Big News, as of Sunday, January 17th: St. John’s, Newfoundland finally has what will hopefully be an annual literary festival. You can see the official site for the Sparks Literary Festival here.  It was really about time for this, and Rita Tremblay and renowned poet and well-regarded professor Mary Dalton is to thank for its conception, as they have been the driving force behind what will now be an annual festival to showcase this province’s finest established and emerging writers. It speaks to the validity of this event that Mary had no trouble finding 16 writers to fill the day-long festival. There will be four panels of four writers, spaced out over the day. They will read from their work and then engage in a Q & A with the audience. Another fun interactive element to this festival is its haiku competition, open to anyone participating: the authors, organizers, and audience. The haiku need only incorporate an image a light, to play off the title of the festival, Sparks. the winner will get a bundle of books.

This year’s Sparks Festival includes: Lynette Adams, Joan Clark, Michael Crummey, Tom Dawe, Randy Drover, Robert Finley, Jessica Grant, Susan Ingersoll, Don McKay, Janet McNaughton, Lisa Moore, Chad Pelley, Stephen Rowe, Leslie Vryenhoek, Russell Wangersky, Patrick Warner.

Schedule

Sunday, January 17, 2010

 Session 1 – 10:30-11:45

Michael Crummey, Lynette Adams, Robert Finley, Janet McNaughton

Lunch break: 12.00-1.00

 Session 2 – 1:00-2:20

Susan Ingersoll, Chad Pelley, Patrick Warner, Jessica Grant

Break: 2:20-2:30: Displays of local literary journals, etc. in lobby. Meet and greet, book signings. 

Session 3 – 2:30-4:00

Leslie Vryenhoek, Tom Dawe, Stephen Rowe, Lisa Moore

Break: 3:50-4:30: Displays of local literary journals, etc. in lobby. Meet and greet, book signings.

Session 4 – 4:30-6:00

Russell Wangersky, Randy Drover, Joan Clark, Don McKay

Announcement of Haiku Competition winner; reading of haiku short list.

 Reception: 6.00 p.m.