Introducing BookFestWindsor!
The annual BookFestWindsor (formerly the Windsor Festival of the Book) celebrates all facets of the book, combining author readings, interviews and signings with workshops on book arts, book collecting and publishing—as well as lectures on various aspects of book history and production. The festival is a celebration of the book in all forms, from the art of book binding to the joy of reading and the freedom of expression.
... a unique local festival ...
BookFestWindsor is an important festival for Southwestern Ontario. As the only Canadian literary festival within a four-hour radius, the festival presents authors and book artists in a unique and accessible way for the Windsor community. Authors are attracted to this event because of our reputation for great hospitality and organization. BookFestWindsor is fast becoming a major event on the book tour circuit.
... exciting & accessible location ...
Windsor's location as the gateway to Canada is the ideal place for such an innovative festival. Being situated at the busiest American-Canadian border crossing provides BookFest with an opportunity few other festivals possess—the ability to attract American audiences because of the close proximity to a huge untapped market area. Canadian authors are breaking into the American market faster than ever and festivals such as this provide the perfect means to bring together American readers and our talented authors.
... the book as an object ...
BookFestWindsor is unique in its focus on the book as an object. There are distinct sections at the festival dedicated to different aspects of the book. The format includes three different sessions, an ongoing poetry café, a special session on book arts, in addition to the readings and interviews from different Canadian authors.
Photos From Years Past
Perhaps the best-renowned writer with ties to Windsor, Alistair MacLeod responds to an audience question from the Capitol Theatre podium during the 2003 Windsor Festival of the Book. McLeod returned for the 2005 BookFest, and will also appear at the 2007 festival on November 3rd.
Austin Clarke gestures animatedly during his appearance at the 2003 Festival of the Book. Poet, novelist, non-fiction writer and holder of the Order of Canada, Clarke also returned to BookFest in 2005.
It's not just about reading from books.... The 2006 BookFest featured a session called "Altered Books", focussing on the book as art, or as artistic material. A wide range of visual and sculptural works were produced and displayed for this session, one of which is pictured above.
Sam Gatteno of Michigan gestures to a projected slide in a scene from the Book Arts lectures at the 2003 Festival of the Book. Book Arts and its successor, Aspects of the Book, covers a wide range of topics related to the book as an object: history, manufacturing, collecting, and much more.
Eugene McNamara, Professor Emeritus at the University of Windsor, speaks to an appreciative audience.