Register for a one-on-one meeting with Janine Young, a literary writer and the managing editor of Nightwood Editions. This 20-minute session provides the opportunity to get feedback from a publishing professional and learn about the editing process.

Janine Alyson Young is a literary writer from the West Coast of BC. Her short story collection Hideout Hotel was shortlisted for the Danuta Gleed Award, and she has been toiling over her first novel ever since. She is also the managing editor at Nightwood Editions, an indie publisher which proudly works with emerging and award-winning authors. She lives on the unceded traditional land of the Skwxwú7mesh People in Gibsons, BC. 

Please note that the selected registrants will have to submit a writing sample by July 30th. More information will be provided.

Festival and day passes do not include admission to Special Event A. To reserve a ticket for the Blue Pencil Sessions, fill out this order form and the Festival Office will contact you (while supplies last).

Location: Rockwood Lodge Art Space
Date: Sessions on Friday, August 14, Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16
Cost: $40.00

Event B – Dialogue Workshop with Sam Wiebe

Join crime writer Sam Wiebe for a workshop on dialogue. He’ll discuss the difference between dialogue and real-life speech; how dialogue relates to character, pacing, voice, and plot; and why characters say one thing and mean another (even if they don’t know it).

Sam Wiebe is the author of the bestselling Ocean Drive as well as the Wakeland novels, one of the most authentic and acclaimed detective series in Canada, including Sunset and Jericho and The Last Exile. Guns Across the River is the latest in the series. His work has won the Crime Writers of Canada award, the Kobo Emerging Writers prize, and a silver medal from the Independent Publisher Book Awards, and been shortlisted for the Edgar, Hammett, Shamus and City of Vancouver book prizes. The Last Exile is a finalist for the 2026 BC and Yukon Book Prizes’ Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. Wiebe lives in New Westminster, BC.

Festival and day passes do not include admission to Special Event B. To reserve a ticket for the dialogue workshop, order at www.writersfestival.ca, visit the festival office in person or call 604-885-9631 (while supplies last).

Location: Rockwood Lodge Art Space
Date: Friday, August 14, 12:30 – 2:00 pm
Cost: $25.00

Event C – Writing Memoir with Donna Morrissey

SOLD OUT! Contact the Festival Office to be added to the waitlist

Just what the heck qualifies as memoir and how do you tell your story truthfully when everyone in it is still alive? In this workshop you’ll learn to distinguish between three types of memoir (book length, personal essay and narrative essay), decide which one works best for your story, and identify the main themes or ‘heart’ of your work.

Donna Morrissey is the author of the nationally bestselling memoir Pluck, which was a finalist for the Atlantic Book Awards’ Non-Fiction Award, and of seven acclaimed and bestselling novels, including the national bestseller Rage the Night. She won the Thomas Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award and the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Fiction for The Fortunate Brother; Sylvanus Now was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize; and The Deception of Livvy Higgs was a One Read pick for Nova Scotia in 2017. Her fiction has also won awards in the US and the UK, and has been translated into several languages. Born and raised in Newfoundland, she lives in Halifax.

Festival and day passes do not include admission to Special Event C. To reserve a ticket for the memoir workshop, order at www.writersfestival.ca, visit the festival office in person or call 604-885-9631 (while supplies last).

Location: Rockwood Lodge Art Space
Date: Saturday, August 15, 12:30 – 2:00 pm
Cost: $25.00

Event D – Festival of the Written Arts Coffee Hour

Enjoy complimentary coffee and tea and live music while you share stories, talk books and mingle with other festival goers. No registration required!

Location: Beside the Book Tent
Date: Sunday, August 16, 12:30 – 1:30 pm
Cost: Free

The post Special Events at the 2026 Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts appeared first on Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts.

Funded in part by a generous Responsive Community Grant from the Sunshine Coast Foundation, the program aims to support a new generation of storytellers on the Sunshine Coast by offering students in-depth, week-long workshops with professional writers that will inspire them and help develop their skills and storytelling/writing abilities.

Kathleen Gros, a cartoonist and graphic novelist from Vancouver, was selected as the 2026 CABC secondary writer-in-residence. Gros travelled between Chatelech Secondary and Elphinstone Secondary from February 23-27 to deliver workshops on making zines (short magazines), publishing graphic novels and creating comics. She worked with approximately 50 creative writing, art and English students at each high school.

Gros’s most recent graphic novels include Carousel Summer, Anne: An Adaptation of Anne of Green Gables (Sort Of), and Jo: An Adaptation of Little Women (Sort Of). She graduated with a BFA in Illustration from Emily Carr University of Art and Design and currently teaches students of all ages at Place des Arts in Coquitlam, and teen students at Emily Carr University of Art and Design.

The CABC elementary writer-in-residence is Tanya Lloyd Kyi, who is excited to be working with grade 5, 6 and 7 students at Roberts Creek Elementary during the week of April 20-24.

Tanya Lloyd Kyi is the author of more than 30 books for children and young adults and is an instructor at the UBC School of Creative Writing. Her most recent titles include The City of Lost Cats, Feeling Your Feelings, What Will I Discover; Our Green City, Better Connected (written with her daughter, Julia Kyi); and The Best Way to Get Your Way.

