One Book, One Milton

Heather O’Neill, author of Milton Public Library’s *One Book, One Milton* 2025 title, *The Capital of Dreams*.

Milton Public Library is pleased to announce that acclaimed Canadian author Heather O’Neill has been selected for the 2025 One Book, One Milton program.

Join us for An Evening with Heather O’Neill as she discusses her latest novel, The Capital of Dreams. This engaging event will provide insights into her writing process, the inspirations behind her work, and the themes explored in her novel.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, October 8th, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (Book signing to follow from 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM)
Location: FirstOntario Arts Centre, Milton – Mattamy Theatre
Tickets: Available online or in person at the FirstOntario Arts Centre Box Office starting March 26th for library cardholders and March 31st to the public.

About Heather O’Neill

Heather O’Neill is a celebrated novelist, short story writer, and essayist known for her distinctive storytelling and lyrical prose. Her works often explore themes of resilience, imagination, and survival.

Her previous novels include When We Lost Our Heads, The Lonely Hearts Hotel, Lullabies for Little Criminals, The Girl Who Was Saturday Night, and Daydreams of Angels. Her books have been recognized with numerous literary awards, including the Paragraphe Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction, and have been shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award, the Scotiabank Giller Prize, and the Women’s Prize for Fiction. O’Neill has also won CBC’s Canada Reads and the Danuta Gleed Award.

Born and raised in Montreal, she continues to captivate readers with her vivid imagination and compelling narratives.

Heather O’Neill’s latest novel, The Capital of Dreams, is a compelling dark fairytale that blends mythology with history in a story of war, survival, and personal discovery.

The novel follows Sofia Bottom, a young girl growing up in a small, forgotten European country where old myths and legends still hold power. As war looms over the capital, Sofia’s mother, a revered writer, entrusts her with smuggling a final manuscript to safety. When the journey takes an unexpected turn, Sofia is left to navigate a landscape torn apart by conflict, encountering lost children, soldiers, and the difficult choices between survival and kindness.

With her signature poetic style, O’Neill delivers a deeply moving novel that explores themes of loyalty, resilience, and the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Starting March 26th, hardcover copies of The Capital of Dreams will be available for $28 at all Milton Public Library branches. Each copy includes a bookplate signed by the author while supplies last.

Copies will also be available for borrowing at all library branches, with e-books and audiobooks accessible through Overdrive.

*The Capital of Dreams* will be available to purchase and borrow.

Ticket Information

Library members will have access to an exclusive pre-sale period from March 26th-30th (promo codes will be emailed on March 26th). Ticket sales will be open to the public starting March 31st.

Tickets and book bundles can be purchased online or in person through the FirstOntario Arts Centre Box Office.

Ticket Prices:

$25 General Admission
$48 Ticket + Book Bundle
$20 Library Members
$43 Library Member Ticket + Book Bundle

About One Book, One Milton

Now in its twelfth year, One Book, One Milton is Milton Public Library’s signature literary program, designed to bring the community together through the shared experience of reading and discussing a single book. The program has featured some of Canada’s most celebrated authors, including Margaret Atwood, Chris Hadfield, Sarah Polley, Waubgeshig Rice, Mark Critch, and Jagmeet Singh.

Through a variety of events and discussions, One Book, One Milton encourages engagement with literature that resonates with the community. Leading up to the main event, the library will host book discussions, writing workshops, and themed programs inspired by The Capital of Dreams.

Programs

Milton Public Library will be hosting a series of engaging programs inspired by The Capital of Dreams, exploring its themes of mythology, resilience, and survival. Stay tuned for details on all programming leading up to the main event.

One Book One Milton logo

Criteria

One Book, One Milton is a community-wide program.

A book selection committee comprised of Milton Public Library staff members consider the following criteria when choosing Milton’s read.

The One Book, One Milton book selection must:

Be written by a Canadian author
Have been written for an adult audience
Appeal to both men and women
Engage the reader
Generate a sense of excitement
Sustain a complex discussion
Raise issues of importance

Participate

One Book, One Milton is a community-wide program designed to encourage everyone in Milton to read the same book – similar to one really big book club.

One Book, One Milton engages the community through the shared experience of reading and discussing the same book: its contents, themes and relevance, as it relates to the Milton Community.

There are many ways to get involved and engaged in One Book, One Milton:

Read a copy of the book
Participate in various events and activities, including the author visit!

Read

You can borrow, download or purchase a copy of the selected book to read and enjoy. To borrow the book from Milton Public Library, visit us online or in person. You can also purchase a copy at any Milton Public Library location, or at the main event.

If you need help downloading the eBook, please let us know as we are happy to help!

Visit the library, call 905-875-2665, or email information@beinspired.ca for assistance.

Connect to other readers using the hashtag #onebookonemilton