Dave Bidini (Can) brings two memoirs to WordFest: his second book for young adults, For Those About to Write, a quirky account of his path to becoming a writer, and the autobiographical, Around the World in 57 1/2 Gigs, recounting what it is like to travel to unlikely places in search of rock ‘n’ roll. He is the author of five previous novels, including the critically acclaimed On a Cold Road and Tropic of Hockey, the latter of which was made into the Gemini Award–winning film The Hockey Nomad. Bidini was the rhythm guitarist for the iconic Canadian indie rock band the Rheostatics, which released eleven albums during its influential twenty-year reign.

Charles de Lint (Can) writes books that have been called “fantasy for people who normally don’t read fantasy.” Author of more than fifty books, de Lint has been credited with having established the mythic fiction genre. He brings his most recent young adult novel, Little (Grrl) Lost, to WordFest. The novel tells the story of fourteen-year-old TJ and her surprising new friend, a “Little” named Elizabeth, who is a six-inch-high teenager with an attitude. De Lint has received many awards, including the 2000 World Fantasy Award for Best Collection, for Moonlight and Vines, and the 2005 American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults Award, for Blue Girl. De Lint is also a poet, musician, artist, folklorist and critic.

Glen Huser (Can) is the 2003 Governor General’s Award winner for his young adult novel, Stitches, and he was nominated again in the same category for his most recent novel, Skinnybones and the Wrinkle Queen. Huser is a former librarian and the founder of Magpie, a quarterly magazine that showcases student writing and graphics. His adult novel, Grace Lake, was a finalist for the W.H. Smith/Books in Canada First Novel Award, as well as the Writers Guild of Alberta Novel of the Year Award. His first novel for children, Touch of the Clown (1999), was short-listed for the Mr. Christie’s Book Award. Huser lives in both Edmonton and Vancouver.

Alice Kuipers (Can) brings her debut novel, Life on the Refrigerator Door, to this year’s Festival. Told exclusively through notes on the refrigerator — some casual, some intimate, some funny, some angry — the novel is a portrait of the relationship between a working mother and her teenaged daughter during the course of one life-altering year. Kuuipers was born in London in 1979 and now lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She has published stories in literary magazines and been a producer for CBC radio.

D. J. MacHale (USA) is an award-winning writer, director, executive producer and creator of a number of television series and movies, including Are You Afraid of the Dark?; Chris Cross, which received a CableACE Award for Best Youth Series; Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective; The Strange Legacy of Cameron Cruz; and many Afterschool Specials. He brings to WordFest his most recent novel, The Pilgrims of Rayne, the eighth book in his New York Times bestselling young adult Pendragon fantasy series. The story follows Bobby Pendragon through his adventures in the tropical world of Ibara, where he discovers that the leaders of Ibara are keeping a devastating secret from their people.

Hal Niedzviecki (Can) is a writer, culture commentator, editor and author of seven books including the novel The Program and the non-fiction book Hello, I’m Special: How Individuality Became the New Conformity. Continuing a path of challenging and original work, Niedzviecki brings The Big Book of Pop Culture, a how-to guide for young artists, to this year’s Festival. He is the current fiction editor and publisher of Broken Pencil, the magazine of zine culture and the independent arts (www.brokenpencil.com). Recipient of the Alexander Ross Award for Best New Magazine Writer at the 1999 National Magazine Awards, he lives in Toronto.

Michel Noël's (Can) Hush! Hush! was inspired by the author’s own childhood. Set in the 1950s, it tells the story of a fourteen-year-old Algonquin boy and his dream of living the life of a traditional trapper. Noël has over fifty books to his credit and has received many prizes, including the Governor General’s Award in 1997. Noël was named Citizen of the World by the Canadian Association for the United Nations for his work in seeking better understanding between people. In 2002, he received the Canadian Senate’s Medal of Recognition for his contributions in promoting the French language and culture.

Kenneth Oppel (Can) wrote his first novel, Colin’s Fantastic Video Adventure, when he was just fourteen. He has since gone on to write more than twenty books for children and young adults, among them the million-selling Silverwing Saga. In 2004, Kenneth won the Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature, for Airborn, and The Times (London) Children’s Novel of 2005, for Skybreaker, which was also named a 2006 Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association. His latest novel, Darkwing, brings the reader into a prehistoric world set 65-million years ago, when the very first bat, Dusk, discovers he has the gift of flight.

