Reading, writing and arithmetic have long been considered critical pillars of a sound education.
Acquiring these skills enables people to function in today鈥檚 world. Reading is not only necessary, it allow us to escape to new worlds. Writers are the artists who make this possible.
Writing and reading are the focus of the Word on the Lake Writers鈥� Festival which takes place May 16 to 18 at the Prestige Harbourfront Resort in Salmon Arm.
The festival has a relaxed and welcoming vibe and provides a number of opportunities to meet, learn from and chat with talented and often award-winning authors. This year鈥檚 genres include, mystery, suspense, action, fantasy, swoon-worthy romance and more.
Forty-five minute workshops in small groups are educational but never intimidating. They are the fodder for enthusiastic conversations that break out in the hallways and at meals, among new friends and old.
Members of the public are invited to attend the always popular Friday night Caf茅 Lit where authors read/perform from their work. This year鈥檚 festival kick-off event will feature Padlei Inuk writer, professor and grandmother Norma Dunning, multi-published, award-winning author Eileen Cook and spoken word poet Tracy Cooper-Posey.
Tickets are also available for the Saturday Night Vibe Banquet that features dinner, award ceremony and entertainment, with special guest Indigenous storyteller Gerry Thomas, TEDx speaker, bestselling author and spoken word poet Miranda Krogstag, writer Brandon Reid, and Jenny Lester, a bluegrass performer and recording artist.
Information on registration for the festival and tickets for the banquet are available at . Click on the Registration tab for tickets and all prices.
This year, festival host, the Shuswap Association of Writers, offers a special presentation by award-winning author John Vaillant at 9 a.m. Sunday, May 18 at the Salmon Arm Recreation Centre. Admission is by donation, with all proceeds going to the Shuswap Community Foundations鈥� Shuswap Preparedness Fund.
Vaillant is an author and freelance writer whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, National Geographic and the Guardian, among others.
His first book, The Golden Spruce (Knopf, 2005), was a bestseller and won several awards, including the Governor General鈥檚 and Rogers Trust awards for non-fiction.
His second non-fiction book, The Tiger (Knopf, 2010), won the B.C. Achievement Award for Non-Fiction, was a bestseller selected for Canada Reads, and has been published in 17 languages.
Vaillant is donating his fees and a portion of his book sales to the festival, and Ricochet Brewing and Taphouse on Hudson Avenue is supporting the special presentation by donating $1 from the sale of every bottle of Firehouse Red Ale.
For more information on this special by-donation fundraiser, contact the Shuswap Association of Writers at festival.saow@gmail.com.
Raffle tickets for a chance to win a one-week stay at the beautiful Wyndham Canmore Resort are available through Shuswap Association of Writers鈥� board members, festival committee members, at Salmon Arm鈥檚 The Book Nook at the corner of Hudson Avenue and Ross Street, Bookingham Palace Bookstore in the Mall at Piccadilly and at the Word on the Lake Writers鈥� Festival, May 16 to 18.
The draw will take place on May 18th at the festival closing and the winner is not required to be in attendance.
In terms of registering, time is of the essence as special early bird rates end on April 20 and all registration closes on April 27. To register go online to and go to the registration tab.
If your decision to attend is a very last-minute one, show up at the Prestige Harbourfront Resort at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 17.
