Frye Festival Authors Announced

9th annual Frye Festival brings award-winning authors to Moncton
April 23-27, 2008

The Frye Festival will honour its proud tradition of bringing some of the best authors in the world to Moncton when the 9th edition of this annual celebration of words takes over Hub City cafes, schools, theatres and libraries, April 23-27, 2008.

Canada's only bilingual international literary festival, the Frye Festival promotes the pleasure and discovery of reading through a wide range of activities for book lovers and aspiring writers of all ages, including dialogues, workshops, readings and round tables. Named in honour of Northrop Frye, a renowned thinker who spent his formative years in Moncton, the five-day event has presented more than 300 authors, from every continent, to date.

Recently celebrated Canadian authors on the 2008 marquee include Ami McKay, whose debut novel The Birth House was a number one bestseller in Canada and Heather O'Neill, who enjoyed similar critical acclaim for her first novel Lullabies for Little Criminals. Both books are long-listed for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.

In addition to McKay and O'Neill, this year's showcase includes Russell Banks, author of the highly acclaimed The Sweet Hereafter and Affliction (both of which have been made into films); Alberto Manguel, novelist and distinguished thinker; Nancy Huston, a Calgary-born, Paris-based writer who is best known for her work Plainsong and Don Hannah, the Shediac-born award-winning playwright and novelist.

Other Festival headliners include Pulitzer Prize-winner Richard Ford, author of five novels including The Sportswriter and Independence Day and Rachel Leclerc, a major literary figure in Quebec and in Europe.

Over 13,000 people took part in last year's Festival, setting a new attendance high for the non-profit, volunteer-driven event. One of the Festival's objectives is to give youth from Kindergarten through to Grade 12 venues to present their original creations and opportunities to experience the fun and power of words.

This is achieved through the highly successful and growing School-Youth Program, which includes the popular Great-West Life — London Life Writing Contest, Aliant Budding Writers, Aliant Café Underground, KidsFest and TD's Writers in the Schools events.

In 2007, Frye Festival authors visited schools all over New Brunswick to promote the discovery and enjoyment of reading and writing to thousands of French and English students. The Frye Festival also donated $6,000 in new books to the Province’s schools and presented over $4,000 in prize money to the writing contest winners.

The Festival receives funding from all levels of government and generous corporate sponsors and is managed by two employees and supported by more than 100 volunteers.