Get Ready for BurlLITFest 2024
BurlLITFest is back for its fourth year! Burlington Public Library is excited to announce its 2024 Burlington Literary Festival lineup. The celebration of authors, books, and creativity runs the entire month of November—and it's FREE to attend!
Last year’s events filled up quickly, so mark your calendar for Wednesday, October 16, when registration for this year’s festival opens at noon.
This year's festival showcases an incredible array of literary talent. Speakers include bestselling and award-winning writers such as UK author Paula Hawkins of The Girl on the Train fame, Ava Lee series creator Ian Hamilton and Beach Strip mystery series author John Lawrence Reynolds, contemporary fiction novelists Karma Brown, What Wild Women Do, together with Heather Dixon, The Summerville Sisters, and journalists Elizabeth Renzetti and Doug Saunders.
“We are excited to bring such a wide range of writing talent and experience to our book-loving community this year,” says Burlington Public Library CEO Lita Barrie. “Our festival is all about finding delight in the written word, connecting with others, and learning something new.”
Further highlights include a celebratory talk about one of Canada’s most cherished authors, an engrossing look at Canadian social democracy by a distinguished academic and political leader, a lively panel of local children’s authors and illustrators, thought-provoking conversations on various topics with acclaimed emerging writers, music-inspired storytelling with Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, and writer's workshops for adults, teens, and kids.
The festival caps off with the popular BurlLITFest Open Mic event. This is a fantastic opportunity for writers of all levels—from novice to professional—to take the stage and share their literary talent!
Event Lineup
BurlLITFest features a diverse range of speakers and promises something for everyone! All events are free to attend, and a Burlington Public Library Card is not required. Register online through our BurlLITFest web page.
Author Talks
- Celebrating Lucy Maud Montgomery's 150th with Catherine Little, November 3
- An Afternoon with Paula Hawkins, November 5
- Steps to Publishing a Picture Book with panelists Lana Button, Jennifer Faria, Jennifer Maruno, and Anitha Rao-Robinson, November 7
- In Conversation with Anuja Varghese, November 10
- John & Ian Write a Mystery! An interactive event with John Lawrence Reynolds & Ian Hamilton, November 12
- Land of No Regrets with Sadi Muktadir, November 14
- Demystifying Women's Fiction with Karma Brown and Heather Dixon, November 18
- Ed Broadbent's Social Democracy with Jonathan Sas and Luke Savage, November 21
- Monsters & Mystery with author Cheryl Isaacs, November 24 (teen program)
- Journalism About Issues That Matter with Elizabeth Renzetti and Doug Saunders, November 28
- BurlLITFest Open Mic, November 30
Writing Workshops
- Writers Space for quiet writing and inspiration, November 11, 18, 25 afternoons
- Myths & Realities of Self-Publishing with author Anitha Krishnan, November 17
- Creating Diverse Stories & Characters with author Wanda Taylor, November 17
Events for Kids
- Poetry In Your Story with Anitha Rao-Robinson, November 23
- Fun With Sound for Kids with HPO, November 29
- Musical Storytelling with HPO, November 29
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 Salvadoran poet and activist Janvier Zamora, novelist Mona Susan Power, and Navajo Nation investigator Stanley Milford, Jr.
See You at the Festival
Mark the date! Registration for BurlLITFest events opens at noon on Wednesday, October 16. Avoid disappointment and register early. All events are free and open to all.
