ann y.k. choi
Toronto-based author and educator
Eden Mills Writers’ Festival 2024
Posted on September 15, 2024
Eden Mills Writers’ Festival has become one of my favourite lit festivals! It’s outdoors, and although the weather forecast predicted rain and even thunderstorms on the main event day, Sept 8, 2024, we had sunshine!
Spotlighting the authors & their books
The first event I moderated was called “It’s A Little Complicated: When life serves lemons, it’s a recipe for humour, whimsy, and delight!”
The panel included: Emily Austin (Interesting Facts About Space), Leanne Toshiko Simpson (Never Been Better), Natalie Sue (I Hope This Finds You Well).
What I really appreciated about this panel was their brilliant use of humour to address serious and sensitive topics that include domestic violence, mental health, family expectations, identity, and complicated friendships and relationships with co-workers.
The second event I moderated was called “The Way Forward”. The three historical novels featured young protagonists struggling against extraordinary challenges in Canada during the first half of the 1900s.
The panel included: Edward Y.C. Lee (The Laundryman’s Boy), Barbara Joan Scott (The Taste of Hunger), Leslie Shimotakahara (Sisters of the Spruce).
I’ve always thought historical fiction was a wonderful way to learn about history. Unlike textbooks, the compelling narratives, plotlines, and engaging characters make historical fiction a pleasurable reading experience, and offer a deeper understanding of important events and periods in time. I highly recommend these novels.
Author signings
This was Natalie Sue’s first literary festival! She’s signing my copy of I Hope This Finds You Well above. The official bookseller for the festival was The Bookshelf.
Image source: x.com/emwf. Learn more about the 2024 featured authors.
Catching up with other authors
One of the things I love most about this festival is its commitment to spotlighting debut novels! This includes four novels featured in the panels I moderated: Edward Y.C Lee’s The Laundryman’s Boy, Barbara Joan Scott’s The Taste of Hunger, Leanne Toshiko Simpson’s Never Been Better, and Natalie Sue’s I Hope This Finds You Well. I also had the immense pleasure of moderating Natalie’s first literary festival event this year.
It was also wonderful to spend time in the author green room and catch up or meet with other authors. With Vincent Anioke and Thomas King.
For the kids
Author Sahar Golshan reading from her book, So Loud! in the Children’s Nook.
Publishers’ Way
A dedicated part of the festival called Publishers’ Way featured publishers and other vendors.
Some Tips!
If you’re planning to attend next year’s festival, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Dress in layers. The festival runs rain or shine. The winds can also get strong! Bring a jacket and sunglasses or an umbrella. There’s a small food court. See the list of options.
Wear comfortable shoes. From the parking lots a few blocks away to the five event locations spread throughout, you’ll be walking on gravel, dirt, grass, and paved roads, with some inclines in places. Accessible parking is available, as are accessible portable toilets. Volunteers in golf carts assist with travelling around the grounds for guests requiring accessibility accommodations.
If the grounds are dry, a blanket is the easiest way to enjoy the events. Otherwise, a folding chair will add to your viewing pleasure. Water stations allow water bottles to be refilled easily.
Many of us could not get cell service! Bring cash if possible.
Say hello to authors and get your books signed. Many authors shared that they would love to visit your book clubs in-person or virtually. Get in touch with them by visiting their websites.
Visit Eden Mills! Founded in 1842, the village is by the beautiful Eramosa River. Eden Mills is located 12 km east of Guelph and 90 km west of Toronto. For the festival, parking is available at 136 Barden Street and 19 Memorial Street.
Finally, a huge thanks to the staff and volunteers who make this festival possible! Eden Mills also has year-round online events. Check out their website to learn more.
Thank you and see you next year!
Celebrating 20 years of gritLIT!
Posted on April 28, 2024
For 2o years, gritLIT has welcomed readers, authors, and publishing professionals to the City of Hamilton.
Established in 2004 by Hamilton author Krista Foss, it started as a small festival at the Staircase Theatre. Since then, the festival has grown and welcomed over 500 writers from across Canada, including hundreds of debut authors.
I’ve been happy to serve as a program advisor since 2018.
Lots of smiles! I was especially happy to introduce aspiring writers with some of their favourite authors who attended this year’s festival.
