Festival of Authors

Festival of Authors

Last updated
4/24/2025 2:43:34 PM
Join us for the inaugural Appleby College Festival of Authors, celebrating the incredible works of Canadian writers. Discover new and old stories, meet your favourite authors, and delve into their creative journeys. Our school is buzzing with excitement to ignite a passion for reading and writing among students, parents, and the community. Whether you love fiction or memoirs, thrillers or romance, picture books or YA, there’s an author for you to meet! 
Books by participating authors will be available to purchase at the event courtesy of A Different Drummer bookstore.
Saturday, May 24, 2025 at Appleby College.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Session: Promoting Storytelling

Genre: Elementary | Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Participating Authors 
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Anitha Rao-Robinson

Anitha Rao-Robinson is an author, conservationist, and creator of the Kindness Is Everything podcast. A former accountant, Anitha now devotes her time to helping animals and writing children’s stories; A Family for 2020, Sari Sisters 2024, Music of the Bells 2026. Anitha lives on a hobby farm with her family. 

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Norine Khalil

 Norine Khalil is an Appleby alumnua ‘04 and first-time author of children's book Nora's Wish. Norine is a Registered Dietitian and Co-Founder of the One Elephant Integrative Health Team. When she is not working as a dietitian (or brainstorming new ideas for her next book) Norine has her hands and heart full with two young boys.  

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Sadé Smith

Born in Toronto, Sadé Smith is the children's book author of Granny’s Kitchen  and Julie and the Mango Tree.  Of Jamaican descent, her books involve food and recipes with colourful illustrations to capture the beauty of the island. Sadé is a design technologist who loves the beach and riding her motorcycle with her two boys and their dog Ziggy.

 
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Lana Button

Session Moderator

Lana Button is the award-winning author of 16 books for children, which have been translated into five languages. Lana’s books are often used in Canadian classrooms to enhance social-emotional learning. She shares her stories in schools and festivals across Canada each year, encouraging reading, writing, empathy, inclusion and mental health.  
 

Session: Talking in Verse

Genre: Middle School | Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Participating Authors 

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Jessica Vitalis

Jessica Vitalis is an award-winning, Columbia MBA-wielding middle grade author. In addition to appearing on “Best Book” lists for Kirkus and CCBC, Jessica has also won the Reading the West Book Award,
the WWW 2024 WILLA Literary Award, and the High Plains Book Award.
Her books have been translated into three languages.

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Michael F. Stewart

Michael F. Stewart has authored over two dozen books for kids and young adults, with works ranging from books of verse and graphic novels to humorous middle grade and surreal young adult novels. He has a Master of Arts from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives in Ottawa with his partner, four daughters, a cat, and a dog.

 
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Madeline Nixon

Session Moderator

Madeline Nixon is a longtime resident of Oakville. She has edited hundreds of elementary and middle grade level educational books and written fourteen. She received a Professional Writing and Communication degree from the University of Toronto. Since graduating, Madeline has published a collection of ghost stories and two romance novels. Her most recent release was Not Actually.

 

Session: Finding Your Voice

Genre: Young Adult | Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Participating Authors 

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Sara de Waard

Sara de Waard is an author, screenwriter, and educator of Métis descent. Sara has written White Lies and Defy for young adults. She has a BA in Radio and Television from Toronto Metropolitan University and lives in Port Colborne with her two kids.

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Susan Currie

Susan Currie is a writer, teacher and musician from Brampton. She is the author of many books including Iz the Apocalypse, 2023. Susan holds many degrees and recently learned she is an
Indigenous adoptee (Haudenosaunee – Cayuga Nation). This new information truly changed the course of Susan’s life.

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Wali Shah

Wali Shah is a poet and motivational speaker. Wali’s journey as an artist began in his hometown, as he was named the City of Mississauga’s official poet. His first book, Call me Al, was co-written by Eric Walter. Wali graduated from the University of Toronto.

 
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Sharon Frayne

Session Moderator

Sharon Frayne is a former Halton secondary teacher and administrator. She’s a member of the Writers Union of Canada, and past president of the Canadian Authors Association. She lives in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the setting of her historical fiction novel, Caught Between the Walls. Her award-winning YA novel is The Sound of a Rainbow.

 

Session: Dark Ambitions

Genre: Thriller | Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Participating Authors 

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Brianne Sommerville

Brianne Sommerville writes female-driven thrillers
with mental health representation. She studied English literature and theatre before entering the world of public relations and marketing. She lives in Toronto with her partner and three littles under six. If I Lose Her was published in 2024 and What She Left Behind 
will hit shelves in August. 

