Five top Canadian authors are coming to Elora to talk about their books and writing in this year’s Elora Writers’ Festival.
Running May 28 and beginning at 1pm in Aboyne Hall at the Wellington County Museum and Archives, the afternoon of readings also includes an opportunity to meet the authors informally, have books signed and attend a question and answer session.
Now in its 23rd year, the festival not only showcases Canadian – and often local – authors, but also raises awareness of the Canadian literary scene, while also encouraging literacy through its long-running writing contest.
“This year’s event features a wide range of styles and genres, and readers are bound to discover something new and exciting during the afternoon,” festival organizers state.
Elora author Rio Youers, who highlighted the festival’s Books and Beer preview event in February, is celebrating the upcoming release of his latest thriller, The Forgotten Girl, officially launching early in June.
A British Fantasy Award and Canadian Sunburst Award nominee, his three previous books have been favourably reviewed by Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and the National Post.
Youth writer
Toronto-based children’s and young adult writer Adrienne Kress has spent much of May touring libraries, bookstores and schools with her just-released The Door in the Alley, the first book in a new middle grade adventure series, The Explorers.
Poet Mary Ann Mulhern has published several books of narrative poetry in the past 15 years, many based on her own life – growing up in a “cemetery home” and later living in a convent for eight years.
Andrew Westoll is known for a best-selling and prize-winning memoir, The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary and last year published his first novel, The Jungle South of the Mountain.
Brad Smith is the author of 10 books, many of them classed as “Canadian noir” or “rural noir.” His latest, Hearts of Stone, was released in April and is the second book to feature Ontario felon-turned farmer Carl Burns.
The writers’ festival finishes with a moderated question and answer session with all five authors, and also includes presentations to winners of the Elora Writers’ Festival short story contest, light refreshments, book signings, and more.
Tickets are $25 and available at Roxanne’s Reflections Book and Card Shop in downtown Fergus, through the Fergus Grand Theatre box office at 519-787-1981 or under the “Be Active” tab on centrewellington.ca, and at the door.
For more information see www.elorawritersfestival.blogspot.com.
