Beth Powning, author of A Measure of Light

Beth Powning – A Measure of Light

Wednesday, March 18, 7pm at Words Worth Books

Beth Powning has proven herself adept at making the past come alive in her fiction.  With delicacy and finesse she brings atmosphere and authenticity to bear on each of her characters to the point that they seem to actually breathe.  One such character is Mary Dyer who counts among the first American Quakers to practice in the New World.

Like many Puritans who wished to worship freely, Mary Dyer came to the British colony in New England in the 1630s.  Unfortunately, the strictures of the Old World followed them.  With measures enacted to restrict facets of worship, trade, and custom, the lingering spectre of patriarchal Christianity was set at odds against the “New Jerusalem” that came to be the hope of the settlers.

Mary befriends Anne Hutchinson, a midwife who leads increasingly popular Biblical discussion groups in her home.  Ever watchful for heretics, they both come to the attention of the Puritan leadership, and when Mary births a deformed stillborn child, word spreads that her offspring is punishment for her support of Hutchinson’s sacrilegious Quaker beliefs.  What follows is a story of persecution, despondency, banishment, and martyrdom.

A chronicling of the corrupting effects of power has long been a literary mainstay, and that perhaps is at the heart of some truly great books.  Beth Powning has written a standout novel that finds its modern correlates in extremist movements throughout the world.  How power germinates, how it is enforced, and where are found the blind-spots of those who decree morality; all are examined here with sensitivity, grace, historical accuracy, and high style.

Since her first appearance at Words Worth with her inimitable Hatbox Letters, Beth Powning has been a favourite around here and we are very pleased to welcome her back.

Wednesday, March 4, 7pm: Elisabeth De Mariaffi & Claire Cameron

Given the prolonged deep freeze outside, no one needs a reason to welcome an early spring this year more than we do! In that spirit, Words Worth Books would like to kick off our spring events with a couple thrillers that will get your blood pumping!

In a year of Gone Girl-mania, (and now an assortment of copycat novels,) Elisabeth de Mariaffi's The Devil You Know offers welcome respite from a quickly tiring formula.

There's not much we like more than a truly fine thriller, and de Mariaffi's second novel, following the Giller-longlisted How to Get Along with Women, works on every level.

Evie is a young reporter for an Ontario paper in the early 90s. She is covering a developing story involving a series of missing girls and a possible serial rapist. Resourceful and mercurial, Evie is uncomfortably aware of her unique personal and professional connection to the story; she is haunted still by the unsolved murder of Lianne, her best friend from childhood.

The Devil You Know is atmospheric, very smart, and there's much more going on here than most thrillers allow for.

Whatever Elisabeth de Mariaffi does next will be worth the wait.

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Claire Cameron first came on the scene with her spare and harrowing novel, The Line Painter. Her new book, The Bear, has garnered international acclaim with reviews in The Globe & Mail, The National Post, Independent (UK), Chatelaine, and O Magazine.

Told in the voice of five-year-old Anna who, with her little brother, fights to survive in the Algonquin wilderness after their parents are killed in a savage bear attack. Sure of hand and large of heart, Cameron has crafted a gripping and mesmerizing exploration of the Anna’s psyche as she struggles to protect her brother while at the same time protecting herself from fully realizing the horror of her situation.

Clear, propulsive, and poignant, The Bear is worthy of the attention it has received.

Join us at the store on Wednesday, March 4 at 7pm in welcoming Elisabeth de Mariaffi and Claire Cameron for a reading, Q&A, and autograph session. Free Event!

FALL GIFT GUIDE 2014 - Words Worth Books

GIFT GUIDE FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG ADULTS 2014 - Words Worth Books

Wild Writers Literary Festival

Words Worth Books is very pleased to be part of the third WILD WRITERS LITERARY FESTIVAL.  In previous  years, Terry Fallis, Elizabeth Hay, Wayne Johnston,  Helen Humphreys and a plethora of Canada's best writers have all been part of the festival since its inception in 2012.

On Friday, November 7, The New Quarterly is welcoming Anne Marie Macdonald (Adult Onset) and Emma Donoghue (Frog Music) to Waterloo to open the festival.

