The Elora Writers’ Festival (EWF) is literally coming home.
“Past EWF writing contests attracted submissions from writers across North America and around the world, but this year … the focus is on celebrating the community that has faithfully shared in the annual afternoon readings,” festival chair Jean Mills said at the festival launch party on March 21 at Roxanne’s Reflections Book and Card Shop.
“Writers in Wellington, Waterloo, Dufferin, Halton, Grey-Bruce and Hamilton Wentworth counties and regions are encouraged to submit their short stories to the new and revamped 2014 EWF short story contest.”
The festival is also marking its 20th anniversary and winners will be announced on May 25 at the Aboyne Hall at the Wellington County Museum and Archives.
The event will also see authors read from their selected works and discuss topics with those attending the celebration.
“The Elora Writers’ Festival began in 1994 and over the past 20 years, we have had the honour of presenting authors from a wide range of genres and a wide range of disciplines, novelists, poets, biographers, journalists, screenwriters and playwrights,” festival committee member Roxanne Beale said at the launch.
“This year is no exception as our line-up of authors has something for everyone. There is romance, mystery, literary fiction, culinary specialists, award nominees, award winners and a cartoonist.”
Noted authors doing readings include Susanna Kearsley, Mary Swan, Andrew Pyper, Brad Smith, Anita Stewart and as a festival first, graphic novelist and illustrator Scott Chantler.
Beale also acknowledged Centre Wellington District High School student Jessica Holliday who designed the festival’s brochure.
The festival categories include adults 20 years and up, 2,000 words; teens, 14 to 19, 2,000 words; and youth, 13 and under, 1,000 words.
The “home” theme is left up to the interpretation of the individual writer and all submissions must be postmarked by April 4.
For more information on the festival and contest contact Jean Mills at EWFwritingcontest@gmail.com.
