Inaugural book festival brings words to life

Downtown Brandon will teem with life as the first-ever Words Alive book festival takes place in early November. The festival brings together readers, writers, publishers and book lovers of all types for a three-day event that celebrates all aspects of the written word.

"Brandon's never seen a literary event of this magnitude," said T. Keith Edmunds, president of the Brandon Book Festival Association, which is putting on the festival. "Along with appearances by several notable authors, we've got a full schedule planned of workshops and forums that will appeal to everyone."

Words Alive begins Thursday, November 8, 2007, continues on Friday, November 9, 2007, and culminates with a full schedule of activities on Saturday, November 10.

Festival attendees have three streams of seminars to choose from on Saturday, either "Reading," "Writing" or "Publishing." Topics range from blogging and other forms of self-publishing to writing comic strips, poetry or plays. There will also be author readings all day long.

"One of the most exciting things is that Words Alive has already started," Edmunds said. "We've got a short story contest underway right now -- and winners will be published in the Brandon Sun and in the Words Alive program."

Entries in the short story contest must be submitted by October 26 and should be approximately 2,000 words long. Entry forms with more details are printed regularly in the Brandon Sun.

"That's an extremely short story," Edmunds said, "so we're looking for a tale that really grips the reader. Previous contests in Westman have produced lots of truly excellent writing, so we're sure picking a winner will be tough."

Reading may suit some more than writing, and so Words Alive has invited numerous guests to whet the book lover's appetite.

"Starting immediately, we're launching a region-wide book club." Edmunds said.

In a concept that builds on successful trials in other cities, readers in Brandon and Westman are invited to read "Shelf Monkey," by Corey Redekop.

"It's a made-in-Manitoba novel," Edmunds said. "It's a book about books that's a fun read, but also full of discussion material."

Several local book clubs have already picked up "Shelf Monkey," but the more people reading it, the more spontaneous discussions will erupt.

"Imagine spotting someone in a coffeeshop, and they're reading the same book you are," Edmunds said. "That's the kind of atmosphere we're going to create — let's get everyone on the same page."

Words Alive will close on Saturday with a "Shelf Monkey" discussion group led by the author himself, Thompson's Corey Redekop.

The Brandon Book Festival Association will reveal very soon some of the major authors who will come to Words Alive to give readings. Announcements will be made as details are confirmed.

Tickets can be purchased starting Oct. 1 at Pennywise Books, 1031 Rosser Ave.

For more information, contact:
T. Keith Edmunds
President, Brandon Book Festival Association
204-728-2665
wordsalivefestival@gmail.com