Thank you, Eden Mills!

Thank you to the wonderful town of Eden Mills, Ontario, for a marvellous weekend!

I'm just back from the Writer's Festival hosted in that glorious spot and it couldn't have been a better time. The setting is idyllic, under the sweeping trees and alongside the Eramosa River, with dozens of authors and poets reading their works to a most gracious and receptive crowd.

A few times over the weekend, I had to pinch myself to believe it was real.

The community (of about 350 people) pitch in to provide warm hospitality to the festival visitors and authors. A team of volunteers cooks and serves dinner to a great crowd of people on each of two nights, and serves up homemade pies for dessert. Not only that, but homemade champagne is poured!

What were the highlights? There are almost too many to count:

- delicious food
- friendly volunteers
- a gorgeous natural setting
- sitting in the sunshine, listening to the authors and poets read their works
- the making of new friends in the Canadian literary scene
- catching up with old friends living across our vast country
- the amazing young student, Samantha, who introduced me at my reading — the best introduction I've ever had! Thank you so much, Samantha!
- the careful and competent organization of travel details, hotels and flights
- the kindness and generosity of everyone I met

I could go on... but suffice it to say, it was a weekend I will always remember.

My sincere thanks to everyone involved in putting on the festival. I feel enormously privileged to have been invited! One day, I hope to return.

Eden Mills Writers Festival

Tomorrow, I am on my way to a wonderful writer's festival held in the scenic hamlet of Eden Mills, Ontario. What a privilege to be invited!

If you'd like to find out who's speaking over the weekend, you can check this festival link.

And here's a lovely piece of art showing the town and environs (borrowed from the Eden Mills website). I'm looking forward to spending the day on the banks of the Eramosa River.

I hear it's going to rain (but I don't mind — my umbrella is packed).

Back soon!

Back to School Wishes

In my part of the world, it is back-to-school day. I am thinking about all the children and teachers who are bravely returning to the classroom as the new school year unfolds.

I wish you all a successful and happy year, with much learning and many good books to read!

And if you are interested in finding out more about children and school, you might enjoy my friend Margriet Ruur's book, School Days Around the World.

Have a fun first day! I'll be thinking about you.