Community Events
Moncton
WRITERS’ OPEN MIC - Sackville
Sunday, November 29th
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Bill Johnstone Memorial Park Activity Centre
70 Main Street, Sackville, NB
The Writers’ Open Mic is a free, monthly event open to all. Come out and read your poems, short stories, comics, novels, essays, stand-up comedy, etc. Or just come to listen. A projector will be set up for those with comics or other images or videos they want to share. Files can be brought on a USB or emailed in advance. Accessibility concerns and general questions can be directed to laurawatsonartwork@gmail.com. Follow @writersopenmic on Instagram for updates.
Fredericton
.png)
St. Andrews
Saint John
Saint John Welcomes Canadian Authors and Readers to the 2026 Fog Lit Festival
SAINT JOHN, NB – The Fog Lit Festival returns on October 14, 2026, affirming its position as one of New Brunswick’s notable literary events. This year’s festival features a stellar line-up of visiting authors and publishers from across the province to share their work and experience in Uptown Saint John.
The 2026 programme features four days of literary events and activities. First, visitors can join novelist Nicholas Herring, Giller-shortlisted author of Your Breath in Charcoal, on October 14 at 7pm at the Saint John Arts Centre. This free event is presented in collaboration with the University of New Brunswick’s Lorenzo Society.
The following evening at 7pm at the Arts Centre, Fog Lit presents Poets in Conversation, featuring Nick Thran, author of four collections of poems, including his second collection, Earworm, which won the Trillium Book Award for Poetry; Sue Sinclair, author of seven collections of poetry, including most recently New-Fangled Rose, nominated for the Pamela Paige Porter Poetry Prize; and Michi (Nhung An), a widely published and award-winning poet and local barista.
There will be Fog Lit Literary Trivia, hosted by Neil Bonner on Friday, October 16, at the Write Cup Bookstore Café at 7pm.
On Saturday, October 17, Fog Lit will host a kids’ event at the Saint John Free Public Library’s Central Branch at 2pm with Mike Bravener and his book Lumberjack’s Alphabet. Aspiring writers will want to take note: there will also be a Pitch the Publisher event happening at 4pm that day at the Write Cup Bookstore Café. The programme will conclude with author Michael Rancic bringing his book, A Nation of Tinkerers: A History of Electronic Music in Canada from 1945 to 1985 to the Port City. This is a must-attend for music fans or anyone who loves a good book. This event will be held at Five and Dime at 7pm.
Fog Lit Co-Chair, Lindsay Jacquard, says, “We are so pleased to have brought this festival back at a time when literacy and literature matter more than ever, in New Brunswick and beyond. Now, in the third year since our relaunch, the support of the local community reminds us just how important Fog Lit is for our region.”
Fog Lit Festival is grateful for the support of the Government of New Brunswick, City of Saint John, the Saint John Community Arts Board, as well as the Brunswick Credit Union.
***
At The WRITE CUP cafe and bookstore
November
November 7, 2026 – 11:00 am – 1:00 pm: Lynn Davies
Reading
The Graveyard Cat!
The spooky season might be over, but it's never too late for a little spooky fun with The Graveyard Cat! Help us welcome children's author Lynn Davies to The Write Cup Bookstore Café by joining our Graveyard Cat reading and activity event. We'll have colouring pages and readings for kids and those with young hearts, plus a chance for adults to get cozy and enjoy a warm drink on a cool afternoon. We hope you'll join us for some post-Halloween spooky fun!
November 10, 2026 – 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Etta MacDonald & AJ Delong author reading
Christmas is coming much quicker than we think, and to kick off the Holiday Season, we have two authors in to read and sign copies of their books. AJ Delong's debut novel, The Mistletoe Gala, would make a great Christmas read, and AJ looks forward to talking with readers and gift-givers. Etta MacDonald, author of Black Walnut and other Poems, has some thought-provoking poems to share and lots of stories of her author journey. A personalized book is a great gift for a cozy Christmas Eve!
November 14, 2026 – 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Chuck Bowie Book
Launch!
Author Chuck Bowie has entertained readers for years with his series, Donovan Thief for Hire, and he will be at The Write Cup Bookstore Café, ready to reel readers in with another amazing adventure. Join us for an author reading, Q&A session, and a chance to talk about not just the writing process but all the amazing locations that Chuck writes about in his book, because he never writes about a location he has not visited! This will be a fun afternoon perfect for new friends and a new favourite book series. If you like thrillers, you'll be thrilled to join us for this book launch!
