The 2009 edition of the International Festival of Authors got off to a rocky start when Garrison Keillor cancelled his event due to illness but by the weekend the festival had recovered. Events were packed and book lovers were definitely happy.
Love the taped welcome from Sean Connery, chosen to honour the Writing Scotland component of the festival, that opens all events Still haven’t figured out why people snicker during the whole thing.
And, again, the festival honours writers who have been denied their right to express themselves, by placing an empty chair on stage. This year the chair holds a photograph of slain Turkish journalist Hrant Dink and urges condemnation of article 310 of the Turkish penal code. Wish the taped message preceding IFOA events explained what Article 310 is. It’s a poor attempt to soften article 301, which outlaws denigrating the Turkish government.
On Saturday, writer and musician Paul Quarrington was feted both at the festival and later at a more private gathering at the Wychwood Barns that night.
At the main event at IFOA, Roddy Doyle, flying in especially for the event, rocked the crowd and as did a reunited version of the Rheostatics – literally – along with Margaret Atwood and other authors. As people commented afterwards, it was a fantastic event – except for the reason it was being held. Quarrington has fourth stage lung cancer and this was his community’s chance to say goodbye.
At a very entertaining Sunday round table, facilitated expertly by Siri Agrell, Scottish writer A.L. Kennedy, American Audrey Niffenegger and Canuck Miriam Toews talked about writing and dealing with success in the literary world. Kennedy, who performed her one-woman show Words the day before, was still in comic mode, a nice change from the often dour literary conversations that happen at these kinds of panels.
Toews was charming, especially when talking about her son, whose conversations she eavesdropped on to get a feel for the teenaged male character in The Flying Troutmans. She also gave a really smart response to someone teaching A Complicated Kindness to her Grade X class. Listen to the clip below to hear how she answered the question “What message about the book do you want to give my students?”
And Niffenegger, who looked at first as if her shyness might overtake her, rallied spectacularly to describe her personal experiences at Highgate cemetary, a key location for her book Her Fearful Symmetry, and to celebrate the tangible beauty of books. She also gave an extremely helpful response to the question, How do you deal with writer’s block?
Look for a report on the massive IFOA party tomorrow.[rssbreak]
