As the Elora Writers’ Festival draws nearer (May 29), according to Michael Hale, festival organizing committee member, attendees can look forward to “an afternoon of stimulating and thought-provoking readings by some of Canada’s most celebrated authors.”
The readings are from 1 to 4pm in Aboyne Hall at the Wellington County Museum and Archives.
“But that’s not all,” he said. “There’s the wonderful dinner afterwards – it’s become an essential part of our festival. Our chef this year is Derek Roberts, of Frabert’s Fresh Food here in Fergus.”
Tickets ($15) are available at the door, or at Roxanne’s Reflections Book and Card Shop at 152 St. Andrew Street West, Fergus (519-843-4391) and from Words Worth Books in Waterloo, 100 King St. S. Waterloo, or phone 519-884-2665).
Dinner tickets are $60 (tax and tip included) and can be reserved by phoning Roxanne’s at 519-843-4391.
This year’s event features six award-winning authors: Johanna Skibsrud (Giller prize winner 2010), Richard Greene (Governor General’s award winner for poetry 2010), Sarah Selecky (Chatelaine Magazine said “She could easily be the next Alice Monroe.”), Alison Pick, Cynthia Holz, and Guelph resident Nicholas Ruddock.
The festival’s writing competitions are also featured on May 29, with winners being announced in the open writing competition and the EWF young writers contest.
From 11am to noon in Aboyne Hall, young writers are welcomed by contest chairman Jean Mills for the presentation of prizes in the poetry and prose categories for Teen and junior writers. Young writers and their parents and teachers are invited to mingle with other writers and contest judges.
Later, during the intermission of the Elora Writers’ Festival, the open writing competition takes centre stage when Julia Browne announces the results and presents prizes to any winning writers in the audience.
In its eighth year, the competition draws entries from across Canada and beyond. With a more local focus, the young writers contest – now in its second year as a separate competition – continues to celebrate the efforts of young writers.
For more information visit http://elorawritersfestival.blogspot.com.
