Posts tagged ‘canadian writers’
Lakefield Literary Festival
The first Saturday we were away was also the opening of the Lakefield Literary Festival, which my granddaughters shortened to the Festival. We planned to attend the Children’s time that was held at the Cenotaph Park, near the town’s library. Our granddaughters perhaps worried that they would have to sit a long time and hear someone read stories, but they soon learned otherwise for the children’s authors had lively presentations planned, in partnership with the Selwyn Public Library .
We arrived to see volunteers hustling around getting things ready and the book selling table in process of being set up and the Children’s Tent ready. People were setting up the book table, where Happenstance Books and Yarn were already featuring books by those authors, Ruth Ohi, Helaine Becker and Aubrey Davis.
According to the website,
The Lakefield Literary Festival celebrates its rich literary heritage each July on a weekend close to Margaret Laurence’s birthday, and showcases many current Canadian authors. The festival was created to celebrate the work of Catharine Parr Trail, Susanna Moodie and Margaret Laurence, among others, all of whom lived and wrote in Lakefield.
The piper walked up and down the green space then escorted the authors to the Children’s Tent along with students who would welcome and introduce those writers.
Ruth Ohi was first on the program and presented a lively time for the children and parents in the audience, telling us about how she started out drawing and writing stories as a child. She asked for a volunteer from the audience, gave the girl and start and stop signal to draw a scribble on the page and then she made a drawing of her own out of that scribble.
She showed how her stories started with words on a plain piece of paper and then were made into a book, but she also showed a drawing of hers when she was 5 years old. She drew quickly, almost always talking as she presented. Our grandchildren and many others were fascinated by her drawing and telling us of her story making. She kept the children’s attention and captivated them throughout.
Her newest series, Fox and Squirrel, are sure to be a hit for the younger audience for the words and colourful art work. She is both author and illustrator.
MC giving us the information on the book table and other important things
Next on stage was Helaine Becker, who told us about her story planning, how some ideas didn’t work out and others did, and how long it took some stories to be done.
It was harder to get her photo since she seemed to face the other part of the audience for the duration, but her presentation engaged the children too, when she asked for audience members to be volunteers and help her in tell her story, Dashing Through the Snow. She talked about different holidays and set off in a new direction when we got to Christmas as a favourite.
She put on her Santa hat and handed a set of bells to each of the four volunteers from the audience.
At the end of her presentation, our granddaughters were ready for more than a stretch and so I stayed to hear the introductory story for Aubrey Davis along with his stories, of which there were several.
Aubrey Davis, a lively and engaging storyteller, who thanked the students for an intriguing opening to his part
Aubrey, a well-know author and storyteller whom I introduced at Latitudes in Kitchener about 4 years ago, began with a story that invited audience participation, one that the children enjoyed, then he told part of A Hen for Izzy Pippik, his recent storybook. He closed with another story that children often are fascinated with even if the bear does swallow the people who tromp across his bridge, but I won’t tell the ending here because some day you may hear him tell it again.
After the performances, I took my grandchildren to the book table to choose a story for their collection. One chose Dashing Through the Snow, the other Fox and Squirrel Make Friends, and together they chose another book by Ruth Ohi, Fox and Squirrel, for their baby cousin. I will be sure to add A Hen for Izzy Pippik to my collection quite soon.
We stood in line for an autograph with Helaine Becker, but the line was pretty long for Ruth Ohi, and so we settled on sending her a message via Facebook to tell her how much we liked her presentation. And Aubrey Davis got an email too.
We talked about the Festival, as the girls called it, on the way back to their trailer.
“What did you like best?” I asked.
“Getting a book,” one said.
“Did you like the drawing part?” I asked.
“Yes,” the eldest one said. “It was amazing.”
And thus we wrapped the morning of the festival. Over our holidays we read each of their storybooks and this week, their little cousin received her book too and she got to hear her storybook, as read by her father.
Starting Late
Today I blogged over at Canadian Writers Who Are Christian, as I do once a month. At this blog, fellow authors, members of The Word Guild, explore their writing life and open a window for you into God’s world and his salvation.
My post, Starting Late, focuses on how I began to write.
Diane Amento Owens of Wise Women Write “considers herself a late bloomer and is proof that it’s never too late to begin writing.” I’m so in there with her. I, too, started later in life, although there were signs along the way that it could come to pass. And yet if someone had told me in elementary school that I’d one day be writing for publication, I would not have believed it.
Writing wasn’t presented as an option at that time as were careers in teaching, nursing or secretarial work. And motherhood. From an early age I wanted to be a teacher, and a love of reading and good books has been with me, even if the number of books in our home was quite small at that time—unlike my current collection. Read more here.
Storytelling–Carolyn R. Wilker
Today I posted over at Canadian Writers Who Are Christian. Read about books, reading and storytelling. While storytellers know the story and tell from the heart, books are another form of storytelling, especially fiction and creative nonfiction. Stories grab our attention and take us places, but they must also bring us back to where we started.
While you’re there, be entertained, inspired, and enter into thought-provoking posts by Linda Hall, Peter Black, Glynis Belec and other Canadian writers.
A storytelling library at The Story Barn in Baden (now closed)
And while you’re here, consider a storytelling concert hosted by the Baden Storytellers’ Guild at Waterloo Region Museum, Kitchener, ON, on Sunday March 16th from 2-4. Tickets available at Museum.
Help us celebrate World Storytelling Day!
Writing is not a hobby
This morning I posted over at Canadian Writers Who Are Christian, with Writing is not a hobby.
Sometimes that’s what people call it, sometimes that’s how writers or wanna-be writers treat it.
Go on over and read my post and those of other professional writers such as Peter Black, Glynis Belec, Rose McCormick Brandon and more. They will inspire, challenge and often make you laugh too.
Canadian Writers Who Are Christian–Stewards of the Earth
Today I posted at Canadian Writers Who Are Christian and our care of our world, especially what we can do to help by composting and recycling. Go and read Stewards of the Earth. While you’re there, read the posts of other Canadian Christian authors. Bookmark it and come back to read more another day.
How do you take care of the earth? Do you compost and recycle?
Canadian Writers Who Are Christian
Once a month I post at The Word Guild Authors Blog, Canadian Writers Who Are Christian. This past week a student from my writing class died, and so I dedicated today’s column to Ben Kroeker. Go here to read “Remembering Ben.”
Awards gala, Wednesday, June 13th
June 14-16, 2012
Writing with purpose and joy!
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