Books & Beer II: Yup, we're doing it again!

  

Questions? Need tickets? 

Drop in to Roxanne's Reflections, 

152 St. Andrew St. W., Fergus, 

or call 519-843-4391
Email us at:
elorawritersfestival@gmail.com

The 2016 EWF Short Story Contest is open for business!

Our annual writing contest is back! Need details? See below....

Come on! Get going! 

Category	Who/Word count	Prizes (1st, 2nd, 3rd)	Entry Fee
Adult*	Age 20+ 2000 words maximum	$200, $150, $100	$15/each entry
Teen**	Age 15-19 2000 words maximum	$200, $150, $100	None
Youth**	Age 14-under 1000 words maximum	$150, $100, $50	None

* Open to writers age 20+ who reside in Canada

**Open to young writers who reside in Wellington, Waterloo, Dufferin, Halton and

 Hamilton-Wentworth counties/regions

Here’s what you need to know about your entry:

·       Sorry, no emailed entries

·       Include your Title Page: category, story title, writer’s name, address, email (Youth/Teen writers may use parent or teacher email for contact information). 

·       Include your Story with title (writer’s name should not appear on any page of story). There's no theme, so anything goes.

·       Adult Category: Please include entry fee of $15 (Cheque to Elora Arts Council)

·       Teen and Youth Categories: Please indicate age on title page

·       Deadline: Postmarked by Wednesday, April 6, 2016

·       Shortlisted authors will be contacted for electronic copy

Send double-spaced, printed entries (with $15 entry fee for Adult category) to:

EWF Short Story Contest, c/o Elora Arts Council, Box 3084, Elora ON N0B 1S0

Winners will be announced 12 p.m. ET, Sunday, May 22, 2016 on the Elora Writers’ Festival blogsite http://elorawritersfestival.blogspot.com and will have the opportunity to have their winning stories published on our blogsite.

Winners will also be announced - and prizes presented to any winners present - during the intermission of Festival2016, Sunday, May 29, 2016. And no, you don't have to be present to receive your prize.

Get going! Get running! Get writing!

Questions? Contact:  Jean Mills, Contest Chair, at EWFwritingcontest@gmail.com

Festival 2016: Stay tuned!

The Elora Writers’ Festival Committee is hard at work lining up our usual fabulous line-up of authors for Festival 2016. Yes, we know that funny-guy Terry Fallis and Canadian publishing icon DouglasGibson will be joining us. And local Sci-Fi/Fantasy writer J.M. Frey. And all the way from Vancouver, noir mystery writer Dietrich Kalties. And – well, stay tuned for more news. Coming soon…!

We’re already looking ahead to Festival 2016 – and so should you!

Does May 2016 seem just too far away?

Not to us!

The Festival committee is already hard at work, talking to authors, looking for sponsors (Interested? Let us know!), making some changes and getting excited about what is going to be a fantastic afternoon of books, readings and schmoozing in literary luxury on Sunday, May 29 in Aboyne Hall at the Wellington County Museum and Archives. 

We’ve already lined up two terrific authors. (Keep reading…)

And we’re talking about hosting our second annual Books & Beer event this winter too. Details TBA.

Okay, so, Festival 2016:

We’re changing up the format a bit. No more standing like wallflowers at a dance, gathered awkwardly around the perimeter of the hall, trying to juggle wine glasses, delicious snacks and a coherent Q&A with the authors during the post-reading reception. This year, our five authors will take over the stage – together! – for the last session of the afternoon.

Don’t worry – there will be food! But this year you’ll be able to sit comfortably and enjoy the fun. And yes, there will still be lots of opportunities to chat with the authors, up close and personal, throughout the afternoon.

As soon as last year’s festival ended, the committee was already talking about who to invite this year, and there was one name we all agreed on: a two-time presenter, a wonderful reader, and a terrific author too! Stephen Leacock Award-winner Terry Fallis will join us for the third time (apparently he loves coming to Elora as much as we love having him!). His latest comic novel, Poles Apart, comes out October 20.

We’ve also lined up Douglas Gibson, editor, publisher and author of the memoir Across Canada by Story: A Coast-to-Coast Literary Adventure (which, incidentally, is also a stage show) to share his insider knowledge of the Canadian literary icons he’s worked with over the course of a 40-year career in publishing. (Will he dish some dirt on his friend Terry Fallis? We shall see...)

Our committee said good-bye to long-time members Patricia Reimer and David Campbell, but new faces have joined us around the table, and new ideas are burbling. We’ll introduce our revamped committee soon.

Some things will not change, of course: our commitment to providing an afternoon of entertaining, thought-provoking readings by Canadian authors; our invitation to meet the authors face-to-face and buy their books at our on-site Festival bookstore (provided by Roxanne’s Reflections of Fergus); and our promise that you’ll have a unique and rewarding afternoon as part of the best little literary festival in Ontario (OK. Bragging a little….!)

And don’t forget the EWF Writing Contest! Some things are untouchable, and the contest falls into that category. Writers of all ages – get working on those short stories. We’ll kick things off later this fall.

It’s October and we’re already looking ahead to May 29, 2016. Hope you are too.

