A glittering night at the Writers' Trust Storytellers Ball, and introducing my new literary agent

Writing life: 70

Every year the Writers’ Trust throws a fancy bash to raise funds to support deserving writers. About 350 well-dressed supporters turn up for the shindig. At each table, an author and copies of their most recent book await each person. In a Cinderellaesque exercise, for one night, writers doff their sweatpants and don ball gowns and tuxes to become the “Gliterati.” I’ve been honoured to be one of the designated authors at Toronto’s Storytellers Ball and Ottawa’s Politics and the Pen events many times over the years.

I always enjoy myself. It’s fun to dress up, get out for a night on the town, support a great cause, and hang out with other writers. As I’ve noted before in earlier posts, festivals and nights like these are among the few opportunities writers have to commune with one another. I love catching up with writers I haven’t seen in a while.

This year’s event was recently held at the Park Hyatt Hotel.

My wife, Nancy Naylor, and I arrived a little bit early so we headed up to the “Writers Room” bar on the roof of the Park Hyatt for a drink before we were due at the Storytellers Ball. It’s a great bar—aptly named for it celebrates Canadian writers—with an amazing view of Toronto’s skyline.

Such a great view from atop the Park Hyatt.

After a quick visit to the Writers Room bar, we descended to the third floor ballroom to check in. I thought it was a great lineup of Canadian writers from across the spectrum.

The authors on duty, one at each table at the Storytellers Ball.

Each writer was given and asked to wear a cool, magnetic Writers’ Trust pin so we could be easily identified. Then the authors and guests milled about outside the ballroom as the drinks flowed and the canapés passed. Clearly writers and readers don’t get out much as the cacophony of people catching up with one another was nearly deafening, but really fun, too.

Top left: With pal Linwood Barclay and his wife Neetha. Bottom Left: Alongside the novelist, poet, and friend Elizabeth Ruth. Right: Yucking it up with John Irving.

All of the authors attending the Writers’ Trust Storytellers Ball.

The room before the doors were opened.

The room was packed with 350 writers and readers.

Nancy and I sat at a great table with some really interesting people including the President of the Canadian Media Directors’ Council, a senior government relations pro at Strategy Corp, the President of Snapchat in Canada, the head of strategy for the World Bank, and the Publisher of the Globe and Mail, among others. Some great discussions and a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Our stellar table.

Images of all the authors scrolled by on the big screens in the room. Fortunately, the positioning of my chair at our table meant that I didn’t have to see this every five minutes or so.

The Writers’ Trust Storytellers Ball raised a whopping $350,000 in one night. It was a great success for an important organization that provides critical support for Canadian writers.

I was tired by the time our Uber dropped us off at home and was horizontal in short order.

A bit more about the Writers’ Trust

It was almost 50 years ago that a small group of friends—who also happened to be influential writers—saw the need for an organization dedicated to advancing the interests of writers in Canada. Yes, Margaret Atwood, Pierre Berton, Graeme Gibson, Margaret Laurence, and David Young founded the Writers’ Trust back in 1976, and it continues its mission to support writers through various programs and initiatives. It is a very worthy cause and deserves our support. You can learn more about the Writers’ Trust here, or click on the logo below.

Please check out the Writers’ Trust and consider supporting them to benefit Canadian writers, and therefore readers, too.

---

Introducing my new literary agent

If you read my last post, you’ll know that my longtime literary agent, Beverley Slopen, recently retired. With that in mind, it was time for me to find a new literary agent. I’m pleased to report that a few weeks ago it was announced that I had signed on with the one and only, Carolyn Forde, Senior Agent and Partner at the Transatlantic Agency here in Toronto. I’ve known and respected Carolyn and Transatlantic for many years and I feel lucky to be a part of her stable of writers.

I’m so looking forward to working with Carolyn. Here’s to new adventures ahead.

A blurry shot of me standing between my wife, Nancy Naylor (L) and Carolyn Forde (R) at the Writers’ Trust Storytellers Ball.

---

Wrapping up…

Thanks for checking out this somewhat photo-heavy post. Here’s hoping you’ll subscribe—as always, it’s free and easy and you won’t miss any future posts. I’ll be back in two weeks with more tales from the writing life.