As fall settles in across Canada this October, Indigo and Chapters stores are turning their floors over to author conversations, signings, and meet-and-greets with some of the biggest names in books right now.
Following our September roundup, here is our complete guide to Indigo author events across Canada in October 2026.
In Conversation or In Person: Which Indigo Event Format Fits You
As you’ll note, there are two types of Indigo author events: In Conversation and In Person.
An In Conversation event is Indigo’s structured, moderated author interview, staged more like a small television segment than a standard reading. The author sits down with an interviewer — often a fellow author, a journalist, a broadcaster, or a similar personality — and the two work through a discussion about the book before the floor opens to audience questions.
An In Person event, by contrast, is built around proximity rather than dialogue. The author appears, often gives brief remarks, and then moves directly into signing books and meeting attendees one at a time, with far less scripted back-and-forth for the audience to watch. This gives you a chance to meet the author and get closer than you would if you were simply attending an interview on a stage.
Here are the authors appearing at Indigo and Chapters stores across Canada this October.
A practical note before the lineup: ticket tiers vary by event. Some In Conversation evenings bundle a copy of the book with admission, while some In Person signings are free but require an Indigo proof of purchase to join the signing line. Check the event page for the stop you’re eyeing so you know exactly what your ticket includes.
Dr. Anne Aspler: An Emergency Physician on Healing and Her Memoir Rise After Silence
Dr. Anne Aspler has spent more than two decades working in emergency departments in Canada and abroad, including humanitarian medical deployments to more than a dozen countries. Her appearance at Chapters Woodbridge celebrates the release of her debut memoir, Rise After Silence: An ER Doctor and the Patients Who Heal Her.
The book moves between the controlled chaos of the emergency room and the quieter, harder work of recovery. Aspler writes about treating patients in crisis while carrying her own unprocessed trauma, and about the slow process of learning to ask for help in a profession that rarely does.
The event follows the In Conversation format. Aspler will discuss her writing journey and the inspiration behind Rise After Silence, take audience questions — with room for the heavier themes the book raises — and sign copies afterward.
Donald Robertson: Stoic Philosophy Meets Modern Psychology
Donald Robertson is a cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist, writer, and trainer who specializes in the relationship between ancient philosophy and modern self-improvement psychology. He was born in Ayr, Scotland, and now lives in Quebec and Greece.
Robertson is the author of seven books, including the graphic novel Verissimus, the philosophical biography Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor, and How to Think Like Socrates.
How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius, published by St. Martin’s Press, follows Marcus from his youth as a young noble at the court of Hadrian, where he studied under leading philosophers, through his reign as emperor of Rome at the height of its power. Robertson shows how Marcus used philosophical doctrines and therapeutic practices to build emotional resilience and endure adversity, and he guides readers through applying the same methods in their own lives.
The event will likely be a Stoic-philosophy talk that explores the ideas of Marcus Aurelius as tools for resilience, managing emotions, and finding tranquility. The conversation also connects Stoicism with modern cognitive-behavioural therapy.
The event takes place on Sunday, October 11, at Chapters Pointe-Claire, 6321 aut Transcanadienne, Bureau 141, Pointe-Claire, QC. Doors open at 2:30 PM EDT and the conversation begins at 3:00 PM EDT, and the event is open to ages 12 and up. Two ticket tiers are available: $5.00 CAD General Admission and $30.00 CAD General Admission plus a signed paperback.
Veronica Roth: Returning to the Divergent World
Veronica Roth is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Divergent series, which includes Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, and Four: A Divergent Collection, as well as the Carve the Mark duology.
She was born in New York, grew up in Barrington, Illinois, and graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in English literature with creative writing. She wrote the manuscript that became Divergent in her free time while attending Northwestern, and she now lives in Chicago.
The Sixth Faction is the first book in a new Divergent duology, and Roth has described it as an alternate-universe story rather than a prequel, sequel, or spin-off. The novel opens with Beatrice Prior at the brink of the Choosing Ceremony, where she plans to leave Abnegation for Dauntless, and a tragedy at the ceremony changes her plans.
Her next decision pulls her into an underground rebellion and into the path of a boy with only a number for a name. The second book, The Last Testimony, is scheduled for February 2027.
