Event: AUTHOR’S AFTERNOON
Sunday, October 6: 1-4 pm
Headwaters Arts’ 2024 Authors Afternoon, set to take place on Sunday, October 6, 2024 will celebrate fiction writing, creativity and ideas, featuring an engaging lineup of authors, panel discussions, and literary activities designed to inspire and entertain both readers and aspiring writers.
This year’s Authors Afternoon leans into skills development by adding an Author Marketplace with a panel of golden horseshoe writers with diverse voices and philosophies and hope to attract many other writers to the event for an exchange of ideas that leads to inspiration for all who attend.
Location:
The event will be hosted at the historic Alton Mill Arts Centre, a celebrated venue known for its rich artistic heritage and stunning surroundings. Located at 1402 Queen St. West, Alton, ON, L7K 0C3, the Alton Mill has been referred to as “a jewel in the crown of the GTA art scene.“
Join us for an afternoon of literary celebration, skill development, and creative dialogue at the 2024 Author’s Afternoon. We look forward to seeing you there!
Ticket Information
Tickets for the 2024 Authors Afternoon are available for $35 (plus applicable taxes and fees) via
Headwaters Arts/Eventbrite. The price includes admission to the event, a drink ticket to redeem at the Meet the Makers Reception, and access to a wealth of literary inspiration. Note: Books written by the panelists will be available for purchase at discounted prices at the reception.
Event Schedule – Sunday, October 6, 2024
● 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Author Marketplace
Explore our Author Marketplace featuring 10 tables to be set up around the perimeter of the event venue, Alton Mill’s stone-wall encircled Annex, where authors and publishers will showcase their latest books, workshops, and services. Each table is available for $80, with advance online bookings. Table bookings can be made by contacting event volunteer Dana McCauley via hello@danamccauley.com. Set up for table renters will begin at noon.
● 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Panel Discussion
Join us for a dynamic panel discussion with three distinguished fiction authors, all published by mainstream presses. The authors will share insights into their writing processes and approaches to crafting compelling novels and short stories. The discussion will be moderated by media personality Mairlyn Smith, known for her unique blend of culinary expertise and comedic flair.
● 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Meet the Makers Reception and Book Sales
Meet the authors, have your books signed, and enjoy refreshments at our reception. This is a perfect opportunity to delve deeper into the works discussed and interact with the literary minds behind them as well as with the authors and publishers featured in the Author Marketplace.
Panelists
Kathy Friedman
All the Shining People (House of Anansi Press 2022)
Kathy Friedman’s critically acclaimed collection of short stories explores themes of migration and identity within Toronto’s Jewish South African community. Her work, recognized with multiple award nominations, delves into the quest for belonging in a complex world.
Greg Rhyno
Who By Fire (Cormorant Books 2024)
Greg Rhyno’s debut novel You Seem Giant to Me (Newest Press) was a coming-of-age story loosely based on his personal journey as an indie rock musician. In his second novel, Who by Fire, he pivots genre to mystery by introducing Dame Polara, a former detective drawn back into a perilous investigation. Rhyno’s narrative in Who by Fire weaves a gripping tale of mystery and personal redemption.
Deepa Rajagopalan
Peacocks of Instagram (House of Anansi Press 2024)
Deepa Rajagopalan’s debut short story collection explores the diasporic experience through sharp, poignant stories. Her work challenges stereotypes and offers a fresh perspective on identity and belonging in modern society.
Moderator: Mairlyn Smith
Mairlyn Smith, Canada’s only professional home economist with a background in comedy as a member of the Second City Troupe, will moderate the panel. A celebrated, award-winning food writer and television personality, her extensive experience in media and the arts, combined with her aspirations as a novelist, promises to bring a unique perspective to the discussions.
We acknowledge that the land on which we gather, and on which the Region of Peel operates, is part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit. For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples inhabited and cared for this land. In particular we acknowledge the territory of the Ani-shinabek, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Ojibway/Chippewa peoples; the land that is home to the Metis; and most recently, the territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation who are direct descendants of the Mississaugas of the Credit.
We are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land, and by doing so, give our respect to its first inhabitants.