The Word on the Lake Writers害羞草研究所� Festival returns this spring with a focus on familiar faces, informative workshops and, of course, the written word.
Best of the Fest is how organizer Kay Johnston describes this year害羞草研究所檚 event, held May 11 to 13 at the Prestige Harbourfront Resort and Okanagan College害羞草研究所檚 Salmon Arm campus.
Most of this year害羞草研究所檚 presenters are friends of the festival who have appeared at sometime in the past. They include 2017 festival sensation Sheri-D Wilson, crime lawyer turned crime writer Michael Slade, author and Order of Canada recipient Jacqueline Guest, multiple-award winning playwright, TV producer and novelist Ian Wier, historical fiction writer Jack Whyte, musician, CBC personality and author Grant Lawrence, author, novelist and actor Chris C.C. Humphreys, musician and photographer Victor Anthony, academic and award-winning author Patricia Donahue, former educator and editor Joy Vowles and author and B.C. historian Howard White, whose awards and accolades include a Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, the Order of B.C. an Officer of the Order of Canada. Rounding off the list is Salmon Arm害羞草研究所檚 own award-winning storyteller and photographer James Murray.
害羞草研究所淭hey love to come,害羞草研究所� says Johnston of the high-caliber slate of talented individuals the festival attracts each year.
害羞草研究所淭hey love to come because first of all they害羞草研究所檙e well looked after and they害羞草研究所檙e here and they can get to know people 害羞草研究所� they feel as though they害羞草研究所檙e part of the whole thing, they害羞草研究所檙e not a number.
害羞草研究所淚t was Chris (Humphreys) actually who said I love this festival, I love the atmosphere, it害羞草研究所檚 intimate, I feel as though I get to know the people in my workshops.害羞草研究所�
A highlight of the festival are the workshops headed by the presenters, and this year害羞草研究所檚 offerings touch on a tantalizing array of topic, including: 害羞草研究所淭he sex scene: how much is too much? A male novelist害羞草研究所檚 perspective害羞草研究所� with Chris Humphreys. There will also be sessions entitled: 害羞草研究所淩omance novel and its expanding sub-genres害羞草研究所� with Patricia Donahue, to 害羞草研究所淐reating villains, conflict and tension害羞草研究所� with Michael Slade to a special master class with Jack Whyte.
For one-on-one instruction, there害羞草研究所檚 the Blue Pencil Caf茅, which offers attendees an appointment with an available presenter of their choice.
Johnston says the festival, put on the Shuswap Association of Writers, offers an intimate setting where people can meet the authors, talk with them about their writing, hear them read and learn from them.
害羞草研究所淚f you just enjoy writing, if you just enjoy doing your blog or you want to write about your family, you害羞草研究所檒l fit right in,害羞草研究所� said Johnston. 害羞草研究所淏ecause writing can be pretty lonely害羞草研究所� It害羞草研究所檚 nice to come and talk to other people. It害羞草研究所檚 a shot in the arm. And they can network, that害羞草研究所檚 a really important part, that we have to leave them time to talk to each other.害羞草研究所�
Registration for the festival is already underway at , with an early bird draw prize package up for grabs that includes a two night deluxe stay at the Prestige, a bottle of wine from Larch Hills Winery, gift certificates and, of course, full festival access.
lachlan@saobserver.net
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