By Melissa McGrath, Festival Manager
Have you purchased your tickets to the EMWF yet? With just weeks to go, our team is busy finalizing details and preparing the village for your visit. We hope you’ll join us on Sunday September 10 in Eden Mills! Our adult programming includes thirteen panel discussions, scheduled throughout the day in the beautiful backyards of Eden Mills residents. Review our schedule and plan your unique combination. With a range of genres and a variety of themed discussions, there’s something for every reader.
This year’s event sees the return of many festival favourites, including bestselling author Emma Donoghue, who joins authors Craig Shreve and Carolyn Whitzman for “The Kim Lang Set: A Page Out of History”.
You may be familiar with the work of comedian Ali Hassan, and writers Uzma Jalaluddin and Amy Jones, but how did they find their ‘voice’ as writers before they were published? Join the authors as they discuss their new books and the art of being a writer with a distinctive voice in the panel discussion “Finding My Voice”.
In “The Ripple Effect” Janika Oza, Amanda Peters and Katherena Vermette explore how the ripple effect of a choice, a moment, or a devastating incident transforms their characters’ lives in powerful and life-changing ways.
The festival puts the spotlight on Guelph authors James Gordon, Barbara Kyle and Jean Mills in “Pathway to Publication”, a session presented by Vocamus Writers’ Community about the work of being a writer. More local representation is provided by the Guelph Institute of Environmental Research, which presents “Navigating Environmental Futures Through Science and Storytelling” with authors Holly Hogan and Thomas Wharton, and host Dr. Madhur Anand. The festival will also host a showcase of the University of Guelph’s Creative Writing MFA students.
The EMWF is family friendly, with a full day of children’s programming. We’re thrilled to have Shannon Bramer, Paul Gilligan, Michelle Kadarusman, Sandra Laronde, Gillian Sze, Dr. Dave Williams, and Brad Woods joining us in the Children’s Nook.
Visit the EMWF website to read our festival FAQ, to learn more about the featured writers, or to purchase tickets. Buy early and save $5 off the price at the gate.
Residents in Guelph are invited to ride the free shuttle buses to Eden Mills that run from both The Sleeman Centre and The University of Guelph. Details can be found here.
Writing Workshops
In addition to our event in Eden Mills, we’ll be presenting four online writing workshops on September 8 and 9. Aspiring writers won’t want to miss the opportunity to learn from authors Gail Anderson-Dargatz, Francine Cunningham, Sarah Everett, and Terry Fallis. More information is available on our website.
VolunteersJoin our team! We’re looking for a few more friendly volunteers to create a warm and welcoming environment for festival attendees. Volunteers commit to a 2-3 hour shift and receive free entrance to the rest of the festival. Interested? Apply now.
