Rebecca Wood Barrett to take over popular festival as founder Stella Harvey retires after 21 years
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Wood Barrett will be taking over from WWS founder Stella Harvey who started the organization and the Whistler Writers Festival (WWF) 21 years ago.
Previously Wood Barrett had many roles with the WWF including program manager.
“Stella Harvey has evolved the festival from a fledgling single reading and workshop event, into a world-class literary festival, and I look forward to building on her legacy, one that supports local writers and amplifies the diverse voices of Canadian authors, both emerging and established,” said Wood Barrett who recently published her debut middle-grade book My Best Friend is Extinct.
Harvey may be retiring but she will still keep a keen eye on the festival that is now a popular fall event with both readers and authors. Last year the WWF, which featured acclaimed authors such as Omar El Akkad, Thomas King and Tanya Talaga, transitioned to a successful hybrid model welcoming over 1250 guests. That is a long way from the first event where a group of 20 or so book fans gathered in Harvey’s living room to listen to author Andreas Schroeder read.
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“I am grateful to the Whistler community, our audiences, our sponsors, authors, and publishers who have supported “the little festival that could” over the last twenty years. Thank you,” Harvey said in a statement. “And I am beyond words of gratitude to have Rebecca carry on and build what we started so many years ago. I’m excited to see what the future holds for the continued growth of the literary arts in Whistler.”
The 21st Whistler Writers Festival will take place this year on October 13-16.
Tickets go on sale August 31 at whistlerwritersfest.com.