Feeling nostalgic? Here's a look back...

Author Brad Smith (right) on the Q&A hot seat with Festival quizmaster,
Dave Beynon at January's Books & Beer event at the Drew House in Elora.

Mystery writer Ian Hamilton in action at the 2015 Festival (later we surprised him
with a chorus of Happy Birthday and big, very big, cake...)

At Festival 2015, Kim Moritsugu left us laughing - during her reading,
and later in the Q&A.

In 2014, graphic novelist Scott Chantler wowed us with his tales
of war heroes.

Hey! Isn't that Terry Fallis (far right)? Yup. The year was 2013, and Terry
was making his second appearance at our festival. Here, he's joined
by fellow authors (left to right) Carrie Snyder, Robert Rotenberg and
Festival Contest sponsor, Ron MacKinnon.

Guess what happened during the Intermission of Festival 2015...! (Hint: Think "writing contest")

Festival 2015 was a huge success - but so was our annual writing contest, and we had an opportunity to recognize and honour our winners during the Intermission (to great applause from audience and authors!)

The results of this year's contest can be found here: 2015 EWF Short Story Contest Winners

Contest Chair Jean Mills with Anna Armstrong, who won an
Honourable Mentionin the Adult category for her story "To the Island and Back"
(Photo Dale Mills)

Melanie Scott is presented with Second Prize in the Adult category
for her story "The Surrogate"
(Photo Dale Mills)

But that list doesn't begin to describe the excitement - and sometimes astonishment! - of the accomplished writers whose stories were selected by our panels of judges.

And speaking of judges, let's take a moment to acknowledge their efforts in reading, considering and selecting the winners. They told me judging was a real challenge because of the many excellent stories to choose from.

The incredible line-up of judges this year included Kitchener-Waterloo writers Sharon Blomfield, whose travel articles have appeared in many Canadian and international publications, Lisa MacColl, a busy freelancer and blogger, and Heather Wright, author of a series of fantasy novels for kids as well as three writing guidebooks, including Writing Fiction: A Hands-On Guide for Teens. Also among the judges were Guelph’s Kira Vermond, whose books for young readers, The Secret Life of Money and Growing up Inside and Out were nominated for the OLA’s Red Maple award; short story author LisaMcLean; Guelph poet and author Bieke Stengos; playwright and author Heather Debling; Wellington Advertiser award-winning columnist Kelly Waterhouse; and Fergus’s Lisa Dalrymple, author of the children’s picture book Skink on the Brink. 

Oh yes - and let's not forget another valuable member of our judging panel: 2015 Elora Writers' Festival author Barbara Kyle!

Our sponsors also deserve a round of applause. The Elora Arts Council has sponsored our Teen writing category for many years, an indication of how much creative writing matters to our local arts community and its leaders. And every year, the Community Resource Centre of North and Centre Wellington shows its support for youth literacy and creativity by sponsoring our Youth category. We are grateful for the generosity and support from these two organizations.

In the week before the Festival, I had the opportunity to visit a school in Waterloo Region to meet three young writers who had won prizes in the Youth category. Yes, three writers from one school, all in the top five!

And in the week after the Festival, a teacher at another school contacted me to ask if her class could read the winning entries - so that they could have a better idea of what to work on for next year's contest. (After receiving approval from some of the winning writers, I sent those stories along. One teacher who helped facilitate the process said: "The girls were beaming with pride!")

Creative writing is important. That's what our little contest is all about. Thanks to everyone who contributed in some way - writers, teachers, parents, judges and those of you who applauded so enthusiastically while the winners were announced and prizes presented. 

Stay tuned for news of our 2016 contest!

Festival 2015: Great stories, great moments - and a great big cake!

You had to be there.

The authors shared stories and read to us. The audience laughed - and cried, too. Prizes were awarded to contest winners, wine was drunk, finger foods were devoured, questions were asked and answered. And there was even a birthday cake!

But that's just the short version.

If you were one of the lucky participants at the 21st Elora Writers' Festival, which took place yesterday (May 24) at the Wellington Country Museum and Archives in Aboyne, Ont., you know what a rich and rewarding afternoon it was for everyone in attendance.

Thank you Barbara Kyle, for sharing your research adventures (who knew that men could walk and pee at the same time?). And Clifford Jackman, for your advice to budding writers ("Don't do it. And if that's enough to stop you, you probably shouldn't be a writer"). And Kim Moritsugu for a story about a family adventure that made us laugh, and Tasneem Jamal for for a story about a family adventure that made us cry. And Michael Hale for taking us to other dimensions. And Ian Hamilton for spending your birthday - and the kick-ass Ava Lee - with us. (Yes, there was cake. A really, really, big cake!)

Our committee - Patricia Reimer, David Campbell, Roxanne Beale (resident bookseller and Mistress of Ceremonies extraordinaire!), Marilyn Kleiber, Dave Beynon and Jean Mills - thanks our generous sponsors and supporters, as well as our featured authors and our wonderful guests for another afternoon to remember.

Stay tuned for news about Festival 2016!

In the meantime, here's a taste of Festival 2015...

We're ready for Barbara Kyle, Clifford Jackman, Kim Moritsugu...

