Barb Brouwer
Donor
The way authors write and readers read has changed dramatically since the days of the pen and inkwell. But the ability of words to educate, to arouse emotions, or to transport readers to another time and another place remains the same.
This power of words is celebrated each year by the Shuswap Writers Association at the annual Word on the Lake Writers Festival – this year in beautiful downtown Sorrento.
From April 29 to May 1, 12 presenters will share their talent in casual sessions that include both skill-building workshops and open forums.
This year’s stellar cast includes:
• National and international award-winning author Gail Anderson-Dargatz writes bestselling books in many different genres, teaches and mentors. She will be a keynote speaker and present two workshops.
• Kelley Armstrong has published 31 fantasy novels, three mid-level fantasy novels and is the author of three mystery novels. She has also written several serial novels and short stories.
• With nearly 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, Anna Comfort O’Keeffe is a publisher at Douglas & McIntyre, leading the development of the company’s national publishing program.
• Charles Demers is an actor, author and voice actor. He is a regular performer on CBC Radio’s “The Debaters”, is one of the stars of two Emmy Award-winning Netflix animated series and his #1 selling iTunes Canada stand-up album was nominated for a 2018 Juno Award.
• Much-anticipated presenter and keynote speaker, Dr. Norma Dunning is a proud Inuk writer, scholar, researcher and grandmother. She is a professor at the University of Alberta and in 2021 she won the Governor General’s Award for her short story collection Tainna: The Unseen Ones.
• Scott Fitzgerald Gray is a fantasy and speculative fiction writer, fiction editor, story editor, and role-playing game editor and designer.
Anne Fleming is a novelist, poet and children’s author from British Columbia whose writings have been shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award, among others. She teaches at UBC’s Okanagan campus.
Kat Montagu’s latest book was released in paperback in December 2020 and was an Amazon bestseller in three categories within days. It is now used to teach screenwriting all over the world.
• Musician Ed Peekeekoot takes people on an extremely varied musical journey. His flamboyant guitar playing, stomping fiddle and haunting native flute are sprinkled with his Cree humor and philosophy.
• Jacqueline Turner is the author of a book of poetic philosophy that critics call “a quiet tornado: captivating, expansive and deeply moving on many levels”.
She is a writing specialist at Emily Carr University of Art + Design.
• Ian Weir is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter, television presenter and novelist.
• Sam Wiebe is the award-winning author of the Wakeland novels. His original film/TV projects have been picked up and his short stories have appeared in a variety of places.
Learn more about all the presenters and get festival details online at wordonthelakewritersfestival.com.
Early bird registration and accompanying savings end April 10. Those who register before the April 10 deadline will be entered into a draw for a gift basket containing $200 of local products. The draw will take place on April 11. Regular registration continues until April 24.
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