3. Writers on Community and Isolation Part 1
A Mood Series Event
Session Description
The voices of the Black community emerged loud and strong in the midst of a global crisis, calling much needed attention to the stories of Black folks and the systemic racism that continues to affect Black lives. In the first of a two-part Mood Series event, three nonfiction authors discuss the importance of connection and the perils of isolation, and the unique ways their books convey strength in these troubled times. From university campuses to small town Ontario to life in the big city, authors Antonio Michael Downing (Saga Boy), Eternity Martis (They Said This Would Be Fun), and Ben Philippe (Sure, I’ll Be Your Black Friend) discuss the courage and creativity involved in writing stories that challenge readers to reflect on the critical bonds and complicated barriers in a divided world.
This session is sponsored by Penguin Random House Canada.
About the Mood Series
In these 70-minute conversations, belonging, hope, grief, love, isolation, magic, transformation, and fear, readers will hear from authors who have published or written work in unprecedented conditions. Moderators will discuss these moods and themes with authors, unpacking each mood and its connection to their lives and their work.
Each mood event will be followed by a discussion in our festival lounge – providing attendees with the opportunity to respond to the facilitated conversation.
How to Register
Events scheduled for May 1-15 are available via an all-access festival pass. The festival pass costs $39 and gives you access to a virtual festival platform, which includes an auditorium hosting forty virtual events, an exhibit hall with a live chat feature for communicating with vendors, and a lounge for engaging in discussions before and after events with other festival-goers.
Passholders will have be able to compete in the space for incredible prizes and will have access to the platform and all of the recorded festival events, as well as bonus content, until May 30, 2021. If the cost of the pass is prohibitive, please fill out the Patron Pass form, and a pass will be made available.
Featured Speaker(s)
Ben Philippe
Ben Philippe is an author and screenwriter. Born in Haiti and raised in Montreal, Ben has a BA from Columbia University and an MFA from the Michener Center for Writers in Austin, Texas. He has written two Young Adult novels: The Field Guide To The North American Teenager, which won the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, and Charming as a Verb. Sure, I’ll Be Your Black Friend is his first adult nonfiction book.
Eternity Martis
Eternity Martis is an award-winning journalist and author of the bestselling book They Said This Would Be Fun: Race, Campus Life and Growing Up. She is an Adjunct Professor and Journalist-in-Residence at UBC.
Antonio Michael Downing
Antonio Michael Downing grew up in southern Trinidad, Northern Ontario, Brooklyn, and Kitchener. He is a musician, writer, and activist based in Toronto. His 2010 debut novel, Molasses (Blaurock Press), was published to critical acclaim. In 2017 he was named by the RBC Taylor Prize as one of Canada’s top Emerging Authors for nonfiction. His memoir Saga Boy was published by Penguin Random House Canada in January 2021 and his children’s picture book Stars In My Crown will be published by Tundra Books in Canada in 2021. He performs and composes music as John Orpheus.
Makda Mulatu
Makda Mulatu is a writer, editor, and podcast producer living on Treaty 6 territory in amiskwacîwâskahikan or Edmonton, Alberta. She writes mostly poetry — which has previously appeared in “Glass Buffalo” — and, alongside Jason Purcell, she co-produces the podcast “Glass Bookshop Radio”.
