Saskatchewan Festival of Words: A storytellers dream

REGINA – Saskatchewan’s Festival of Words is back for its 18^th year, featuring four days of reading and performances from authors across the country.

Gail Bowen, a Saskatchewan author, returned for her 4^th consecutive year to present her work to colleagues and readers.

“I think really what makes me come back, is it really is just an unparallel way to get into touch with readers,” she added Friday.

There’s more to the festival than what would attract your average book worm.

The event features meet and greets with more than 30 authors, many who are internationally rewowned.

Further, the festival incorporates a variety of genres from mysteries, to poetry and even children’s book.

Donna Lee Howes, the executive director of Festival of Words, said that the presentations and workshops are catered to aspiring writers.

“It’s a place for people who are interested in the world to get together, talk with other people that share that same curiosity,” she explained.  “Once a year they get together in Moose Jaw!”

Many of the authors and novels have come out of the prairies and writers like Saskatoon’s own Anthony Bidulka said they treat the festival as a breeding ground for the next best tale.

“When I travel to places outside of Canada, people are really interested because they’ve never heard about Saskatchewan.  From a writer’s perspective, that’s a very rich bit of material to draw on.”

Based on the increased numbers of people turning out year after year, it appears the Festival of Words is bound to be a never ending story.

The event kicked off Thursday and will wrap up Sunday.