October author events include Mootoo and Quig

The Picton Branch of the County of Prince Edward Public Library and Archives is thrilled to be hosting the County Launch of the newest work from celebrated writer Shani Mootoo.

Starry Starry Night was named among CBC Books’ list of “Canadian fiction books we’re excited about this fall and is an innovative and revelatory work of autofiction. If you haven’t heard the term “autofiction” before, it is short for “autobiographical fiction”, referring to fiction drawing from the author’s own experiences and life.

Join us on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. as the author discusses this latest work with Carlyn Moulton, art curator and owner of the Oeno Gallery. She has been a devoted reader of Mootoo’s work since being seduced by Cereus Blooms at Night in 1996. It’s sure to be a thought-provoking and interesting conversation. Books and Company will be present with copies of the book for sale.

Paula Quig will join us at the Bloomfield Branch Library on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. to discuss her novel, Missing. This book is a fictional story set in Prince Edward County. The premise is: Nearly everyone in Prince Edward County remembers what they were doing when they heard about the disappearance of Crystal Watts. One hot August night, the 16-year-old vanished from the summer camp where she had been working as a counsellor, never to be seen again. Twenty years later, Crystal’s childhood friend Sarah returns to the County to find out what happened that horrible night.

All are welcome – drop in to hear more about the key themes and lessons learned from Missing, notably around the issues of bullying and inclusivity.  Paula’s talk will be followed by a short “Ask the Author Anything” session and a sneak peek at her work in progress, The Wish. The author will have copies of her book available for sale.

In addition to her work as an author, Paula is a lawyer by trade, who presently works for the federal government.  Over the years, she has also worked as a human rights lawyer and has performed advocacy work on disability and accessibility issues.  In her free time, she enjoys relaxing at her little cottage, reading on the beach, exploring walking trails and discovering new wineries and eateries in the Prince Edward Country region.

It’s hard to believe, but we are already planning for the Spring 2026 County Library Authors Festival – an annual April series that celebrates Canadian books and writers. We’ve got an exciting twist planned for the County Reads debate that brings five County residents together in a lively debate as each champions their pick for the one Canadian book you should read. Mark your calendars for April 16-18.