The Shuswap Association of Writer’s “Word on the Lake” is celebrating its 10th annual festival for readers, writers, speakers, and listeners May 24 to 26 at the Prestige Harbourfront Resort.
Organizers are billing this year as the biggest, most exciting, and widely recognized gathering of the written word in the Interior of B.C.
Following suggestions of past attendees, organizers came up with a list of presenters in different areas of writing and publishing. For example, instead of securing the 12 to 14 best writers available, they lined up an editor, a publisher, a script writer and actor, and lyric/music writers.
However, the list will again include writers of short stories, freelance, humor, fantasy, and poetry, along with their staple fiction, non-fiction, adventure and romance writers.
Some of the authors featured at this year’s celebration are: George Bowering (Canada’s first poet laureate), Mike McCardell and Kamloops’ own Garry Gottfriedson.
With 13 presenters, there will be something of interest for everyone. New this year is a theatre presentation by Lucas Myers, a playwright and actor.
Expect a hilarious performance from him on Saturday night.
Talented local musicians, Blu and kelly Hopkins will give a presentation on writing song lyrics. Being a musician is not a pre-requisite.
This year’s planning co-ordinator Mary Nyland offers her personal observations of the festival:
“I’ve read everything from Heidi to Hamlet. I’ve had adventures, gotten lost in complex plots, witnessed intense emotions, traveled to other galaxies, solved mysteries, laughed, cried, gleaned knowledge and answers and more from the written words of a good book,” she says acknowledging how books have increased her understanding of the human condition.
Nyland finds joy in the fact that after months of planning, she gets to hear published authors read and speak.
“I get to ask how they put their books together, where they get their ideas and inspiration, and learn what motivates them to sit and write in the first place.”
Imagine sitting down to eat lunch with George Bowering. Imagine getting to chat with humorist Mike McCardell or award-winning young adult author Jacqueline Guest.
The always-popular Friday night coffee house, the in-house silent auction open to the public, the harbor cruise with the authors, book-signings, blue-pencil sessions for aspiring writers, an abundance of food and lively conversation with the other attendees will all be served up again this year.
There are ten $100 bursaries still available.
If you are interested in attending the festival, or for more information, call Nyland at 250-833-1064 or visit www.saow.ca.