From the Archives, and a Fundraising Update
20th Anniversary Fundraising Campaign—April 6, 2015 Update
Thanks to new donations and pledges received as of the end of March 2015, Wordfest is off to a solid start with its fundraising campaign for the 20th anniversary Festival, October 13-18, 2015.
To symbolize each $1,000 milestone reached towards Wordfest’s fundraising goal, we’re profiling a book and author from our growing archive of signed works by Wordfest alumni. Below are three titles selected for the stack.
Visiting Hours by Shane L. Koyczan
According to the May 2006 issue of Quill and Quire, the Festival bookstore was "a mob scene at intermission" when audience members began snapping up Koyczan's book after his poetry reading alongside Margaret Atwood, Robert Sullivan and Richard Harrison. Rumour has it that Visiting Hours sold 83 copies in ten minutes on the day of his Wordfest appearance. Shane Koyczan returned to Wordfest in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
All that Matters by Wayson Choy
Wayson Choy presented his critically acclaimed The Jade Peony at the inaugural Wordfest in 1996, followed by his memoir Paper Shadows at the 1999 Festival. He presented his novel All That Matters at the 2004 Wordfest. The book subsequently spent 26 weeks on the Globe and Mail bestseller list, shared the 1995 Trillium Award with Margaret Atwood and won the Vancouver Book Award. Wayson Cho returned to Wordfest in 2009 with Not Yet: A Memoir of Living and Almost Dying.
Galveston by Paul Quarrington
In 2009, the Writers' Trust of Canada awarded Quarrington its Matt Cohen Prize for a distinguished lifetime contribution to Canadian literature. Quarrington presented at the inaugural Wordfest in 1996, and returned to the Festival in 1997, 1998, 2004 and 2008. He presented Galveston at Wordfest 2004. The book was nominated for the prestigious Giller Prize. He lost to Alice Munro; and it's alleged that Quarrington stated afterward, "it was hard to feel upset about. It's like losing to Chekhov."
Six months remain to reach Wordfest's goal of raising $30,000 before the 20th Wordfest kicks off in October 2015. Help keep the momentum going! Please consider making a special contribution to Wordfest this season, if you have not already done so.
Tax receipts for all online donations are issued electronically through canadahelps.org. For donations by cheque, tax receipts are issued by mail for all donations over $20. CRA# 850647835rr0001
