Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood is the internationally acclaimed author of more than forty books of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and critical essays. Her awards include the Booker Prize, the Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Governor General’s Literary Award. In May, she accepts the prestigious Dan David Prize from Tel Aviv University which honours her “wide range of fiction in which realism, myth and parable are skillfully united

Michelle Berry

Michelle Berry has published two short story collections and three novels, two of which have also been published in the U.K. What We All Want was shortlisted for a Torgi Award and is presently optioned for film. I Still Don’t Even Know You, her third collection of stories, comes out in April. Michelle’s newest novel This Book Will Not Save Your Life won the inaugural Enfield & Wizenty novel award.

John Boyko

John Boyko is an author and educator, who has been elected to municipal council, served on a number of community boards, and is the Dean of Social Sciences and Director of Northcote Campus at Lakefield College School. Bennett: The Rebel Who Challenged and Changed a Nation is his fourth book addressing Canadian politics and the first major biography of our controversial 11th prime minister.

Michael Crummey

Michael Crummey, the author of poetry, short stories and novels, returns to the Festival this year. His first book, River Thieves, was shortlisted for the 2001 Giller Prize. Wreckage was a national bestseller and finalist for the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize. His newest novel, Galore, reinforces his reputation as one of Canada’s most engaging storytellers.

Kady MacDonald Denton

Kady MacDonald Denton is the author and illustrator of numerous popular picture books. She has won many awards, including the Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature – Illustration and the 2009 Golden Kite Award (among others) for A Visitor for Bear. Her delightful illustrations appear in the book You’re Mean, Lily Jean written by fellow presenter, Frieda Wishinsky.

Charles Foran

Charles Foran, a gifted writer, reviewer and documentary maker is the author of eight books including, The Last House of Ulster, a Governor General’s Award finalist. Charles makes radio documentaries for CBC’s Ideas and is a contributing reviewer for The Globe and Mail. He is currently working on a biography of Mordecai Richler to be released in October.

Douglas Gibson

Douglas Gibson is an author and Canadian publishing giant. For decades he was Publisher of McClelland & Stewart bringing Canadian authors to popular recognition. He is also the Publisher of Douglas Gibson Books, his own imprint. Over the years, Douglas Gibson Books has earned many prizes, including Governor General’s Awards and Giller Prizes. This imprint continues to reflect Gibson’s personal interest in politics, history, biography, adventure and fine fiction.

Charlotte Gray

Charlotte Gray is one of Canada’s best-known non-fiction writers, and the award winning author of several bestsellers, including Reluctant Genius: The Passionate Life and Inventive Mind of Alexander Graham Bell and Sisters in the Wilderness: The Lives of Susanna Moodie and Catharine Parr Traill. Her next book, Gold Diggers: Striking It Rich on the Klondike will be published in September 2010. Adjunct research professor in the department of history at Carleton University and member of the Order of Canada, Gray chairs the board of Canada’s History Society.

Richard Gwyn

Richard Gwyn is one of Canada’s most respected political columnists and an award winning author. His sixth book John A; The Man Who Made Us. John A. Macdonald, 1815-1891, Volume One won the prestigious Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction in 2008. Richard is widely known as a columnist on national and international affairs for The Toronto Star, and a frequent contributor to television and radio programmes. In 2002, Richard Gwyn was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Linden MacIntyre

Linden MacIntyre, co-host of CBC’S the fifth estate and winner of nine Gemini Awards for broadcast journalism is also the author of two non-fiction books. The Long Stretch, was nominated for a CBA Libris Award, and Causeway: A Passage from Innocence won the Evelyn Richardson Prize for Non-Fiction and the Edna Staebler Prize for Creative Non-Fiction. His first fiction novel The Bishop’s Man is a national bestseller and winner of the 2009 Scotiabank Giller Prize.

Norah McClintock

Norah McClintock’s fascinating mysteries are hard to put down. She is the only five-time winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Juvenile Fiction, a Canadian award which recognizes excellence in crime writing. She works as a free-lance editor for charitable organizations. Norah is currently working on the Dooley trilogy for older readers

Sylvia Sutherlandk

Sylvia Sutherland, the former mayor of Peterborough, has been a longtime supporter of the Lakefield Literary Festival. With degrees in journalism, history and education, she was a reporter and feature writer for The Toronto Telegram. Sylvia was producer and host of The Afternoon Show on CHEX TV before her successful political career.

Drew Hayden Taylor

Drew Hayden Taylor has established himself as an unique figure in the Canadian landscape. Since his first play Toronto at Dreamer’s Rock won the Floyd S. Chalmers Award in 1992, there have been over 70 professional productions of his plays. Drew has written and directed documentaries for television and the N.F.B., taught at the Centre for Indigenous Theatre and been the artistic director of Native Earth Performing Arts. His newest novel is Motorcycles and Sweetgrass.

Author's website: www.drewhaydentaylor.com

Frieda Wishinsky

Frieda Wishinsky has written over 40 children’s books published internationally and in Canada. Each One Special won the Print Braille Book of the Year Award and was a Governor General’s Award for text nominee. Please Louise was a 2008 TD Literature Award nominee and winner of the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award. Her new book is You’re Mean, Lily Jean.