There’s something about hearing a writer read his or her own words.
They become more than words, and I think — at least for me — they pull you into their world in an even stronger way than reading the words on a page can.
That’s just one of the beautiful and inspiring aspects of Words on the Water, the annual Campbell River Writers’ Festival that took place this past weekend at the Maritime Heritage Centre.
This was the 15th year the festival has been held here, and I think it’s so incredible that Campbell River hosts an event like this.
The all-volunteer committee has an amazing vision and brings in incredibly talented and interesting writers year after year.
I am sure those writers leave with a new appreciation for our city and all that Campbell River offers, as do all the people who come from afar to take in the festival.
And we, in turn, get such a boost of inspiration from the writers.
When I first came to the Mirror, I was so excited to hear about Words on the Water. What an amazing opportunity to see authors I’d already heard of and also be exposed to writers who were new to me.
Unfortunately, my crazy schedule didn’t enable me to get to as much of the festival as I was originally hoping to, but I’m so grateful for what I did get to experience.
I interviewed Wayne Grady, this year’s Haig-Brown House writer in residence, a while ago for the paper and really enjoyed talking to him, so it was wonderful to get a chance to hear him read from his novel, Emancipation Day.
He shared a little bit about where the story came from, read a couple passages from the book and answered questions from the audience.
During his reading, Grady read a passage that he’d never read in public before and he got a bit choked up, telling us that sentences can sometimes jump out and affect you in a surprising way.
It was a really human moment and one I won’t soon forget.
Words have this power to make us laugh and make us cry, and having these words spoken by the person who wrote them seems to have an even stronger effect.
Victoria writer and poet Eve Joseph brought a real musicality to her writing when she read from In the Slender Margin, her new book about death and dying. I can’t imagine there were many dry eyes in the room during her reading — especially when, at the very end of the session, a woman from the audience stood up and thanked Joseph for her book, saying that she and her friends are now planning together so they can take care of each other when they are dying.
Vancouver’s John Vaillant read from his new novel, The Jaguar’s Children, and it felt like listening to a play. He has a strong, powerful voice and he read some passages in Spanish, really bringing his novel to life right in front of us.
Those were just some of the inspiring and memorable moments I was able to experience. I hate thinking of all the great moments I missed.
