Genre-bender

Some literary events on offer

Typically, in March, Beijing and cities like Shanghai, Suzhou and Chengdu see literary talks and exchanges between local audiences and writers from the United States, United Kingdom, France and Australia, as well as between Chinese literary voices and the foreign writers.

Geoff Dyer is one of the writers featuring at the 11th Bookworm Literary Festival (March 8-25). And many more will be involved during the festival and other events including Francophonie (March 8-31) and the Australian Writers' Week (March 15-24).

The Bookworm festival features a series of events including book talks, panel discussions, debates and performances.

This year, women's writing and voices, as well as sci-fi writers are being featured in the events.

Celebrated Chinese writers such as Yu Hua and A Lai will take part in the events, besides younger Chinese writers like Zhang Yueran, Ren Xiaowen and Xia Jia.

More coming up: Yu Hua and Richard Flanagan

14:30, March 17

OWSpace Bookstore at Aegean Shopping Mall, Beijing

The two writers will discuss history and its legacy on writing.

Sylvain Neuvel and Fei Dao

Sci-fi and Fantasy: The Magic of World-Building

14:00, March 18

Bookworm, Beijing

Canadian writer Sylvain Neuvel will talk to Fei Dao, an assistant professor at

Tsinghua University and an acclaimed sci-fi writer.

Paul French

Beijing or Shanghai－Who Is the Fairest or Them All?

20:00, March 21

Bookworm, Beijing

Paul French, the author of bestselling Midnight in Peking will present his new novel City of Devils.

A Lai and Alexis Wright

19:30, March 24

Zhongshuge Bookstore, Shanghai The writers exchanges will start from their understanding of the strong tradition of oral literature and folklore.

Ren Xiaowen

Our Writing Lives

18:00, March 25

Bookworm, Beijing

Ren Xiaowen's latest book The Good Woman Song Meiyong has received critical acclaim and garnered several awards for her lyrical fictional style and rich historical context.