The 4th Annual Words Alive Literary Festival

Newmarket, ON – The 4^th annual Words Alive Literary Festival will take place on Saturday, September 18^th at the Sharon Temple National Historic Site and Museum. We have moved from Sunday’s to Saturday’s so CanLit fans can enjoy Words Alive on Saturday and Eden Mills on Sunday. Everybody wins! Admission is still only $5 for the day (including workshops) and parking is free. Event happens rain or shine.

“We are privileged to once again present an outstanding festival line-up,” remarks Jim Bolton, chair of Words Alive 2010. “We return to our home in the enchanting setting of the Sharon Temple National Historic Site and Museum for the feature events with our workshops taking place in the East Gwillimbury Town Centre. We’ve kept the admission price at $5 and parking is still free so it’s the best deal in York Region bar none.”

This year’s festival will feature winners and nominees of Canada’s Governor General’s Award, Giller Prize, Commonwealth Writer’s Prize, Charles Taylor Prize, Dylan Thomas Prize, and much more.

Two-time GG winner Nino Ricci (Lives of the Saints and The Origin of Species) will be reading as will GG winner for poetry Jacob Scheier (More to Keep us Warm). Young Toronto poet and rising star adebe d.a. (Ex Nihilo) – currently long-listed for the Dylan Thomas Prize – will join us as well as popular performance poet Lara Bozabalian and former CBC Poet Laureate Michelle Muir.

Also joining Words Alive this year are Commonwealth Writer’s Prize winner (for Mme Proust and the Kosher Kitchen) and critic Kate Taylor, Giller and Commonwealth Writer’s Prize finalist Michael Helm will read from his new novel In the Place of Last Things. Charles Taylor nominee Elizabeth Abbott will read from A History of Marriage and National Magazine Award winner James FitzGerald will read from What Disturbs Our Blood.

Rounding out our feature guests are master publisher Tim Gordon; 2010 Ken Klonsky Novella co-winner Carole Giangrande; bestselling author and broadcaster Bruce Meyer, author and educator Bianca Lakoseljac; Toronto author, editor, and broadcaster Myna Wallin (Confessions of a Reluctant Cougar); and popular Dakotaroo series for youths author Krista Breen. We have workshops, an Open Mic, a live poetry contest, and lots of vendors selling books, food, and drink. Opening ceremonies featuring David Rankine and Friends will commence at 10:30, closing ceremonies are at 5pm.

Words Alive is sponsored by the Ontario Arts Council, Town of East Gwillimbury, South Lake Community Futures Development Corporation, CUPE 440 Toronto Education Workers, and Cedarvale Lodge Retirement Community.

Full schedule, author biographies, directions, etc. on our website (wordsalive.ca) on Wednesday morning.

Words Alive Literary Festival was founded in 2007 by Vali Stone, a graduate of York University and currently an instructor at Georgian College. She is currently writing a book on 9-1-1 operators.

See you at Words Alive!

Posted September 8th, 2010 in Events