There香蕉视频直播檚 a novelist who香蕉视频直播檚 written a bestseller about Daniel Boone, a non-fiction writer who voyages to Antarctica, an award-winning playwright whose work is currently being staged in Saskatchewan, and a poet whose name is more or less synonymous with creative writing in the Okanagan.

The lineup of big and local names hosting workshops at the upcoming second annual Spoke Literary Festival, Aug. 11-13, means Okanagan writers don香蕉视频直播檛 have to go far to learn from some of the best in Canadian literature.

香蕉视频直播淵ou don香蕉视频直播檛 have to go to a big centre to get a really high quality writing workshop experience,香蕉视频直播� says Spoke Literary Festival organizer Kerry Gilbert, an Okanagan College English professor who helped plan last year香蕉视频直播檚 inaugural event along with colleagues Hannah Calder and Michelle Doege.

The two-day event was such a success, they were able to build on it and draw writers whose workshops would be sought after at a major writing festival.

香蕉视频直播淓veryone is a professional writer who has experience in the publishing industry, and so it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter what level you香蕉视频直播檙e at in your writing career, there香蕉视频直播檚 something for you to learn and be inspired by,香蕉视频直播� says Gilbert, adding workshops cover all literary genres, from poetry and fiction to non-fiction and playwriting, as well as other elements of the writing life.

The festival weekend kicks off with a writing circle led by Vernon poet Michelle Doege at the Caetani Cultural Centre, and Saturday evening features a reading by all workshop writers, which is hosted by poet extraordinaire and UBC Okanagan professor emeritus Sharon Thesen.

香蕉视频直播淕rowing a strong writing community is a big focus for this festival,香蕉视频直播� says Calder. 香蕉视频直播淚n addition to the workshops, the evening events are a chance to make those connections and pick writers香蕉视频直播� brains. The work of writing can be quite isolating, but attending readings and events like this, that香蕉视频直播檚 part of being a writer.香蕉视频直播�

Fortunately for the festival and both emerging and experienced creative writers, the Okanagan has no shortage of talent to learn from and network with. Last year香蕉视频直播檚 festival drew participants from across the valley and beyond, and organizers are hoping even more writers will participate this year.

香蕉视频直播淲e really want to put Vernon on the map as a literary community,香蕉视频直播� says Gilbert. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 what we want to foster and create as a long-term goal.香蕉视频直播�

Author workshop lineup:

Alix Hawley 香蕉视频直播� Pulling out the Plums: Using Research in Fiction

Jay Ruzesky 香蕉视频直播� True Stories, Well Told

Corinna Chong 香蕉视频直播� Making a Scene: Structure and Transitions in Short Stories

Heidi Garnett 香蕉视频直播� Writing as Dream Work

Mike Poirier 香蕉视频直播� The Structure of Writing a Play

Melanie Murray 香蕉视频直播� Unlocking the Vault of Memory

Laisha Rosnau 香蕉视频直播� Narrative Therapy

John Lent 香蕉视频直播� Phrasing in Contemporary Poetry

The Spoke Literary Festival runs Aug. 11-13 at various locations in Vernon. A weekend pass, which includes four writing workshops and two literary/social gatherings, is $175 and can be purchased by following a link from the Spoke Festival website at . A student scholarship is available and all workshops and events are wheelchair accessible. Festival registration closes July 31 or when spaces have been filled.