Wordfest announces first 6 authors for 30th Imaginairium Festival in October

Writer Madeleine Thien, poses for the media with her book "Do Not Say We Have Nothing" during a photocall for the 6 shortlisted authors for the Man Booker Prize for fiction in London, Monday, Oct. 24, 2016. (AP/Alastair Grant)
One night after hosting an anniversary celebration at the Central Library, Wordfest announced the first six authors confirmed to appear at the 2025 Imaginairium Festival.
Emma Donahue, Miriam Toews, David A Robertson, Thomas King, Terry O'Reilly and Madeleine Thein will be among the bold-faced names featured in the 30th edition of the festival, which kicks off Oct. 14 and runs through Oct. 19 at a variety of venues across Calgary.
Thomas King makes Gov.Gen Literary Awards finalist
Canadian author Thomas King is shown in a handout photo. (ho-RBC Taylor Prize-Hartley Goodweather / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
The list includes a two-time Governor General Literary Award winner (Robertson), an Academy Award nominee (Donohue), a Giller Prize (and GG award) winner (Thien), a literary superstar (Toews), a master storyteller (King) and a radio and marketing icon (O'Reilly).
Miriam Toews
Winnipeg author Miriam Toews is shown in a 2008 handout photo. Toews and Kim Thúy are among the female authors dominating this year's Scotiabank Giller Prize long list.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Carol Loewen
They're just the tip of a literary iceberg that will include over 50 authors participating in over 40 shows, including live interviews, literary cabarets, storytelling extravaganzas, solo spotlights and a literary death match to be named later.
David A. Robertson
David A. Robertson, an award-winning author and member of the Norway House Cree Nation, discovered his book titled The Great Bear had been temporarily removed from schools in Ontario's Durham District School Board pending a review. (Source: Instagram/davidrobertsonwriter)
'This first batch of authors is everything that makes the Imaginairium an unmissable experience for curious, plugged-in Calgarians of all ages,' said Wordfest creative ringleader Shelley Youngblut, in a media release.
Emma Donoghue
Author Emma Donoghue speaks during the press conference for "Room" at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Monday, Sept, 14, 2015. (Marta Iwanek / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
'The superstars are all provocative, genre-bending, at the top of their craft, and wildly entertaining,' she added. 'If you're someone who loves great stories—and great minds—the Imaginairium is where you'll want to be this fall.'
Wordfest
Wordfest returns to Calgary Oct. 11
Tuesday night at the Central Library, Wordfest celebrated its 30th anniversary with readings by seven Calgary authors including Ali Bryan, Will Ferguson, Cheryl Foggo, Marcello Di Cintio, Richard Harrison, Joshua Whitehead and Teresa Wong, and music by Tom Phillips.
The 2025 Imaginairium Festival takes place between Oct. 14 and Oct. 19.
For festival passes, go here.

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