Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia   Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia
Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia  
 

 

Upcoming Events | Ongoing events | Press Releases

Upcoming Events

Following is a list of upcoming events: readings, writing workshops and seminars, and so on. Unless specified otherwise, events happen in Nova Scotia, Canada. We strongly encourage you to check dates and times with hosting organizations -- typos and sudden changes happen.

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FEBRUARY

  • February 7, 2-4 pm:  Elizabeth Bishop House Artists’ Retreat Fundraiser.  Celebrate Elizabeth Bishop’s birthday with an afternoon of readings, birthday and prizes for the best Bishop character or creature costume.  Readers include John Barnstead, Susan Crowe, ColleenGareau, Carmen Klassen, Truman Layton, Suzie LeBlanc, Claire Miller and John Plant.  Light refreshments will be served.  RSVP Sandra at slbarry@ns.sympatico.ca or call 429 6385.

  • February 8, 10 am:  Seniors’ Café.  The Westville Public Library Seniors’ Café welcomes Steve Kirincich who’ll present his talk I have a Story to Tell describing his latest project of collecting short stories from seniors to preserve their memories of personal occurrences, interesting events and the history of Pictou County.  For more information, call the library at (902) 396 5022. 

  • February 9, noon-1:30 pm:  NovaKnowledge.  Peter Moreira, author of Backwater is the guest for this event at the Neptune Studio Theatre.  $20 per person.  Please pre-register with Phyllis at pcollier@novaknowledge.ns.ca.

  • February 10, 7 pm:  Book Launch.  The Essential James Reaney (Porcupine’s Quill) is a collection of Reaney’s poetry written from the early 1940’s into the 21st century.  Various Halifax poets and readers of poetry will gather to read and celebrate Reaney’s work.  Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery in the Loyola Building, 5865 Gorsebrook Avenue, Halifax.

  • February 10, 7 pm:  Reading.  Margaret Sweatman reads from her novel The Players (Goose Lane Editions) in the Quiet Reading Room, Vaughan Memorial Library, Acadia University, Wolfville. 

  • February 10, 7 pm:  Reading.  Author and forester Jamie Simpson reads from his book Restoring the Acadian Forest:  A Guide to Forest Stewardship in the Maritimes at The Biscuit Eater Books & Café, 16 Orchard Street, Mahone Bay. 

  • February 11, 7-8:30 pm:  Storytellers Circle of Halifax.  This monthly gathering meets at Just Us Café on Spring Garden Road in Halifax.

  • February 11, 8 pm:  Words & Music.  Shauntay Grant is joined by special guests Marinda + Solari, Verena Rizg and Marko Simmonds for Wordrhythm:  An Evening of Words & Music at The Music Room, 6181 Lady Hammond Road, Halifax.  $10 admission.  Doors open at 7:30, limited seating.  For advance ticket purchase contact Onelight Theatre at (902) 425 6812.

  • February 12, noon-2 pm:  Literary Luncheon Series.  In celebration of African Heritage Month, David Woods and Shauntay Grant will read and participate in a panel discussion as part of The Halifax Club’s monthly Literary Luncheon Series.  1682 Hollis Street, Halifax.  Reservations can be made by calling (902) 423 8460 or emailing:  reservations@halifaxclub.ns.ca.

  • February 12, 7 pm: What the Folk! The Helen Creighton Folklore Society hosts a night of folksongs, folktales and folklore. Tonight's theme: Love, Loss and Longing. Just Us Cafe, 5896 Spring Garden Road. Co-ordinators: Margo Carruthers (902) 425 3828, Cindy Campbell (902) 466 0157.

  • February 13, Reading.  Pamela Callow, author of Damaged (MIRA Books) will be reading from her upcoming thriller as part of The Annex Bookstore’s A Mid Winter’s Afternoon author event.  A Q&A will follow.  The Annex Bookstore, 196 Crescent, Tantallon Woods.  (902) 820 3700.   

  • February 15, 6:30 pm:  Public Meeting.  The Cobequid Cultural Society invites the public to attend a consultation about a proposed regional cultural arts centre attached to the new high school that will replace C.P. Allen High School.  Sackville Lions Club, 101 Old Beaver Bank Road, Lower Sackville.

