What: International Marquee: Readings & Conversation by Michael Ondaatje & Teju Cole
When: September 26, 8:00-9:30pm
Where: Grand Theatre, Regina Rosen Auditorium, Kingston
Cost: General Admission $25

On September 25th, Teju Cole, an American author, street photographer, and art historian will join Canadian author Michael Ondaatje at the opening event of the Kingston Writersfest with the co-sponsorship of the U.S. Embassy. The two authors will talk read excerpts of their works for the audience and participate in an open discussion with the multi-talented Dionne Brand.

Teju Cole, American author, street photographer, and art historian

Cole’s first novel, Open City, won the PEN/Hemingway Award, the Rosenthal Award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the New York City Book Award for Fiction, and was shortlisted for various other awards and honors. Cole, who was born in the U.S., but raised in Nigeria before moving to New York City, has only published one other work, a novella that includes his street photography. A self-proclaimed “citizen of the world,” Cole’s recent emergence into the literature world has been followed by critical acclaim by the most prominent book reviewers in the industry.

Cole will be paired with Michael Ondaatje, who like Cole has lived throughout the world, has received critical acclaim for his sixth novel, The Cat’s Table. Cole began his literary career writing poetry and was awarded the Governor General’s Award in 1970 and 1979 for two of his collections of writing.

Both Teju Cole and Michael Ondaatje will bring a new perspective to the Kingston Writersfest with their international backgrounds and varying bodies of work. To learn more about the Kingston Writersfest and the International Marquee event, visit the festival’s website. Visit the websites of Teju Cole and Michael Ondaatje to learn more about their works.