Programs & Events
Almonte Readers & Writers selects programming with the following goals in mind:
Presentation of accessible events and opportunities for all ages
Payment of presentation and workshop facilitator fees to literary artists
Promotion of educational opportunities in the literary arts in Lanark County
Local Lit - writers & poets OPEN MIC
We’re super excited to welcome everyone back again for another OPEN MIC — from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at another new summer location! This time we’ll gather at Bridge Masters Brewing Company in Perth! Come on out for a night of local stories, performances, and poetry in the comfortable community room, and enjoy the patio and some delicious food and drinks!
Writing Craft BOOK CLUB: The Happy Writer
We are once again partnering with the Almonte Writers Guild to present our Writing Craft Book Club!
Join us on November 3rd at Almonte’s Hillside Church to discuss The Happy Writer by Marissa Meyer.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author and the creator and host of the popular podcast, The Happy Writer, comes the ultimate guide to writing with less stress and more JOY.
If you aren’t suffering, you aren’t creating. Right?
Wrong!
Writing can and should be joyful, fulfilling... even fun! Applicable to writers in all genres and disciplines—from screenwriters to novelists, journalists to picture book authors, aspiring to many-times published—The Happy Writer is a heartfelt and optimistic guide that will show you the way to a happier writing journey.
Come and chat with us about the joy of writing.
The Writing Craft Book Club focuses on the craft of writing through books written by and for those in the industry. All books will be relevant to our vocation, but please seek out appropriate trigger and content warnings should they apply to you. While reading the book is not necessary for attendance, it will greatly increase your enjoyment of this discussion.
The ARW/AWG Writing Craft Book Club focuses on the craft of writing through books written by and for those in the industry. While reading the book is not necessary for attendance*, it will greatly increase your enjoyment of this discussion.
The Happy Writer can be purchased from Mill Street Books.
If you are unable to get a copy of the book for financial reasons, please reach out. The organizers will do everything in our power to get you a copy so that you may participate.
Local Lit - writers & poets OPEN MIC
We’re super excited to welcome everyone back again for another OPEN MIC — from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Come on out for a night of local stories, performances, and poetry in the comfortable community room, and enjoy the patio and some delicious food and drinks!
LANARK LIT Writing Competition - Awards Gala & Reading
You’re invited to the Awards Gala for the Lanark Lit Writing Competition!
The event will include readings by the winning writers, and more!
Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 8, 2024, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Mississippi Mills Public Library.
For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
6-week Creative Writing Workshop - For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
September 18, 25, October, 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2025
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
at Almonte Town Hall - 14 Bridge Street, Almonte
Cost: $240
To learn more visit www.jessiecarson.com/workshops
To register, email jesscarson@gmail.com.
For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
6-week Creative Writing Workshop - For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
September 18, 25, October, 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2025
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
at Almonte Town Hall - 14 Bridge Street, Almonte
Cost: $240
To learn more visit www.jessiecarson.com/workshops
To register, email jesscarson@gmail.com.
Write-in for October (AWG)
Presented by the AWG, come write for 20- or 30-minutes followed by 5-10 minutes of break for the duration of the event. This is a drop-in event, so you are welcome to join and leave at whatever time suits you.
For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
6-week Creative Writing Workshop - For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
September 18, 25, October, 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2025
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
at Almonte Town Hall - 14 Bridge Street, Almonte
Cost: $240
To learn more visit www.jessiecarson.com/workshops
To register, email jesscarson@gmail.com.
2nd Annual AWG Writing Retreat
Come write with the Almonte Writers Guide at the second annual AWG Writing Retreat, presented with the support of Almonte Readers & Writers and The LAM.
Taking place at Union Hall (1984 Wolf Grove Road) from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday, October 4th.
Activities will include:
- Optional prompts ALL DAY
- Story Creation Workshop presented by The LAM
- Open Mic presented by Almonte Readers & Writers
- Catered Lunch
- Raffle for all attendees!
Tickets are available by donation at all AWG events. All donations go toward funding the event and additional events throughout 2026. Recommended donation of $2-$5.
There will be limited tickets, so be sure to get them while they're available. Cash only, please.
See you there, writers!
For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
6-week Creative Writing Workshop - For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
September 18, 25, October, 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2025
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
at Almonte Town Hall - 14 Bridge Street, Almonte
Cost: $240
To learn more visit www.jessiecarson.com/workshops
To register, email jesscarson@gmail.com.
Lanark Lit Writing Competition DEADLINE
The Lanark Lit Writing Competition is now open for submissions!
The genre for 2025 is works of short creative non-fiction. Send us your best non-fiction: literary journalism, memoir, personal essay, lyric essay, humour writing, travel writing, and flash non-fiction - all are welcome! Submissions are in two (2) categories, organized by age of author— ages 17 and under, adults 18+. The competition is open to anyone who lives in Lanark County and the surrounding area.
Deadline for entry is September 30, 2025, by 11:59 p.m.
For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
6-week Creative Writing Workshop - For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
September 18, 25, October, 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2025
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
at Almonte Town Hall - 14 Bridge Street, Almonte
Cost: $240
To learn more visit www.jessiecarson.com/workshops
To register, email jesscarson@gmail.com.
