News

Thank you!

2009-10-28T20:47:10Z

What a year and what a Fall Edition. From a blown boiler to mind-blowing authors, the 2009 Season was an amazing experience. This year more than ever before, we want to thank our truly inspiring Volunteers for making it all happen.

Thank you to our amazing audiences who braved the cold this Fall to warmly welcome our visiting authors. Thank you to our Sponsors and Festival Members whose generosity keeps us going.

THANK YOU OTTAWA for proving yet again that Ottawa is a true cultural capital and a perfect meeting-place for the most acclaimed imaginations and deepest thinkers.

Check out some of the great photos here, and be sure to visit our YouTube channel to watch selections from the readings on video.

A week to go!

2009-10-13T20:24:22Z

Dear Festival Friends - Things are really starting to get busy here at Festival Central!

Two more great events coming up on Wednesday night at Saint Brigid's Centre for the Arts and Humanities (314 Saint Patrick at Cumberland):

1. Wednesday, October 14 @ 6:30 PM
THE CASE FOR GOD with KAREN ARMSTRONG
Hosted by Jim Creskey

2. Wednesday, October 14 @ 8:30 PM
NOW OR NEVER with TIM FLANNERY
Hosted by Jay Ingram

Then on Tuesday, October 20th at 8:00 PM, it's the OTTAWA BOOK AWARDS AND LAMPMAN-SCOTT PRIZE FOR POETRY at Library and Archives Canada (395 Wellington Street). This is a free event and promises to be a wonderful evening.

After that, we're back over to Saint Brigid's for the Festival itself which runs from October 21 to the 27th. If you have yet to check out the schedule, it's all online here. Some amazing talent will be participating so we hope to see you all week long!!

Tickets are available by phone at 613.562.1243, on our website or in person from Nicholas Hoare, Collected Works and Octopus Books.

Two quick notes:

1) Apostolos Doxiadis has had to cancel his appearance, so his event with Christain Bök on October 24th has been cancelled.

2) The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has been forced to cancel the book reading event with the authors of The Occupied Garden, due to the ongoing strike at the Canadian War Museum.

Hope to see you tomorrow night at Saint Brigid's!

All the best,
Sean

More great preview events

2009-10-02T19:52:39Z

Dear Festival Friends - just a quick reminder that we have five more great preview events before the Fall Edition October 21 to 27, 2009. Tickets for the October 14 events (as well as Festival Passes and Tickets) are available by phone at 613.562.1243, on our website (www.writersfestival.org) or in person from Nicholas Hoare, Collected Works and Octopus Books.

1. Saturday, October 3 @ 6:00 PM

A Life A Legend A Filmmaker

A free event at Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street.

The late Ottawa filmmaker Frank Cole is the only human being to cross the Sahara Desert alone. On another crossing he was mysteriously murdered. But he left us his extraordinary films about life and death.

Come celebrate the book launch of Life Without Death: The Cinema of Frank Cole. An evening of words, images, music and surfboards. The event will be hosted by Tom McSorley and Rick Taylor. Also the Canadian Film Institute will screen the Ottawa premiere of Korbett Matthew's documentary on Frank Cole The Man Who Crossed The Sahara, with Matthews in attendance.

2. Wednesday, October 14 @ 6:30 PM

THE CASE FOR GOD with KAREN ARMSTRONG

Hosted by Jim Creskey

Saint Brigid's Centre for the Arts and Humanities, 314 Saint Patrick Street

From the bestselling author of A History of God and The Great Transformation comes a balanced, nuanced understanding of the role religion plays in human life and the trajectory of faith in modern times.

3. Wednesday, October 14 @ 8:30 PM

NOW OR NEVER with TIM FLANNERY

Hosted by Jay Ingram

Saint Brigid's Centre for the Arts and Humanities, 314 Saint Patrick Street

"What is our purpose as a species? How does the Earth work?"

