In the June issue of Q&Q, we tour five of the country’s most intriguing literary festivals.
Panel discussion at the 2011 festival with Kenneth J. Harvey, Johanna Skibsrud, Sandra Birdsell, Allan Casey, Charlotte Gray, and moderator David Carpenter
Saskatchewan Festival of Words
July 19“22, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
festivalofwords.com
This year marks the 16th anniversary for the Prairies festival, which takes place in a cluster of intimate venues in downtown Moose Jaw. In addition to readings and author events, festival director Donna Lee Howes says the four days are packed with films, dramatic readings, literary trivia contests, concerts, a poetry slam, and a community picnic featuring a food writer. Howes says many of the festival’s participating authors (who stay at a nearby spa) sit in on each other’s sessions and view the weekend as a writing retreat.
2011 attendance: 4,000
Notable past authors: Margaret Atwood, Denise Chong, George Elliott Clarke, Anna Porter, Lori Neilson Glenn
This year’s highlights: Readings by Esi Edugyan, Marina Endicott, John Vaillant, and Douglas Gibson, plus a workshop with Terry Fallis on growing your online audience.
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