Come Read by the Sea in River John, NS July 6-8, 2023
Read by the Sea is a summer literary festival featuring readings by outstanding Canadian authors. The three-day festival includes WordPlay, a fun-filled mini festival for children of all ages; OnWords, a brand new event for middle-grade and young adult readers; Wordstock, a series of literary and storytelling shenanigans; and Main Stage, a day of author readings and Q&A.
Pitch the Publisher submission deadline: Do you want to pitch your manuscript to a panel of publishers at Read by the Sea 2023? Let us know by March 15, 2023. Details here
Ask The Author - Memories of Read by the Sea 2021
Read by the Sea
Dream of a sunny day, relaxed in a lawn chair in a quiet garden, a cool drink in your hand, and Canada’s finest authors reading to YOU! That’s Read by the Sea Summer Literary Festival, established in 2000 in River John, NS. The festival has grown to include the children’s festival, WordPlay; Pitch the Publisher and Open Mic sessions for emerging authors; writers’ workshops; storytelling walks and campfires; books for sale; and meet-the-authors.
WordPlay
WordPlay, the extraordinary literary festival for children of all ages, takes place at the River John Royal Canadian Legion (rain venue is inside the legion). Over the two hour event, children and their adults listen to prominent children’s authors read from their work and get to ask them questions. They can have selfies taken with them, buy their books, and get those books signed. Music and activities round out the schedule.
Main Stage
The festival's grand finale will offer readings by four prominent Canadian authors, onstage interviews, a moderated panel discussion, audience question and answer session, raffle of the authors' books, a "swag shoppe" selling festival items, Coles mobile book store on site, all in the relaxing surroundings at the River John Legion garden. Bring your own lawn chairs, sunscreen and a picnic if you wish (rain venue for outdoor events - River John Fire Hall).
Wordstock
WordStock covers the events between WordPlay and MainStage - this year on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Including an open mic session, family storytelling campfire, Heritage Storywalk, a writing workshop, and Pitch the Publisher.
“Read by the Sea is a highlight of my year. I just love it And I am already looking forward to this year. I love that it is free and open to everyone. And I love that it is outside if possible. I always drag a gang of friends along with me. The authors are always an amazing mix and the moderators and organizers are terrific. I have also participated in Pitch the Publisher and various writing workshops. I highly recommend this incredible event to everyone who enjoys reading.”
Joy Laking, artist, NS
“Read by the Sea was for me: A glorious sunny day, the company of Donna Morrissey, David Adams Richards and Margaret Atwood, a fabulous community of readers—what more could a writer ask? My dream-case scenario.”
Carol Bruneau Author of Brighten the Corner Where You Are, A Circle on the Surface, A Bird on Every Tree, These Good Hands & other titles
We acknowledge that we are in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq nation. This territory is covered by a series of treaties of peace and friendship which the Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet), and other First Nations first signed with the British Crown in 1725-26. The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources but, in fact, recognized Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) title and established rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship among the nations. We recognize that we are treaty people.
Writers featured at past Read by the Sea Summer Festivals
2000: Alistair MacLeod, Sheldon Currie, Maureen Hull, Sheree Fitch
2001: David Adams Richards, Donna Morrissey, George Elliott Clarke, Carol Bruneau, Deidre Kessler
2002: Leo MacKay Jr., Lynn Coady, Anne Simpson, Herb Curtis, Anne Louise MacDonald
2003: Margaret Atwood, Michael Crummey, Alfred Silver, Linda Little, Frances Wolfe, Mary-Jane Hampton
2004: Ed Riche, Sue Goyette, Deborah Joy Corey, David Weale, Joanne Taylor, Janet MacNaughton
2005: Herménégilde Chiasson, Beatrice MacNeil, Beth Powning, Michael Redhill, Lesley Choyce, Kristin Bieber Domm
2006: Steven Heighton, Catherine Safer, Harry Thurston, Lisa Moore, Janet Lunn, Deborah Ellis
2007: Don Hannah, Joan Clark, Freeman Patterson, Ami MacKay, Gary Blackwood, Pamela Hickman, Mark Oakley
2008: Camilla Gibb, Cynthia Thayer, Don McKay, Daniel MacIvor, Budge Wilson, Susan Tooke, Raquel Rivera
2009: Wayson Choy, Don Domanski, Shani Mootoo, Eleanor Wachtel, Kathleen Martin-James, Shane Peacock, Leo Yerxa
2010: Catherine Banks, Austin Clarke, Kenneth J. Harvey, Helen Humphreys, Shauntay Grant, Kit Pearson
2011: Shandi Mitchell, Johanna Skibsrud, Alexander MacLeod, Richard B. Wright, Jill MacLean, Frieda Wishinsky
2012: Rawi Hage, Madeleine Thein, Julia MacCarthy, Silver Donald Cameron, Philip Roy, Don Aker, Kathy Kaulbach
2013: Marina Endicott, Phil Hall, Vincent Lam, Rebecca Silver Slayter, Jan Coates, Vicki Grant, Jacqueline Halsey
2014: Guy Vanderhaeghe, Sharon Butala, Steven Galloway, Sylvia Hamilton, Russell Wangersky, Frank Macdonald. Trudy Carey, Kathy Stinson, Sheree Fitch, Dave Gunning.
2015: Maureen Jennings, Giles Blunt, Linden MacIntyre, Isabel Huggan, Linda Little, Andy Jones, Starr Dobson
2016: Nancy Wilcox-Richards, Kate Inglis, Lisa Dalrymple, James Laxer, Susan Paddon, Jennifer Robson, Kim Thuy
2017: Marie-Louise Gay, Alan Syliboy, Dean Jobb, ChristyAnn Conlin, Lesley Crewe, Terry Fallis.
2018: Justin Gregg, Paulette Bourgeois, Wesley King, Sarah Faber, Wayne Johnston, Pauline Dakin, Lorri Neilsen Glenn.
2019: Arthur Slade, Jessica Scott Kerrin, Anna Plaskett (music), Colin Campbell, Allan Cooper, Mayann Francis, Kevin Major, Elizabeth Hay
2020: authors postponed to 2021 due to Covid-19 pandemic
2021: Joan Baxter, Wayne Curtis, Pasha Malla, Amy Spurway, Rebecca Thomas, Sydney Smith, Vikki VanSickle
2022: Lawrence Hill, Morgan Murray, Jon Tattrie, Dr. Afua Cooper, Lisa Harrington, Gail Francis, Lana Shupe