Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival 2024

The 26th edition of the “Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival,” with the theme of “Dreams & Utopias,” will gather over 150 guests in Montreal and feature more than 120 events in more than 10 languages.

Blue Metropolis was inspired by an earlier event called Write pour écrire. In 1996, three Montreal writers who were members of the Writer’s Union of Canada (Linda Leith, Ann Charney and Mary Soderstrom) organized a new kind of literary event in partnership with the Union des écrivaines et des écrivains québécois (UNEQ). This event brought writers and readers together from across the language divide and drew a broad audience.

The Spanish presence on this festival includes two relevant names such as Brenda Navarro y Lawrence Schimel.

A writer, sociologist, and economist residing in Madrid, Brenda Navarro was born in Mexico City on February 26, 1982. She studied Sociology and Economics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, as well as a master’s degree in Gender Studies, Women, and Citizenship at the University of Barcelona. Her literary production includes works such as Casas vacías —winner of the Tigre Juan Prize in 2020 and translated into seven languages— and Ceniza en la boca. Navarro founded #EnjambreLiterario, a project aimed at promoting female voices in Latin America. She collaborates with various NGOs and participates in workshops on economics and creative writing.

An American writer residing in Madrid, Lawrence Schimel is known for his novels, short stories, and essays. Born in New York in 1971, Schimel has explored numerous literary genres and has also published works ranging from young adult literature to adult fiction. Throughout his career, Schimel has received several awards, such as the Lambda and the Rhysling.

Navarro and Schimel will be participating on some activities and events during the festival:

Ya literature: Where do we draw the line?

• On Friday, April 26 at 9:30 am. Buy tickets
• With Fanuel Hanán Díaz (Venezuela), Lawrence Schimel (Spain-United States), Nadia Essalmi (Morroco). Hosted by Cynthia Rodriguez.
• In French and English.

Mexican writers’ gathering

• On Saturday, April 27 at 5:30 pm. Free.
• With Brenda Navarro, Yael Weiss, Margo Glantz and Salvador Alanis. Hosted by Martha Bátiz.
• In English and Spanish.

Writers displaced: From elsewhere at home

• On Saturday, April 27 at 8:30 pm. Buy tickets
• With Brenda Navarro, Lawrence Schimel and Fernanda Trías. Hosted by Ingrid Bejerman.
• In English and Spanish.

What if life where different?

• On Sunday, April 28 at 11:30 am. Free.
• With Kyo Maclear and Brenda Navarro. Hosted by Katia Grubisic.
• In English.