The Roberts Creek Elementary Writer-in-Residence program will culminate with a celebratory public event featuring Kyi and some of the student participants reading from their work. The event will take place on Friday, April 24 at 1:30 pm at the Roberts Creek Legacy Garden (or, in the case of inclement weather, the Roberts Creek Elementary School Library).

CABC is a joint initiative of School District 46—Sunshine Coast and the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts that brings writers into Sunshine Coast classrooms to talk about books and writing and encourage students to express themselves through both the written and spoken word. Each year CABC also publishes Coastal Voices, an annual anthology of student writing.

The post A new generation of storytellers: school writer-in-residence program launched on the Sunshine Coast appeared first on Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts.

The Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts is thrilled to be presenting An Evening of Stories and Songs with Grant Lawrence and Friends on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at the Pender Harbour School of Music.

Author, broadcaster and Sunshine Coast raconteur Grant Lawrence has created an outstanding evening of storytelling and songs. Grant will share stories from his bestselling books Adventures in Solitude and Return to Solitude, as well as his upcoming new book, Whale Tale. Between stories, songs will be performed by special musical guests Jeremy Fisher (Ottawa), Desiree Dawson (Vancouver) and Louise Burns (Vancouver Island).

Tickets are very limited! Doors will open at 6:30pm, showtime is 7:00pm. Tickets are $41.80 ($38.00 plus $3.80 in fees). Book sales courtesy of EarthFair Store.

The post An Evening of Stories and Songs with Grant Lawrence and Friends  appeared first on Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts.

Join us for an inspiring afternoon with renowned science journalist and beloved broadcaster Bob McDonald, as he shares stories from his remarkable life and career, drawn from his new memoir, Just Say Yes. Bob will reflect on his decades-long journey bringing science to Canadians — and how saying “yes” opened doors to extraordinary adventures.

Date: Sunday, October 5, 2025
Location: Raven’s Cry Theatre, 5555 Sunshine Coast Hwy., Sechelt
Time: 2:00–4:00 p.m. (Doors open for general admission at 1:30 p.m.)

The Event Includes:

• A captivating talk by Bob McDonald
• An audience Q&A
• A special raffle, featuring great prizes! Tickets will be for sale at the event only.
• A book signing session, courtesy of Talewind Books

Ticket Options:

VIP Experience – $75 (limited quantities available)

• Exclusive pre-event Meet & Greet with Bob McDonald
• A signed copy of Bob’s memoir, Just Say Yes (value $35)
• Reserved premium-section seating

General Admission

• $30 for one ticket
• $25 for two or more tickets – bring a friend and save!

Virtual Ticket

• $25.00 for one ticket (link will be valid for 2 weeks after October 5, 2025)
  

Online Auction

You can also support the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts by bidding in our online auction until October 15, 2025. Check out these special items – including original art and exciting experiences – and help raise funds to support Canada’s longest-running summer gathering celebrating Canadian writers and readers! All proceeds will help us continue bringing exceptional literary experiences to our community. Visit 32auctions.com/SCFWA2025.

Special thanks to our generous event sponsors and raffle and auction donors…

Arts Club Theatre, BC Ferries, Canadian Tire (Sechelt), Coast Academy of Dance, Claytons Heritage Market, Douglas & McIntyre, Driftwood Players, Fred’s Sechelt, Gigi Hoeller Art, London Drugs (Gibsons), Painted Boat Resort Spa & Marina, Raven’s Cry Theatre, Rockwater Secret Cove Resort, Sechelt Inn, Starbucks (Sechelt), Sunshine Coast Foundation, Talewind Books, Kirsty Tosczak – PREC, Talaysay Tours, Troller Ale House

The post An Afternoon with Bob McDonald appeared first on Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts.

Event A – Fiction Workshop: Creating Believable Characters with Caroline Adderson

The aim of this session is to people your stories and novels with characters who might walk right off the page. We will cover the meaning of names, explore techniques to deepen characterization, examine the hidden motivations of your fictional creations, trace their character arcs, and make sure that when they speak (and they will!) effective dialogue comes out of their mouths. Come prepared to write, read and share.

Saturday, August 16, 2025 | 11:30 am– 1:00 pm
Location: Rockwood Lodge Art Space (space is limited)
Workshop cost: $25.00

Event B – Festival of the Written Arts Coffee Hour

Sunday, August 17, 2025 | 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Festival site, beside the Book Tent
Cost: Free

Enjoy complimentary coffee and tea and live music while you share stories, talk books and mingle with other festival goers. No registration required!

The post Special Events at the 2025 Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts appeared first on Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts.

A mesmerizing tale of courage, identity and the enduring power of truth, Inkwo for When the Starving Return is an animated adaptation of an original short story by award-winning Tlicho Dene storyteller Richard Van Camp. Spotted Fawn Productions, led by Michif/Metis director Amanda Strong, carried the story into its innovative film form. This collective vision shines through in tender moments, urgent choices and epic confrontations that blur the boundaries between the physical and the supernatural.

