There’s no shortage of writers of acclaim with a connection to Bowen. Alexander McCall Smith, author of the renowned 10-volume No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, anchors his yacht off the island; Michael Ondaatje, of The English Patient fame, spends some of his summers here.

But one writer, science fiction’s Spider Robinson, came to Bowen many years ago with his wife Jeanne and stayed. The author of almost 40 acclaimed SF novels – including Variable Star, the completion of an unfinished manuscript started by science fiction grandmaster Robert A. Heinlein more than a half century ago – headlines the Opening Night of Write on Bowen! at Cates Hill Chapel, 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 10. Other performers are Pauline Le Bel, Keath Fraser, Susanne Braund, Nick Faragher and AURAL Heather with Heather Haley and Roderick Shoolbraid. Tickets are $15 at the door.

The literary festival, now in its second year, continues Saturday and Sunday with a series of paid workshops and free panels discussing children’s books, mysteries and thrillers, fiction and journal writing, making it as a freelancer, alternatives to print and writing for the Internet. In addition, Robinson returns for a Q&A about the writing life, with a reading from new work and, perhaps, a few songs; this free special event is from 2 – 4 p.m. at The Gallery.

The festivities shift from a celebration of writers, writing and readers and into party mode on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with the free Gala at The Gallery – the setting for most other festival events – where festival presenters, attendees and anyone else are invited to partake of wine and nibbles, peruse a display of book-related art and hear readings by Lisa Shatzky, Ed Sanders, Bernice Lever and Adam Morton – and by the adult and youth winners of Write on Bowen!’s inaugural short fiction contest, which asked writers to incorporate the quintessential Bowen Island lament: “The ferry was late again.”

Away from Artisan Square, the festival also offers a quintet of plays written by youth, presented by the Tir-na-nOg Theatre School’s young playwright initiative, on Saturday and Sunday from 11:15 to 12:15; a Lieben Lands Walk on Sunday starting at noon, hosted by poet Bernice Lever; and Blue Pencil Editing sessions, a chance for writers to have their work vetted by professional editors.

For complete program information: www.biac.ca/writersfestival.

Richard Labonté

Write on Bowen! Committee