The event takes place on Thursday, October 15, at Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front St W, Toronto, ON, with doors at 6:00 PM and the conversation at 7:00 PM.
The ticket is $54.99 CAD General Admission plus a book, and the book included is The Sixth Faction Deluxe Limited Edition, a hardcover with sprayed edges.
Lynn Painter: Celebrating Her Novel Trust Fall
- Friday, October 16, 2026, 7:00 PM — Toronto, ON (Indigo Yorkdale)
- Saturday, October 17, 2026, 7:00 PM — Kitchener, ON (Indigo Kitchener)
Lynn Painter is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies and writes romantic comedies for both teens and adults.
Her other books include The Do-Over, Betting on You, Mr. Wrong Number, The Love Wager, Nothing Like the Movies, and Fake Skating, and she lives in Nebraska with her family.
Trust Fall, published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers on September 29, 2026, is a rags-to-riches rom-com about Julia, a small-town girl from Nebraska. When her family inherits a fortune, they move to New York City, where Julia meets Damion, a big-city boy who is hiding an explosive secret. The book is shelved in Indigo’s teen fiction section for readers 13 and up.
Michael Douglas: Memoir Conversation With Heather Reisman
Michael Douglas is an actor and producer whose career spans five decades of film, television, and producing. His honours include two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, five Golden Globes, a Primetime Emmy, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the AFI Life Achievement Award.
He starred in and produced films including One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Romancing the Stone, Fatal Attraction, Wall Street, Basic Instinct, Traffic, and Behind the Candelabra, and in 1998 he was appointed a United Nations Messenger of Peace.
One Helluva Ride is his memoir, and it begins with his childhood and his complicated relationship with his father, the actor Kirk Douglas.
The book then traces his path to success, including his first Oscar, which he won for producing One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and it recounts behind-the-scenes stories from his films along with his marriage to Catherine Zeta-Jones.
The event, “In Conversation: Michael Douglas & Heather Reisman,” pairs Douglas with Heather Reisman, Indigo’s founder and CEO, to celebrate the memoir. It takes place on Friday, October 16, at TIFF Lightbox, 350 King St W, Toronto, ON. Doors open at 6:00 PM EDT and the conversation begins at 7:00 PM EDT.
The ticket is $64.99 CAD General Admission plus a book, and the book included is one pre-signed copy of One Helluva Ride.
Shen Tao: The Bestselling Debut Fantasist Behind The Poet Empress
Note: this event is sold out.
Shen Tao was born in China, immigrated to Canada at an early age, and was raised in Toronto before settling in the Pacific Northwest. Her debut novel, The Poet Empress, became an instant #1 Canadian bestseller when it published earlier this year.
The book is an epic fantasy inspired by the life of Wu Zetian, the only woman to rule China as emperor in her own right. Tao spent years researching Tang dynasty court life, and the novel follows a young woman navigating palace intrigue, poetry, and power on her rise to the throne.
This In Person appearance at Chapters Newmarket was structured as a signing and meet-and-greet. Demand was high enough that the store sold through its allotment, and the event is now sold out.
Gina Livy: Living Well in Midlife With Liv Lighter
- Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 7:00 PM — Toronto, ON (Indigo Yorkdale)
- Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 7:00 PM — Oshawa, ON (Indigo Oshawa Centre)
Gina Livy is the founder of The Livy Method, an award-winning and #1 bestselling author, and she lives in Canada with her family. She appears at both events with her co-authors Lynne Knowlton and Norma Thiessen.
Knowlton is a Canadian designer, creator, and founder of Knowlton & Co., known for timeless interiors and a thoughtful approach to quiet living. Thiessen is a Toronto-based travel writer who explores the world through hotels, destinations, and meaningful moments.
Liv Lighter: The Art of Living Well in Your Body, Home, and Mind, published by The Livy Method, is a modern guide to living well in midlife. Livy covers the inner life and everyday habits, Knowlton writes about the home, and Thiessen writes about travel.
