Yes, the countdown is over. Once Upon A Time is echoing from the hilltops – the 10th Whistler Readers and Writers Festival is here. It begins tomorrow. So brace yourself for an infusion of wordpower and entertainment… For anyone who has ever lost themselves in a book, in a daydream, in a blank page… the Festival has 6 reading events, 10 workshops and 3 panel discussions to ensure there’s something for every type of wordlover. Here are some of the not-to-be-missed highlights:
Opening Night Gala kicks off with Madeline Sonik, Miriam Toews, Antanas Sileika, John Glenday, Angie Abdou, Randy Boyagoda and writer-in-residence Sarah Selecky, all MC-ed by local scribe Stephen Vogler.
The party continues at Saturday’s Creative 5 Eclectic eventwith spoken word artist Barbara Adler. This event will also host an open mic for musicians and writers alike.
Sunday starts with a lively Lit Grit Tribute Breakfast, where Miriam Toews, Wayne Johnston, Sarah Selecky and Andreas Schroeder debate careers, read from their work and answer your questions over croissants.
Sunday night closes with PechaKucha, Japanese for “chit chat” – a mixture of show-and-tell, open mic and happy hour, where 10 speakers show 20 slides in 6 minutes and 40 seconds. Presenters’ topics range from architecture, graphic design and sculpture, to the PooFont. Ten dollars gets you entry, and a drink.
If the reading events inspire you to write your own words, sign up to push your characters around with Angie Abdou or go on a writing adventure with Leslie Anthony (Whistler’s Indiana Jones of the outdoor – and the written - escapade).
The festival runs from 14 to 16th October, tickets are on sale at www.theviciouscircle.ca or at the door.
Full program details available at the same site or if you’re just interested in the reading events, you can buy tickets at this
link: http://www.theviciouscircle.ca/store/category.php?cat_id=26
