Fog Lit Phenomenon

Within months of moving to Saint John, New Brunswick in 2022, I heard whispers of the city’s beloved literary festival, Fog Lit. A friend told me about a time they saw a favourite author give a reading. A colleague mentioned the joys of having writers visit the University of New Brunswick, Saint John. A barista reminisced about the opportunities Fog Lit brought to the city, noting how sad they were that the festival hadn’t happened in a few years.

One day I mentioned this “Fog Lit Phenomenon,” as I thought of it, to two bookish arts workers living in the city: Lindsay Jacquard and Jeff Arbeau, who had been involved with the festival for years as a patron, event coordinator, and literary publicist. As our conversation evolved, a shared vision to bring back the festival emerged. Over time, our enthusiasm about this idea spread within the community, and we soon found ourselves at our first board meeting – joined by KC Wilcox, Neil Bonner, and Jeremy Chiasson – with the goal of revitalizing the festival for the fall 2024 season.

And so, the new festival board is overjoyed to share that Fog Lit is back! Saint John’s flagship literary festival is returning on September 26-28, 2024, with a weekend of in-person author events and writing workshops. All events are free and open to the public.

Headlining this year’s festival are award-winning Newfoundland poet Douglas Walbourne-Gough, whose forthcoming poetry collection Island centres around the Newfoundland Mi’kmaq experience in the wake of the Qalipu enrolment process, and Scotiabank Giller Prize-shortlisted author Michelle Winters, whose new book Hair for Men is set in New Brunswick and already generating buzz. The festival will also feature a variety of local authors including writer and illustrator Brandon Hicks, bestselling children’s author Riel Nason, and writer and workshop host Sue Nelson Buckley.

Schedule

On Thursday, September 26, there will be an opening reception and book launch for On the Border by Brandon Hicks. The evening will feature opening remarks from the board, a presentation and book signing from Brandon, and light refreshments. Things will kick off at 7PM at Imperial Theatre (Golding’s Lounge), 12 King Square S.

On Friday, September 27, a poetry launch for Island by Douglas Walbourne-Gough will begin at 7PM at Saint John Arts Centre, 20 Peel Plaza. Douglas will read from the new collection and spend time chatting with Dr. Rachel Bryant, assistant professor in the Department of Humanities and Languages at UNBSJ. This event is held in partnership with UNBSJ’s Lorenzo Society.

Saturday, September 28 features a full day of programming! In the morning, Riel Nason will read from her beloved children’s book, The Little Ghost Who Was A Quilt. Riel will also lead a kids’ craft workshop during the event. Be sure to bring the little ones in your life to the Saint John Free Public Library at 11 AM.

Later that afternoon, Partridge Island Publishing will present a workshop called How Stories Grow and Evolve with Sue Nelson Buckley. Using her first published novel, The Trouble With Jake, as an example, Sue will demonstrate how to move from an original concept to a complete book. The workshop will discuss expanding an idea and evolving it into a full-length novel, incorporating changes to characters and plot, and keeping the story and setting relevant. Sue will offer participants writing prompts to get ideas flowing and assistance in developing the story in the future. The presentation will end with a Q &A session with Sue and a Partridge Island Publishing representative. This event runs from 1 – 3PM at Imperial Theatre (Golding’s Lounge), 12 King Square S. 

Finale

Last but certainly not least, Saturday night will close out the festival with a bang! The evening will feature a fiction launch for Hair for Men by Michelle Winters, who will discuss the novel in conversation with Saint John’s own Julia Wright. You won’t want to miss Michelle reading from this “bizarrely endearing novel,” which, according to Alison Manley at The Miramichi Reader, “is a slim novel about so much, but most wonderfully, a brilliant set of characters we get to enjoy for only too few pages.” This event will begin at 7PM at Imperial Theatre (Golding Lounge), 12 King Square S.

As the festival fast approaches, the new board of directors is looking forward to seeing book lovers, writers, and readers of all ages at the events. For more information, be sure to visit www.foglit.ca, and look for us on Facebook at @FogLit and on Instagram at @foglitfestival. We wish to thank the previous festival board and volunteers for their hard work; without the strong foundation laid between 2013 and 2019, this year’s revitalization would not be possible. Let’s ensure that the “Fog Lit Phenomenon” continues for years to come!

About Fog Lit Festival: Fog Lit Festival is a not-for-profit literary festival based in Saint John, New Brunswick that offers an inclusive and exciting lineup of in-person events, book launches, literary panel discussions, workshops, and author readings. The original Fog Lit Festival, which operated from 2013-2019, has been relaunched with a new board of directors to oversee the development of the revamped festival.

Author Bio: Gemma Marr (she/her) was born and raised in rural New Brunswick. She holds a PhD in Canadian Literature from Carleton University, and teaches part-time in the Department of Humanities and Languages at the University of New Brunswick Saint John. She is also a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Historical Studies at UNB Fredericton. Her research focuses on the intersections of place, gender, and sexuality in Atlantic Canadian literature and culture. She is an avid reader and writer who enjoys books from a range of genres and styles.