IN THE NEWS: St. Lawrence Writers Festival Authors Visit TISS
Thousand Islands Secondary School in Brockville welcomed two visiting authors participating in the St. Lawrence Writers Festival, taking place September 10 to 13.
Waubgeshig Rice, an author from Wasauksing First Nation, is best known for his bestselling novels Moon of the Crusted Snow and Moon of the Turning Leaves. Speaking with Indigenous Arts and English students, Rice discussed his writing process, the influence of real-life experiences on his storytelling, and how he transforms authentic people and relationships into fictional narratives.
He also answered questions about his work and shared the thought-provoking message, “Sometimes fiction is closer to the heart of truth than nonfiction.”
Carolyne Van Der Meer, a poet, author, and former McGill University lecturer, spoke about the power of storytelling, the importance of reading in developing a writer's voice, and careers that involve writing. Students also took part in a creative writing exercise, creating poems through a series of stanzas.
Van Der Meer has published five books, including Journeywoman, Sensorial, and All This As I Stand By. Her bilingual poetry collection Heart of Goodness / Du cœur à l’âme received national literary recognition.
Read the full story of Waubgeshig Rice's visit in the Brockville Recorder & Times.