Canada FBM2020, the body governing Canada’s role as Guest of Honour at October’s Frankfurt Book Fair, remains committed to the festival despite growing concern around the spread of COVID-19.

Without fanfare, on March 13 the organization announced on its website the first 53 authors and illustrators of the anticipated 80 Canadians who will be featured in the festival’s literary delegation.

The lineup includes established global bestsellers such as Margaret Atwood and Esi Edugyan; literary award favourites such as André Alexis, Kate Harris, and Michael Cunningham; and children’s authors and illustrators such as Sydney Smith and Ashley Spires.

The Department of Canadian Heritage and Canada FBM2020 says they hope to promote the literary delegation through “traditional and social media platforms in Canada and in Germany.”

In a separate announcement, they underlined that they remain committed to the festival amid concerns about how plans might be impacted by COVID-19.