Writers’ Federation of NB WordSpring Festival

Writers' Federation of NB WordSpring FestivalThe Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick (WFNB) held their annual WordSpring writing festival at the Rodd Miramichi River Hotel in Historic downtown Chatham last weekend, May 27-29. Writers from all over the province enjoyed a weekend filled with workshops, readings, book launches, awards, musical entertainment, and more.

A highlight of WordSpring was the Literary Soirée Saturday evening, where Writing Competition winners received awards and gave readings of their work. Guest speaker poet and activist Marilyn Lerch gave the Keynote Address. The soirée also included dinner, music and merriment.

WFNB Writing Competition Awards 2016

David Adams Richards Prize
John Paciga (Rothesay, NB) Indiscretion (first place)
Dylan Sealy (Fredericton, NB) Eleanor the Cat (second place)

Roger Moore, (Island View, NB) Nobody’s Child (honourable mention)
Alex MacDonald (Keswick Ridge, NB) Constant Companions (honourable mention)

Alfred G. Bailey Prize
Jane Tims (Rusagonis, NB) Mnemonic (first place)
Kayla Geitzler (Moncton, NB) That Light Feeling Under Your Feet (second place)

Karen Davidson (Elgin, NB) Endangered (honourable mention)

Douglas Kyle Memorial Prize
Jamie Gibbs (Miramichi, NB) Our Hunger (first place)
John Paciga (Rothesay, NB) Tim Lovers and the Donut Rebellion (second place)

Cindy Rule (Miramichi, NB) Falling Into (honourable mention)
Connie Vera Keeler (Northampton, NB) Iktsuarpok (honourable mention)
John Paciga (Rothesay, NB) The Long Hauler and John Lennon’s Heart (honourable mention)

Dawn Watson Memorial Prize
Carol Steel (Riverview, NB) October Farewell (first place)
Carol Steel (Riverview, NB) Here You Are (second place)

Shari Andrews (Fredericton, NB) Memorial at Lac-Mégantic, Québec (honourable mention)
Victor Hendricken (Yoho, NB) Abandoned (honourable mention)
David Watts (Fredericton, NB) A Thirteen-Year-Old Boy Spends a Summer Day (honourable mention)

Fog Lit Books for Young People Prize
Andrew Sharpe (Moncton, NB) The Snowman Factory (first place)
Leslie Steeves (Steeves Mountain, NB) The Stick (second place)

Victor Hendricken (Yoho, NB) The Black Horse (honourable mention)
Joanne Findon (Peterborough, ON) The Enchanted Forest (honourable mention)
Bruce Driscoll (Oromocto, NB) The Dragon’s Scales (honourable mention)

Sheree Fitch Prize for Young Writers
Lauren Wilkins (Moncton, NB) Balancing Act (first place)
Lauren Wilkins (Moncton, NB) Welcome Mat (second place)

Spencer Folkins (Ratter Corner, NB) Bad Weather (honourable mention)
Emma Brown (St. Stephen, NB) Maybe We Were (honourable mention)
Julieann Drane (Saint John, NB) Colours (honourable mention)

PWAC-Southwest NB Prize for Narrative Non-Fiction
Deborah Carr (Hillsborough, NB) The Art of Seeing Clearly (first place)
Linda Turner (Collette, NB) Redemption Writing (second place)

Anne Marie Beattie (Oshawa, ON) Strangle Hold (honourable mention)
Neil Sampson (Durham Bridge, NB) Three Pounds Big (honourable mention)

The next big event for the WFNB is WordsFall, which will happen in Shediac November 4th and 5th, 2016. WordSpring 2017 will take place in Saint John next May. For more information about the WFNB visit their website at www.wfnb.ca.

Click to enlarge any of the photos below. To view more photos from this event, visit the Mighty Miramichi Photo Gallery.

Photos by Christopher Mackay, courtesy of the WFNB.

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