2024 was my first year attending the Eden Mills Writers Festival (EMWF) as a professional. I finally had enough published books to make a sales table appear well-populated. I enhanced the effect by sharing a table with author friend Kimberley D. Tait. Between the two of us, we had six books! There was the added benefit of having company to pass the time during the cold, gusty hours before attendance picked up.
Eden Mills is a village of 350 within walking distance of where I live, so I’m very familiar with its 19th century stone buildings, and the remains of the mill and spillway which gave Eden Mills its name. It’s also trying to be Canada’s first carbon-neutral community. One notable feature of Eden Mills is that cell phone service in the community if unreliable. A Toronto friend discovered this when she tried (unsuccessfully) to contact me from the Festival’s entry gate. Phone, text, Messenger — none of them worked.
As for the Festival itself, here is a description in the Festival’s own words:”Every September since 1989, the Eden Mills Writers’ Festival has been offering readers a showcase of established and emerging Canadian writing in the village in Eden Mills.” So being invited to participate in this long-established tradition was an honour indeed.
Apart from unreliable phone service, the weather gave us a challenge. I was glad I’d chosen to wear a down coat and insulated pants to keep the chilly temperatures at bay. But when the forecasted 50 kph wind-gusts gusted though, warm clothes didn’t keep books, business cards and Kim’s portrait of her protagonist, Vandy, from scattering to the four winds. At least we managed to keep our tent-awning from blowing over!
Despite the weather challenges, it was an exciting day. Bookish friends from long ago, as well as newer friends, dropped by to say hello, chat, and buy a book. I met new people. Kim-from-Acton, if you’re reading this: I know I told you to sign up for my newsletter in order to find out about ARC opportunities, but I forgot to tell you that I’ve been having problems with my subscription service. If you signed up, it probably didn’t work. I’ll post a notification when it’s fixed! To everyone who stopped for a chat, it was great to meet you and talk to you! Writing is a lonely business, so it’s wonderful to meet the real, live people who read my stories!
Eden Mills is now back to its inter-Festival calm, but I imagine Festival ghosts in the streets now. Waiting for all those readers to return.