Tim Flannery is one of Australia’s leading thinkers and writers. An internationally acclaimed scientist, explorer and conservationist, Tim’s books include the definitive ecological histories of Australia (The Future Eaters) and North America (The Eternal Frontier). He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers. As a field zoologist he has discovered and named more than thirty new species of mammals (including two tree-kangaroos) and at 34 he was awarded the Edgeworth David Medal for Outstanding Research. His pioneering work in New Guinea prompted Sir David Attenborough to put him in the league of the world’s great explorers and the writer Redmond O’Hanlon to remark, “He’s discovered more new species than Charles Darwin.”

4. Tuesday, October 20 @ 8:00 PM

AWARD PRESENTATIONS:

OTTAWA BOOK AWARDS AND LAMPMAN-SCOTT PRIZE FOR POETRY

A free event at Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington St.

The City of Ottawa and ARC Poetry Society are pleased to invite you to attend a celebration of Ottawa's vibrant literary scene, in conjunction with the Ottawa Writers Festival Fall Edition. Award presentations will be made to the winners of the Ottawa Book Awards and the Lampman-Scott Prize for best book of poetry, with short readings by the winning authors. Join us for a reception following the award presentations and meet the outstanding authors who have been nominated for these prestigious prizes. RSVP: infoculture@ottawa.ca

And last but not least, I wanted to let you know that on Thursday, October 15 at 6:30 PM our friends at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands are presenting The Occupied Garden with Kristen den Hartog and Tracy Kasaboski at the Canadian War Museum. For free tickets please call Rosemieke van de Meerendonk at 613.237.5031 x225.

Have a great weekend!

All the best,

Sean

Off to a fantastic start!

2009-09-25T14:30:16Z

Dear Friends:

The Fall season certainly got off to an amazing start with two huge events - Nick Cave on Thursday and Margaret Atwood on Tuesday. Not only were the crowds huge, the audience feedback has been glowing. Both events were also big hits with the authors.

Nick Cave said in an interview on Friday: "Last night (at the Ottawa Writers Festival) was I think the best one of those onstage question-and-answer things I’ve done. I really loved it. ... it was the most enjoyable one I’ve done, for sure."

And today on Margaret Atwood's blog she says: "At Ottawa’s St. Brigid’s Centre for the Arts and Humanities, I took one look at the stunning backdrop created by designer Thea Yeatman out of old plastic bags, duct tape and string, and thought: Yes! Artists really can make more out of less, and something out of nothing. In doing so, they unify communities and inspire them."

The special pre-Festival preview events at Saint Brigid's continue with two events on Monday:

1. September 28th @ 7:00 PM:
LITTLE BROTHER WITH CORY DOCTOROW
Hosted by Kate Heartfield

"A wonderful, important book ... I'd recommend Little Brother over pretty much any book I've read this year." —Neil Gaiman

Marcus (AKA w1n5t0n) is taking back the world, one hacked game console at a time ... Have you ever felt like the technology you love could be used against you? Or that the government is watching you .. a little too closely? Have you ever felt like you just had to skip school? Do you hate bullies? Have you ever felt the call to fight back- and that the fight was waaaay bigger than just you? Join Cory Doctorow, author of Little Brother, for a look at what could happen when security and individual freedom clash, and how one tech-savvy teenager fights back.

2. September 28th @ 8:30 PM
GREEN METROPOLIS WITH DAVID OWEN
Hosted by Neil Wilson

Why Living Smaller, Living Closer, and Driving Less Are the Keys to Sustainability...

David Owen, a staff writer for The New Yorker whose interests include global ecology, has examined numerous communities across America and discovered one that strikes him as a model of environmental efficiency. That community is New York City, and in Green Metropolis, Owen tdiscusses what green-conscious citizens can learn from Gotham’s example. This promises to be a hugely important event for all of us who want to find ways to reduce our carbon footprint.

I'll be back in touch again next week with more on Karen Armstrong, Tim Flannery and our other preview events.

I hope to see you on Monday!

