Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story Re-imagined in Huron County

(News Release)

Huron County is set to celebrate the short story form in the landscape that inspired Nobel Laureate Alice Munro.

 

Author Lisa Moore

The Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story from June 4-7, 2015 will present readings, book signings, presentations, and masterclasses with some of Canada’s most respected authors and literary figures, culminating in the Jubilee Gala at which the Adult and Youth Short Story Competition Awards will be presented.

Writers and readers alike have the opportunity to partake in writing masterclasses and facilitated discussions with celebrated Canadian authors.

Heather O’Neill (2007 Canada Reads winner) will present a reading of her new collection of short stories, Daydreams of Angels; best-selling author and Wingham native Andrew Kaufman will present a “Story Structure of the Screenplay” masterclass among other appearances; Man Booker Prize-nominated Lisa Moore is the Jubilee Gala keynote speaker on the theme of women and the short story in Canadian literature and a masterclass; Governor General’s Literary Award-nominated Merilyn Simonds will facilitate a book club discussion on reading Alice Munro stories; and Giller Prize-nominated Caroline Adderson will present two masterclasses - “Writing Linked Short Stories” and “Writing Narrative Scenes”.

The Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story reaches across Huron County with the Readings in the County series: Thursday June 4 at the Clinton Town Hall with Heather O’Neill, and Sunday June 7 at the Bayfield Town Hall with Lisa Moore, Caroline Adderson, and Merilyn Simonds. Readings in the County are free events, although guests must confirm their attendance through the box office.

The Festival’s Short Story Contest has been in existence since 2003, and in 2014 drew over 250 entries in the Adult and Youth categories from across Canada and USA; finalists were from Ontario, BC, PEI, New York, and South Korea. This year, Short Story contest finalists are judged by Lisa Moore (Adult) and Andrew Kaufman (Youth), and the 2015 awards will be presented at the Jubilee Gala at the Wingham Knights of Columbus Centre on Saturday June 6.  The event features a keynote presentation by Lisa Moore and a homemade local buffet dinner.

The Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story is generously supported by the Township of North Huron, Huron County Libraries and Cultural Services,  Municipalities of Morris Turnery and Central Huron and Employment Ontario.

Full masterclass and event descriptions, schedules, and ticket prices are available at alicemunrofestival.ca or by calling Blyth Festival box office at 1 (877) 862 5984 or (519) 523 9300.

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