Townships Sun 50th Anniversary Event:
Ross Murray Stole the Show
Sherbrooke, November 13, 2023. Invited author Ross Murray entertained a cozy crowd of more than 40 at the second Books & Brunch offered by the Townships Sun in Lennoxville last Sunday. The buffet was plentiful and the books table did brisk business.
“Ross Murray easily stole the show with spirited readings from his new novel Smileyville, and fielding questions about his writing practice and future projects, said organizer and Township Sun board member, Angela Leuck. “The Townships Sun has scored again in organizing a stimulating and community-building event, attracting people from across the Townships.”
Murray said he has finished the first act of a new play, following up on All Together Now, and Bride of Memphré, both produced by Borderline Players in Stanstead. His humour novel Smileyville is a sequel to A Hole in the Ground, and features many of the same characters.
The first Books & Brunch, on October 15, featured memoir writers Mark Abley and Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt and got the series off to a rousing start, with more than 60 attending.
This Books & Brunch focused on humour, but the second author, Louise Carson, and about a dozen other participants could not attend because of last-minute illness.
The MC was Taylor McClure of CIDI-FM and a previous employee of the Record.
“I’d like to acknowledge that this Books & Brunch comes at a difficult time of the year; Remembrance Day was yesterday,” she said. “Every day, it is hard to forget the wars and the suffering they bring around the world. So it may seem odd, but also very necessary, to spend a couple of hours together celebrating our precious community, and our writers of humour.”
Books and Brunch is part of the Townships Sun magazine’s year-long 50th anniversary celebrations. The next event is a Book Fest, with more than 20 Townships authors and their books, planned for December 10. The Quebec Writers’ Federation and Townshippers’ Association are partnering in the book fair.
Two members of Parliament, Mme Marie-Claude Bibeau, MP for Compton-Stanstead, and Mme Elisabeth Brière, MP for Sherbrooke, both contributed to this month’s Books & Brunch. “Thanks to them, and to our strong team of volunteers!” added Leuck.
For information about upcoming 50th Anniversary events, check the new blog section on the Townships Sun’s website, townshipssun.ca, or its Facebook page.