Tired but elated Tuesday morning, Shuswap Association of Writers president Kay Johnston was thrilled with the Word on the Lake Writers’ Festival that wrapped up Sunday afternoon, but not quite ready to look ahead to next year’s event.
That comes in July when the planning committee meets to begin the task of crafting another A-plus festival.
“It ran very smoothly,” Johnston says. “The best way for me to tell you, is the feedback we received – on a scale of one to 10 we got probably 9.9 from everybody.”
Johnston said the Friday night coffeehouse and Saturday gala sold out and presenters commented on the high-calibre organization and the personal touches they received.
A total of 91 people registered or walked in to take part in the variety of workshops, from enahancing writing skills for audiences of all ages, to putting word to song as well as getting manuscripts from computer to readers.
Mayor Nancy Cooper opened the festival Saturday morning, congratulating organizers for 12 wonder-filled events and a reminder that the festival is held on Secwepemc territory – a place of inspiration where one can still feel the spirit of the early First Nations people.
The keynote address was given by award-winning mystery writer Gail Bowen, who explained she always carries a notebook to jot down moments that capture her interest.
“Don’t stare at your iPhone,” she admonished would-be writers, drawing laughs when she told a hilarious story about a woman, a Revelstoke restaurant and a salad that is now “stirred into the compost” of her brain, there to fodder until it becomes a scene in a future story.
Held Friday morning, the young writers workshop attracted 35 students from Armstrong to Eagle River to Shuswap Middle School and Okanagan College’s Special Needs writing program.
The KidsWrite Young Writers Contest had 120 entrants with 24 prize winners, most of whom read their poems and stories before a large and appreciative audience Saturday afternoon.
Entries were organized in three age categories, five to eight year olds, nine to 11 year olds and 15 to 18 year olds.
In Adventures of Peter the Bunny, one girl in the youngest category dealt with bullying, racism and acceptance.
In the 9 to 11 age category, another entrant wrote her entertaining story from the point of view of a pencil.
Other poems and stories dealt with emotion or adventure with creativity that earned high praise from well-known author Norma Charles.
“I am absolutely blown away by what I’ve heard,” she said. “You have done a fabulous job in the first step to being an author.”
KidsWrite organizer Karen Bissenden reminded young writers next year’s contest opens in January.
Author Brian Brett held workshop participants in his grip as he explained that culture comes from language and how oral tradition continues in many parts of the world, giving ancient stories continuing life.
Brett was yet another presenter to emphasize the need for writers to be avid readers and the importance of stories.
“Story is the most important part of our lives. We tell them all day until we go to sleep, then they are patched in while we’re dreaming.”
And writers have to write in such a way that readers will understand what is being said and adapt it to their own stories, he said.
Jason Donev attended with his child and his wife, publisher Margaret Curelas, who was part of a publishing panel.
“As an avid reader, it’s nice to talk to people about story and character,” he said, noting his four-year-old daughter was welcomed and had been writing stories with some of the authors. “It’s a nice, friendly, relaxing atmosphere.”
Kudos, all music to Johnston’s ears as she had been concerned that the appearance by Diana Gabaldon last year could have been a hard act to follow.
“Not a problem,” she says, pointing out participants came from as far away as Washington State, Calgary and Edmonton.
And rather than having to chase after possible future presenters, Johnston has a list as long as her arm of people interested in presenting because of what they have heard about the Salmon Arm festival.
“My favourite part of the festival is probably the banquet; it’s only the second time we did it and it turned out to be a really good thing,” she says. “And thanks to Kelly and Blu (Hopkins), our festival has music.”
Johnston credits much of the event’s success to the community of volunteers, businesses and participants.
She is hoping more volunteers will get onboard and suggests they send an email to festival.saow@gmail.com if they are interested.