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Jessica Hamilton

Jessica Hamilton was born in Australia but grew up in Canada. She studied writing at the Humber School for Writers as well as George Brown College. She lives with her husband, son, and daughter. Her novels, What You Never Knew and Don’t You Dare, are both thrillers.

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Maggie Giles

Maggie Giles writes suspenseful women's fiction and thrillers. Her debut novel, The Things We Lost, was named a 2023 distinguished favourite in Women's Fiction. She is also the author of the Twisted Truths series, the second novel Wicked, set to come out in April and her fourth novel, The Art of Murder, will be available June 10, 2025.

 
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Lisa de Nikolits

Session Moderator

Lisa de Nikolits is the award-winning author of 11 novels, numerous short stories, and poetry, garnering five-star reviews and a strong fanbase. Originally from South Africa, Canada has been her home since 2000. Forthcoming works include Mad Dog and the Sea Dragon (2025, Radiant Press) and That Time I Killed You (2026, Level Best Books). 
 

Session: Personal Growth

Genre: Self Help | Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Participating Authors 

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Reta Faye Walker

Reta Faye Walker holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, is a qualified Life Coach,
 and Mindfulness teacher. Through all her work, she has continuously come back
to love and relationships. With insight and notes from her 25 years of working,
she has written Guide to Lasting Love, a blueprint that helps couples focus on the strategies that work.

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Dr. Samra Zafar

Dr. Samra Zafar is an award-winning, internationally renowned speaker, physician, author and educator. She has been recognized among the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada, the Top 25 Most Inspirational Women in Canada, and the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants. Samra's speaking portfolio includes four successful TEDx Talks and many leading organizations around the world.

 
OriginalImage,OriginalJessica Moorhouse

Session Moderator

Jessica Moorhouse is a sought-after money expert, TV personality and speaker. She is an Accredited Financial Counsellor Canada®, an award-winning financial content creator and the host of the More Money Podcast. Her debut book Everything but Money: The Hidden Barriers Between You and Financial Freedom came out December 31, 2024 and became an instant Bestseller.

 

Session: The Art of Writing and Illustrating

Genre: Elementary& Middle School | Time: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Participating Authors 

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Joanne Kwok

Joanne Kwok is a Toronto-based writer with a background in the Arts sector and the author of
Akemi's Song, her debut children’s book. She draws inspiration from nature, travel, and her cultural
heritage to craft meaningful stories that spark imagination. When she’s not writing, she loves exploring new places or enjoying quiet moments outdoors. 

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Oksanna Crawley

Oksanna writes in several genres for kids. Her middle grade book, Katie Crumble and the Case of the Missing Underwear, will be published this spring, along with Tom Thomson’s Paintbrush. She co-wrote and illustrated the picture book, Pirate Glitterbeard, with her daughter, Larissa. She has degrees in Linguistics and Education from the University of Toronto.  

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Rachael Speirs

Rachael Speirs is a multi-award-winning fine artist from Mississauga. She uses fabric, paper, embroidery and other bits and bobs to make large, storytelling art. She encourages everyone to see materials differently and to look in unusual places for inspiration. Rachael rarely has clean paper.

 
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Rebecca Bender

Session Moderator

Author-illustrator Rebecca Bender is best known for her award-winning Giraffe and Bird books. Her other titles include Ballewiena, How Do You Feel? and the illustrations for the Duck Days series. When Rebecca is not painting or writing, she is working as a graphic designer and art director in the publishing industry. 
She lives in Burlington, Ontario, with her husband and four children.

 

Session: Truth be Told

Genre: Middle School | Time: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Participating Authors 

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Erin Silver

Erin Silver is an award-winning children’s author and freelance writer. Her books for children include Rush Hour: Navigating Our Global Traffic Jam, Sitting Shiva, Good Food, Bad Waste: Let’s Eat for the Planet, Mighty Scared: The Amazing Ways Animals Defend Themselves, In It To Win It and All Consuming.

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Jennifer Maruno

Jennifer Maruno is the author of nine novels for young readers as well as several picture books such as While You Sleep, Momma’s Going to March and The Go-Between. Jennifer is an elementary school principal and received her Master of Education from Brock University. Jennifer lives in Burlington. 