All the best,
Sean

Call for volunteers

2009-09-23T19:28:23Z

Hello Volunteers

Well, the craziness is over for now but with the fall festival just around the corner it won't be gone for long! We have just hosted 2 fantastic events. As you know Nick Cave was in Ottawa on the 17th and last night we had the Canadian premiere of Margaret Atwood's latest novel. WOW!

I would like to invite everyone to join us for our next event on Monday, Sept. 28th with Cory Doctorow and later that same night David Owen. There will be free admission for any and all festival volunteers.

We will be holding the first of our volunteer sign-up nights on Sept. 28th from 5 - 6:30 pm and then our evening events will start at 7 pm. We will have our programs available and you will be able to meet some of the other volunteers and familiarize yourself with our new home, Saint Brigid's Centre for the Arts. We will also have refreshments available and our team members will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. Please join us and sign up for your preferred volunteer positions and events.

I would appreciate an email to let me know if you are able to attend on the 28th so that I will have enough refreshments for everyone during the sign up. thank you

Saint Brigid's is an old church located at 314 St. Patrick Street at the corner of Cumberland in the Byward Market.

I hope to see you all you very soon.

Many Thanks, Leslie

562-1243

Atwood Event: The Feast of Serpent Wisdom

2009-08-28T16:05:01Z

Dear Festival Members:

Sometimes, everything comes together perfectly. This Fall is one of those times. You've seen a few of the highlights. We'll be announcing all the details on the 2009 Fall Edition on September 2nd and I can't wait for you to see all the great talent we've confirmed. It's going to be a great Festival.

No only that, but we've got a world-class line-up of Pre-Festival events with Nick Cave, Margaret Atwood, Cory Doctorow, Karen Armstrong and Tim Flannery.

Today, it's my great pleasure to announce an added attraction to our pre-Festival offerings:

As you know our Margaret Atwood event on September 22nd is a totally unique multi-disciplinary event designed to immerse the audience in the world of her new novel, Year of the Flood. Not content to simply read from the new book, Ms. Atwood has written a short play and had her Hymns set to music.

So the mainstage event - directed by Janet Irwin and featuring the iconic author as narrator, Mary Ellis as Toby, Todd Duckworth as Adam One and Kate Smith as Ren, with the Songs of the Gardeners performed by the Calixa Lavallee Ensenble and conducted by Mark Wilkinson - promises to be an unforgettable evening.

We're taking it one step further with a pre-event fundraising dinner featuring local, organic food inspired by the book and prepared by Thyme and Again.

In our ongoing efforts to 'green' the Festival, we've earmarked funds raised to purchase permanent bicycle parking for our venue. And I can't imagine a more interesting way to celebrate the launch of her new novel than an evening of food, song and ideas, so I hope you will join us!

The main event is, of course, free for Members, so the Feast is only $100 for Members ($125 for everyone else).

The full menu is online: http://www.writersfestival.org/atwoodmenu.pdf

I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

Seating at the Feast is limited, so call us at 613.562.1243 to reserve your spot at the table!

All the best,
Sean

Fund for Zimbabwean Journalism Student - Mbonisi Zikhali

2009-08-25T18:41:30Z

Mbonisi Zikhali is a 27-year-old journalism student from a township outside of Bulawayo city in Zimbabwe. He has experienced intimidation from lecturers when trying to express opinions in his academic work and from state authorities when writing for an independent newspaper, as well as multiple interruptions to his studies over the past several years due to the political situation in the country.

Recently, Mbonisi was accepted into the highly competitive and well-respected Masters in Journalism program at Carleton University in Ottawa, starting in September 2009. However, Mbonisi comes from a very poor background and has no financial base in Zimbabwe; his uncle, who lives and works in the Diaspora, currently supports 16 members of the family on his salary alone.

Emily Wilson, a Canadian activist who met Mbonisi in October 2008 in Bulawayo, was inspired by his story and his determination. She set herself the challenge of raising $20,000 to help Mbonisi pay for his living costs during his two years at Carleton, and has collaborated with the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) to set up an official fund.

