Elephant Mountain Literary Festival

Elephant Mountain Literary Festival Elephant Mountain Lit Fest returns to spark your literary flame in Nelson, BC, October 1-4, 2026 Full schedule at www.emlfestival.com

Elephant Mountain Literary Festival is getting ready for its 10th year in 2021! Our theme: Writing in a Dangerous Time, is coming your way in July. This year, all of our events, panel discussions, and workshops will be online--meaning you can enjoy them from wherever you are! A readers’ and writers’ festival named for the mountain that overlooks beautiful Nelson, British Columbia, EMLF brings in o

utstanding Canadian authors and presenters while celebrating our exceptional local talent with a line-up of readings and discussion panels to engage, inspire, and entertain.

Returning and new society members are invited to join us to reflect on this year’s programming, festival, and more! (An ...
11/24/2025

Returning and new society members are invited to join us to reflect on this year’s programming, festival, and more! (An agenda and financial packet will be available to members closer to the meeting date.)

We encourage you to RSVP so that we are able to ensure a quorum!

A reminder that you need to be an active member to attend and vote at the AGM. If you need to renew your membership, please send us an email at [email protected] or visit Notably, A Book Lovers Emporium to pay your 1$ membership fee. Kootenay Literary Society memberships expire on October 31st of each year.

📸: Ekectrify Photography

Congratulations to Linda for winning the 2025 Literary Bongo! Literary Bingo will return next year, along with all sorts...
10/15/2025

Congratulations to Linda for winning the 2025 Literary Bongo!

Literary Bingo will return next year, along with all sorts of literary shenanigans.

.public.library .flowers.plants.coffee Packrat Annie’s, Through the Looking Glass

Sunday at Elephant Mountain Lit Fest wraps up with inspiration and celebration! 💻 The Great Debate: Self-Publishing vs T...
10/05/2025

Sunday at Elephant Mountain Lit Fest wraps up with inspiration and celebration!

💻 The Great Debate: Self-Publishing vs Traditional Publishing. 12:00–1:30 p.m. (Online webinar)

🍻 Elephant Mountain Lit Fest Afterparty at Torchlight Brewing Co. 6:30–9 p.m.

Join the final conversations of the weekend, then raise a glass with us to celebrate an incredible festival!

🔗 Details and RSVP through the link in bio.

Saturday at Elephant Mountain Lit Fest is packed with creativity and connection! 📖 Workshop with Mike Funergy: Telling Y...
10/04/2025

Saturday at Elephant Mountain Lit Fest is packed with creativity and connection!

📖 Workshop with Mike Funergy: Telling Your Story to an Audience. 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

📖 Workshop with Finnian Burnett: Roadmap to an (almost) perfect flash fiction story. 1–3 p.m.

🎶 Workshop with N̓ʔiy̓sítaʔtkʷ (LaRae Wiley): čn̓kʷnixtn̓ in̓t̓at̓úpaʔ / singing with my great grandmother. 4–5:20 p.m.

🎤 Story and Place evening reading and discussion. 7–9 p.m. Tickets available online or at the door!

🔗 Full details and RSVP to workshops through the link in bio

Three days left for Literary Bingo!How to play? Pick up your bingo card at Notably or at one of our festival events, vis...
10/03/2025

Three days left for Literary Bingo!

How to play? Pick up your bingo card at Notably or at one of our festival events, visit local businesses for an array of fun prompts (just ask for the Literary Bingo prompt at the front desk or counter), and exercise your literary creativity in new and novel places! Completed bingo cards will be entered into a draw for all sorts of local goodies from participating businesses. The draw will be held at 7:00 during our Elephant Mountain Mountain Afterparty at Torchlight! Drop your bingo card off at Notably before 4pm, Sunday, October 5th for a chance to win!

.public.library .flowers.plants.coffee Packrat Annie’s, Through the Looking Glass

Three days left for Literary Bingo!How to play? Pick up your bingo card at Notably, or at one of our festival events, vi...
10/03/2025

Three days left for Literary Bingo!

