This weekend was the Canberra Readers and Writers Festival. The festival brought together many Australian writers and a few from overseas as well. I couldn't attend much of the festival, which was a shame, but I did attend a few 'Author speaks', a book launch and one of the workshops. This being my first festival, I am gratified to observe that books are still held in great affection by all age-groups.
The book launch wasn't spectacular in the way an Indian film has a muhurat. It was a small book, self-published by a Canberran writer. There was a lot of wine, bread and snacks though, and I think half the people just turned up for the free food (the other half being family and friends). I would be surprised if the book sold more than a thousand copies.
Met Kathryn Fox, who is considered by many as 'Australia's Patricia Cornwell'. Like in the Kay Scarpetta novels, Kathryn's Dr.Anya Crichton is a forensic pathologist solving puzzling crimes. Having read and enjoyed novels of both, it was very exciting to hear her speak about her books, her personal experience fighting crime and her take on writing.
The highlight of the show though was one of the star overseas writers invited to be part of the festival, the Canadian writer, Stuart McLean. He is a bestselling author and the host of his own CBC program, Vinyl Café and is quite a popular guy, from what I hear. I heard him read from his comical series and he was simply hilarious. I have never enjoyed a book reading as much before. He brought the characters to life with his narration so well, that we could almost 'watch' everything happen on the screen behind (being projected from the back of his head)
"Toilet Training Galway the cat" and "Morley hits a racoon" were nostalgically R.K.Narayan-ish. I think Stuart was what columnist V.Gangadhar ('Slice of life' in Hindu) would be like, if I ever get to meet him in person.
A good weekend. Very good weekend.
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