Something to write home about
This year’s writers’ festival promises to be memorable
Quentin Mills-Fenn

Charlene Diehl is one Winnipegger who is really hoping for some fine weather from Sept. 18-25.

We all are, of course, but Diehl more than most. She’s the artistic director of the latest edition of Thin Air: Winnipeg International Writers Festival, and the three-time AD readily admits she’s now really getting into running the show, fine-tuning it as well as introducing fresh things. So it’s only natural she wants everything to be perfect.

Part of what’s new at Thin Air this year is the opening kickoff to the whole shebang. Opening night features local bigwigs Di Brandt, Dennis Cooley, Lise Gaboury-Diallo, Duncan Mercredi and Meeka Walsh reading their work outdoors at Oodena, the natural amphitheatre at The Forks. Hence Diehl’s special concern about the weather.

Oodena has been a meeting place for centuries, Diehl points out.

“I called some writers I know and said, ‘Come up with something new.’ I asked them to do a new piece that’s rooted in the local place somehow,” she explains.

There are events throughout the city, but the mainstage events — held this year at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People venue — are always the star features. This year sees such figures as Neil Bissoondath, Karen Connelly, Audrey Thomas, Sandra Birdsell, George Elliott Clarke and Katherine Govier making appearances. Sept. 22’s show features mystery specialists, while the next day is the always-anticipated Poetry Bash. Clive Holden’s performance is guaranteed to be a highlight that night.

Diehl says she’s especially looking forward to hearing Stan Dragland.

“He really is a delightful reader,” she says. “He’s so funny and wise. I read his book (Story Weather: Foursomes) in manuscript and I couldn’t wait for it to bring him here.”

Much-touted British writer James Meek is another name Diehl drops.

“It’s really strong writing,” she says of Meek’s new novel, The People’s Act of Love. “There are some scenes in the first 40 pages that are wrenching. It’s a big book: big canvas, big voice.”

Despite the people scheduled to attend, Diehl prefers to talk about the events she’s looking forward to. She mentions the Afternoon Book Chats at the Prairie Ink Café at McNally Robinson in Portage Place. Sept. 23, mystery writers Brian Freeman and ex-Winnipegger Louise Penny explain what it takes to create suspense.

The next day features poets Lorna Crozier and Sherwin Tjia. The contrast of the much-lauded Crozier with the newcomer Tjia — whose book consists of what he calls ‘pseudo-haikus,’ snarky little three-line poems — should make for an interesting conversation.

“This is really informal conversation with two writers about their craft,” she says. “Audiences bring their own questions.”

Diehl is also hyped about the festival’s new website, www.winnipegwords.com, designed by Winnipeg’s Manlab. Participation is key. Senior designer Oliver Oike says they wanted to engage people, not just get them to show up.

The answer turned out to be a virtual library, a stack of books anyone can add to.

“We came up with this autobiography idea,” Oike says. “We wanted to provide some machinery for people to provide their own writing. The idea is ‘Hello, My Story Is...’”

This portion of the site is scheduled for launch on Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. and will allow visitors to write their stories and rate and comment on the tales of others.

“It gives people an opportunity to be creative, but it’s not intimidating,” adds Oike. “We wanted the website to be more than just local because it’s over the Internet, and it’s a way to extend the life of the festival beyond the week.”

Plus, each night’s mainstage action will be recorded and available as podcasts hosted by local funnyman Mike Bell.

I think I’m most looking forward to a new feature called After Words. It’s a late-night experience that will feature pairs of Manitoba poets reading in The Current Lounge at the Inn at The Forks, Monday through Saturday after the mainstage events.

Check out John Weir and Dave Streit of Bomb Sniffing Dogs reading on Sept. 20 around 10 p.m. The next night shows off Clarise Foster and Lindsey Wiebe.

An opportunity to hear Dionne Brand read is not to be missed. The award-winning poet reads from her latest novel, What We All Long For, on the mainstage on Sept. 21 along with Nicole Brossard (another heavyweight), Stan Dragland, Liam Durcan, Ray Robertson, and Danish playwright Ulla Ryum.

The mainstage panel on Sept. 24 is also a good one: featuring Jon Paul Fiorentino and Robert Kroetsch talking poetry with Rosanna Deerchild, Catherine Hunter, Mariianne Mays, and The Weakerthans’ lyricist John K. Samson.
For more information and a complete schedule of Thin Air, visit www.winnipegwords.com.

THIN AIR MAINSTAGE SCHEDULE

Sun., Sept. 18, 7 p.m.
Writing Here — With Di Brandt, Dennis Cooley, Lie Gaboury-Diallo, Duncan Mercredit, Meeka Walsh. At Oodena at the The Forks (Rain location: The Atrium at The Forks Market)
Mon., Sept. 19, 8 p.m.
Worlds Apart — With David Bergen, Neil Bissoondath, Marty Chan, Karen Connelly, Lauren B. Davis, James Meek, Audrey Thomas
Tues., Sept. 20, 8 p.m.
Cut to Fit — With Arthur Black, Barry Callaghan, Dave Cameron, Charlotte Gill, Suzette Mayr, Byron Rempel
Weds., Sept. 21, 8p.m.
The Backward Glance — With Dionne Brand, Nicole Brossard, Stan Dragland, Liam Durcan, Ray Robertson, Ulla Ryum
Thurs., Sept. 22, 8 p.m.
Lovers and Other Strangers — With Sandra Birdsell, George Elliott Clarke, Tamas Dobozy, Katherine Govier, Joel Hynes, Shani Mootoo
Fri., Sept. 23, 8 p.m.
Full Suspense Ahead — With Brian Freeman Douglas Glover, Juris Jurjevics, Louise Penny, Barbara Sapergia, Michael Van Rooy
Sat., Sept. 24, 1 p.m.
Matinee: Winnipeg, the Imagined City — With David Arnason and Mhari
Mackintosh
Sat., Sept. 24, 8 p.m.
The Poetry Bash! — With Lorna Crozier, Clive Holden, Brenda Leifso, David Seymour, Karen Solie, Sherwin Tija
Sun., Sept. 25, 2:30 p.m.
Prairie Poets Post — With Jon Paul Fiorentino, Robert Kroetsch (co-hosts), Rosanna Deerchild, Catherine Hunter, Mariianne Mays,
John K. Samson
All mainstage shows at Manitoba Theatre for Young
People in the CanWest Global Centre for the Performing Arts, except where noted.

For a complete Thin Air schedule visit www.winnipegwords.com.