To donate and for more information about Mbonisi and the situation in Zimbabwe, please visit the CJFE website at www.cjfe.org, or copy and paste the following URL into your browser: http://cjfe.org/releases/2009/05082009mbonisi.html

Please help out this fundraising effort by circulating the information to anyone you know who may be interested in Mbonisi's story. Thank you!

Click here for Amnesty International's news feed on Zimbabwe.

M&S Announces Special Dramatic Performances for Year of the Flood

2009-08-18T21:03:03Z

McLelland & Stewart has just announced the creation of a dramatic performance, with actors and choir and an original score, to accompany her eagerly awaited novel, The Year of the Flood, a companion novel to Oryx and Crake.

In an effort to break away from the traditional book tour, Atwood has penned a semi-dramatic theatrical performance based on her new novel The Year of the Flood. Complete with three actors, and a choir which will perform the original score by Los Angeles composer, Orville Stoeber, this one-hour innovative performance promises to be highly entertaining and unlike anything done before. Commissioned by Atwood to create a score for the original hymns that appear in her novel, Stoeber has produced rich, melodic and stirring interpretation, and the resulting CD is destined to become popular in its own right.

In order to reduce the carbon footprint of a traveling cast, will utilize local actors and choirs. In Ottawa, director Janet Irwin will lead Atwood and the cast, and Laurence Ewashko and the Calixa Lavallee Ensenble, conducted by Mark Wilkinson, will perform the music. Atwood will act as narrator in each city. This will be a fundraiser for Nature Canada.

Atwood has also created a stunning interactive website for the novel, here: http://www.yearoftheflood.com/

Silent Auction - Donations Wanted

2009-08-14T19:12:30Z

The Ottawa International Writers Festival is a force for literacy, and not only through its festival programming. Its Step into Stories festival brings the world’s best writers and illustrators into contact with young readers, many from disadvantaged schools. The festival, with its literacy partners, is working to create opportunities for readers and writers who have been pushed to the margins for too long.

And you can help.

This year’s spring edition of the festival featured a silent auction to raise funds for the festival’s literacy programming. It was a lot of fun and bidding was intense on items such as the leather-bound Pauline Johnson donated by Charlotte Gray, and the train trip to Toronto to have lunch with seven Canadian writers.

So for this year’s fall festival, we’re doing it again. We need friends of the Festival to donate signed books, early editions, advanced reading copies, photographs, artwork, CDs or tickets to local performances and museums. Ideally, the item for sale should have some connection to the festival, or at the very least to the writing life, but that connection can be … creative.

Let’s see if we can beat our own record and raise even more for literacy this time around.

Please contact Kate Heartfield at kheartfield@thecitizen.canwest.com before Sept. 17. 2009, and let her know what you have to donate.

Daily Planet's Jay Ingram to host Tim Flannery

2009-08-14T16:42:03Z

We're pleased to announce that we've confirmed Jay Ingram to host our event with Australia's Tim Flannery on October 14th!

Jay Ingram is the co-host of Daily Planet, the hour-long prime-time science program on Discovery Channel, which he helped to design and launch 10 years ago. He has worked in almost every mass medium. He is best known for having hosted CBC’s Quirks and Quarks for 12 years, but he also freelanced for CBC’s Morningside and hosted two CBC documentary series. He was contributing editor to Owl magazine for five years, his weekly science column in The Toronto Star is now in its 13th year, and for several years he has had a web-based program called Jay’s Journal. He has written nine books, and received numerous accolades and awards for his outstanding contributions to the popularization of science.

Tim Flannery is an internationally acclaimed scientist, explorer, and conservationist. His books include the definitive ecological histories of Australia, The Future Eaters, and North America, The Eternal Frontier, as well as A Gap in Nature and Astonishing Animals. He is a regular contributor to The New York Review of Books and The Times Literary Supplement. Flannery spent a year as professor of Australian studies at Harvard, where he taught in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. He lives in Adelaide, Australia, where he is director of the South Australian Museum and professor at the University of Adelaide. His latest publication is the international bestseller, The Weather Makers: How We Are Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth.