Well, it’s my favourite time of the year again. It’s Christmas without the great bosomy hug and sloppy wet kiss from your great Aunt Gertie. Yes, fellow book lovers, I refer to the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts. It’s the four marvelous days in August when authors, books and word worshipers descend on the Coast.
Every year I feel like a character out of a Dickens novel thinking of times gone by. But instead of rattling chains, my ghosts whisper words from Festivals past. And instead of a spectre of grim things to come, the future tells of even more opportunities to meet talented writers.
This year I’m enticed by the bio of Craig Davidson/Nick Cutter. One and the same, the former is a Giller-prize nominated novelist and the latter a writer of scary stories in the vein of Stephen King. And according to none other than Jane Davidson, our fabulous Festival producer, the alter ego is also funny. Puts me in mind of one of my all-time favourite presenters, Linwood Barclay. The man writes stories that leave your skin crawling for days but on stage he had the audience roaring; start to finish we never stopped laughing once.
In the past we’ve been educated by many sterling authors on social subjects a lot of us have little knowledge of. By taking the time to listen to Sally Armstrong, we came away with a little more empathy for many of the hardships women of this world still endure. This year we have the opportunity to witness another woman’s experience of violence. Karyn L. Freedman tells a story that rings all too familiar to those of us with similar tales to tell. By hearing her story, we get a little closer to making sure the lizards of our world can’t crawl back under their rocks quite so quickly.
There are so many other authors you’ll be happy to make the acquaintance of, and at $15 for an hour’s entertainment, there honestly is no better bang for the buck. Go to the Festival’s website (www.writersfestival.ca) and check out the lineup.
This year the Festival proudly pays tribute to one of the founders of the event. Thirty-three years ago, Betty Keller – writer, editor, teacher – was one of four women who founded what has become the best writers’ festival in Western Canada (in fact, I suspect all of Canada) that features strictly Canadian writers. For her contributions to the country’s literary community, Betty was honoured with the 2015 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence. We think it’s a well-earned acknowledgement of her value to British Columbia. Come to the Festival and see what vision brings to the arts and to our community.
No hugs or sloppy kisses, I promise.
