Walking the Tracks

In my blog from October 6th, I wrote about what I called a Whirligig Weekend. The annual Victoria Festival of Authors, held from October 02 - 06, 2019, set my head spinning. And I only attended five of the eighteen scheduled events! Earlier in the week, I had other commitments which probably saved my poor brain from absolute overload.  I’ve titled this blog post ‘Walking the Tracks’ because of the photo on the front of the event booklet. My experience truly was ‘walking the tracks’ laid down by the authors that I was able to listen to. 

Starting Friday morning, all morning, I attended the Art of Storytelling to listen to author Richard Van Camp. Our small group, gathered around a long plank table, was all ready, pen in hand and lots of paper. Ready to hear the structure of storytelling that has won him success. Instead, we listened Richard’s stories and the wave that he took them through. Throughout he asked us for stories of our own which several of us shared. Was I disappointed that my ‘class room persona’ had not had a good work out? Maybe a little bit, but by listening to the flow of story I heard the Art of Storytelling.

Saturday was full. First on the schedule Riel Work: In Conversation with Jean Teillet & Gregory Scofield. Jean Teillet, the author of The North West is our Mother is an amazing speaker, is the grand niece of Louis Riel. She has an accurate story of Louis Riel and explained so much Canadian history from that time. 

The next event, before lunch and moderated by Robert Wiersema, was Immaculate History shared by graphic novelist Sarah Leavitt, poet Erin Mouré, and author Steven Price.The inspiration for their works were figures ~ legendary or real ~ taken from written history or personal experience. The crafting of these works in these diverse genres is quite amazing to me. 

Walking outside in the fresh air between events for lunch was to take a deep breath and revive some energy before diving into the afternoon’s event moderated by Marita Daschel: In the Beginning……with authors Carla Funk, Yasuko Thanh, Meenal Shrivastava, and Samra Zafar. Each author brought us works about the changes they had wrought in their lives. From various rigid childhood experiences to articulate and confident writers, each story was the same in the strength of character that they each found and developed. Different only in details and geography.

Sunday morning, the final event that we attended, was moderated by Robert Wiersema. Titled Wayfinding: Is that a path there? ‘The quest is one of the oldest plot devices going…….’ and is the focus for novelist Cherie Dimaline, poet Pauline Holdstock and debut novelist Karen McBride. Discussion about character development was the most interesting to me.

So, did I buy one of their books ~ some set for awards? Have you ever heard the phrase: ‘So many books, so little time?’ Well, I restrained myself and did not purchase any books in favour of the books I’m already reading. However I have the list of these books as the ‘next to read’ for me. The list is below so you can also add to your own ‘so many books’ list.  

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough 

or a book long enough to suit me.”

~ C.S.Lewis

Authors and Book List

Richard Van Camp: We Sang You Home - children’s book in Cree and English

Jean Teillet:  The North-West is Our Mother - accurate history of Louis Riel

Sarah Leavitt:  Agnes, Murderess - graphic novel

Erin Mouré:  The Elements - poetry

Steven Price:  Lampedusa - novel

Yasuko Thanh: Mistakes to Run With

Carla Funk: Every Little Scrap and Wonder

Meenal Shrivastava: Amma’s Daughters

Samra Zafar: A Good Wife

Cherie Dimaline: Empire of the Wild

Pauline Holdstock: Here I Am!

Karen McBride: Crow Winter