Words define us and bring us together. They reflect the human condition, they challenge and move us in laughter, tears and sometimes shock us. They inspire. And this week-end, words did all of these things.

Another successful Wordstock literary festival has come and gone. Over 1,000 people enjoyed numerous events over 7 venues featuring 52 guests plus 1 crazy dog. Thanks to all of our guests, our venue host and especially, the 65 volunteers and over 40 sponsors who made it possible!

There were so many memorable moments this week-end. Please share your memories on our Facebook page or email us your comments and any photos.

We hope that everyone enjoyed the festival. Thank-you Collingwood!

The painting created on Friday night by visual artist Cesan d’Ornellas Levine at Off The Page will be auctioned off at the end of the evening by Mr. Sean Cullen! Half of the selling price will be donated to Wordstock.

Spread the word! 

WORDSTOCK is privileged to have Major-General Richard Rohmer as our 2011 Honorary Chair. Major-General Rohmer – Officer of the Order of Canada, Commander of the Order of Military Merit, holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross, former Chief of Reserves of the Canadian Armed Forces, and Knight of the Order of St. John – is not only Canada’s iconic military hero, but also a practicing lawyer/Queen’s Counsel.

In the early 1970s, Major-General Rohmer chaired the Royal Commission on Book Publishing. Their 1972 findings laid the foundation for the growth of Canada’s book publishing industry and for federal government support of book publishing; but more importantly, for authors, in the form of the Public Lending Right program. This program ensures authors are compensated for their books, which are lodged and used in Canada’s libraries.

If that weren’t enough, Major-General Rohmer is Canada’s premier author of fiction and non-fiction! His fiction is based on well-researched and timely factual scenarios dealing with energy, the environment, geopolitics and relationships between the governments of Canada and the US. His non-fiction works range from biographies through to aviation, book writing, wartime experiences, plans for the orderly development of Canada’s boreal forest area, and to the construction of some of Canada’s economic structures.

Recently, Rohmer established a new publishing house, RailCore Press Inc., which is printing and publishing his 2011 writings in both paper and e-book formats. As well, a growing selection of his prior fiction and non-fiction work can be found in e-book form at www.rohmer-ebooks.com.

We can’t think of a more fitting Honorary Chair than Major-General Rohmer

Do you live or work in South Georgian Bay?
Have you had a book published or are you self-published?

The Wordstock Committee is pleased to invite local writers to display and sell their published book(s) at Wordstock on Saturday, September 10, 2011.

The Authors Marketplace will be located indoors at Hunter Hall in the Trinity United Church, the official location for Wordstock Authors Readings, “Off the Air” presentations and the Wordstock bookstore.

Time and Location: 10:30 am to 6 pm, Trinity United Church, 140 Maple Street, Collingwood 

Registration: $10.00. Pre-registration required, contact Tanya Mazza (705)444-2500 ext. 3287 or tmazza@collingwood.ca. 

Registration Deadline: Friday, August 26, 2011, 12 noon

Tables and chairs will be provided. Authors must be present to handle their own sales.

Wordstock is an exciting literary festival returning to Collingwood on September 9-10, 2011. It is a celebration of words and literary arts in written and other artistic forms of expression that you won’t want to miss! Wordstock embraces contemporary and classical forms of the written word against a backdrop of music, art and performance. Renowned writers mix with local writers as programmes and workshops weave themselves into a rich and exciting tapestry of celebration. www.wordstock.ca