An exciting new literary series offers exclusive access to thought-provoking author conversations featuring some of Canada’s most celebrated literary voices

TORONTO, ON (June 3, 2025) – The Giller Prize is partnering with Union Hotel, an independent lifestyle hotel known for its vibrant, culturally rooted guest experience to put a unique spin on book clubs with the launch of a new literary series: Giller Prize x Union Hotel Present: #BookTalk, debuting Tuesday, June 24, 2025.

This exclusive and intimate series, rooted in Union Hotel’s storytelling pillar, brings Canada’s most acclaimed authors into conversation with notable Canadian interviewers, celebrating CanLit in a way that is thoughtful, contemporary, and community-focused.

“This series is a love letter to Canadian literature and an invitation to those who love storytelling to see beyond the page,” says Kevin Slean, General Manager, Union Hotel. “We have been inspired by the reading renaissance and revival of book club culture, and of course the popular #BookTok trend, to offer a fresh way to gather, read, and reflect in person.”

Taking place in the Union Hotel lobby, #BookTalk invites guests and literary lovers alike to engage with a Giller Prize-winning, shortlisted, or longlisted author in a relaxed and intimate setting. Each featured author will be interviewed live by a fellow writer or journalist for an evening of thoughtful conversation.

Known for his thought-provoking perspectives, acclaimed author André Alexis kicks off the #BookTalk series on June 24. Interviewed by award-winning journalist and The Globe and Mail’s deputy national editor Rachel Geise, André will discuss his award-winning works, including Fifteen Dogs and his debut novel Childhood, as well as his recently released Other Worlds.

“Canadian stories feed our souls, express our yearnings and are critical elements of our national identity, heritage and cultural ecosystem. In this current political moment, it is more critical than ever to assert and protect our cultural sovereignty and celebrate our unique narratives, stories that are integral to understanding who we are as a people, who we are in this world,” said Elana Rabinovitch, Executive Director, The Giller Prize/The Giller Foundation.

#BookTalk Series sessions this summer: 

Session One: Tuesday, June 24, 6 p.m. | André Alexis in conversation with Rachel Giese
Session Two: Tuesday, July 15, 6 p.m. | Thomas King (Indians on Vacation, The Back of the Turtle, The Inconvenient Indian)
Session Three: Thursday, August 21, 6 p.m. | Souvankham Thammavongsa (How to Pronounce Knife)

This fall, the Series will host beloved authors Michael Redhill and Ann-Marie Macdonald, as well as the winner of the 2025 Giller Prize in November.

A limited number of tickets for the debut session are now available for purchase. Learn more about Giller Prize x Union Hotel Present: #BookTalk online and engage with Union Hotel on Instagram and TikTok.

About Union Hotel:
Union Hotel is an independent lifestyle property in Toronto’s financial district, steps from Union Station. With 189 thoughtfully designed guest rooms and a vibrant café and lounge, Humble Donkey, Union Hotel celebrates individuality, creativity, and connection. The hotel’s dynamic offerings include a nod to the city’s iconic train station with a Split Flap Display behind the front desk and the UH Marketplace, featuring hyper-local retail offerings that support emerging and small businesses. By weaving local culture into every aspect of the guest experience, Union Hotel invites guests to live life unscripted.

About Giller Prize:
Founded by Jack Rabinovitch in 1994, the Giller Prize is Canada’s leading and most influential literary prize for fiction. The Giller Effect has been recognized industry-wide as one of the top drivers of book sales in Canada. The Giller Prize awards $100,000 annually to the author of the best Canadian novel, graphic novel or short story collection published in English, and $10,000 to each of the finalists. To date, the Giller Prize has awarded more than two million dollars to Canadian writers. The award is named in honour of Jack Rabinovitch’s wife, the late literary journalist, Doris Giller.

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Melissa Prince
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