5 Authors You Gotta Check out at the Festival of Words
Nick Murray
It's that perfect little Moose Jaw weekend again, where all the countries most interesting and talented authors come to town and mingle with prairie readers. The weekend is chock-full of cool CanLit related events. For the kids there are storytelling events, slam poetry nights and skill crafting classes. For the adults there are book club meetings, trivia competitions and live theatre. That's without mentioning the numerous readings and presentations and guest panels running all weekend long. There are lots of great things about the Festival of Words; but most great of all are the books. The basement of the Moose Jaw Public Library and Art Gallery turns into coolest little bookshop in the country. With the writers of all the books flitting around and occasionally stopping by to chat with customers and sign copies of their work.
This festival is just perfect for anyone who likes books. I like books.
There are a lot of great authors and plenty of great books being featured this weekend, so I can't fit all of them into this article and there are some that sound great that I just don't know enough about, so take this for what it is. It's just one man's take on things. But I've got the best taste in books and authors, so I wont steer you wrong. Trust me.
Here is the full list of presenters.
Here is the detailed schedule of presentations and events.
Here are Five Authors (and their books) You Need to Check out at the Festival of Words:
Angie Abdou - In Case I Go
Angie Abdou, who penned the all-time Canadian classis, The Bone Cage, will be here presenting her new novel In Case I Go.
Angie Abdou was actually born in Moose Jaw is in Moose Jaw to present her 2017 release In Case I Go, a novel that explores being haunted by the demons and misdeeds of your ancestors. It's a fresh take on ghost stories. It was a finalist for the Banff Mountain Book Awards. But it should be known that Angie Abdou also once wrote an all-time Canadian Classic, one of my all-time faves as well. The Bone Cage is an interconnecting love story about two young athletes at the peak of their sporting success, attempting, for the last time in the young careers, to make the Summer Olympics. It was a finalist for CBC's Canada Reads. I couldn't put it down. I think it should be required reading for Canadian high school seniors
Angie Abdou and Karl Subban will be presenting together on Friday morning at 10:00 in the South Room at the Moose Jaw Public Library
Sunday at 10:00am Angie is moderating a panel discussion on "Newspapers and Beyond"
Karl Subban - How We Did It
Karl Subban with two of his boys, PK and Malcolm. Karl will be presenting in relation to his biographical time-piece about raising his boys to be massively successful hockey players. The book is called How We Did It.
Karl Subban is the father of the legendary Canadian hockey playing Subban Brothers. P.K. and Malcolm have already had loads of NHL success and Jordan, the third brother, is currently playing in the Toronto Maple Leafs farm system. Karl (Dad) wrote a book that NEEDS to be read by anyone who wants their children to be successful. He wrote a book that details, exactly how he he guided his young children into becoming massively talented hockey stars. The book is titled How We Did it: The Subban Plan for Success in Hockey, School and Life. He titled the book that way because that was exactly what everyone always wanted to know: they wanted to know how he did it. Now you can find out how.
both Angie Abdou and Karl Subban will be presenting together on Friday morning at 10:00 in the South Room at the Moose Jaw Public Library
For the Saturday feature, Karl Subban is being interviewed by Globe & Mail Opinion editor, Mark Medley at the Mae Wilson theatre (4:00).
Cherie Dimaline - The Marrow Thieves
Cherie Dimaline holding a copy of her latest book, The Marrow Thieves.
Cherie Dimaline is presenting from her latest novel, The Marrow Thieves. Although it certainly comes off as anti-white, it's hard to deny that the idea for the story is fantastically imaginative and compelling. Whatever; I dig the "problematic" too. The Marrow Thieves is set in my favourite literary themed world: the Post Apocalyptic dystopia. Think Cormac McCarthy's The Road or P.D James' The Children of Men or hell, even The Walking Dead. In this one, North America has been ravaged by climate change and oil spills (damn whites!) and the government (white) has sent their armed agents (also white) out to harvest bone marrow from the indigenous people who are now living on the run. Marrow Thieves is a world in which white people can no longer dream, and scientists believe that the only way to restore the dreaming is to extract the bone marrow from indigenous people. I like the creativity. Sounds like a thriller.
Joel Thomas Hynes - We'll All be Burnt in our Beds Some Night
Joel Thomas Hynes was in the show Little Dog, as well as in the series The Book of Negroes. He is in Moose Jaw in support of his latest novel We'll All Be Burnt in Our Beds Some Night
I started watching this TV show last year called Little Dog. It was about a broke, alcoholic, retired, former champion boxer attempting to make his comeback for one last big money fight. That boxer was played by Joel Thomas Hynes. Hynes is also an artist and a novelist. We'll All Be Burnt in Our Beds Some Night follows the Little Dog theme; it's about a tough-guy loser awaiting trial for an assault case involving his girlfriend. Things turn out well for the protagonist when the girlfriend dies and can't testify in court. He embraces his victory and then hitches his way across Canada with her ashes in tow. It basically turns into Planes, Trains & Automobiles for down and out Canadians.
Both Joel Thomas Hynes and Angie Abdou will be presenting in the Reading room on Saturday at 2:30
Sharon Bala - The Boat People
Sharon Bala and her excellent new book, The Boat People.
Sharon Bala is presenting from her most recent novel, The Boat People. It's a story of refugees coming to Canada amid some political strife. It's bad enough that the voyage was perilous and dangerous but when the "boat people" arrive in Canada there is the looming threat of deportation hanging over their heads. As well, while the protagonist and child of the story are attempting to be accepted into Canada, something happens in Sri Lanka that causes the "boat people" to be accused of terrorism and puts their chances of successful immigration in jeopardy.
The Saskatchewan Festival of Words runs until Sunday afternoon. Check out the Festival Website for any and all information