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...
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| 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. |
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| 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...) |
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| At Festival 2015, Kim Moritsugu left us laughing - during her reading, and later in the Q&A. |
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| In 2014, graphic novelist Scott Chantler wowed us with his tales of war heroes. |
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| 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. |
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