Over 20 authors and over 50 events took place around Moose Jaw over the weekend for this year’s Saskatchewan Festival of Words. 

Organizers saw turnouts comparable to pre-pandemic years. However, workshops and seminars were held both in-person and virtually this year. 

“Our audience came back, and we kept some audience online. We were able to do a hybrid festival, and everyone told us that they really enjoyed it and we're really happy to come back in person,” said Festival of Word Operations Coordinator Amanda Farnel. 

Friday evening featured an interview with author Emma Donoghue and a trivia night, followed by a spoken word showcase. 

“Everyone has been raving about the poetry showcase on Friday night, which brought in five poets from across Canada, and they did just incredible performances. And then our dramatic readings were a huge success this year, and we've sold out on that author's books Brian Francis, so yeah, pretty exciting,” said Farnel said. 

The festival featured on Saturday a panel of writers including, Warsha Mushtaq, Erica Violet Lee and Jerry Haigh, who were inspired by conservation and the future of our environment. There was also a book launched by Thistle Press and a concert by Don Amero. 

The festival wrapped up on Sunday with “Cover to Cover: A Closer Look at Publishing,” with a panel of writers talking about the publishing process. There was also a panel about the interaction between fans and authors and how it shapes their writing. 

Plans are already in the works for the 2023 Saskatchewan Festival of Words, which will take place July 13 to 16. Farnel said they have already confirmed some authors including, Michelle Good, Paul Huebener, Guy Gavriel Kay and Bradley Somer. 

You can keep up with the latest with the Saskatchewan Festival of Words on their website.