Carleigh Bodrug: Plant-Based Cooking With PlantYou Quickies
- Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 6:00 PM — Toronto, ON (Indigo Toronto Eaton Centre)
- Saturday, October 24, 2026, 1:00 PM — Barrie, ON (Indigo Barrie)
Carleigh Bodrug is the founder of PlantYou, a #1 New York Times bestselling cookbook author, and a leading voice in plant-based, low-waste cooking. Her latest book, PlantYou Quickies: 140+ Nourishing Plant-Based Recipes for Busy People, was published by Balance on September 29, 2026.
The book contains more than 140 recipes, many of which can be made in 30 minutes or less, and it includes her “Got This, Make That” visual guide for cooking from the fridge and pantry.
It also has Dump & Bake and S.O.S. (Save Our Sanity) Suppers sections, shortcuts and meal prep tips, gluten-, nut-, and oil-free options, and a Plant Point counter with each recipe.
The first event, “In Person Signing: Carleigh Bodrug,” takes place on Wednesday, October 21, at Indigo Toronto Eaton Centre, 220 Yonge St, Toronto, ON. Doors open at 5:30 PM EDT and the signing begins at 6:00 PM EDT. The $46.00 CAD Book with Ticket tier includes PlantYou Quickies and a spot in the signing line, and General Admission is free for guests who pre-purchased the book and bring proof of purchase.
The second event, “In Person: Carleigh Bodrug,” takes place on Saturday, October 24, at Indigo Barrie, 33 Mapleview Dr. W, Barrie, ON. Doors open at 12:30 PM EDT and the event begins at 1:00 PM EDT. The $46.00 CAD General Admission tier includes a signed copy of PlantYou Quickies, and free General Admission is also offered, which does not include the book and covers the signing line only.
Barbara Quinton: Psychic Medium and Author of The Intuitive Arts
Barbara Quinton spent more than 20 years as a social worker and therapist supporting people through high trauma before becoming a professional medium.
She trained in mediumship at Arthur Findlay College and now works as an internationally trained psychic medium, Reiki practitioner, author, speaker, and facilitator, offering mentorships, workshops, and live audience demonstrations across Ontario and beyond.
Her philosophy is straightforward: intuition is a skill, not a gift, and it can be developed with practice. That philosophy runs through her debut book, The Intuitive Arts: A Guide to Psychic & Mediumship Development, which walks readers through exercises for recognizing and strengthening their own intuitive abilities.
Quinton’s In Person event at Indigo Barrie leans into the interactive side of her work. Expect brief remarks, then a signing line — and for the curious, a chance to ask the questions you would only ask a medium in person.
Candace Laing: Canadian Chamber CEO Debuts First Book
- Thursday, October 22, 2026, 6:00 PM — Toronto, ON (Indigo Bay & Bloor)
- Friday, October 23, 2026, 8:00 PM — Ottawa, ON (Indigo Pinecrest)
Candace Laing is the President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, a role she took on on September 1, 2024. She first joined the Chamber’s board in 2019 and served as board chair from 2022 until her appointment as CEO.
Before joining the Chamber she spent more than ten years at Nutrien, where she led the sustainability and human resources functions as a member of the executive leadership team. Laing grew up in Saskatchewan, where her family maintains a longstanding farming operation.
Girl, You Got This! How to Thrive in Work and Life is her first book and is published by Burman/G&D, with a release in October 2026.
The first event, “In Conversation: Candace Laing & Arlene Dickinson,” takes place on Thursday, October 22, at Indigo Bay & Bloor, 55 Bloor St. W, Toronto, ON. Doors open at 5:30 PM EDT and the conversation begins at 6:00 PM EDT, with two ticket tiers: $35.99 CAD General Admission plus a book (Girl, You Got This) and $21.99 CAD General Admission.
The second event, “In Conversation: Candace Laing & Patricia Boal,” takes place on Friday, October 23, at Indigo Pinecrest, 2735 Iris Street, Ottawa, ON. Doors open at 7:30 PM EDT and the conversation begins at 8:00 PM EDT, with two ticket tiers: $39.99 CAD General Admission plus a book (Girl, You Got This) and $21.99 CAD General Admission.
Harley Finkelstein: Kids’ Event With Heather Reisman
Harley Finkelstein is an entrepreneur, lawyer, and the President of Shopify.