...Michael Hale, Tasneem Jamal and Ian Hamilton!
(With thanks to our friends at Little Tree Garden Market for
the beautiful floral arrangements around the hall!)

Roxanne Beale (left), our resident bookseller and Mistress of Ceremonies,
finalizes the Festival Bookshop with assistant, Mimi

Author Kim Moritsugu heads into Aboyne Hall, as guests check in
at the ticket table, under the watchful eye of EWF Committee
member Patricia Reimer (left)

And there's Ian Hamilton, already chatting with fans!

Barbara Kyle, author of The Traitor's Daughter, shares stories of research
and adventure - and acorns and pinecones, too...

Cliff Jackman, author of The Winter Family, takes
us to a wild, wild West...

Kim Moritsugu, author of the Oakdale Dinner Club, knows how to
make the most of a well-placed potato bug...

Want to buy a book and have the author sign it? Yup. We've got
that covered (as Barbara Kyle and a happy fan demonstrate during
the intermission)

Tasneen Jamal (left), author of Where the Air is Sweet,  chills with some fans
 (including husband, Craig Daniels) during the intermission...

...and then she sends chills down our spines with the
brave story of her family's adventure in Africa

Michael Hale, author of A Fold in the Tent of the Sky,
takes us to some other dimensions

Ian Hamilton, author of The Water Rat of Wanchai and seven other
Ava Lee mysteries, takes us into the world of Chinese Triads
and a heroine who gets the job done

And then we all celebrate with a chorus of Happy Birthday, and....

... a cake! (Which we all shared. Yum!)

Michael Hale offers advice to budding writers
during the Q&A session, led by EWF Committee member, Dave Beynon

Cliff Jackman's advice to budding writers: "Don't do it.
And if that's enough to stop you, you probably shouldn't
be a writer."

Kim Moritsugu (in her third visit to our Festival!) shares her insights into the
life of a writer - and makes us laugh!

The Elora Writers' Festival - we're small, and intimate,
and friendly, and fun. And you won't
go home hungry, either. Just ask any of our authors and guests.
Maybe you'll be in this photograph next year....?

Announcing the 2015 EWF Short Story Contest winners!

Our contest always generates lots of buzz, and this year was no different. The three panels of judges had to work hard to make their final selections – lots of great stories, they said!

But the decisions have finally been made and here they are, the winners of the 2015 EWF Short Story Contest:

YOUTH (age 14 and under)
Sponsored by the Community Resource Centre of North and Centre Wellington

(Judges: Lisa Dalrymple, Lisa MacColl, Kira Vermond)

First Prize

Jasmine Moroz for Drizella Tremain

Second Prize

Grace Huntley for Adventures as a Fish

Third Prize

Manuela Morgan for Mystical Mystery

Honourable Mentions

Madeline Vukovic for Cut Away

Jonah Doupe for My Formula One Car

TEEN (age 15-19)
Sponsored by the Elora Arts Council

(Judges: Heather Wright, Heather Debling)

First Prize

Emily Vaillancourt for Peanut Butter

Second Prize

Brittany Helena Tenhage for The Magical World in Brian’s Book

Third Prize

Claris Lam for Level Up

Honourable Mentions

Michaela Beam for Untold Story

David Botros for The Streetlamp in the Desert

ADULT (age 20 and older)

(Judges: Barbara Kyle, Bieke Stengos, Lisa McLean, Kelly Waterhouse, Sharon Blomfield)

First Prize

J.C. Hobson for A Coyote Summer

Second Prize

Melanie Scott for The Surrogate

Third Prize

Rita Bailey for Closer

Honourable Mentions

Anna Armstrong for To the Island and Back

Beverley Burgess Bell for The Elephant’s Pearls

Congratulations to the contest winners, and a special thank-you to our hard-working judges. 

Thanks also to our two sponsors, The Community Resource Centre of North and Centre Wellington, and the Elora Arts Council, two organizations that join us in recognizing the importance of supporting and encouraging young writers.

During the intermission of the 2015 Elora Writers’ Festival on Sunday, May 24 (1-4 p.m.), any winners in attendance will receive their prizes – along with a big round of applause from the Festival audience and authors.

And speaking of the Festival authors, here’s our fantastic line-up, in case you missed it:

Barbara Kyle, The Traitor’s Daughter (historical fiction)

Cliff Jackman, The Winter Family  (a Western with a dark side)

Kim Moritsugu, The Oakdale Dinner Club (suburban comedy of manners)

Michael Hale, A Fold in the Tent of the Sky (speculative/fantasy fiction)

Tasneem Jamal, Where the Air is Sweet (contemporary fiction exploring the immigrant experience)

Ian Hamilton, The King of Shanghai, the most recent in the wildly popular Ava Lee crime series (coming to CBC!)

Please join us at the Wellington County Museum and Archives for an afternoon of readings, an author-audience schmoozefest with nibbles and wine, and our famous Q&A with the authors. You can reserve and pick up tickets at Roxanne's Reflections Book and Card Shop in Fergus (Phone 519-843-4391) or by ordering online through the Theatre on the Grand box office (find the link to their ticketing website, here).