time to recognize and honour the rich history, heritage, resilience, and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across Canada. Authors Mi’sel Joe and Sheila O’Neill (My Indian), Rebecca Thomas (Swift Fox All Along), and Jodie Callaghan (The Train) will come together to discuss Oral history and the importance of Indigenous people telling their own stories. This online panel is hosted by Kelly Anne Butler, Indigenous Education Specialist at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Presented in partnership with Newfoundland Public Libraries.


An Evening of Poetry 

Join an evening of poetry readings and conversation featuring nominees for the J. M. Abraham Poetry Award: Alyda Faber (Poisonous if Eaten Raw), Triny Finlay (Myself a Paperclip), and Rebecca Salazar (Sulphurtongue). Hosted by musician, poet, performer and Prince Edward Island’s own Tanya Davis.

Presented in Partnership with the Writer’s Federation of Nova Scotia.


Tough Topics in Children’s Literature

Join the nominees of the Ann Connor Brimer Award for Atlantic Canadian Children’s Literature, Jodie Callaghan (The Train) and Chad Lucas (Thanks a Lot, Universe) as they discuss writing about tough topics for young readers and explore the challenge of turning difficult subjects into compelling children’s literature. This conversation will be hosted by acclaimed author Sheree Fitch, recipient of the 2020 Brimer Award for Everybody’s Different on EveryBody Street.

Presented in Partnership with the Writer’s Federation of Nova Scotia.