For Immediate Release
SUMMARY – The PEI Writers’ Guild brings Canadian icons Peter Mansbridge and Steve Patterson of CBC’s The Debaters to Charlottetown, offers workshops and events to local writers from September 15-18th.
(CHARLOTTETOWN, PE) August 19th, 2022—The PEI Writers’ Guild is proud to announce that Wild Threads Literary Festival is in its third edition , presenting four days of signature events, workshops, an open mic, a reception and even the addition of the Brunchy Sunday Readings.
To kick-off the festivities on Thursday, September 15th, everyone is welcome to the Wild Threads Literary Festival’s opening reception — a chance to mingle with the artistic team and presenters. Immediately following this, Wild Threads is proud to present an In-Conversation with Peter Mansbridge, hosted by PEI’s own CBC television darling, Louise Martin. Brought to you by Simon & Schuster and PEI’s well loved independent bookstore, the Bookmark, this event will be free for the public to enjoy.
Celebrating the immense talent of Black writers on the Island, on Friday evening, Wild Threads will be presenting the Black Voices Writers’ Circle at the new Charlottetown Library Learning Centre. Through R&B, Hip-Hop, poetry and storytelling, this experience aims to highlight the many ways in which Black writers express themselves within their own community and the world while celebrating their artistic and literary genius. This event will also showcase musical guest stars the Umbrella Collective, R&B powerhouse Kierrah, and special guest star Vince the Messenger.
The Saturday at Wild Threads is dedicated to comedy writers with appearances by CBC’s The Debaters’ Steve Patterson, local author & comedian Patrick Ledwell, This Hour Has 22 Minutes writer Meg MacKay, all of which will be hosted by the PEI Writers’ Guild’s very own Executive Director, Shawn Hogan.
Workshops during the weekend will include publishing powerhouse Lesley Choyce of Pottersfield Press, who will give an address “Creating Memorable Characters”, and Genevieve Loughlin of Pownal Street Press, who will speak on “Bringing Your Book to Market”. A third option for workshops will include PEI’s own fisherman and writer Chris Bailey, who will discuss process and production in poetry, whether your medium is the city or the sea. The PEI Writers’ Guild is also happy to host two Write-In events, for writers who are looking to meet others and to commune with their works-in-progress. The first will take place on the Thursday and the second will take place on the Friday.
The Wild Threads Festival is presented by The PEI Writers’ Guild and funded in part by Innovation PEI as well as the PEI Events Innovation Fund. “We’re very pleased to have a lot more publishers on board this year,” says Artistic Director, Mo Duffy Cobb, “Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, Mawenzi House, Nimbus Publishing and Pownal Street Press are all making contributions.” Special thanks to the PEIWG’s Wild Threads Steering Committee and PEI’s independent bookstore, the Bookmark.
Sunday’s events will close with a “Brunchy Sunday Readings”, featuring Palestinian poet Fareh Malik, Nova Scotia’s brilliant indigenous writer, Rebecca Thomas and musical guests Inn Echo. Writers and creators are then invited to sign-up for the Wild Threads Open Mic, hosted by founder and longtime member of the PEI Writers’ Guild, Laurie Brinklow.
For more information on Wild Threads Literary Festival, and for tickets to events, please visit the Wild Threads Literary Festival website (www.wildthreadsliteraryfestival.com), the PEI Writers’ Guild website (peiwritersguild.com), or find us on Facebook.
ABOUT THE PEI WRITERS’ GUILD
The Prince Edward Island Writers’ Guild (PEIWG) is a dynamic organization dedicated to promoting the growth and quality of literary arts on PEI.
Contact:
Shawn Hogan
Executive Director, PEI Writers’ Guild
peiwritersguild@gmail.com
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