Online Writing and Reading Festivals – Part 2: Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival

This is Part 2 in a 3-part series about annually held writing and reading festivals that have moved online this year. The good news is that these festivals are now open to readers and writers all over the world! (Link to Part 1 and Part 3)

Authors JP McLean and Bill Engleson have both been promoted on Authors-Readers International and both live on Denman Island. They were also both involved in this year’s Denman Island Readers and Writers Virtual Mini-Fest, so when I asked JP McLean about including information on this festival as part of my series, she asked Stewart Goodings (the co-chair of the DIRWF) to contribute to the post. While the date of this year’s festival has come and gone, ALL direct video links are still available to view and enjoy, for anyone – around thee world!

From Jo-Anne McLean … Thanks again for the opportunity to have the DIRWF covered on your blog. You’re always thinking in creative ways to help support authors, and it’s much appreciated. The festival committee was excited to hear of your support and I’ll be sending them your link as soon as it goes live.

 

Denman’s Summer Literary Festival Launches a Virtual Mini-Fest

By Stewart Goodings and Jo-Anne McLean

The Denman Island Readers’ and Writers’ Festival (DIRWF), like many other literary festivals in this age of COVID-19, has gone online. The authors who would have headlined the 2020 festival have instead represented their work in video format.

There is an active writing culture on Denman Island, inspired by the novels and memoirs of Des Kennedy, and the published works of Howard Stewart, Jo-Anne McLean, and Bill Engleson. The DIRWF has a long history of including local writers in the annual festival and is happy to include local authors’ videos this year as well.

In an effort to support these authors, the DIRWF is offering the festival’s videos free of charge. Please enjoy and share the videos, explore the festival website, and support these authors by purchasing their books at your local community bookshop.

Access the festival from the comfort of your favourite recliner or that patio deck chair
right here on the website.
Enjoy!

HEADLINERS:

Caroline Adderson reminding readers of her debt to Anton Chekhov as she launches her new novel A Russian Sister. Caroline’s website.

Michael Christie talking about his fictional family saga, which culminates in the near future when old-growth trees have become a rarity. (Interview on CBC)

Libby Davies expounding on her life of political activism and social justice.

Mark Jaccard spelling out his prescriptions for a more sustainable world in the wake of the Covid-19 virus. (Video on YouTube)

Kate Harris sharing her amazing cycling adventure along Asia’s fabled Silk Road. (Interview on YouTube)

Anosh Irani telling stories about his own Indo/Canadian life and those of his fictional characters.

Jónína Kirton reading and giving background for her poetry and her Icelandic/Indigenous ancestry.

Brian Goldman commenting on his life and experiences as an ER physician, national radio host and recent book on kindness. (Video on YouTube)

Peggy Herring taking us to the 18th century Olympic peninsula for her researched story of a shipwrecked Russian woman’s life among the native people.

Tetsuro Shigematsu opening his world of theatrical mysteries and storytelling performance. (Video on YouTube)

LOCAL DENMAN ISLAND WRITERS:

Lucy Dabbs reading her memoir, Senior Year, inspired by her senior year at an international school in Japan.

Bill Engleson reading his short story, The Beans.

Stewart Goodings reading his short story, Love in the Cold War.

Graham Hayman reading his short story, The Cap at Kits Beach (or Yellow is My Favourite Colour).

Lorraine Martinuik reading a collection of her poems inspired by “sheltering in place” and reflects her home on Taystayic (Denman Island).

Jo-Anne McLean discussing how she convinces readers to suspend their disbelief when reading books with supernatural elements using examples from Secret Sky, the first of seven books in The Gift Legacy series.

Carolyne Montgomery reading from her short story, The Ginkgo Tree.

Howard Stewart reading a segment from his memoir, A Moment in Outer Mongolia.

This mini-fest will stay up on the DIRWF website for 2020, so you can view the videos more than once and at any time. We hope you enjoy the videos and perhaps you will be able to join us in 2021—provided we can get Dr. Bonnie Henry’s approval!