The Saskatchewan Festival of Words has just announced its lineup of spring programming.
Established in 1996, the Saskatchewan Festival of Words is a registered non-profit hosting an annual literary festival held on the third weekend in July.
Each year’s festival entails more than 60 events spanning four consecutive days and showcases literary talent from across Canada in Moose Jaw’s historic downtown.
Lit Con 2024
Starting on Tuesday, March 12 at 7 p.m., Mark Brick will be discussing marketing strategies and advice for self published authors. Titled “Self Publisher’s Guide to Marketing with FriesenPress,” the workshop will explore the fundamental elements needed to create a marketing strategy for your book.
FriesenPress has donated a manuscript evaluation guide to be handed out to one lucky attendee chosen at random following the webinar. The guide is said to be valued at $499.
On Saturday, March 16 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Drew Nicks will be presenting “Disquiet and Unease: On Horror and The Weird.” Nicks will explore the evolution of the horror genre throughout literary history and provides an examination of its importance vis-a-vis our inner selves.
The presentation will help aspiring writers select a type of horror story to write and teaches how to self-publish, approach editors, and how to handle criticism of your works.
Also, on March 16 from 1 – 3 p.m., Tonia Laird will be holding a workshop called “Where Pen Meets Pixel: Writing for Video Games.” This workshop will discuss the varied roles held by writers of AAA and mobile video games.
Guests will also learn how to write a quest-based game with branching dialogue from start to finish, and Laird will help explain what potential employers seek in video game writer’s profiles.
“Where Pen Meets Pixel” is proudly sponsored by the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild.
All Lit Con events will take place at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre located at 217 Main Street North. Advanced registration is required to attend. To register, visit FestivalofWords.com.
Cineview
On Wednesday, March 20, the Saskatchewan Festival of Words will be showing “Frybread Face and Me,” the cinematic story of a Navajo boy from San Diego who experiences a cultural awakening after spending summer vacation with his precocious cousin and other relatives on a reservation.
Showing on Wednesday, April 17, “Monster” is the story of a single mother who demands answers from a school teacher once her son starts to act strangely at school.
On Wednesday, May 29, “Solo” explores an emerging Montreal-based drag queen named Simon who must deal with two impossible loves: a passionate and destructive affair with his lover and a cold relationship with his mother who just returned after a 15-year absence.
All showings will take place at the Mae Wilson Theatre starting at 7 p.m. and tickets are $10 at the door.
Performer’s Café
On Thursday, March 28, Dustan Hlady will host “an exciting and entertaining night out.” With songs aired on college radio stations across Canada and stories published in multiple literary magazines, Hlady is an established local songwriter, comedian storyteller, and filmmaker.
On Thursday, April 25, “Hot Toffee” will host a presentation that sheds light on a few ideas and perspectives from “a better man living a better life” and will guide viewers through the art of celebrating who you are to the fullest.
Hot Toffee is a 29-year-old musician and recording artist from Moose Jaw, and draws inspiration from rap, R&B, soul, pop, and fusion genres.
On Thursday, May 30, Kate Spencer will be reading from her first published book, “Cradle and Spoon.” Spencer is originally from small town Saskatchewan, and she holds a bachelor of arts honours with a concentration in creative writing and a master of arts from the University of Regina.
All Performer's Cafe events will take place at The Hive, located at 23 Main Street North. No registration is required, and events begin at 7 p.m.
2024 Festival of Words
This year’s Festival of Words will take place July 18 – 21, and the 28th iteration of the annual event is sure to draw crowds with a few distinguished names already confirmed for the occasion.
Three of these names include Sid Marty, a Canadian author, poet/musician, and freelance writer; Waubgeshig Rice, an Anishinaabe author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation on Georgian Bay; and, Victoria Koop, a Saskatchewan-based writer with a proud love of all things geeky.
More details about the 28th annual Saskatchewan Festival of Words are anticipated this April.
If you are looking to apply as a literary presenter, a copy of your book and personal bio can be submitted to operations co-ordinator Amanda Farnel at Amanda@FestivalOfWords.com.
For more information, visit FestivalOfWords.com.
