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Townships Authors to Discover

Updated on Oct 3, 2023

They were born in the Townships or have lived here for many years… Who are these authors who find their inspiration in our region and offer us their captivating stories? We’re presenting you seven of these writers and some of their favourite places in the Townships.


©Jean-François Bérubé

Louise Penny

Best-selling author, Louise Penny has been a resident of the Eastern Townships for many years and finds inspiration in the region’s landscapes for writing her many sleuth stories. Her novels are translated in 29 languages and have received several awards.

Reading suggestions: The entire Armand Gamache investigates series. The action unfolds in the fictional town of Three Pines, deeply inspired by the village of Knowlton in the Eastern Townships.

In fact, you can even take the Three Pines Tour, a discovery circuit which will allow you to become better acquainted with the Townships locations that have inspired the author.


David Goudreault

A Sherbrooke native, David Goudreault is a novelist, poet and social worker. He can work a pen and juggle words like few others can and has received many literary awards for his poems and novels. He’s also very involved in the community for such causes as suicide prevention as well as with young people to encourage them to stay in school.

One of his favourites haunts the Townships? The Bois Beckett, one of only two protected forests in Québec, where he often goes to be dazzled by nature.

Reading suggestion: The trilogy La bête à sa mère in which the action unfolds in Sherbrooke.


Denys Leclaire

Author and physiotherapist, Denys Leclaire is also a seasoned cyclist who has taken on the challenge to cycle the entire pan-Canadian route. He’s been living and pedalling in the Eastern Townships since the late 1980s.

One of his favourite haunts in the Townships?The D’Argent lake in Eastman, a region he loves to explore on foot, by bike or by boat.

Reading suggestion: Pédaler en chien, a novel for young readers


Nathalie Roy

For more than 20 years, Nathalie Roy, originally from Sherbrooke, has worked in the field of communications and has several strings on her bow: journalist, researcher, reporter, columnist, scriptwriter and author. She has published several series and novels for the chick-lit crowd.

One of her favourite destinations in the Townships? Hébergement Aux Cinq Sens in Piopolis to spend a night in a yurt with the scent of the forest.

Reading suggestion: Ça peut pas être pire in which the plot unfolds mainly in a cottage by Lake Memphremagog.


Marilyne Fortin

Marilyne Fortin is a native of Saint-Denis-de-Brompton. It was while she was completing her master’s thesis in history that she got the idea for her first novel La Fabrica, published in 2014. She has since published two other books: L’anatonisme and Le potager.

One of her favourite places in the Townships? The Johnville Bog and Forest Park in Cookshire-Eaton where she love to wander on wooden walkways in the heart of nature.

Reading suggestion: Le potager in which the dystopian plot brings to mind, to a certain extent, the Covid-19 pandemic.


Johanne Seymour

After spending several years taking on different roles in theatre plays and television series, Johanne Seymour moved away from the stage to find herself behind the scenes where she directed different projects, and later she began writing romance novels. Originally from Montreal, she’s lived in the Eastern Townships for more than 15 years and finds her inspiration in the region she now calls home.

One of her favourite experiences in the Townships? The delicious lobster rolls served at the Knowlton Marina, where the view is simply breathtaking.

Reading suggestion: Le goût de l’élégance


Véronique Grenier

Véronique Grenier This college philosophy teacher is also the author of several poetry books and a novel. She’s also participated in a few collective projects. A resident of Sherbrooke, Véronique Grenier received the Mérite Estrien award in 2018, and the Conseil de la culture de l’Estrie Coup de cœur prize.

One of her favourite experiences in the Townships? The multi-sensory experience offered by the Musée des beaux-arts de Sherbrooke, a place where she can truly connect with the arts.

Reading suggestion: Hiroshimoi

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