Summer is when the Canadian literary festival season kicks into high gear, and all across the country readers come together to celebrate the goodness of books and reading. Find out what's happening near you!
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The Wordplay Festival for Children returns to Mabel Murple's Book Shoppe and Dreamery in River John, NS, on Monday July 2, with Paulette Bourgeois, Wesley King, Justin Gregg, and MC Sheree Fitch.
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If that's not enough lit for River John, the Read by the Sea Festival is happening on Saturday July 7, with Pauline Dakin, Sarah Faber, Wayne Johnston, and Lorri Neilsen Glenn.
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The 7th annual Elephant Mountain Literary Festival takes place in Nelson, BC, from July 12 to 15, with Susan Musgrave honouring the late Stephen Reid, plus Esi Edugyan and Steven Price, and more.
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The Lakefield Literary Festival takes place in Lakefield, ON, July 13–15 with authors including Mary Walsh, Craig Davidson, Kyo Maclear, and Michelle Berry—and also writers' craft talks with Barbara Mitchell (on writing family history), Redhill (writing novels), and Maclear (on writing picture books).
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The Saskatchewan Festival of Words runs July 19–22 in historic downtown Moosejaw, this year with authors including Sharon Bala, Gary Barwin, Louise Bernice Halfe, David Chariandy, Ivan Coyote, Cherie Dimaline, Joel Thomas Hynes, Heather O'Neill, Michael Redhill, Iain Reid, Tanya Talaga, Katherena Vermette, and more!
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The Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival happens July 19–22 on Denman Island, BC, with Caroline Anderson, Marina Endicott, Emily St. John Mandel, Bev Sellars, Yasuko Thanh, and other great writers.
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The Gatherings First Nations Literary Festival takes place on July 28 in Orillia, ON, with authors including Armand Ruffo, Lee Maracle, Tanya Talaga, Drew Hayden Taylor, Rosanna Deerchild, and Waubgeshig Rice.
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The Winterset in Summer Literary Festival returns to Eastport, NL, August 9–12, with Sharon Bala, Melissa Barbeau, Victoria Barbour, Bridget Canning, Robert Chafe, Jane Christmas, Omar El Akkad, Rosalind Gill, Katherine Govier, Joel Thomas Hynes, Wayne Johnston, Jillian Keiley, Melanie Martin, Azzo Rezori, Kate Robbins, Madeleine Thien.
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The third Spoke Literary Festival takes place August 10-12 in Vernon, BC, with authors including Natalie Appleton, Ashley Little, Michael V. Smith, and more.
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The Words Collide Festival in Calgary, AB, from August 10–12 is SOLD OUT, but a few of their events do not require access passes so readers can still check them out.
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Writers at Woody Point in Bonne Bay, NL, takes place August 14–19, featuring Sharon Bala, David Chariandy, Jamie Fitzpatrick, Elizabeth Hay, Lisa Moore, Elisabeth de Mariaffi, and many more.
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The Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts runs August 16–19 in Sechelt, BC, with authors including Carol Off, Jennifer Robson, Dawn Dumont, Kim Thuy, Ausma Zehanat Khan, Michael Redhill, Kim Fu, and David Chariandy.
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And the Women Killing It Crime Writers Festival in Prince Edward County, ON, is being held this year from Aug 31-Sept 2, with Catherine Astolfo, Gail Bowen, Vicki Delany, R.M. Greenaway, Janet Kellough, Y.S. Lee, Kim Moritsugu, Laurie Scott, Caro Soles and Linda Wiken.
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Have we missed anything? Email *editor at 49thShelf dot com* to have your event added to the schedule.