Canadian writer Sheree Fitch comes to Knowlton Literary Festival
TSubmitted by Philip Lanthier
wo very special components of the Knowlton Literary Festival each year are the school visits, in which a visiting writer spends a day at Knowlton Academy speaking to each of our young readers, and the two-day writers' workshops, in which aspiring local writers work alongside and are mentored by one of our speakers. This year, for those two functions we welcome talented Canadian writer Sheree Fitch.
Fitch is the perfect choice for each. How can one not be intrigued and stimulated by a writer who has penned such popular children’s titles as Everybody's Different on Everybody Street, If You Could Wear My Sneakers, If I Had a Million Onions, Mabel Murple, and Toes in My Nose and Other Poems.
By her own definition, Sheree is a “maker of nonsense, a reader, a leader, a lipslippery fool. . . a yearner and learner, an ever beginner.” Not that she is limited to children’s stories. Her works also include both Adult and Young Adult fiction, Educational works, poetry, plays and adaptations. And when not writing herself, she takes equal pleasure in sharing her talents and skills with other writers. “Mentoring is like midwifery to me,” she admits.“everyone is talented, original and has something important to say.”
Her unique voice, award-winning books and storytelling panache have delighted and touched two generations of children and families, and influenced a whole generation of writers worldwide. She has been featured at the Washington National Cathedral, the Library of Congress, and has represented Canada at international schools in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, China, Belize, Thailand, and Vietnam. She has twice been a writer-in-residence in the country of Bhutan, helping to foster an indigenous literature for Bhutanese children, and is a four-time writer-in-residence for a Nunavut healing and writing camp. She holds three honorary doctorates from Canadian universities for her contribution to Canadian literature, education and for her work as a literacy advocate and activist for social justice and issues affecting women and children.
She hails from River John, Nova Scotia, where together with her husband Gilles, they operate Mabel Murple's Book Shoppe & Dreamery, a seasonal book shop featuring Atlantic Canadian books in all genres as well as Canadian children's books, a true haven for imaginations both young and old, where the focus is on words, whimsy and wonder for all ages.
In the words of the late Peter Gzowski, former host of CBC Morningside, “Sheree is open to everything, as only a child can be, and, as with any child, she plays with words and wisdom and a sense that the world can work. We should listen to Sheree Fitch; she speaks for children everywhere.”
Ms. Fitch will be at Knowlton Academy throughout Friday, October 18, while her two writers' workshops, Whispers of Mermaids and Wonderful Things: How to write stories for Children will be offered at the Brome Lake Community Centre, Saturday and Sunday morning, October 19 and 20. More details are available at www.knowltonliteraryfestival.com.