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Joyce Grant

Joyce Grant is the award-winning author of seven books. She holds a Master's Degree in Critical & Creative Writing and a journalism degree. Joyce teaches Writing for Children at Humber Polytech. Her Can You Believe It? How to Spot Fake News and Find the Facts, won best non-fiction book and best children's book at the 2023 Hamilton Literary Awards. 

 
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Kevin Sylvester

Session Moderator

Kevin Sylvester has written and illustrated more than thirty books for kids. His latest novel is Apartment 713 – a time travel mystery, which won three kid voted awards. Coming soon, Time Surfers, and Soccerology. He’s also the co-writer and illustrator of The Fabulous Zed Watson! (along with his kid Basil) and a graphic novel, Puffin and Penguin, with Helaine Becker. 

 

Session: Thrill Ride

Genre: Thriller | Time: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Participating Authors 

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Ashley Tate

Ashley Tate worked for over a decade as an editorial writer and editor at various publications. Her debut novel, Twenty-Seven Minutes, was published in 2024 and became an instant number one bestseller. She lives in Oakville with her husband and two children.

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Jass Aujla

Jass Aujla is the Canadian South-Asian author of debut suspense-thriller, Next of Twin. In addition, Jass’ poetry has appeared in 13 bestselling anthology publications worldwide. She's passionate about creativity, personal growth, and inspiring/supporting fellow writers by serving as Ontario’s Regional Board Director of the Crime Writers of Canada.

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Liann Zhang

Liann Zhang is a second-generation Chinese Canadian who splits her time between Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario. After a short stint as a skincare content creator, she graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in psychology and criminologyJulie Chan Is Dead is her first novel.

 
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Barbara Ramsay Orr

Session Moderator

Barbara Ramsay Orr is a journalist specializing in culture and travel. She has been published in major outlets nationally and internationally. Barbara is the past president of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), has received the prestigious Lowell Thomas Award for Excellence in Journalism and is the author of three guide books. 

 

Session: Characters with Chemistry

Genre: Romance | Time: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Participating Authors 
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Chantel Guertin

Chantel Guertin is a bestselling author of five romantic comedies for adults and four novels for teens. Her most recent novels, including InstamomTwo for the Road, and It Happened One Christmas, have been instant national bestsellers. She lives in Toronto with her husband and three children. 

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Romi Moondi

Romi Moondi’s romantic comedies, 24 Hours in Paris and 24 Hours in Italy, are aimed to make you laugh and activate your heartstrings. When Romi’s not writing novels or travelling, she can be found in Toronto doing ad copywriting from Monday to Friday, trying out new recipes, and loving Seinfeld forever.

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Wendy Million

Wendy Million is an award-winning author whose contemporary romances about strong women and troubled men have captivaed her loyal readers. She has written When Stars Fall, Miss Matched, the Bellerive Royals series, the Tucker Billionaires series, and the Litlle Falls series. She lives with her husband, two daughters, and two cute pooches.

 
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Robin lefler

Session Moderator

Robin Lefler grew up near Toronto and (briefly) pursued an ill-fated career in equine massage therapy before stumbling into the world of robotics and tech sales. Not How I Pictured It is her second novel. Her first, Reasonable Adults, was published in 2022. Robin still lives in her hometown with her family and two very needy canines. 

 

Session: YA Hero(ine)

Genre: Young Adult | Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Participating Authors 

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Cheryl Isaacs

Cheryl Isaacs is a white/Indigenous writer of the dark and creepy based in southern Ontario. The Unfinished is her debut novel.
She is also the author of her YA novel The Others, out in Fall 2025, and a short story in the YA anthology Legendary Fry Bread Drive-in, also out in 2025.

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Farah Heron

Farah Heron is a critically acclaimed author for both adults and teens. She writes contemporary romances and romantic comedies full of huge South Asian families, delectable food, and most importantly,
Brown people falling stupidly in love. Farah lives in Toronto with her family.  

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Paul Coccia

Self-proclaimed Author of Glitterature, Paul Coccia has written several award-winning books for young readers, including CubOn The Line (co-written with Eric Walters), and his most recent rom-com Recommended Reading. Paul has a specialist in English Literature from University of Toronto and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia. He lives in Toronto.

 
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Edy Graziani

Session Moderator

Edy (E.) Graziani is a teacher/librarian and author of YA novels, including The Alice Series, Magenta, War in My Town, and Breaking Faith. Her works have been recognized by Barnes & Noble, CCBC, and CBC Canada. Edy is a regular CHCH Morning Live guest, a TWUC and CANSCAIP member, and has spoken at many elementary and secondary school events. 

