Writers Gathering in Sackville

The Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick (WFNB) will hold their annual spring literary weekend in Sackville, NB, next month.

The three day event kicks off Friday April 13th with a spectacular reading at the Owen’s Art Gallery on the Mount Allison University campus. Poetry & Music (In)Tense featuring poets Kathy Mac, Greg Cook, Marilyn Lerch, Roger Moore, Laurence Hutchman and Robert Moore, with special guests, pianist Janet Hammock and flautist Karin Aurell, will be a unique blending of music, poetry and improvisation that promises to entertain.

“We are so honoured to have this opportunity to have such celebrated musicians as Janet Hammock and Karin Aurell participate in this reading,” says Kellie Underhill, WFNB Director and event organizer. “This is going to be one of the most spectacular and unique events we’ve done in years, and I hope a lot of people come out to support it.”

A series of writers’ workshops are slated for Saturday April 14th beginning at 10:45am at the Marshlands Inn. Participants are invited to choose either “Writing Children’s Fantasy: Not a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme” with celebrated children’s author, K.V. Johansen, or a Drama Workshop with Governor General’s Award-winning playwright, Kent Stetson, for the morning session. The afternoon session will see all participants exploring short fiction forms with J.J. Steinfeld in a workshop entitled “Wordful Explorations: An Exploration of Imagination and Creativity through the writing of Short Fiction.”

“This weekend is a very affordable way to try your hand at writing if you’ve always wanted to but haven’t dared,” Underhill says. “For full-time writers, the weekend will surely get your creative juices flowing. I always love our annual spring gathering because it draws together such a unique mix of readers and writers, professional and amateur, young and not so young. We always have a great time.”
Another highlight of the weekend is the Annual General Meeting for the WFNB membership, which all members are encouraged to attend Saturday morning before the workshops begin.

Saturday evening, April 14th, the Marshlands Inn plays host to a literary banquet honouring the winners of the WFNB’s Annual Literary Competition. Tickets for the banquet must be purchased in advance. The Marshlands’ specialty of pan-seared fresh Atlantic salmon, a traditional roast beef dinner with Yorkshire pudding, and a delectable asparagus crepe are on the menu. Winning writers will read from their entries.

“Often this is the first opportunity these writers have to read in public,” Underhill says. “They’re just starting out, it may be the first contest they’ve ever won. Most of them have no idea how good they really are. It’s wonderful to see new talent on the rise. I especially enjoy when the winners in the youth categories read. We have so many talented young writers in our high schools.”

On Sunday morning everyone who would like to participate is invited to read during an Open Mic event at the Marshlands over breakfast. Always a popular event with writers and literary enthusiasts alike, this reading offers a supportive environment for budding artists especially. Anyone may attend any of the weekend’s events whether they are WFNB members or not. Everyone is welcome.

A full schedule of fees and a registration form are available online at www.umce.ca/wfnb.