He founded his first company at 17 while a student at McGill, completed his law degree and MBA at the University of Ottawa, and appeared as one of the “Dragons” on CBC’s Next Gen Den.
We Can Be Entrepreneurs is his children’s book, published in hardcover and illustrated by Evan Sharma. This event is designed for kids ages 6 and up and pairs Finkelstein with Heather Reisman, Indigo’s CEO, who read the book together at the store.
The event, “In Conversation: Harley Finkelstein & Heather Reisman,” takes place on Saturday, October 24, at Indigo Bay & Bloor, 55 Bloor St. W, Toronto, ON. Doors open at 10:30 AM EDT and the reading begins at 11:00 AM EDT, and children also take part in a hands-on activity. Ticket tiers are built around the number of children attending with one book.
The $17.49 CAD tier covers one book and two children, the $14.99 CAD tier covers one book and three children, and the $24.99 CAD tier is sold out.
Mary Berg: Comfort Food Cookbook Event in Ottawa
Mary Berg won Season 3 of MasterChef Canada and now serves as a judge on the show. She hosts The Good Stuff with Mary Berg and Mary Makes It Easy, and she is the bestselling and award-winning author of Kitchen Party, Well Seasoned, and In Mary’s Kitchen.
Mary’s Comfort Classics: Food to Fill Your Plate is her fourth cookbook, published by Appetite by Random House. It collects the recipes that bring Berg and her loved ones the most comfort, including what she calls “comfort core” dishes such as mac and cheese, biscuits, and meatballs, which receive their own sections with multiple flavour variations.
The book also includes golden-brown baked dishes, vegetable-forward recipes, and cheesy, starchy favourites, with a range that runs from celebratory feasts to meals for an off day.
The event, “In Conversation: Mary Berg,” celebrates the new cookbook and takes place on Saturday, October 24, at Indigo Pinecrest, 2735 Iris Street, Ottawa, ON. Doors open at 12:30 PM EDT and the conversation begins at 1:00 PM EDT. This event is sold out.
Chris Hadfield: The Astronaut Signing Final Orbit in Guelph
- Saturday, October 24, 2026, 1:00 PM — Guelph, ON (Indigo Guelph) — In Person
- Saturday, October 24, 2026, 2:00 PM — Guelph, ON (Indigo Guelph) — In Person
Chris Hadfield needs little introduction.
Colonel Chris Hadfield is a retired astronaut, engineer, and fighter pilot, and the first Canadian to command the International Space Station. Across three spaceflights, he became one of the most recognizable faces of space exploration — and then he turned to fiction.
Final Orbit is the third book in his Apollo Murders thriller series, following The Apollo Murders and Final Orbit‘s predecessors into the high-stakes world of Cold War space intrigue. The series blends Hadfield’s firsthand knowledge of spacecraft and mission procedure with propulsive spy-thriller plotting.
Both Guelph sessions are In Person signings at Indigo Guelph in Stone Road Mall. The 1:00 PM session lists General Admission plus book and General Admission tiers, while the 2:00 PM session offers $10.00 CAD General Admission and a $34.99 CAD General Admission plus paperback copy of Final Orbit. Doors open 30 minutes before each session.
Sophie Li: Debut Graphic Novel Event in Burnaby
Sophie Li is a Chinese Canadian author-illustrator based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Last Night I Dreamed of Home is her debut graphic novel, published by W. W. Norton and scheduled for release on October 20, 2026.
The story follows two college freshmen, Alice and Haoran, as they deal with coursework, new friends, first love, and their Chinese heritage.
Alice arrives at college after botching the only exam that matters in China, and she is eager to party like the North Americans she has seen on TV. Haoran wants a business degree and must graduate and find a stable job in return for the money his father spent sending him overseas, although he has a nagging itch to draw a comic book.
An unlikely friendship begins over burnt cooking, a stuck elevator, and late-night bubble tea, and it promises to become something more unless their differences drive them apart.
The event, “In Conversation: Sophie Li,” celebrates the book’s release and takes place on Saturday, October 24, at Indigo Metrotown, 4700 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC. Doors open at 3:00 PM PDT and the conversation begins at 3:30 PM PDT. Two ticket tiers are available: free General Admission and $24.95 CAD General Admission plus a book.