  • February 16, 7 pm:  Writers without Boundaries.  This writing group, led by Russell Barton, allows participants to share their works-in-progress and to discuss topics of general interest to writers.  Sackville Public Library.

  • February 17, 7 pm:  The Beacon Award for Social Justice Literature Launch.  Plans for The Beacon Award for Social Justice Literature are announced at Outside the Lines Bookstore, 6265 Quinpool Road, Halifax.  RSVP at:  info@beaconaward.ca.

  • February 18, 7:30.  Reading.  matt robinson reads from his forthcoming poetry collection, Against the Hard Angle at the next installment of the Dalhousie Libraries’ CLCP “Written to Word Coming To Life” Public Reading Series, Special Collections Reading Room, 5th Floor, Killam Library.  For more information, please call:  (902) 494 3615.

  • February 21, 3pm:  Reading.  Anna Quon reads from her novel Migration Songs at the New Glasgow branch of the Pictou-Antigonish Library, 182 Dalhousie Street.

  • February 23, 7 pm:  Reading.  Peter Moriera reads from his new book Backwater:  Nova Scotia’s Economic Decline at the Tantallon Public Library.

  • February 24, noon.  Freedom to Read.  To recognize Freedom to Read Week, February 21-27, retired Saint Mary’s University English professor Gillian Thomas will discuss how libel laws affect writers and how freedom to write leads to freedom to read.  Spring Garden Road Memorial Library.   

  • February 25, noon:  P.G. Wodehouse Lecture.  Saint Mary’s University English professor Stephen Cloutier delivers the lecture:  Very Good, Sir:  Wodehouse, Jeeves & Comic Tradition in recognition of a donation of P.G. Wodehouse books to Halifax Public Libraries from The Wodehouse Society.  Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library. 

  • February 25, 7:30-9:30 pm:  Book Launch.  Poets featured in Best Poetry 2009 (Tightrope Books), edited by A.F. Moritz, including Jesse Ferguson, Anne Compton, Shirley Bear, Richard Lemm, M. Travis Lane and Peter Norman read in the East Gallery, Memorial Hall, UNB Fredericton. 

  • February 26, 7:30 pm:  Salon du PARC.  Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre’s Vice President and theatre director Ann-Maire Kerr hosts the Salon featuring Catherine Banks and Jackie Torrens reading from Catherine's work.  Live music will be provided by cellist Claire Gallant and feature catered hors d’ouvres and a selection of NS wines.  12 tickets available, $100 each in support of PARC.  Charitable tax receipts available.  For more information or to purchase a ticket, contact Ann Marie at am.kerr@ns.sympatico.ca or (902) 453 4239.  

  • February 28, 3 pm:  Fundraising Concert. The Cobequid Cultural Society presents Stan Carew & the Magpies perform at the Bedford United Church.  Tickets $15 and children under 12 are free (accompanied by an adult).  For tickets, phone (902) 835 5757 or (902) 865 0381.  Proceeds to provide a cultural arts venue in the region.

MARCH

  • March 3, 6:30 pm:  Public Meeting.  The Cobequid Cultural Society invites the public to attend a consultation about a proposed regional cultural arts centre attached to the new high school that will replace C.P. Allen High School.  St. Margaret's Centre, 12 Westwood Blvd., Upper Tantallon.

  • March 4, 6:30 pm:  Public Meeting.  The Cobequid Cultural Society invites the public to attend a consultation about a proposed regional cultural arts centre attached to the new high school that will replace C.P. Allen High School.  Bedford Legion Hall, 1772 Bedford Highway, Bedford.

  • March 4, 7 pm:  Gallery Reading Series.  Robyn Sarah reads from her most recent collection of poems Pause for Breath (Biblioasis) and Wanda Campbell reads from her collection Looking for Lucy (Leaf Press) at Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery in the Loyola Building, 5865 Gorsebrook Avenue, Halifax.

  • March 8, 6:30 pm:  Public Meeting.  The Cobequid Cultural Society invites the public to attend a consultation about a proposed regional cultural arts centre attached to the new high school that will replace C.P. Allen High School.  LWF Community Centre, 843 Fall River Road (old fire hall), Fall River.