November 15, 2026 – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: An Afternoon with Mark Anthony Jarman & Luke Francis Beirne
The Write Cup Bookstore Café, Saint John, New Brunswick
Sunday, November 15 · 1:00 to 2:00 pm
You are invited to The Write Cup for an afternoon of readings and conversation with two of Atlantic Canada's most compelling fiction voices, featuring Mark Anthony Jarman's new novel, Wild West, and Luke Francis Beirne's new novel, Saints Rest.
Mark Anthony Jarman has written twelve books, including Burn Man, 19 Knives, and Smash and Grab. His new novel, Wild West, is a virtuosic work that turns the story of Western expansion inside out. It looks at the chaos and violence that swirled from Assiniboia to Montana in the late 1800s through the eyes of an unnamed narrator. A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, Jarman has taught at the University of Victoria, the Banff Centre, and the University of New Brunswick, and he co-edits the literary journal CAMEL. He lives in Fredericton. Luke Francis Beirne was born in Ireland and now lives in Saint John. His new novel, Saints Rest, is his third with Baraka Books, following Foxhunt and Blacklion. Saints Rest is a neo-noir novel set in a gritty and unforgiving Saint John, a town where few people are prepared for its secrets, least of all Frank Cain. His work has been a finalist for the Foreword INDIES award, shortlisted for the WFNB Best Novel Award, and picked by CBC as a novel to read.
November 20, 2026 – 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Francis Adrien
Morneault workshop – Crime and Noir: From Genre Tropes to Literary Fiction - a
WordTravels Fall event!
New Date
Registration required: https://www.wfnb.ca/
How to Write Crime and Noir Fiction!
Francis Adrien Morneault's debut novel has skyrocketed across Canada, gaining some amazing momentum, and he will be at The Write Cup Bookstore Café on Halloween to share his tips and tricks of the trade! Join us for some hot coffee and cool writing tips!
November 21, 2026 – 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Nicole Howard
Reading
It's cold outside, but it's getting warm inside The Write Cup Bookstore Café!
Romance author Nicole Howard is doing a reading from her steamy 'Playing with Hearts' series! Come on in out of the cold and enjoy the cozy vibes, the author reading, and Q&A. We'll have copies of all four of Nicole's books available for sale, and it's a great time to get something autographed for that special someone on your list. Nothing goes together on a cold day better than a hot drink and a steamy story!
November 22, 2026 – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Don Ketchum author
Reading
It's not often that a memoir breaks the best-selling books for the week, but Don's novel, When We Were Boys, did just that. Come on in to meet an amazing author, hear stories from days gone by, and share a history with someone who remembers an older Saint John. History and humanity come together for an afternoon of storytelling. A great Christmas gift that you can get signed while sharing stories with the author.
November 27, 2026 – 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Luke Francis Beirne workshop – The Place of Atmosphere in Novels, a
WordTravels Fall event. New Date!! Registration required: https://www.wfnb.ca/
Best-selling author Luke Francis Beirne is setting the mood with a writing workshop, "How to create atmosphere and the importance of setting," part of the WordTravels writing workshops. Join Luke as he discusses the elusive, mysterious and enigmatic element of Atmosphere, the general feeling or mood a work carries. Atmosphere evokes certain emotional reactions in the reader and is built by layering and mixing all other elements.
November 28, 2026 – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Keith Lyon author
reading Bring the kids to an afternoon of silly stories and tall tales. Keith Lyon is the author of many books for young children. Full of bright colours and amazing stories to keep everyone engaged, this is a great chance to pick up a few autographed books for the little children on your list. Grab a warm drink and get cozy; everyone will have fun.
December Events
December 18, 2026 – 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Zev Bagel & Colin Thornton author signing
Just in time for Christmas, The Write Cup Bookstore Café has authors Zev Bagel and Colin Thornton in store for an author signing! Zev has published six adult fiction novels, including two cozy mysteries! Colin Thornton is a new author with a great collection of short stories that are sure to entertain, and the adorable cover makes it a great gift, so come on in and get copies of his book King Nut! Come on in and chat about writing, publishing, and a wide variety of interesting topics. They have books for almost every reader, and giving someone a personalized book from a local author makes an amazing impression!
NB Film Co-op Screenwriters' Café
The UNB Art Centre has writing classes for everyone! Offered both in-person and online, classes cover topics including crafting the short story, horror, novella writing, editing, self-publishing, and much more. Register early and save 15% https://www.unb.ca/artcentre/learning/