Mahtab Narsimhan, a native of Mumbai (Bombay), has always been fascinated by Indian mythology and adventure. This comes together with the unique cultural and spiritual energies of her homeland in her exciting sequel to The Third Eye, which won the 2009 Silver Birch Award. She lives in Toronto. See her in the Children’s Reading Tent at 2:20.

Marina Nemat’s bestselling Prisoner of Tehran chronicled her arrest, torture, and two-year imprisonment in the notorious Evin prison as a teenager in 1980s revolutionary Iran. In her new book, Nemat provides a riveting account of her escape from Iran and her journey to Canada, via Hungary, with her husband and infant son in 1991. A story of courage and recovery, After Tehran chronicles Nemat’s confrontation with her past, how she re-engages with her distant father, and how ultimately she emerges from the emotional ravages of posttraumatic stress. Come see her in discussion with Kim Echlin about the power of story on the Scotiabank Giller Prize Bestsellers Stage at 3:00.

Mandy Ng is an editor for OWL, chickaDEE and Chirp Magazines, published by Owlkids.  Owlkids publishes Canadian magazines and books for children aged 3 to 14. See her in the Canadian Magazines Tent at 11:15 with Craig Battle and Jackie Farquhar.

Gemini Award-winner Susin Nielsen has written sixteen episodes of the hit television show Degrassi Junior High and four of the books in the Degrassi series. She is the co-creator and showrunner of the critically acclaimed television series Robson Arms. She also adapted Susan Juby’s Alice, I Think into a TV series. Susin Nielsen lives in Vancouver. See her in the Children’s Reading Tent at 2:40.