Jeremy Hansen: Artemis II Astronaut on Earthrise
Jeremy Hansen is a Canadian Space Agency astronaut and a mission specialist on the Artemis II crew, alongside commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Christina Koch.
The four-person crew flew the nine-day mission in April 2026, becoming the first people to go around the moon in more than 50 years and travelling farther from Earth than any humans before them, at more than 406,000 kilometres.
Earthrise: A Canadian Astronaut’s Journey Into Deep Space is published by HarperCollins Canada on October 27, 2026, and was written by John Larsen based on extensive interviews with Hansen. The book is an account of the mission and of the years of training that Hansen completed to prepare for it, including the path that led to his lifelong goal of becoming an astronaut.
The event, “In Conversation: Jeremy Hansen & Heather Reisman,” pairs Hansen with Heather Reisman, Indigo’s founder and CEO, on the book’s publication day. It takes place on Tuesday, October 27, at TIFF Lightbox, 350 King Street West, Toronto, ON. Doors open at 6:00 PM EDT and the conversation begins at 7:00 PM EDT.
Two ticket tiers are available: $58.99 CAD General Admission plus a book, which includes one signed copy of Earthrise: A Canadian Astronaut’s Journey Into Deep Space, and $32.99 CAD General Admission.
Brad Gushue: Olympic Champion Curler’s Memoir Event
Brad Gushue was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, and played minor hockey until age 13, when he became drawn to curling.
He won the 2001 World Junior Curling Championship and led Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Over more than 25 years of competing at the highest level, he skipped his team to a record-setting six Brier titles and represented Canada at numerous international championships.
Gushue: The Making of a Champion is his memoir, written with award-winning journalist Stephen Brunt. The book reflects on his life and career, including the geographical challenges of competing from Newfoundland and Labrador, decisions about his team roster, and his final competitive season.
It also offers his opinions on the future of curling, what it means to be a leader, the importance of family, and the influence of the people and landscape of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The event, “In Person: Brad Gushue,” celebrates the memoir and takes place on Wednesday, October 28, at Coles Corner Brook Plaza, 44 Maple Valley Road, Corner Brook, NL. Doors open at 5:30 PM NDT and the event begins at 6:00 PM NDT.
The ticket is $38.99 CAD General Admission plus a book, and the book included is one copy of Gushue: The Making of a Champion in a signed edition.
Manuel Garand: Solving Murdoku Puzzles in Montreal
Manuel Garand is a puzzlemaker from Montreal whose puzzles have appeared in the Financial Times. He lives with his wife, Cindy, who was the first to get hooked on his puzzles, and their two young sons.
Murdoku Volume 3: Around the World: 80 Murder Mystery Logic Puzzles is published by Puzzlewright Press on October 27, 2026. Murdoku puzzles combine features of Japanese-style logic puzzles such as sudoku with the storytelling of classic grid logic problems. Each grid is its own crime scene with rooms, furniture, plants, animals, suspects, and a victim, and solvers use the clues to place each suspect and reveal the killer.
In Volume 3, the investigations take place on every continent, including Antarctica, and the publisher notes that each book in the series is designed so a beginner can jump in.
The event, “In Person: Manuel Garand,” celebrates the release of Volume 3 and takes place on Wednesday, October 28, at Indigo Place Montreal Trust, 1500 Avenue McGill College, Montreal, QC. Doors open at 6:30 PM EDT and the event begins at 7:00 PM EDT. Attendees complete a Murdoku logic puzzle in store alongside its creator, and the event runs in English only.
Get Tickets to October’s Indigo Author Events Across Canada
October at Indigo is a genuine cross-section of what Canadian readers are reaching for right now — astronauts and actors, chefs and Olympic curlers, Stoic philosophers and fantasy debuts, bestselling romance and thriller authors, and memoirists with remarkable stories to tell.
Whether you want the structure of an In Conversation interview or the proximity of an In Person signing and meet-and-greet, the month offers a rare chance to hear the story behind the book and walk away with a signed copy.
Tickets are capped small at most stops, so if one of these events is near you, book early and make it official. Buy your tickets through Ticketscene and support your local Indigo store while you’re at it.
Please buy tickets by clicking on the date/location underneath the author’s name.
