Swift Current

Several local authors were featured at the Write Out Loud Local Writers Night at the Lyric Theatre in Swift Current, Feb. 13. Maverick School students Georgia Drummond and Hayley Ginter started the evening by reading some of their poetry. Joey Donnelly, a board member of the Southwest Cultural Development Group, read a number of pieces about built heritage and the Lyric Theatre. He referred to his family's encounter with the Ku Klux Klan in Saskatchewan during the 1920s and he referred to his own letter writing on public matters to speak out against prejudice. He also read from an unpublished piece about the role of the arts to promote empathy and critical thinking. Lyric Theatre Artistic Director Gordon McCall read from various works he has produced during his successful career as a playwright, screenwriter, actor and director, including his still unpublished work on the birth of the Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan festival. Children's author Jessica Williams spoke about and read from her books Mama's Cloud and The Mealtime Monster. Mama's Cloud, which can help families to start conversations with children about mental illness, has been selected for the Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2018 list. Acclaimed Saskatchewan author Harold Johnson is the featured writer at the next Write Out Loud on March 20. Doors open at 6: 30 p. m. and the program starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $8.

Gordon McCall refers to a book about the history of North Dorchester Township in Ontario, where he grew up. He read from a piece he wrote for this publication.

Maverick School student Hayley Ginter reads a poem at Write Out Loud, Feb. 13.

Jessica Williams speaks about how she started to write children's books.

Joey Donnelly speaks to the Write Out Loud audience, Feb. 13.

Maverick School student Georgia Drummond shared her poetry with the Write Out Loud audience, Feb. 13.