The response to the announcement of the Elora Writers’ Festival’s 2009 line-up of authors has been a bit challenging, according to festival organizing committee member Michael Hale.
"This year, the festival is celebrating its 15th anniversary and we’re starting to feel a few growing pains," said Hale. "The early demand for tickets is very encouraging, but it’s a two-edged sword; we don’t want to end up turning people away at the door."
So the venue this year has been moved to a larger facility at Heritage River retirement residence at 25 Wellington Drive (at the top of Cuthbert Street) in Elora.
At 1pm on June 7, the festival will feature readings by six authors: Governor General’s award winner, Nino Ricci; 2008 Giller prize nominee, Anthony De Sa; Sandra Sabatini; Andrew Hood; Susanna Kearsley; and poet Jill Battson.
The arrangements for the dinner portion of the day (at around 5pm) provided by gourmet chef Roger Dufau of Elora’s Drew House, remain unchanged.
"We would never meddle with that," said Hale. "It has made our festival truly distinctive. It’s hard to improve on the notion of sitting down to a sumptuous meal at Drew House elbow-to-elbow with great writers and discerning readers."
Tickets are available at Roxanne’s Reflections Book & Card Shop, 152 St. Andrew Street West, Fergus (phone 519-843-4391) and are $15 per person for the readings, and $60 per person (tax & gratuity included) for readings and dinner at Drew House.
For more information visit www.artscouncil.elora.on.ca.