  • March 11, 7-8:30 pm:  Storytellers Circle of Halifax.  This monthly gathering meets at Just Us Café on Spring Garden Road in Halifax.

  • March 3, 7-9:30 pm:  Sable Island Public Meeting.  Ian McLaren (Dalhousie University), Bill Freedman (Dalhousie University), Zoe Lucas (Sable Island resident) and Mark Butler (Ecology Action Centre) will give illustrated talks followed by a question and answer session and reception.  Scotiabank Conference Theatre, Room 201, Sobey Building, Saint Mary’s University. 

  • March 24, 7 pm:  Gallery Reading Series.  Anne Compton reads from her latest collection of poetry Asking Questions Indoors and Out (Fitzhenry &Whiteside) and James Langer reads from Gun Dogs (Anansi) at Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery in the Loyola Building, 5865 Gorsebrook Avenue, Halifax.

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Ongoing Events/Venues

  • We hold workshops from time to time as part of our Workshop Series.

  • July: Tulepo Press will hold open submissions throughout July for book-length poetry sumbissions (48-90 pages), with a reduced reading fee of $25. They will not also accept electronic submissions via a special transfer site, in addition accepting submissions through postal mail. Editors will read all manuscripts. See their submission guidelines on the Tulepo Press website.

  • The Nova Scotia Children's Literature Roundtable is a growing collection of people who love children's literature. The Roundtable holds a yearly "New Books Bash" and supports a number of children's literature events throughout the year, including the Hackmatack Award, Canadian Children's Book Week and book discussion evenings. To join send a message to nsclrt@yahoo.ca

  • The Canada Council has a host of deadlines for various writing and publishing programs. Some are listed below - for more details visit their website or call The Writing and Publishing section at 1-800-263-5588 ext.5537 or (613) 566-4414 ext.5537.

  • The Shoestring Reading Series is 15 minutes of original reading presented by the Economy Shoe Shop in association with Sinc Ink. Readings happen most Tuesdays, at 8 pm, at The Seahorse Tavern on Argyle Street (just next to the Shoe Shop), Halifax. Need more info? Call David Rimmington at (902) 488-9643.

  • Tall Tales at the Chatterbox Café in celebration of the upcoming Pugwash Harbourfest Tall Ships visit. Throughout July, Durham St., Pugwash, 2pm Saturday afternoons. For more information and a schedule of storytellers, contact Norene Smiley at (902) 243-4059 or e-mail nsmiley@pelicaneng.com.

  • The Biscuit Eater books & café is a new fabulous reading venue located at: 16 Orchard Street, Mahone Bay. For information, visit: www.biscuiteater.ca or contact Dawn Higgins at (902) 624 2665 or e-mail: biscuiteater@ns.sympatico.ca.

  • Cargo & James is a lovely tea cafe located at 1231 Barrington Street, Halifax. The owner, Becca Babcock, is interested in hosting readings or book launches. For more information about the venue, visit: www.cargoandjameshalifax.com.

  • Local Jo Café is a great place for a reading and can also be rented for larger functions such as book launches. Information about the café and it's rental options can be found at: www.localjo.ca

  • The Write Club meets every Wednesday at 7:30 pm at the community room in the Atlantic Superstore, Port Hawkesbury. No fees.

  • The Poetry Show on CKDU (88.1 FM in Halifax) airs 8:30-9pm on Wednesdays; The Fine Print airs Tuesdays at 6 pm. Call (902) 494-6479 for details.

  • The Canadian Poetry Association will host poetry readings in Moncton, NB on the 1st Sunday of every month (weather permitting). The readings will take place from 7:30-9:30 pm at the Chateau Moncton pub/deck. A book sales table will be available. For more information, please visit their temporary website: www.canadianpoetryassoc.com.

  • The PEI Chapter of the CPA holds a poetry reading every other Wednesday night at Sobeys in Charlottetown. 7 pm. Contact Pierre Beaumier at grrovymotion@hotmail.com for more information.

  • Nova Scotia's libraries and universities often host events. For info:

    We do our best to keep this information current, accurate and comprehensive, but sometimes we make mistakes. Check with hosting organizations to be sure of dates and times.

Press Releases

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