Sidney LitFest
featuring winners of major Canadian book awards
This year’s Sidney LitFest features 16 Canadian authors at 11 events, with panel discussions, readings and writing workshops. The festival takes place at the Mary Winspear and Shoal Centre in Sidney. Book lovers can choose from authors of mystery, crime, plays, poetry, novels and non-fiction. Among the line-up are Canadian book awardwinning authors.
The festival begins Apr. 11, with an evening conversation with Esi Edugyan — a twotime Giller Prize winner for her novels, Washington Black and Half Blood Blues. On the evening of Apr. 12, a cabaret style Wine, Words and Music event will feature a lively panel discussion with four authors, including Kathy Page,
recipient of the 2018 Roger’s Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize for her evocative sketch of 20th century Britain, Dear Evelyn. The evening will showcase local swing, roots and blues trio, Beats Workin’. On the evening of Apr. 13 at Authors Ashore on a Saturday
Night, five authors will engage in a thought-provoking discussion. On the panel is acclaimed poet, Lorna Crozier, 2018 winner of the George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award, and Darrel J. McLeod, winner of the 2018 Governor General’s award for his non-fiction work,
Mamaskatch. Rounding out the panel is Wayne Johnston, best-selling author of the Colony
of Unrequited Dreams, David Chariandy, author of Brother and winner of the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, and Steven Heighton, recipient of the 2016 Governor General’s Award for Poetry.
Saturday will be a busy day for book lovers. During the day, Sidney LitFest offers three readings and a panel discussion where you’ll encounter 10 authors, including Kate Harris, C.C. Humphreys, Monique Gray Smith and Timothy Taylor. For those looking to improve their writing, three half-day workshops, led by authors Carla Funk, Susan Juby and Fred Stenson, will give writers new tools, techniques and a deeper understanding about writing process.
The festival ends Sunday morning, Apr. 14, with the popular Breakfast with the Authors.
Attendees can converse with a favourite author over the meal, and later listen to readings. Details: sidneyliteraryfestival.ca Tickets: Online or at Tanner’s Books in Sidney. 250-654-0111.
Festival workshops offer an opportunity to get up close and personal with the style and expertise of top-notch Canadian authors — sure to inspire your creativity: Writing Fiction for the Reading Brain with Fred Stenson, SHOAL Centre, Sat., Apr. 13, 9:30-11:30 a.m. The Poem’s Good Bones with Carla Funk, SHOAL Centre Saturday, Apr. 13, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Write Yourself into Being with Susan Juby Winspear Centre Saturday, Apr. 13 1:30-3:30 p.m.