Two prominent figures in contemporary literature will share the stage in Toronto this September as bestselling author Jodi Picoult joins Canadian writer Margaret Atwood for a special conversation at TD Music Hall.
Presented by Massey Hall, the event will take place on September 9, 2026, at 7 p.m. at TD Music Hall, 178 Victoria Street in downtown Toronto. Award-winning author and veteran broadcast journalist Carol Off will moderate the discussion, which coincides with Picoult’s promotion of her new novel, Hollow Bones.
Tickets go on sale August 21 at 10 a.m. ET, with every ticket purchase including a copy of the new book.
Jodi Picoult Brings New Novel ‘Hollow Bones’ to Toronto
Picoult, a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author, will use the Toronto appearance to introduce Canadian readers to Hollow Bones, her latest novel.
The book moves between past and present while exploring the stories people construct about their lives, the decisions made during periods of crisis and the complicated relationships connecting mothers and daughters.
The event will combine discussion of the new novel with a broader literary conversation between Picoult and Atwood, bringing together two authors whose work has frequently examined social issues, personal relationships and difficult moral questions.
Every Ticket Includes a Copy of ‘Hollow Bones’
Organizers are incorporating the book directly into the event package, with each ticket holder receiving a copy of Hollow Bones at TD Music Hall.
Those who purchase tickets but are unable to attend will still be eligible to collect their copy for up to 30 days following the event.
The format adds a publishing component to the live programme as authors and publishers increasingly use theatre appearances, moderated conversations and book-inclusive ticket packages to connect major releases with readers.
Picoult and Atwood Bring Extensive Publishing Careers to the Stage
Picoult has written 30 novels, including By Any Other Name, Wish You Were Here, The Book of Two Ways, A Spark of Light, Small Great Things, Leaving Time and My Sister’s Keeper.
She also co-authored Mad Honey with Jennifer Finney Boylan and collaborated with her daughter, Samantha van Leer, on the young adult novels Between the Lines and Off the Page. Picoult lives in New Hampshire with her husband.
Atwood, meanwhile, is one of Canada’s most internationally recognised literary figures and has written more than 50 books spanning fiction, poetry and critical essays.
Her novels include Cat’s Eye, The Robber Bride, Alias Grace and The Blind Assassin, alongside the MaddAddam trilogy. Her 1985 novel The Handmaid’s Tale was followed in 2019 by The Testaments, which became a global No. 1 bestseller and won the Booker Prize.
Margaret Atwood’s Career Includes Major International Honours
Atwood’s career has brought numerous international honours, including the Franz Kafka Prize, PEN America Lifetime Achievement Award, Dayton Literary Peace Prize and Peace Prize of the German Book Trade.
She has also received the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Imagination in Service to Society. In 2019, Atwood was made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to literature. She lives in Toronto.
Carol Off to Moderate September Conversation
The evening will be moderated by Carol Off, whose journalism career includes nearly 16 years as co-host of CBC Radio’s As It Happens.
Before joining the programme, Off reported extensively from Canada and abroad, covering politics in Ottawa and Quebec as well as major international developments including the breakup of Yugoslavia, the September 11 attacks and the election of Vladimir Putin.
Off is also the author of several works of narrative non-fiction. Her first bestselling book, The Lion, The Fox and the Eagle: A Story of Generals and Justice in Yugoslavia and Rwanda, was published in 2000. Her later book, All We Leave Behind: A Reporter’s Journey into the Lives of Others, won the British Columbia National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction.
Tickets Go on Sale August 21
Public ticket sales for the Picoult and Atwood event begin at 10 a.m. ET on August 21, with membership pre-sales also available.
The September programme adds another high-profile literary event to Toronto’s cultural calendar, pairing the launch of Picoult’s latest work with a conversation involving two internationally established authors and one of Canada’s veteran broadcast journalists.