Two lifetimes from now the world hangs in the balance. Dove, a young, enigmatic, gender-shifting warrior, discovers the gifts and burdens of their Inkwo (medicine) to defend against an army of hungry, ferocious monsters. Dove’s courage, resilience and alliance with the Earth culminates in a battle against these flesh-consuming creatures, who become stronger with each body and soul they devour. Inkwo for When the Starving Return is a call to action to fight and protect against the forces of greed around us.

The film features the extraordinary voice talent of Paulina Alexis (Critics Choice Award winner), Tantoo Cardinal (Order of Canada) and versatile television producer, actor and storyteller Art Napoleon.

Please note this film is Unrated and Intended for Mature Audiences.

This event is co-presented by the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts, Raven’s Cry Theatre, The National Film Board of Canada and Spotted Fawn Productions.

—

Guests in Attendance:

Amanda Strong. Amanda is a Michif/Métis artist, writer, producer, director, filmmaker and mother. As the owner and executive producer of Spotted Fawn Productions Inc., her collaborative creations serve to amplify Indigenous storytelling and ideologies. Strong’s work has received Canadian Screen Award and Emmy nominations, and her films—which include Biidaaban and Four Faces of the Moon—have been shown worldwide at venues such as TIFF, the Cannes film market, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the American Museum of Natural History.

Bracken Hanuse Corlett. Bracken is an interdisciplinary artist hailing from the Wuikinuxv and Klahoose Nations. His practice fuses painting and drawing with digital media, audiovisual performance, animation and narrative. Some of Bracken’s notable exhibitions, performances and screenings have been held at Grunt Gallery, the Vancouver International Film Festival, Urban Shaman, the Mackenzie Art Gallery and the Toronto International Film Festival. Most recently, the script he wrote for Biidaaban (the dawn comes) won the Craft Award for Best Script at the Ottawa International Animation Festival.

Richard Van Camp. A recipient of the Order of the Northwest Territories, Richard Van Camp is a proud Tlicho Dene from Fort Smith, NWT, currently residing in Edmonton, Alberta. Richard is an internationally renowned storyteller and the best-selling author of 30 books and graphic novels, including The Spirit of Denendeh series and Moccasin Square Gardens. His novel The Lesser Blessed was adapted into a movie by First Generation Films. You can visit Richard on Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, YouTube and at www.richardvancamp.com.

The post Sechelt Premiere Screening of Inkwo for When the Starving Return appeared first on Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts.

Thank you to everyone who registered for the draw to Event A. Registration is now closed and all spots have been filled.

***

Meet with Anna Comfort O’Keeffe—Publisher, Douglas & McIntyre and SCFWA board member—for 20 minutes to discuss your manuscript or book idea, one-on-one. Feedback from a publishing professional, plus muffins, tea, and coffee provided!

Location: Rockwood Lodge, Rockwood Centre, Sechelt

This event is free, but space is limited. Registrants will be selected by lottery and notified on July 15. Sponsored by Douglas & McIntyre

Festival and day passes do not include admission to Event A.

The post Event A: Blue Pencil Breakfast Sessions appeared first on Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts.

This event is SOLD OUT. Please call 604-885-9631 or 1-800-565-9631 (toll-free) or email su**********@*************al.ca to be added to a waitlist.

As the publisher of Harbour Publishing, Howard White has had a hand in publishing more memoirs and family histories than probably anyone else in BC. He has also dedicated many hours to helping first-time authors craft their stories into unique books that successfully evoke a sense of time, place and character. This workshop will offer tips for writing memoirs, as well as inspiration for those just getting started.

Location: Rockwood Lodge Artspace, Sechelt

This event is by donation to the Festival of the Written Arts. Space is limited. Sponsored by Harbour Publishing

Festival and day passes do not include admission to Event B. To reserve tickets for this special event, order here or call 604-885-9631.

The post Event B: Writing Memoir and Family History, with Howard White appeared first on Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts.

Authors and book lovers across Canada lost a friend and literary ally when Bev Shaw, owner of Talewind Books, unexpectedly passed away in 2023. Bev was an integral part of the SCFWA, our treasured friend and festival bookseller for 35 years, and her presence will be forever missed. Please join Bev’s family, friends, and fellow festival attendees for a special event to remember and celebrate Bev—her dedication to books and authors, her intelligence, and her wry sense of humour.

Location: Festival Pavilion, Rockwood Centre, Sechelt

This event is free, but a ticket is required.

Festival and day passes do not include admission to Event C. To reserve tickets for this special event, order here or call 604-885-9631.

The post Event C: Tribute to Bev Shaw (1959-2023) appeared first on Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts.

Harbour Publishing is turning 50, and what better way to celebrate than with birthday cake! Tea, coffee, and cake will be served by the book tent directly after Event #17. You’ll also have the opportunity to chat with the event participants and get your books signed.

Location: Festival book tent, Rockwood Centre, Sechelt

This event is free, but a ticket is required. Sponsored by Harbour Publishing

Festival and day passes do not include admission to Event D. To reserve tickets for this special event, order here or call 604-885-9631.

The post Event D: Harbour Publishing’s Birthday Party appeared first on Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts.