WELLINGTON COUNTY – The county’s inaugural Writers’ Festival kicks off this April and officials are on the lookout for local authors of all ages and experience who are interested in promoting their books to local audiences.
A collaboration between Wellington County libraries and the Museum and Archives, the festival aims to celebrate local writers and will feature author talks, panel discussions and big opening and closing events.
“We are going to have a full-day opening event at [Wellington County Museum and Archives],” chief librarian Rebecca Hine told the Advertiser.
Festivities will include vendor tables, food trucks, and events for all ages.
What is hoped to be an annual festival is in the early stages of planning and staff first need to sort through incoming author applications.
Open to published and non-published authors until Feb. 1, applications are now being accepted and can be filled out online by visiting wellington.ca/WritersFest. To be eligible, authors need to either live in the county or have written a book with relevance to the county.
Authors need to commit to the April 23 launch at the county’s Museum and Archives in Aboyne, at least one festival event at a county library and the June 25 closing – and coinciding launch of the Summer Reading Club – at the Hillsburgh Library.
Hine credits county archivist Karen Wagner with the idea for the festival.
“She has assisted many writers over the years with their research,” Hine said.
She noted there are many authors – both well-known and others eagerly seeking to be discovered – who call Wellington County home.
“We’ve got a real range of writers in our community,” Hine said.
“The festival will celebrate writers from our community” and provide a platform for the public to connect with local talent who want to get their work read.
“If you’re writing, I think you want people to read your work and I think this is a great way to expose members of the community to the people that are recording what happens in our communities,” Hine said.
More details will follow once applications have been reviewed and dates set.
