The 21st annual Elora Writers’ Festival will present Canadian authors Michael Hale, Ian Hamilton, Clifford Jackman, Tasneem Jamal, Barbara Kyle and Kim Moritsugu in an afternoon of readings on May 24,
Taking place in Aboyne Hall at the Wellington County Museum and Archives (Wellington Rd. 18, Fergus), the festival includes readings by all six authors, followed by a reception with wine and appetizers, providing lots of opportunity to meet and chat with the authors informally.
The Elora Writers’ Festival has been celebrating fine Canadian writing since 1994. Its intimate and unique setting, in the heart of one of Ontario’s most beautiful communities, has made it a sought-after venue for both authors and book lovers alike. Tickets are $25 and are available at Roxanne’s Reflections Book & Card Shop (152 St. Andrew St. West, Fergus, 519-843-4391) or through the box office of the Fergus Grand Theatre.
The goals of the Elora Writers’ Festival are to showcase Canadian authors, provide readers an opportunity to discover and meet new authors, and raise awareness of the importance of the Canadian literary scene. “The afternoon is always full of surprises,” says committee member Jean Mills. “Maybe it’s a new author, or a new book to add to your reading list. And the Q&A session during the reception afterwards is a wonderful opportunity for audience members to connect with the authors in an informal and very entertaining way.”
Authors reading at the 2015 Elora Writers’ Festival include Michael Hale of Elora. In the early eighties, while earning a living as a graphic designer, Hale wrote his first novel, The Other Child. It was short-listed (under the title Wakings) for the 1984 Seal Books First Novel Contest and published by Avon in 1986. His novel, A Fold in the Tent of the Sky, has just been released in paperback.
Other authors include:
– Ian Hamilton, author of the bestselling Ava Lee novels, which will be adapted for television by CBC. The first book in the series, The Water Rat of Wanchai, was the winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel;
– Clifford Jackman studied English Literature at York University and Queen’s University before attending Osgoode Hall Law School and being called to the bar in 2008. Jackman’s dark Western novel, The Winter Family, was published by Random House Canada in April 2015;
– Tasneem Jamal was born in Mbarara, Uganda, and immigrated to Canada with her family in 1975. She has worked as a journalist for over a decade as an editor at the Globe and Mail, Saturday Night magazine and the National Post. Where the Air Is Sweet is her first novel.
– Barbara Kyle is the author of the acclaimed Thornleigh Saga series of historical novels, which follow a middle-class English family’s rise through three Tudor reigns. She is also the award-winning author of contemporary thrillers. Her new novel, The Traitor’s Daughter, will be published in June 2015; and
– Kim Moritsugu author of six novels to date, including Looks Perfect, nominated for the Toronto Book Award; The Glenwood Treasure, shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Best Crime Novel award; The Restoration of Emily, serialized on CBC Radio; and the food-centric suburban comedy of manners, The Oakdale Dinner Club.
To learn more about the Elora Writers’ Festival, visit elorawritersfestival.blogspot.ca.
