Lit Grit. The Whistler Readers and Writers Festival prepares for its 10th anniversary. Featuring guest authors Terry Fallis and Sarah Selecky, and more. In celebration of writers and Whistler.

1. Wayne Grady + Merilyn Simonds: Writers in Residence 2009 Brian Brett: Writer in Residence 2010 National book launch 2010: leslie Anthony’s White Planet Guest author: Lawrence Hill 2011. Lit Grit. 10 Years and Still Kicking. Up. Our. Heels. In celebration of writers and Whistler.

4. 10 gritty years on, the Whistler Readers & Writers Festival and fall Writer-in-Residence have become: Connected Credible Acclaimed Growing Joseph Boyden and Shelagh Rogers sell out the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre as guests of the Whistler Writers Festival, Feb 2009 “Writers’ festivals and writer-in-residence programs are absolutely essential for keeping Canadians connected, reviving writers and the audiences, and for fostering local culture and identity.” Brian Brett, 2010 Whistler Writer-in-Residence and winner of the 2009 Writers’ Trust of Canada Non-Fiction Prize

5. CBC’s Best New Writer of 2010 and Giller Prize nominee, Sarah Selecky, to be Whistler’s 2011 Writer-in-Residence Canada Reads 2011 winner Terry Fallis reads in Whistler, May 29 2011

7. Now part of the fall national literary festival circuit that sees authors travel to Kingston, Toronto, Ottawa, Banff, Calgary, Whistler, and Vancouver

8. Allied with partners at all levels of Canada’s cultural infrastructure, including the Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, and Whistler Arts Council, as well as publishers, media, and literary magazines Moleskine notebooks: Sponsor the 2009 Festival. Sponsors and patrons from the 2010 Festival

9. Acclaimed: “Good people, good discussion, plenty of viewpoints. It doesn’t get much better than that.” Winner of the BC National Non-Fiction Award, Russell Wangersky “I liked the venues, the weather, the scenery, the mountains, the gorgeous hotel. I liked the drive up to Whistler, the drive down, the ferry to and from the North Shore, the small white jug I bought in the village for half price (!!), the exact size and shape I have been seeking for years. In other words I liked the entire experience.” poet Patricia Young “First class. I would hold it up with any festival I’ve been too.” author Nancy Lee “Rejuvenated my desire to write” : 2010 Festival participant

11. 2011 is the year to get your Lit Grit on. Subscribe to the blog: http://whistlerwriters.wordpress.com/ Follow us on twitter: @whistlerwriters Befriend us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whistler-Readers-and-Writers-Festival/142626965780548 Attend the May 29 fundraiser and reading with Terry Fallis: http://www.theviciouscircle.ca/news/index.php Get writing. Applications for the fall residency program with Sarah Selecky will be accepted in the summer.