Andrée Poulin (Can) has always believed that books can change the world. Her passion for reading brought her to her first career in journalism. Later, her interest in Asia and Africa led her to international relations, and she continues to split her time between writing and international development. She has published a dozen picture books and novels and has received many literary awards. Les Impatiences de Ping, for example, is on the Communication-Jeunesse 2004–2005 list of favourite books selected by youth. She brings three books to WordFest, including the award-winning Mes parents sont gentils… mais tellement girouettes.

Richard Scrimger's (Can) The Nose from Jupiter, winner of the 1999 Mr. Christie’s Book Award, was the beginning of a series of zany, daring and delightful children’s books featuring the affable, nose-dwelling alien Norbert. A WordFest alumnus, Scrimger is also the author of three adult novels, Still Life with Children, Crosstown and Mystical Rose. His latest children’s books include the paperback release of the mystery adventure From Charlie’s Point of View—featuring a blind middle-school sleuth and his quest to clear his father of being the enigmatic Stocking Bandit—and the forthcoming fall title Into the Ravine.

Matthew Skelton (Can/UK) brings his critically acclaimed debut novel Endymion Spring to WordFest. Set in present-day Oxford and in Germany at the dawn of printing, Endymion Spring is about a legendary book that holds the secret to a world of knowledge and that sets two boys’ worlds alight, bringing them unimaginable danger, excitement and power. While writing the novel, Skelton lived out of a suitcase in a borrowed room on £12 a week, with nothing to his name but his PhD from Oxford. Skelton was born in the UK, but at the age of four he moved to Edmonton, Alberta, where he spent most of his childhood.

Meg Tilly (Can), born Margaret Chan, is best known as an actress. Her career started on television with Hill Street Blues, followed by roles in such films as The Big Chill, Leaving Normal, and an Oscar-nominated performance in Agnes of God. Now an established author for adults, Tilly brings her first foray into young-adult fiction, Porcupine, to WordFest. The novel follows the journey of a young woman, Jack, and her siblings after the death of their father. With their mother lost in sorrow, they end up across the country on a run-down prairie farm. Jack learns that families come in many different forms and that love, trust and faith can build a home anywhere.

Teresa Toten (Can) has been nominated twice for a Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature. She has published a number of books for young adults, including Onlyhouse, The Game, Me and the Blondes, and her most recent book, Better than Blonde. A sequel to Me and the Blondes, Better than Blonde draws the reader into the life of fifteen-year-old Sophie as she deals with her first romantic crisis, her father’s release from prison and the disintegration of her parents’ marriage. Toten’s books often deal with the difficulties of growing up as an immigrant in urban Canada. She arrived in Canada from Croatia when she was just thirteen days old and spent much of her childhood in Toronto.

Camille Bouchard (Can) has enjoyed a varied writing career, creating comic strips, young adult and children's books and a wide range of work for cinema, television and the stage; his latest book for young readers is Les Larmes de Viracocha.

Dennis Foon (Can) has won awards and honours throughout the world for his plays, films, books and television scripts; his latest novel is The Keeper's Shadow, the final book of the stunning, evocative fantasy trilogy The Longlight Legacy.

Natale Ghent is an award-winning journalist and the author of the acclaimed novel No Small Thing - nominated for the Silver Birch Award among other honours -- whose sequel she brings to this year's WordFest.

Clem Martini (Can) is a Governor General's Award-winning playwright and author who returns to WordFest with the latest installment of his Feather and Bone: The Crow Chronicles trilogy, The Judgment , and a guide to drama in The Blunt Playwright.

Anne Robillard (Can) had been penning fantasy stories for many years before her series Les Chevaliers d'Émeraude caught the attention of publishers; the ninth and latest installment in this bestselling fantasy epic is L'héritage de Danalieth.

Larry Verstraete (Can) has been bringing the world of science alive for teens since the early Nineties; his latest book is Lost Treasures, a collection of more than eighty real-life stories about treasure hunters and their fabulous finds.

