Vancouver Writers Fest authors explore Beyond Queer literature

Is it possible to write queer literature without being limited by sexual identity? How can an author write fiction that incorporates sexual identity issues while reaching a broader audience? 

The Vancouver Writers Fest, which runs from October 22 to 27, presents three writers who address sexual identity in their work but retain elements that make them universally relevant. Beyond Queer, hosted by author Anne Fleming, will be held on Wednesday (October 23) at 8 p.m. at Studio 1398 (1398 Cartwright Street on Granville Island).

When Moroccan author Abdellah Taïa became the first Morrocan and Arab writer to publicly announce his homosexual identity, he faced a critical backlash. (He now lives in Paris.) At the festival, he'll be presenting his first novel translated into English, Salvation Army, a coming-of-age autobiographical story set amidst poverty and struggles with homosexuality.

While local author Amber Dawn wrote about queer identity and sex work in her memoir, How Poetry Saved My Life is also about survival and transformation.

Meanwhile, Ontario author Nancy Jo Cullen's short story collection Canary is not only full of humour and wisdom about common life issues, such as coming-of-age, mortality, and sex, but it's also replete with queer women.

For more information, visit the VWF website.