 

Session: The Power of Friendship in Stories

Genre: Middle School | Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Participating Authors 

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Karen Krossing

Karen Krossing is the author of many books for young readers, including picture books Sour Cakes and One Tiny Bubble and novels Monster vs. Boy, Bog, Cut the Lights, and Punch Like a Girl. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Karen lives in Toronto with her family. 

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Richard Scrimger

Richard Scrimger has written more than 20 books for children and adults that have been awarded and translated around the world. After giving a thousand presentations about story, he put his ideas into a book – a guide to writing called Your Story Matters. Fortunately, confusion is Richard’s natural state. Just ask his four children. 

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Sylvia McNicoll

Sylvia McNicoll has written over 40 books for young audiences around the world. In 2022 she earned a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Civic Hero medal for her work in co-editing Writing the Rollercoaster, Stories of Riding out the Pandemic. Sylvia's latest work is Blue to the Sky.   

 
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John Corr

Session Moderator

John Corr is the author of Eight Times Up, a middle grade novel about martial arts and anxiety. Eight Times Up was a TD Summer Reading Club Top 10 pick and shortlisted for the Hamilton Literary Awards (best novel). John is a professor, an aikido black belt, a U15 hockey coach, and licensed private investigator.

 

Session: From History to Story

Genre: Historian Fiction | Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Participating Authors 

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Kath Jonathon

A resident of Toronto, Kath Jonathan is a poetry, short story, and novel writer.
Her work has been shortlisted for the Marina Nemat Award, a finalist for The Janice Colbert Poetry Award, and longlisted for the Puritan’s Thomas Morton Memorial Prize for short story. Kath holds a Certificate in creative writing and an MA in
English literature, both from UofT. 

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Rachel McMillan

Rachel McMillan is the author of over 20 novels including the bestselling
The London Restoration, The Mozart Code and the upcoming Operation Scarlet.
She has also co-written The Liberty Scarf and The Castle Keepers with Aimie K Runyan and J'nell Ciesielski. Rachel lives in Toronto where she works as a literary agent. 

 
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Ellen Palmer

Session Moderator

Dr. Ellen Palmer has been teaching in Appleby College’s English Department for 25 years. In her role as Director of Learning, Teaching, and Research, she is passionate about delivering authentic educational opportunities to Appleby students. In her Ph.D thesis, Ellen explored the intersection of history and fiction in 18th century British Literature, so she is excited to be hosting this panel!

 

Session: Resilient Female Leads

Genre: Female Fiction | Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Participating Authors 

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Heather Dixon

Heather Dixon is the author of three novels, including Burlington, Last Summer at the Lake House, and The Summerville Sisters. In her spare time, she enjoys being by the lake in the summer and at a hockey rink in the winter watching her three daughters play. She resides just outside of Toronto.

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Karma Brown

Karma Brown is the bestselling author of six novels:
the #1 international bestseller Recipe for a Perfect
Wife, Come Away with Me, The Choices We Make,
In This Moment, The Life Lucy Knew,
and most recently, What Wild Women Do. She is an award-winning journalist who lives in Oakville with her husband, teenage daughter, and a Labradoodle named Fred. 

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Heather Clark

Heather A. Clark is the bestselling author of Chai Tea Sunday and Elephant in the Sky, two powerful novels that highlight the resilience of the human spirit through stories of strong women facing adversity. Heather is the Chief Marketing Officer for SickKids, and she lives in Oakville with her husband, their three children, and their pup, Winston. 

 
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Joyce Wayne

Session Moderator

Joyce Wayne was an editor at Quill & Quire and Director of Non-fiction at McClelland & Stewart Publishers. Her most recent novel, Last Night of the World, is about a Canadian woman spy. Her essay “All the Kremlin’s Men” was chosen for Best Canadian Essays. At Sheridan College, she launched the journalism program for refugee and displaced writers.  

 

Session: Larger Than Life

Genre: Memoir | Time: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Participating Authors 

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Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa

Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, MD, is a medical trailblazer spearheading change in health care. Currently a resident doctor in psychiatry at the University of Toronto, Chika graduated earning a master’s degree in health systems leadership and innovation. She lives in Toronto with her husband, Dale, and their two young children.

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Kate Gies

Kate Gies is a writer and educator living in Toronto with her husband and three cats. She teaches creative writing and expressive arts at George Brown College. Her memoir, It Must Be Beautiful to Be Finished, details her experiences as a girl born missing an ear, and a medical system insistent on “fixing” her. 

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Lydia Perovic

Lydia Perovic is the author of books Lost in Canada: An Immigrant's Second Thoughts, All That Sang, and Incidental Music. She's been writing an arts and culture newsletter, Long Play, since 2021 and can be found these days in The Hub, where she reviews Canadian non-fiction, and in the Wholenote magazine, where she covers opera and classical music. 

 
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Brenda Missen

Session Moderator

Brenda Missen is the author of the memoir  Tumblehome: One Woman’s Canoeing Adventures in the Divine Near Wilderness (Inanna Publications, 2022), the literary thriller based on a true story Tell Anna She’s Safe (Inanna, 2011), and numerous personal essays. She has almost finisheduntangling a fraught sisters’ relationship in a new memoir, Blue Threads Loosened.

 

Session: Writing Duos

Genre: Mystery & Non-Fiction | Time: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Participating Authors 

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Alie and Hejsa Christensen

H&A Christensen are a mother-daughter writing duo who discovered their affinity
for working together when they were in-house writers for a film production company. They made the leap from silver screen to printed page with their novel Stealing John Hancock, one of the top ten thrillers of the year (49th Shelf). Their second novel
is nearing completion.

 

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Harrison and Rachel Browne

Harrison Browne is the first transgender athlete in professional hockey and played for the Metropolitan Riveters and the Buffalo Beauts. He is the inclusion leader for the NWHL advisory board and special ambassador for the NHL's Hockey Is for Everyone initiative. 
Rachel Browne is an award-winning investigative journalist and documentary producer.

 
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Alison Gadsby

Session Moderator

Alison Gadsby is a writer. She hosts Junction Reads, a reading series in Toronto. Author of Breathing is How Some People Stay Alive (Guernica, 2026), her fiction also appears in Blank Spaces, The Temz Review, The Ex-Puritan, Blue Lake Review and more. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia.

 

Session: Who Done it?

Genre: Mystery | Time: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Participating Authors 

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Ian Hamilton

Ian Hamilton is the acclaimed author of 16 books in the Ava Lee series, four in the Lost Decades of Uncle Chow Tung series, and the standalone novel Bonnie Jack.
BBC Culture named him one of the ten mystery/crime writers who should be on
your bookshelf. The Ava Lee series is being adapted for television. 

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John Lawrence Reynolds

John Lawrence Reynolds is the author of 40+ fiction and non-fiction books. A native of Hamilton he graduated with degrees in English and Psychology from McMaster University. His first book The Man Who Murdered God was published in 1989. His international best-selling work Shadow was published in 12 languages and his most recent book, Beach Blues was released in July 2024.

 
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Robert Rotenberg

Session Moderator

Robert Rotenberg is the author of several bestselling novels, including Old City Hall, The Guilty Plea, Stray Bullets, Stranglehold, Heart of the City, Downfall, and What We Buried. He is a criminal lawyer in Toronto and a partner at the firm Rotenberg Shidlowski Jesin. He also works as a television screenwriter and teaches writing.

 

Session: Blending Fact and Fiction

Genre: Historical Fiction | Time: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. outdoors
Participating Authors 
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Heather Marshall

Heather Marshall is the instant #1 bestselling author of Looking for Jane and The Secret History of Audrey James. She worked in politics and communications before turning her attention to her true passion: storytelling. Heather lives with her family near Toronto.

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Jennifer Robson

Jennifer Robson is the Globe & Mail and Toronto Star number-one bestselling author of six novels, among them The Gown and Somewhere in France. She holds a doctorate in British history from the University of Oxford and lives in Toronto, Canada, with her husband and children.

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Natalie Jenner

Natalie Jenner is the USA Today and #1 national bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society, Bloomsbury Girls, Every Time We Say Goodbye and Austen at Sea, translated into more than 20 languages worldwide. Natalie lives in Oakville with her family and two rescue dogs.

 
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Shelly Sanders

Session Moderator

Shelly Sanders is the author of five novels including Canadian bestseller, Daughters of the Occupation. Her most recent book, The Night Sparrow, centres on a female sniper and interpreter in the Red Army, WWII, inspired by unsung women who changed history.

 

 

 


 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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If you have any questions, please contact ACPA President Kathy Vucic.