This poet, storyteller and educator returns to WordFest with her first young adult novel The Gravesavers - a ghostly mystery set in the tiny town of Boulder Basin, Nova Scotia, as well as a brand-new collection of enchanting children's poems.

En 2000, Charlotte Gingras a de nouveau reçu le Prix du Gouverneur général pour son roman jeunesse Un été de Jade. Elle est membre de l'Union des écrivaines et des écrivains québécois. La courte èchelle inc.

François is an award-winning writer with a following among adults and youth alike; his latest novels are Adieu, Betty Crocker and the children's titles Sekhmet, la déesse sauvage and Klonk contre Klonk.

Tim has penned novels for adults, produced numerous radio dramas, a children's musical, an opera libretto, short stories, and songs for the television programme "Fraggle Rock." Tim returns to WordFest with his latest work, A Thief in the House of Memory.

Marie-Francine Hébert a un talent pour l’écriture pour les jeunes de tous âges. Ses livres et ses scénarios pour la télévision ont remporté plusieurs prix, dont le Prix Christie et le Prix du Gouverneur général.

Clem Martini is a Calgary-born award-winning playwright, screenwriter and a writer of short fiction. The Mob is his first work of young adult fiction.

Ange Zhang is an author, illustrator and theater designer. He has illustrated many children’s books, and has recently written and illustrated his own, Red Land Yellow River: A Story from the Cultural Revolution.

Dave Bidini is the guitar player for the well-known Canadian rock band, the Rheostatics. He is also the author of The Tropic of Hockey and On A Cold Road. His newest book, For Those About to Rock, is a guidebook for any teenager who has dreamed of being in a band and making it big.

She is the acclaimed Australian writer of Feeling Sorry for Celia. Moriarty brings her delightful new novel, The Year of Secret Assignments to this year’s festival. Moriarty’s books have been well received internationally, especially by high school students.

Laurent Chabin est né et a grandi en France. En 1994, il déménage à Calgary avec sa famille. Depuis 1996, il a écrit plus de cinquante livres en français qui sont bien reçus autant chez les jeunes que chez les adultes.

David Baudemont is an innovative Fransaskois children’s novelist and playwright; his novels Les beaux jours and Les pierres du Nil were composed in semi-improvised creative workshops including young people.

Sheree Fitch is a renowned performance poet, storyteller, author, and educator; she released her first young adult novel One More Step last year, and The Rock A Bye Rock is her latest book.

Dennis Foon is an award-winning author, screenwriter and playwright; his newest books for young people include the edgy coming-of-age story SKUD and the stunning, evocative fantasy The Dirt Eaters.

Carole Fréchette is one of the most recognized playwrights in Québec theatre, and has also penned wonderfully lyrical novels for young people such as the recently translated In the Key of DO.

Caroline Lawrence brought her training in the classics to the writing of The Thieves of Ostia, the first of her immensely popular Roman Mysteries series; her latest is The Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina.

Garth Nix counts The Ragwitch, Sabriel, Shade’s Children and Lirael among the multiple award-winning novels that feature his original fantasy vision; his latest is the immensely popular Abhorsen.

Rosemary Sadlier is a noted author and activist who was instrumental in making the celebration of Black History Month a national event in Canada; her latest is The Kid’s Book of Black Canadian History.

Julie Burtinshaw earned critical praise for her innovative debut novel, Dead Reckoning, and returns to WordFest with an equally gripping and fascinating tale of the sea in Adrift.

Julie Lawson is an award-winning children’s writer whose potent imagination animates her new works The Klondike Cat, Emily: Disaster at the Bridge and A Ribbon of Shining Steel.

Michèle Marineau is a two-time Governor General’s Literary Award-winning children's authornoted for her clarity and insight; her work in English translation includes award-winners The Road to Chlifa and Lean Mean Machines.

Nicky Singer is an accomplished and versatile writer who debuts as a children's writer with feather boy, a coming-of-age tale that has been praised as a moving, original and captivating book.

Arthur Slade is a major new voice in children's literature; he won a Governor General’s Literary Award in 2001 for Dust and trains his sights on high school in his latest, Tribes.