Telling Tales: A Festival of Stories

On Sunday, September 18th the third annual Telling Tales Festival took place in Westfield Heritage Village in Rockton, Ontario. Hundreds attended and there was no shortage of things to do in this replica of a 19th century village which was also a filming location for the popular Anne of Green Gables film series. Many authors including Tim Beiser, Jo Ellen Bogart, and Robin Muller read from their books and the staff of the Village demonstrated crafts and trades that were common for the time.

On behalf of everyone at Tundra Books, a huge thanks to the organizers, staff and volunteers of the Telling Tales Festival and of Westfield Heritage Village for a fantastic day!

Author and artist, Robin Muller presents original sketches of his stunning picture book, The Nightwood, outside the One Room School House.

Author and Storyteller, Itah Sadu performs to a rapt audience at the Bandstand.

The general store was well stocked with candy and other treats!

Telling Tales 2011

This year, the 3rd annual Telling Tales: A Family Festival of Stories is being held on Sunday, September 18, 2011 at the Westfield Heritage Village. Gates open at 9:30am and the festival ends around 4:00pm. You don’t want to miss it, Telling Tales won the 2010 Tourism Hamilton Award of Excellence – Festival of the Year!

Don’t forget to meet our authors at the festival this year:

Bradley McGogg
The Very Fine Frog
By Tim Beiser
Illustrated by Rachel Berman
Trade Paperback | 24 Pages | Ages 2-5
ISBN: 978-1-77049-276-9
Tim Beiser was born on April Fools’ Day in Los Angeles, California. After earning a degree in Economics at Rocky Mountain College in Montana, he moved to New York City where he spent sixteen years as a playwright and science fiction short-story writer. He was a writer-in-residence at the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico, and he founded the creative writing studio The Writer’s Workout in Manhattan. Like most New York artists, Tim has had many day jobs: a pastry chef, an architectural draftsman, a college teacher, a waiter, a nightclub performer, a computer repairman, and, lastly, an emergency medical technician for the Fire Department of New York, driving an ambulance. Tim received a B.A.A. in Journalism from Ryerson University and started a career as a freelance magazine writer. For his work in such publications as National Post Business, Toronto Life, Elm Street, Reader’s Digest, and Saturday Night, Tim has been nominated for four National Magazine Awards. Bradley McGogg, the Very Fine Frog is his first book for children. Tim Beiser is the proud dad of twins Rowan and Daniel, and he and his family split their time between Toronto, Canada and Grignan, France.

Capturing Joy
The Story of Maud Lewis
By Jo Ellen Bogart
Illustrated by Mark Lang
Trade Paperback | 32 Pages | Ages 8-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-262-2
Jo Ellen Bogart is the author of many best-selling children’s books, including Big and Small, Room for All; Jeremiah Learns to Read; Daniel’s Dog; and Gifts. She has degrees in elementary education and psychology from the University of Texas, and she now writes full time. Jo Ellen has won the Ruth Schwartz Award and has been shortlisted for the Mr. Christie’s Book Award. Her first book for Tundra was a biography of Maud Lewis called Capturing Joy: The Story of Maud Lewis. Born in Houston, Texas, she now lives in a pet-filled home in Guelph, Ontario.

The Nightwood
By Robin Muller
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 5-8
ISBN: 978-1-77049-209-7
Robin Muller is an internationally acclaimed author and illustrator of children’s books. He received the Studio Magazine Award for Illustration (silver) for The Nightwood, the Governor General’s Award for The Magic Paintbrush, and the 1995 IODE Award for The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. He was a medalist for the Ezra Jack Keats Memorial Award. Robin Muller lives in Toronto.

Click here for photos from the festival’s first year!

Telling Tales 2010

This year, the 2nd Telling Tales: A Family Festival of Stories is being held on Sunday, September 19, 2010 in the Westfield Heritage Village. Gates open at 9:30am and the festival ends around 4:00pm. You don’t want to miss it, Telling Tales won the 2010 Tourism Hamilton Award of Excellence – Festival of the Year! 

Where is Westfield Heritage Village you may ask? Just 30 minutes north of downtown Hamilton.  The fairground is located at 1049 Kirkwall Road (also referred to as RR 552), Rockton, ON L0R 1X0. This festival is also outdoors, so make sure you pack your sunscreen, hat, (umbrella), and water! Parking and admittance into the festival are free!

Keep an eye out for our authors participating in the festival this year:

Monica Kulling
Author of All Aboard! Elijah McCoy’s Steam Engine
12:30pm at the Jerseyville Railway Station
She will be signing at the Bookseller’s Tent at 1:15pm.

Ken Setterington
Author of The Snow Queen, Clever Katarina, and The Wild Swans

12:30pm at the Native Village
2:45pm at the Mountsberg Church with Gillian O’Reilly and Ken Roberts
He will be signing at the Bookseller’s Tent at 1:15pm and 3:30pm.

Kevin Sylvester
Author and illustrator of Splinters

11:00am at the Jerseyville Railway Station
2:00pm at the Bandstand
He will be signing at the Bookseller’s Tent at 11:45am and 2:45am.

Linda Granfield
Author of Out of Slavery: The Journey to Amazing Grace

2:00pm at the One Room School House
She will be signing at the Bookseller’s Tent at 2:45pm.

Click here for some photos from last year’s festival!

Telling Tales – A Family Festival of Stories

Sunday, September 20, 2009 was the first annual Telling Tales Festival. The festival was held in the beautiful Westfield Heritage Village in Rockton, Ontario. Tundra authors and illustrators that presented were Cary Fagan, Janet Wilson, Ken Setterington, Richard Scrimger, and Shane Peacock. Here are some of our photos from the day, courtesy of Lauren from Tundra!

Richard ScrimgerQ&As with Richard Scrimger!

Janet Wilson and Richard ScrimgerJanet Wilson and Richard Scrimger.

Into the RavineA fan of Into the Ravine by Richard Scimger.

Shane Peacock readingShane Peacock reading at the Jerseyville Railway.

Eye of the CrowFans of Eye of the Crow: The Boy Sherlock Holmes by Shane Peacock.

Thank you to everyone who attended and to the team of organizers. A big, huge round of applause to Susan Jasper for all her hard work! Next year’s Festival will be held on Sunday, September 19, 2010!

Tundra Book Group