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Fred Addis, curator for the Leacock Museum, says this year’s roster of festival guests is a mixture of newcomers and old friends.

A scribe’s travels behind the battlelines in war-torn Iraq is among the stories to be told during the Leacock Summer Festival, billed as Ontario’s largest literary get-together.

Held annually at the Leacock Museum National Historic Site, the July 22 - 27 event features author appearances, forums and events catering to those with a love of literature.
Organizers are promising a star-studded roster of writers filled with familiar faces and newcomers alike.

First-timers include Marie-Claire Blais, Barbara Gowdy and Jane Urquhart, while Barry Callaghan, Mark Kingwell and Giller Prize winner Austin Clarke are among those set to return.

“It’s a terrific combination of old friends returning and some very popular authors we’ve been trying to lure north for many years,” said Fred Addis, the museum’s curator.

Gowdy and poet/author Christopher Dewdney kick off the festival with readings on Tuesday afternoon, followed that evening by a showcase of works by creative writing students from Laurentian University’s Georgian College program.

Toronto Star columnist Richard Gwyn, Newfoundland poet Randall Maggs and Leacock Medalist Paul Quarrington round out the Wednesday program.

Others to appear include Judy Fong Bates, author of Midnight at the Dragon Café, chosen as Orillia’s Big Read selection by the public library.

Poet, photographer and newspaper reporter Marty Gervais, the featured presenter at this year’s festival letters dinner, will recount his travels with a group of young boxers to communities embroiled in the Iraq war.

Leacock's niece, Elizabeth Kimball, is again the guest of honour during a teddy bear picnic on the Friday afternoon, and will read from her children's book, The House That Stephen Built.

Veteran storyteller Sherry Lawson, a member of Chippewas of Rama First Nation, promises captivating stories for children.

“We’re ecstatic about this year’s lineup,” Addis said.
Recent Leacock Medal winner Terry Fallis joins a triple bill with Stephen Gardiner and Drew Hayden Taylor on the Friday evening, followed the next day by philosopher, writer and social commentator Mark Kingwell.

Anne Michaels, Marie-Claire Blais and Kathleen McCracken are among the lineup assembled by author and publisher Barry Callaghan for his Exile Editions Ladies Night.

“Reading for many people is a personal, if not private activity,” said Addis. “If we can coax more of our many avid readers to come out and put a face to the words they read, we’ll be happy with that. I think people will be astounded to hear and meet the people behind the stories they read.”

Austin Clarke will again host a Sunday dinner featuring a menu rooted in the culinary heritage of his native Barbados.
A complete festival schedule is available online at www.leacockmuseum.com.