That’s at 7 pm at the CIGI Campus Auditorium at 67 Erb St. W at the corner of Erb and Caroline St.  The CBC’s Craig Norris will be in conversation with Anne Marie Macdonald and Emma Donoghue.  It promises to be a fine evening and a great start to the festival.

Tickets for Friday night are $5.00 or free with purchase of either of the above books at Words Worth.

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THE WRITER'S CRAFT CLASSES ($20.00/SESSION)

The Saturday program includes panel discussions and craft classes as well as readings from some of the best writers in the country.  Any aspiring writer will want to be in the room to glean from those-in-the-know as to how good writing happens, and the panel gets better every year.

• Writing Experimental Short Fiction with Diane Schoemperlen
• Managing the Camera in Fiction with Michael Winter
• Life Writing with Kathy Page
• Social Media Tips & Strategies for Writers with Stacey May Fowles
• Poetry of the Urban Wilderness with Anita Lahey
• Playwriting Workshiop with Matthew Heiti
• A Taste of Food Writing with Lindy Mechefske

CONVERSATIONS AND PANELS (FREE)

Dave will be speaking with a couple favourite crime writers on Saturday afternoon.  John McFetridge has been a favourite of his for years with his Elmore Leonard-like take on urban Ontario. With his new book, Black Rock, he’s in his native Montreal during the FLQ crisis in 1970.  This is the first in the Eddie Dougherty series.

Ian Hamilton is also along this year, author of the great Ava Lee crime series.  His new one, The King of Shanghai comes out in about six weeks, and the moment it shows up, any other reading moves over.  Ian’s a natural storyteller with an explosive and mercurial character in Ava.  That’s at CIGI at 1.30 pm Saturday.

Here's the line-up for Saturday afternoon:

• CanLit Publishing Panel featuring House of Anansi Press, Biblioasis, Brick Magazine & TNQ
• David Worsley in Conversation with mystery writers John McFetridge and Ian Hamilton
• Wild Writers Panel: Fiction or Non-fiction - Choosing the Best Way to Tell a Story featuring Carry Snyder, Kathleen Winter, Kathy Page & Alison Pick.
• Great Beginnings: The Return of the Michaels featuring Michael Winter, Michael Helm, Michael Crummey, & Michael Redhill
• Wild Writers Panel: Occasional Verse featuring Mary Todkill, Suzanne Nussey & Anita Lahey.

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SATURDAY NIGHT SPEAKEASY ($15.00)

Things continue at The Jazz Room on Saturday the 8^th, at 7 pm with Michael Redhill joining Ray Robertson and Stacey May Fowles for an evening of fun and discussion around the Gendering of Literature: Boys and Girls and Books.

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LITERARY BRUNCH ($35.00)

Finally, the Sunday brunch the following morning at Entertaining Elements in downtown Kitchener starts at 10:00am.

This is an opportunity to dine with the Governor General Award nominee Michael Crummey along with Alison Pick and another favourite around here, K.D Miller.

Coffee with the authors will be followed by Entertaining Element's signature artisanal buffet.  The writers will talk about their latest work, the writing process, and life as a writer.  Intimate, casual, engaging-- an ideal way to spend a Sunday morning.

Details are at http://www.tnq.ca/wildwriters/

Guess the Winner! 2014 Giller & Governor General's Award

Words Worth Books is betting on your predictive skills around this year's Giller and Governor General's Literary Prizes. Simply guess the winner from BOTH short-lists and you'll be entered in a draw for a copy of each winning book (or a gift certificate of equal value).

Deadline: November 9th, 2014

The Giller Prize will be revealed on November 10, and the Governor General's Award for fiction will be announced on November 18.

* Fill out a ballot in the store * Post your guess on Facebook * Tweet your guess with the hashtag #WWBwinners

Scotia Giller Prize Nominees

Frances Itani - Tell

David Bezmogis - The Betrayers

Sean Michaels - Us Conductors

Heather O'Neill - The Girl who was Saturday Night

Padma Viswanathan - The Ever After of Ashwin Rao

Governor General's Literary Award Nominees

Michael Crummey - Sweetland

Claire Holden Rothman - My October

Bill Gaston - Juliet was a Surprise

Joan Thomas - The Opening Sky

Thomas King - The Back of the  Turtle