How to play? Pick up your bingo card at Notably, or at one of our festival events, visit local businesses for an array of fun prompts (just ask for the Literary Bingo prompt at the front desk or counter), and exercise your literary creativity in new and novel places! Completed bingo cards will be entered into a draw for all sorts of local goodies from participating businesses. The draw will be held at 7:00 during our Elephant Mountain Mountain Afterparty at Torchlight! Drop your bingo card off at Notably before 4pm, Sunday, October 5th for a chance to win!

.public.library .flowers.plants.coffee Packrat Annie’s, Through the Looking Glass

Friday at Elephant Mountain Lit Fest is full of story and inspiration! 📖 Workshop with Eddy Boudel Tan: Literary Journey...
10/03/2025

Friday at Elephant Mountain Lit Fest is full of story and inspiration!

📖 Workshop with Eddy Boudel Tan: Literary Journeys Across Distance and Time. 1–3 p.m.

📖 Workshop with Kevin Chong: Challenging the Hero’s Journey. 4–6 p.m.

🎤 Story and Human-ness evening reading and discussion. 7–9 p.m. Tickets available online or at the door!

Full details and RSVP to workshops through the link in bio.

Who gets left out when a story focuses on a single hero saving the day?In this workshop, author Kevin Chong invites you ...
09/30/2025

Who gets left out when a story focuses on a single hero saving the day?

In this workshop, author Kevin Chong invites you to look beyond the Hero’s Journey and explore alternative story structures. Drawing on examples from classic and contemporary fiction, you will examine passive and collective protagonists, as well as kishōtenketsu, a four-act storytelling structure from East Asian narratives. With guided exercises, we'll discover new ways to break free from the traditional template and reimagine how stories can be told.

📅 October 3, 4:00–6:00 p.m.
📍 Nelson United Church, 602 Silica St
🔗 RSVP through the link in bio

About Kevin: He is the author of seven books, including The Double Life of Benson Yu, a finalist for the 2023 Scotiabank Giller Prize and named a Best Book of Canadian Fiction by the CBC. His writing has appeared in Time Magazine, Literary Hub, Montecristo, and The Globe and Mail. He is an associate professor at UBC Okanagan and lives in Vancouver with his family. Follow him at or thatkevinchong.com

Stay up to date with all of this weekend's events by subscribing to our newsletter! 📚 It's a great way to make sure you ...
09/29/2025

Stay up to date with all of this weekend's events by subscribing to our newsletter! 📚 It's a great way to make sure you never miss out on an upcoming workshop or event! You can find it on our website, through the link in our bio! 🔗

How does your home feel to you, and how has your perception of it shifted over time?In this workshop, author Eddy Boudel...
09/29/2025

How does your home feel to you, and how has your perception of it shifted over time?

In this workshop, author Eddy Boudel Tan will guide you through writing about place, drawing on your senses, memories, and experiences to make a setting feel alive on the page. Perhaps you have migrated from one home to another, or you dream of settling somewhere new, or you have witnessed your surroundings and yourself change over time. You will examine the concept of home and how your perception of it has evolved, writing the story of your journey across distance or time.

📅 October 3, 1:00–3:00 p.m.
📍 Nelson United Church, 602 Silica St
🔗 RSVP through the link in bio

About Eddy: His novels After Elias and The Rebellious Tide were finalists for multiple awards, and he was named a Rising Star by Writers’ Trust of Canada. His third novel, The Tiger and the Cosmonaut, is out with Penguin Canada. Follow him at and eddyboudeltan.com

The Elephant Mountain Literary Festival returns to Nelson from October 2–5, 2025! Join us for a weekend of workshops, r...
09/26/2025

The Elephant Mountain Literary Festival returns to Nelson from October 2–5, 2025! Join us for a weekend of workshops, readings, open mics, mentorships, and inspiring conversations on the power of storytelling.

Whether you are a writer, reader, or simply love the arts, there is something for everyone at this year’s festival.
Discover the full schedule, register for events, and learn more at: https://www.emlfestival.com

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Nelson, BC
V1L1S8

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