The Book Fest is Over… Long Live the Book Fest!
The Townships Sun‘s Holiday Book Fest organized by the Townships Sun is over now; but it lives on!
On December 10, more than 125 persons came out on a rainy day to enjoy a full programme of speakers and videos, and to explore books by more than 25 English-language authors from across the Townships. So that’s done!
But the Book Fest continues online, on both the Townships Sun’s Instagram account and its Facebook page. The books of the 25-plus authors who participated in the event are being featured, one after another, during the month of December. Please take a look, and let our writers and artists know we appreciate their creative contributions to our community!
WHO’S BEEN FEATURED?
The writers who have been featured in Towships Sun’s social media so far are: Anne Hill, Louise Abbott, Joanne Pocock, Rebecca Welton, Denis Palmer, Tanya Standish McIntyre, Caroline George, Janet Baird Warren, Elizabeth Paulette-Coughlin & Ruth Patterson, Ké Kampeas-Rittenhouse, Carolynn Rafman, and Ann Rothfels.
Coming up, look for: Esther Saanum, Nick Fonda, Angela Leuck, Phyllis Sise, Bernice Angeline Sorge, Carole Daoust, Czandra, Ross Murray, Josh Quirion, Maurice J.O. Crossfield, Richard Andrews, Steve Luxton, Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt, and Patterson Webster.
WHAT WAS THE BOOK FEST?
The event took place at the Amédée-Beaudoin Community Centre in Lennoxville, and followed on two Books & Brunch events this fall, all part of the Townships Sun 50th Anniversary celebrations.
Among the participating authors in the programme were Ross Murray, who recently launched his second novel Smileyville, and 95-year-old Anne Hill, author of Colouring Outside the Lines. Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt read from her best-selling Peacekeeper’s Daughter. Steve Luxton, author of seven poetry books, emceed the programme.
The Townships Sun‘s Townships Young Voices 2024 Awards were also launched during the programme, and UUEstrie (Unitarian Universalists) hosted a Write for Rights table for Amnesty International and PEN Canada, in support of imprisoned writers around the world.
“It was a real team effort,” said Angela Leuck, Book Fest organizer and Townships Sun board member. “Our first Townships Book Fest received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both authors and readers. And of course, the free blueberry pancakes were a big hit!”
“We are grateful to our partnering organizations for this event―Townshippers’ Association, the English-Language Arts Network, and the Quebec Writers’ Federation.”
WILL WE DO IT AGAIN?
We hope so, and feedback from participants says they hope so, too! Long live Book Fest!