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Cabot Trail Writers Festival continues to be a page turner

September 14, 2022

-by April MacDonald
    The 14th annual festival celebrating literature and composition will take place primarily at the Gaelic College, but for the first time the final program piece will close at the Inverness County Centre for the Arts (ICCA).
    “The Cabot Trail is a state of mind, right” laughed artistic director of the Cabot Trail Writers Festival, Rebecca Silver Slayter, about swerving off the Cabot Trail to new locations.
    “We are always trying to reach new communities and new readers. We realize it’s a big island, so by coming to people we make it more accessible to everyone,” she explained.
    “Each year, we find a new corner, new readers, and also bring our regular audience with us as well,” she added.
    As mentioned, most events will take place at the Gaelic College; but apart from ICCA another notable event away from the college will be at the Wagmatcook Cultural Centre.
    A free event at the Wagmatcook Culture & Heritage Centre called “Medicine Stories: Indigenous Women Writers Share Writings, Teachings and Dreams” is sure to add to the robust schedule of the festival. The event is part of In Our Own Words, a multi-year series foregrounding Mi’kmaw, Gaelic, and Acadian French literary cultures.
    Speaking to Rebecca about In Your Own Words, she said that it was back in 2018 when they began looking at languages beyond English.
    Mi’kmaq, Gaelic, and Acadian French is where they began to create more space for other cultures and languages.
    Now these events are coordinated by the people, in their own words and what they feel and decide is important to them.
    The festival still  includes favourite events like the “Friday Night Reading Series,” featuring readings by all nine authors; writing workshops; a free festival book club session; panels; interviews; and a “Heard in the Highlands” free outdoor stroll with readings by contributors to ’Magine, the new Cape Breton literary magazine.
    As it is the first time that the Cabot Trail Writers Festival will wander off the Cabot Trail to visit Inverness, they decided to add music and food and more creative vibes to the final event.
    The final block of programming, on Sunday, September 25th, will take place at the Inverness County Centre for the Arts.
    “We’ll invite people to come early to enjoy a simple takeout supper from a local food truck and/or take in the June Leaf exhibit (with a free docent-led tour). Then we have harp music and Gaelic songs with Màiri Britton, followed by readings and an interview with renowned Canadian authors David Chariandy and Alexander MacLeod. The evening will close with Songs & Stories by Mi’kmaq fiddler Morgan Toney and Keith Mullins,” explained Silver Slayter.
    Alexander MacLeod, who hosted the 2021 festival, returns to the festival this year as an author, sharing his long-awaited follow-up to his Giller-nominated debut.
    Alexander, being the son of Alistair MacLeod, has very close ties to the community and people of Inverness, and spends his summers here, annually.
    Some other festival highlights, in addition the usual readings, panels, and interviews:
Writers’ Salon:
    We’re hosting a lunch and Q&A for writers of all levels of interest and experience, to have a chance to meet with one another, share inspiration, tips, and experiences, and to hear from some representatives of the book industry (publisher Jared Bland, author Alexander MacLeod, and author/arts journalist Marsha Lederman), who will take part in a panel called Publishing 101: The Writing Process & Profession and answer audience questions about the writing life and career.
Medicine Stories: Indigenous Women Writers share Writings, Teaching, and Dreams
    Amanda Peters, shalan joudry, and Andrea Currie will co-host this workshop, which will be a hybrid of readings and sharing of thoughts on themes related to their experiences, challenges, and dreams as Indigenous writers. Readings and conversation between these three writers will address issues such as finding one’s voice in a colonial context that has made Indigenous identity confusing and contentious; writing about traditional practices and ceremony while honouring protocols and creating contemporary expressions of our traditions; and exploring how our lands and waters shape our imaginations and speak through our writing.
Storytelling with Ivan Coyote
    The author of 13 books, including Tomboy Survival Guide and the breathtakingly beautiful, tender new book Care Of, is also a magnificent storyteller. They will be presenting three of their stories on stage at our Saturday night event, accompanied by projections of original animations.
    Festival organizers want to get the message out that this festival is for everyone.
    “It’s not about semi-colons,” joked the artistic director.
    She said it’s about what moves you, what inspires you to try and create.
    “Anyone who tries knows how powerful and fun it is,” added Silver Slayter.
    Knowing budgets as well as time constraints, she said that if someone wants to attend only one particular venue or event they need not purchase an entire pass – they also offer individual tickets and these can be secured by calling or visiting their website.
    The festival will begin, bringing readers, writers, and storytellers together for a weekend of words, from September 23rd– 25th.
    The mainstage will host nine authors, including headlining Canadian authors like Omar El Akkad (winner of the 2021 Giller Prize), Ivan Coyote, and David Chariandy; alongside newcomer Marsha Lederman, local talents like Cape Breton’s Bill Conall and Rebecca Rose, and beloved Nova Scotian voices Alexander MacLeod, Shauntay Grant, and shalan joudry.
    The event will feature a panel with members of the book industry called “Publishing 101” and a Q&A with the audience. It also includes a lunch where writers can meet and chat, and is discounted for those who have also signed up for a festival workshop.
     “The books featured at our festival are about life, about love, about family, community, laughter, survival, grief, joy, and everything in between. Listening together to these stories and conversations is such a powerful experience to share with a room full of new friends and old. I think that’s what I, for one, am looking forward to most. To that feeling of being connected, of being part of a community. I can’t wait to experience that again.”
    Festival tickets have now been released; you can visit www.cabottrailwritersfestival.com to view the schedule. Tickets can be purchased online or over the phone at 902-224-5231.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 







 

 



 






 

 

 


    

 


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