With the support of the Taipei Cultural Center in New York, Taiwanese picture book author Lian-En Lin (林廉恩) and translator Jenna Tang will participate in the 2024 Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) on Sep. 21 and 22. This marks the sixth occasion that Taiwanese authors and translators have been featured at this prestigious event.
Lian-En Lin’s acclaimed picture book “Home” was published in the U.S. by Reycraft Books. The book, which won the 2021 Bologna Ragazzi Award in Fiction, uses minimalist text and detailed collage illustrations to depict a vibrant Taiwanese community, immersing readers in its sights, sounds, and spirit.
Jenna Tang’s featured work, “Fang Si-Chi’s First Love Paradise (房思琪的初戀樂園),” is the most influential novel of Taiwan’s #MeToo movement. Written by Lin Yi-Han (林奕含) and first published in Taiwan in 2017, the novel explores themes of grooming, trauma, and survival. Tang’s English translation was released by HarperVia this year and has been praised for its sensitivity and skill.
The Toronto International Festival of Authors, Canada’s largest and longest-running literary festival, has been a key event for contemporary authors since 1974. TIFA 2024, themed “Writing Home,” will take place from Sep. 19 to 29 at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre, featuring over 100 authors from 11 countries.
Visit TIFA 2024’s website for more information.