Jennifer Gillies,
Artistic Director

Jennifer Gillies has been with the gritLIT Festival for 17 years – as a volunteer, operations team member, co-chair and, since the organization incorporated in 2010, as the Artistic Director. She has worked as an ESL (English Second Language) teacher, both in Hamilton and in South Korea, as a freelance writer and editor, and a creative writing instructor. She currently teaches an Intro to Creative Writing class at Sheridan College in Mississauga. Jennifer was a recipient of the 2021 City of Hamilton Arts Creator award for her work with gritLIT.

Favourite quote this year: “A writer is someone who has taught his mind to misbehave,” Oscar Wilde.

Lishai Peel,
Executive Director, Finance

Award winning writer, community engaged artist and consultant, Lishai Peel has over a decade of experience working in the arts and culture sector in Toronto and Hamilton. Alongside being a working artist, Lishai has worked with various institutions and youth serving organizations, supporting them to think through matters of access, representation and equity in the arts. Her writing has won awards with The Malahat Review, The Vancouver Writer’s Fest and The Writers’ Trust of Canada. Her work can be found in Room Magazine, Lilith Magazine, Hey Alma, Middleground Magazine, Arc Poetry Magazine, The Malahat Review, Illanot Review and others. Lishai has an MFA in creative writing at Guelph University and works as the Executive Director of Finance for gritLIT, Hamilton’s literary festival.

Jessica Rose,
Interim Artistic Director,
Marketing Manager

When Jessica first started with gritLIT in 2013 as a committee member, it was only the beginning. She is a former Board Member and has been acting as the Marketing Manager since 2019. One of her most memorable festival moments was in 2015 when gritLIT hosted Richard Wagamese and she got to host his literary salon.

Outside of gritLIT, Jessica’s work as a writer, editor, and book reviewer has appeared in publications across Canada. She is working on a children’s non-fiction book scheduled to be released in early 2024. You can find Jes at jesrose.ca.

Favourite book/genre/literary quote: “Why can't I write something that would awake the dead? That pursuit is what burns most deeply.” ― Patti Smith, Just Kids

Jennifer Rawlinson,
Festival Assistant

Wanting to be more involved with the literary community in Hamilton, Jennifer joined the gritLIT team in 2018. Her most memorable moment thus far has been either when she was volunteering in the hospitality suite and listening to the conversations between authors who were hanging out, or when Vivek Shraya thanked her for spending $100 on books.

Outside of gritLIT, Jennifer works as the Production Coordinator for Wolsak and Wynn and the Digital Editor for the Hamilton Review of Books.

Favourite book/genre/literary quote: “My favourite type of book to read is anything that gets weird. I loved Bellevue Square by Michael Redhill, The Tiger Flu by Larissa Lai, Bunny by Mona Awad, and so many others.”

Paige Petrovsky,
Marketing Team

Paige covered the gritLIT festival for a school project in 2016 during her first year of Mohawk College’s Journalism program (this also happens to be her favourite festival memory). She has been hooked ever since. 

Aside from volunteering with gritLIT, Paige works as a Copywriter for the Mohawk Students’ Association. She is also the owner of Preserve Your Words – a biography writing service.

Favourite book/genre/literary quote: “Standing there, staring at the long shelves crammed with books, I felt myself relax and was suddenly at peace.” ― Helene Hanff, Q's Legacy: A Delightful Account of a Lifelong Love Affair with Books

Diane Elliot,
Volunteer Management

Diane is a retired educator who has been involved with gritLIT for five years. Some of her best gritLIT moments have been working with the volunteers and introducing many to the joys of a literary festival. When she isn't catching up on years of neglected reading with a huge TBR list, she can be found at local parks and trails with her binoculars observing birds.  

Joe Criger,
Stage Management

Joe got involved with gritLIT during the spring of 2019.

One of his most memorable moments during the festival occurred when he was running sound for an event Vivek Shraya was hosting with Arielle Twist and Téa Mutonji reading from their most recent works. “Arielle Twist read a poem of hers about growing up lonely and depressed in Winnipeg and it was the first time I can remember being so deeply affected by poetry.”

Favourite book/genre/literary quote: Joe gravitates towards Stephen King. However, “Other than those, I have a real weird soft spot for trashy novellas about young marketing professionals.”

Aside from gritLIT, Joe works as office manager for a court reporting firm in downtown Hamilton. In his spare time, he enjoys playing Magic: the Gathering and film criticism and is trying to get back to jogging regularly.

Rachel Nowak,
Stage Management

While studying at McMaster, Rachel was looking for ways to get more involved in the Hamilton literature scene and discovered gritLIT through a friend. Outside of gritLIT, Rachel is a Subject Matter Expert for Intuit Canada, does a lot of trivia, enjoys coffee, and watching TV. 

Her most memorable festival moment occurred a few years ago: “The panel with Vivek Shreya speaking with Arielle Twist and Téa Mutonji. Just a group of intelligent, funny women discussing their books, which were all incredible.”

Favourite book/genre/literary quote: “I've been sitting on this because this question is overwhelming.”

Nichole Fanara

Nichole Fanara is a writer and high school teacher living in Hamilton, Ontario. She has been published in Hamilton Arts and Letters and volunteers with gritLit to help promote literacy in the city and has been a featured author at the event. When taking a break from collecting pineapple artefacts, Nichole choreographs and participates in local musical theatre. In the Moment is Nichole’s debut book.

Paige Maylott,
Writing Contest Manager

Paige joined the gritLIT team in the fall of 2021. She is a local author and winner of the Hamilton Arts & Letters Award for Creative Non-Fiction. Represented by Chelene Knight of Transatlantic agency, Paige’s upcoming memoir, My Body is Distant features topics of digital identity, gender transition, and critical illness. Paige’s book is set for release on September 2023 through ECW Press.

A lifelong resident of Hamilton, Paige collects rabbit paraphernalia, retro games of the 80s and 90s and is surrounded by an adorable, but demanding, menagerie of furry friends. You can find her website at: paigemaylott.com

Favourite book/quote: "You know how you let yourself think that everything will be all right if you can only get to a certain place or do a certain thing. But when you get there you find it's not that simple." – Richard Adams, Watership Down.

Susan Lagacy,
Box Office