Bayfield Writers Series to bring acclaimed authors to Huron County

BY SCOTT STEPHENSON

From Sept. 25 to 27, book readers from across Huron County and beyond will be making their way to Bayfield for the rare chance to engage with a quartet of some of Canada’s most celebrated storytellers.

 

The weekend-long literary event, dubbed Chapter Three: Intrigue and Hidden History - Reimagining the Past will be bringing four bestselling authors - Emma Donoghue, Heather Marshall, Genevieve Graham and Molly Fader - to Bayfield Town Hall to collectively explore forgotten histories, compelling characters and the craft of storytelling.

 

The weekend will feature author conversations, a live podcast recording and a hands-on writing workshop designed for aspiring writers at every stage of their creative journey.

 

But an authorial event of such magnitude doesn’t just happen on its own, especially in rural Ontario. It takes a dedicated group of word-loving volunteers to make it happen. 

 

Gemma James-Smith is one such volunteer. As a member of the Bayfield Writers Series (BWS) committee, she believes that bringing a cultural event of this scale to a small community like Bayfield is exactly the point. “We started this series because we believe that you shouldn’t have to live in a big city to have a literary event where you can get a little more in-depth with great authors and great stories,” she told The Citizen. “It’s all part of community building; to prove that small towns can do big things.”
This will be the third event that the BWS has put on in partnership with Bayfield’s beloved Village Bookshop. It’s also the community collective’s most ambitious project to date. James-Smith credits The Village Bookshop as the heart of the BWS. “That shop has really been an anchor for culture in Bayfield, and they’ve been essential to making this event happen,” she declared.

 

The weekend’s programming has been thoughtfully designed to offer audiences and aspiring authors a multitude of entry points into the writing process. In addition to traditional author panels, Saturday afternoon will feature a live podcast recording where authors can explore their shared approach creating stories that move between past and present in a less formal fashion. “We will be listening to three of the writers talking just to each other about writing, rather than us members of the Writers Series interviewing them,” James-Smith explained.

 

Oscar-nominated author Emma Donoghue will also be interviewed by local filmmaker Jessica Patel about what it takes to translate a work of fiction into film.

 

James-Smith especially thinks locals will be interested in the history that grounds Marshall’s latest novel, Liberty Street, as it includes a storyline set right in Bayfield! “I always find that with myself, if I’m reading a book where I’ve been to the place, or I have some kind of family connection to the place, it just enriches my experience that much more,” James-Smith observed.

 

For writers hoping to develop their own work, Sunday’s workshop will provide a chance to learn directly from Fader. “Molly Fader is a tremendous writer, and her focus for the workshop is how to bring tighter tension to your writing,” James-Smith told The Citizen. “It will help aspiring, or even experienced writers, figure out the push and pull of telling a story and how to keep readers engaged, intrigued and wanting to read more. Writers at any stage of their process can bring in any work, or any pages that they might be working on. Or, if they’re just beginners, they can still come and join in.”

 

Beyond celebrating books, James-Smith hopes the event will help the Bayfield community stay connected and vibrant during the transition to shoulder season. “It’s the end of the summer, so bringing people into town to patronize our businesses and visit Bayfield is a perfect way to keep the community active and having conversations about books and stories,” she pointed out.
Looking ahead, James-Smith is aiming to steadily grow the Bayfield book scene. “The hope is to just keep building these events,” she explained. “I think reading books right now is a real act of resistance, in many ways. Coming together and celebrating art forms that are human made, and celebrating the history that we have experienced is really important right now.”

 

Presented by The Village Bookshop, Chapter Three: Intrigue and Hidden History - Reimagining the Past runs September 25 to 27 at Bayfield Town Hall.