Our ever-lively opening event features readings by Dominique Bernier-Cormier, Sig Burwash, Charlene Carr, David Chariandy, Andrea Currie, Anne Koval, Ann-Marie MacDonald and Jesse Thistle (hosted by Alexander MacLeod). This event will be held in the beautiful Great Hall of the Clans, alongside a blazing hearth, at the Gaelic College in St. Ann's.

What stories from your life experience do you find yourself sharing in conversations? What makes these stories signficant to you? How do the themes in these stories connect you to others in the human family? Explore these and other questions with author Andrea Currie in this workshop linking memoir and creative non-fiction.

In this two-hour workshop with poet and translator Dominique Bernier-Cormier, participants will find poetic inspiration in words and concepts not found in English, and will draft poems using alternative translation techniques such as phonetic or associative translation. Previous poetry experience is not required, and participants do not need to speak languages other than English. 

Authors Sig Burwash, Charlene Carr and Andrea Currie will join a panel conversation and audience Q&A with moderator Alexander MacLeod, exploring the writing process and where they find inspiration, sharing stories about their publishing experiences, and offering wisdom and advice for aspiring writers about what they've learned along the way... (Meal is included in ticket price.)

Following WordStorm, we'll serve coffee and pastries and invite willing writers in the audience to share a short reading on stage as we gather and listen and learn together.

***Note: This is a free event, but to help us plan for audience size and to ensure we can reach you in the event of any last-minute chance in location, etc., we appreciate you registering in advance. Thank you!***

What I did on my summer vacation. Five hundred words. Go!

Have you ever had a story in your heart for years but there never seems to be enough time to get it on the page? That's about to change. 

Join Charlene to learn the tips, tricks and mindset shifts that helped her publish eleven novels in a little over a decade and be working on a twelfth. We'll focus on the beauty of story discovery and outlining, the magic of giving in to awful first drafts, and how embracing them can get you to the wonder of triaged revisions! 

Charlene will also provide time at the end to answer questions on all things next steps, such as how to make sure your novel is ready to enter the world, and the important next steps of taking either a self-publishing or traditional publishing route. So come with those questions ready!

***Participants are also invited to bring along an idea or mini-outline for ONE scene either of a new work or work in progress.***

A delicious array of brunch offerings will be served and then Jesse Thistle, author of the 2019 memoir From the Ashes: My Story of Being Indigenous, Homeless, and Finding My Way and 2022 poetry collection Scars & Stars, will share a reading and discussion about his work. (Meal included in ticket price.)

1.  5:30 p.m. •  A Conversation with Dominique Bernier-Cormier & Réjean Aucoin (English*)
   Local author Clive Doucet will interview Dominique Bernier-Cormier & Réjean Aucoin about their work, exploring Acadian literary culture, language, dislocation and identity.
   
   

2.  6:20 p.m. • Supper & Chansons et histoires (Bilingual / bilingue*)
   Chef Paula Fortune will prepare a simple and delicious traditional Acadian meal, while on stage, local musicians share Acadian folk songs and stories. (Meal is included in ticket price.)

3. 7:30 p.m. • Reading by Dominique Bernier-Cormier & Réjean Aucoin (Bilingual / bilingue*)
   Author Dominique Bernier-Cormier will read from Entre Rive and Shore, a rich, poetic exploration of Acadian history and identity, illuminating what it means to live "between two identities, two worlds, two languages," while local author and Canadian Senator Réjean Aucoin reads from Le tapis de Grand-Pré ("The Magic Rug of Grand Pré"), a children's story that is a beloved local favourite, published almost 40 years ago, which brings to life the rich heritage and history of the Acadian people.

4. 8:10 p.m. • Une conversation avec Dominique Bernier-Cormier & Réjean Aucoin (française*) 
   L'auteure et historienne locale Dr Barbara Leblanc interviewera Dominique Bernier-Cormier et Réjean Aucoin à propos de leur travail, explorant la culture littéraire acadienne, la langue, le déplacement et l'identité.

*Please note, the evening's program will include both English and French. Tickets are priced to cover the meal, music and reading, so the conversation(s) can be considered an optional free addition.
      Anglophone audience members may wish to attend the first, second and third events and depart before the fourth (an interview that will be conducted in French), while francophone audience members are welcome, if they wish, to skip the first (an interview that will be conducted in English) and attend the second, third and fourth. Bilingual audience members can of course enjoy the entire evening of programming (the different moderators of the two conversations will ensure each conversation is unique, exploring different perspectives and topics with the two guest authors). 

This event is part of a multi-year project called In Our Own Words, exploring the island's Mi'kmaw, Acadian and Gaelic languages and literary cultures. This year's edition of the project is centred on celebrating contemporary and traditional Acadian literature, including story and song.