Great to catch up with Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio, Brent van Staalduinen, Jamie Tennant, Jessica Westhead, Kerry Clare, January Rogers, and Chyx. Wonderful to meet Kai Cheng Thom, Scarlett Gillespie, Paige Maylott, Casey Plett, Conyer Clayton, Shelly Kawaja, Canisia Lubrin, and Alicia Elliott.
Delighted to host two events this year, including “And So, It Starts” with authors Shelly Kawaja (The Raw Light of Morning) and Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio (Reuniting with Strangers).
“Drafts & Drafts” with Brent van Staalduinen (moderator), Anuja Varghese (Chrysalis), Nathan Whitlock (Lump), and Amy Jones (Pebble and Dove).
Photo 1: “Words Collide” with January Rogers (moderator), Adriana Chartrand (An Ordinary Violence), and Alicia Elliott (And Then She Fell). Photo 2: “Falling Short” with Carleigh Baker (moderator), Vincent Anioke (Perfect Little Angels), and Jessica Westhead (Avalanche).
I seem to like taking photos of authors signing their books!
Top left to right: Ayomide Bayowa (Gills), Adriana Chartrand (An Ordinary Violence), Alicia Elliott (And Then She Fell), Casey Plett (On Community).
Bottom left to right: Vincent Anioke (Perfect Little Angels), Gary Barwin (Imagining, Imagining), Kai Cheng Thom (Falling Back in Love with Being Human), Paige Maylott (My Body Is Distant).
Jennilee delivered a great workshop on social media for writers. Love this slide that reads: “Never stop whatever you’re doing in the real world in order to post about it… No content is more important than being present.” Wonderful advice!
A huge thanks to festival regulars and everyone behind the scenes! Jennifer Gilles, Artistic Director, I still need a photo of you! A special thanks to Jessica Rose, interim Artistic Director, for helping make this year’s festival so memorable! Learn more about the amazing gritLIT team by visiting gritLIT’s website.
List of 2024 Festival Authors
Ainara Alleyne | Vincent Anioke | Margaret Atwood | Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio | Gary Barwin | Ayomide Bayowa | Adriana Chartrand | Conyer Clayton | Alicia Elliott | Madison Farkas | Amy Jones | Shelly Kawaja | Dannabang Kuwabong | David Neil Lee | Robin Lefler | Canisia Lubrin | Peter Mansbridge | George Matuvi | Paige Maylott | Shani Mootoo | Matthew R. Morris | Geoffrey D. Morrison | Lishai Peel | Casey Plett | Leanne Toshiko Simpson | Kai Cheng Thom | Anuja Varghese | Jessica Westhead | Nathan Whitlock | Tom Wilson
List of 2024 Festival Moderators
Elamin Abdelmahmoud | Carleigh Baker | Gary Barwin | Ann Y.K. Choi | Kerry Clare | Megan Divecha | Renata Hall | Mary Francis Moore | Casey Plett | January Rogers | Emily Sattler | Neil Smith | Jamie Tennant | Kai Cheng Thom | Brent van Staalduinen
See author and moderator bios.
Click on the program cover to see inside.
Also, a shout-out to Epic Books, the festival’s official bookseller.
See you next year, everyone!
Learn more about gritLIT: Official website | Facebook | Instagram
“gritLIT is 20 in 2024” by Hamilton City Magazine | “Peter Mansbridge, Tom Wilson, Paige Maylott among writers celebrating 20 years of Hamilton Gritlit festival” via CBC.ca | “Former CBC anchor Peter Mansbridge kicks off 20th annual Hamilton gritLIT festival” by the Hamilton Spectator | “Hamilton’s GritLIT Festival celebrating 20 years with workshops, special guests and more” via CHCH.com
So many people to thank …
Posted on December 31, 2016
I thought writing a novel was difficult. Since the publication of Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety in spring of 2016, I’ve discovered selling books and getting them out into the world is even harder. And, there are so many more people involved!
I wrote but did not share my writing with others for years. Then I took a Creative Writing class and shared stories with my instructors and classmates. I can’t begin to express how important this proved to be. I not only learned to be a better writer, but the networking led to the publishing of my debut novel and opportunities to speak and read at different conferences and events including the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) in Los Angeles.
Also born out of my Creative Writing classes was my writing circle, the 11th Floor Writers. Since 2007, it is my core critique group and writing support. We hold each other accountable and provide opportunities to collaborate and provide constructive, meaningful feedback of our work.
When I signed with my publisher, my writing world expanded to include members from editorial, marketing, publicity, and sales teams. I’ve been tremendously fortunate to work with an outstanding team. I adore my editor, Phyllis Bruce, and everyone at Simon & Schuster Canada. Jackie, my agent, not only helped me navigate through a 17-page contract, but she is my sounding board and go-to person for everything from book ideas to questions I have about the industry.
Thanks to my publishing team and agent, I was invited to some of Canada’s biggest literary festivals and events this year. There, I got to connect with not only readers but fellow writers. I asked them questions about their writing lives and the writing process which proved to be invaluable information for a debut author.
I’ve also been fortunate to meet with some wonderful booksellers. What a pleasure to chat and share conversations with them! Book critics and everyone who reviewed and wrote about me and the novel helped promote its visibility, for which I’m grateful. I had the chance to be interviewed on radio, TV, and in person at several events including ones held through the public libraries. All these opportunities were wonderful places to connect and share with readers.
Readers. It all comes back to them. I am deeply appreciative that people have taken the time to read my novel. Connecting with them either in person or via social media has been a wonderful and immensely gratifying experience.
Finally, I remain grateful to my family and friends who keep me grounded because it has been quite the roller coaster ride so far! I’m especially thankful to my awesome daughter, Claire, the one person I wanted most to share stories with.
Read more:
Quill & Quire: Debut authors know what it takes to write a book, but then what?
Blank Spaces – a new Canadian literary magazine
Posted on December 14, 2016
Blank Spaces, Volume 1, Issue 1
I met Michelle McLaughlin at Word On The Street in Toronto, and was delighted when she wrote to me. She and Alanna Rusnak had seen me speak at the Humber School for Writers Workshop: Overcoming the Odds: Long Journey to Publication. In turn, they introduced me to Blank Spaces, a new Canadian literary magazine, where Michelle is an assistant editor and Alanna is an editor and publisher. Both women are also talented writers. According to Blank Spaces’ website, their mission is “to celebrate and champion the work of Canadian creatives, bringing exposure and support to artists across our great country.”
I love the feel and energy of the magazine! December’s edition (issue 2) includes the stunning photography of Aidan and Leanne Hennebry from Hush Hush Photography. Their photos of New York taken from a helicopter are breathtakingly beautiful. There are also many entertaining and engaging articles, essays, and poems, including the winning story from issue 1’s writing prompt challenge. The deadline to enter the next challenge is January 10, 2017.
Blank Spaces is a quarterly publication with new issues released in September, December, March and June. According to their submission guidelines, they are looking for:
- flash fiction – short fiction – any topic, any genre (under 1000 words)
- more than word – photo essay
- food of love – fiction or nonfiction about music
- different strokes – art feature
- make art not war – DIY feature, creative living
- story matters – the craft of writing
- red solo cup – smaller pieces to fill the gaps. Poetry, micro-fiction, etc – be creative
- shameless – creative non-fiction. Personal essay that delves into your own truth and experiences
- fiction feature – longer fiction – any topic, any genre (up to 3500 words)
- between the lines author/artist spotlight (not open for submissions but contributors may be approached for an interview)
Complete submission guidelines are available on their website. Magazine copies, print and digital, can be ordered online. You can also connect with them on Twitter and Facebook.
Sunday Brunch
Posted on December 11, 2016
At the beautiful Vanity Fair Ballroom at the King Edward Hotel in downtown Toronto
I had a wonderful time at the Ben McNally Globe and Mail Books and Brunch event where I got to share stories about my novel and hear about three other works.
Kamal Al-Solaylee has a background in journalism and is a professor at Ryerson University. His accomplishments are long and varied. He presented his second book, Brown: What Being Brown in the World Today Means (To Everyone). It was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award for English-language non-fiction.
Steve Paikin also has an extensive background in journalism and is the anchor of TVO’s The Agenda with Steve Paikin. His stories about how he came to write Bill Davis: Nation Builder, and Not So Bland After All were entertaining and informative. Considered one of Ontario’s most important premiers, Davis was in office from 1971 to 1985.
Charlotte Gray and I work with the same brilliant editor, Phyllis Bruce, so we had met before. She is a much loved historian and author. Her latest book is The Promise of Canada: 150 Years — People and Ideas That Have Shaped Our Country. I’m intrigued by the influential Canadians she chose to write about, none of whom are prime ministers or hockey players!
I’m excited to read all three books, and thank Ben McNally for including me in today’s event!
It’s December!!
Posted on December 1, 2016
It took nine years from writing the book to publishing it.
Click on the image to make it larger.
There’s been a few changes since I last posted a blog in the spring …
My debut novel, Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety, was released by Simon & Schuster Canada … I finished my MFA studies in Creative Writing … I’m now working on my second novel set in 1924 Korea …
It’s December. I think I’ll take some time to reflect on this past year … it’s been quite eventful!
11th Floor Writers
Posted on August 4, 2015
The guidelines we use to run our writing circle, The 11th Floor Writers, have been added to its website. I can’t believe that we’ve gone eight years. It helps that we follow a set routine: we meet the second Saturday of every month at the same venue, we rotate chairs, and everyone adheres to guideline expectations.
I’m currently working on my second novel, and continue to be grateful for the support and constructive feedback I get from this group.
Some online resources worth checking out:
A Workshop Guide for Creative Writing
A great place to start. The guide asks a series of questions we should be considering as we critique others’ work.
Tips for Revising Creative Nonfiction
The tips also apply for fiction writing.
15 Tips for Successful Writing Groups
A comprehensive guide with lots of useful suggestions and tips.
Editors and Writers
Posted on March 20, 2015
With Allyson Latta
I was finally able to thank Allyson Latta in person when I met up with her last month. She was a guest speaker at a Markham high school where she spoke to students about her work as a freelance editor. I was fortunate enough to work with Allyson on my first book which will be released early next year.
Allyson has worked with many prominent Canadian writers including two of my favourites, Marina Nemat and Lawrence Hill. Her website, full of guest posts, interviews, and all things that might interest any writer, is definitely worth checking out. Allyson also teaches memoir writing at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies.
Thanks to a quiet March Break, I was able to finish reading a couple of books. One novel I would highly recommend is Michael Crummey’s Sweetland. After visiting Newfoundland a few years ago and falling in love with that province, I couldn’t resist reading this book. Set in a remote island community, our protagonist Moses Sweetland, fakes his own death and stays behind after everyone else relocates.
For more information:
Michael Crummey’s Sweetland is like a song of mourning – a review by The Globe and Mail
Michael Crummey: How I wrote Sweetland – Canada Writes
Paperbacks and fresh maple syrup
Posted on March 19, 2015
A horse drawn wagon filled with delicious maple syrup for sale
Local farmers were out selling fresh maple syrup at St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market. The place was packed with people, mostly families out enjoying a sunny March Break day. Located 1.5 hours west of Toronto, this is the largest year-round farmers’ market in Canada.
Along with some wonderful ready-to-eat foods like perogies, souvlaki, and apple fritters, you can find everything from handmade quilts to used vinyl records. I spent quite a bit of time perusing used books, finally getting the following copies to take home:
The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom. I read the book years ago and loved it. It’s a fast read so I can re-read it again fairly quickly. For a novel summary, click here:
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. It’s been on my list to read since 2010! For a summary, click here.
She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb. The cover image has always intrigued me. I’d like to finally get around to reading it. For a summary, click here.
Hope In The Desperate Hour by David Adams Richards. Another book I’ve wanted to read for a while now. For a summary, click here.
David Adams Richards
Posted on November 3, 2014
With David Adams Richards at the IFOA
I met up with David Adams Richards this weekend at the International Festival of Authors (IFOA) in Toronto. He was my mentor at The Humber School for Writers.
David is one of the most accomplished writers in Canada. I still can’t believe that I was lucky enough to work with him. At all times, he encouraged me to persevere. We completed the first draft of my novel in only thirty weeks!
David’s new book, Crimes Against My Brother, was released earlier this year (Doubleday Canada).
New book by David Adams Richards
ann y.k. choi 