For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
6-week Creative Writing Workshop - For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
September 18, 25, October, 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2025
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
at Almonte Town Hall - 14 Bridge Street, Almonte
Cost: $240
To learn more visit www.jessiecarson.com/workshops
To register, email jesscarson@gmail.com.
Perth Writers Festival
Perth Writers Festival hosted by The Perth Farmers Market!
Saturday, September 6
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
All are welcome!
Come down to the Perth Farmers Market and meet local authors and hear about their writing journey. Books available to purchase. 12 local authors will be on site inside and outside the Crystal Palace on the Tay Basin.
Write-in for August (AWG)
Presented by the AWG, come write for 20- or 30-minutes followed by 5-10 minutes of break for the duration of the event. This is a drop-in event, so you are welcome to join and leave at whatever time suits you.
Outdoor Write-in for August (AWG)
Presented by the AWG, come write for 20- or 30-minutes followed by 5-10 minutes of break for the duration of the event. This is a drop-in event, so you are welcome to join and leave at whatever time suits you.
Write-in for August (AWG)
Presented by the AWG, come write for 20- or 30-minutes followed by 5-10 minutes of break for the duration of the event. This is a drop-in event, so you are welcome to join and leave at whatever time suits you.
Local Lit - writers & poets OPEN MIC
We’re super excited to welcome everyone back again for another OPEN MIC — from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at another new summer location! This time we’ll gather at Bridge Masters Brewing Company in Perth! Come on out for a night of local stories, performances, and poetry in the comfortable community room, and enjoy the patio and some delicious food and drinks!
Write-in for July (AWG)
Presented by the AWG, come write for 20- or 30-minutes followed by 5-10 minutes of break for the duration of the event. This is a drop-in event, so you are welcome to join and leave at whatever time suits you.
Outdoor Write-in for July (AWG)
Presented by the AWG, come write for 20- or 30-minutes followed by 5-10 minutes of break for the duration of the event. This is a drop-in event, so you are welcome to join and leave at whatever time suits you.
Local Lit - writers & poets OPEN MIC
We’re super excited to welcome everyone back again for another OPEN MIC — from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at a new summer location! This time we’ll gather at Jazzy’s Brewhaus in Perth! Come on out for a night of local stories, performances, and poetry in Jazzy’s unique outdoor courtyard!
Write-in for June (AWG)
Presented by the AWG, come write for 20- or 30-minutes followed by 5-10 minutes of break for the duration of the event. This is a drop-in event, so you are welcome to join and leave at whatever time suits you.
delve - In close conversation with Amanda West Lewis & Tim Wynne-Jones
Admission: Pay-what-you-can, in advance via Tickets Please or at the door
Almonte Readers & Writers is pleased to invite you to delve ~ In close conversation with writers, as part of the 2025 Lanark Lit Festival of Writing.
ARW’s June delve event presents a conversation between Amanda West Lewis & Tim Wynne-Jones, about anything and everything, from reading to writing to the kitchen sink. For fifty years, Amanda and Tim have navigated careers as artists while negotiating a life filled with children, books, music, theatre and art. It’s been fifty years filled with successes and failures and always, thankfully, a lot of love. In this open and intimate presentation, they will share stories and insights about their lives as writers and how they have continued to inspire, support and encourage each other — and make dinner, too.
The evening will have plenty of opportunity for audience participation. The writers will take turns asking each other questions about their work and relationship with writing, and will answer questions from those attending. Each will also share their writing with the audience, reading select pieces. We look forward to welcoming you to this event.
About delve events:
Hosted in café settings, delve events are intended to be less formal and more intimate than traditional guest author interviews. Premised as a conversation between two writers that have something in common, delve events offer a chance for writers to get-to-know each other and explore their similarities and differences, while giving audiences the opportunity to engage with writers whose work they may, or may not, already be familiar with.
About the writers:
Amanda West Lewis is a writer, theatre artist, and calligrapher. She is the author of ten books, most recently including the poetry collection A Planet is a Poem, and the semi-autobiographical novels Focus Click Wind, and These Are Not the Words. Her books have been recognized with a wide range of awards and nominations including: EUREKA! 2024 Excellence in Children’s Non-Fiction Award; California Reading Association Honor Book; NCTE Notable Poetry Book; Cybils Award nominee 2024; 2024 School Library Journal Best Poetry Books; 2024 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young Adults; 2022 American League of Poets recommended novel in verse; Silver Birch Award; Red Cedar Award; and Violet Downey IODE Award.
Amanda has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has acted, directed, produced, and written for theatre, as well as founded the Ottawa Children’s Theatre. She teaches writing, drama, and calligraphy to young people and adults, often combining these disciplines together. www.amandawestlewis.com
Tim Wynne-Jones has written three adult, three middle-grade and nine young adult novels, four short story collections and a whole lot of picture books. His collection of short stories Some of the Kinder Planets won the Governor General's Award as well as the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. The Maestro won Tim his second Governor General's Award and was short-listed for the Guardian Prize in the UK. The Boy in the Burning House won the Edgar Award and the Arthur Ellis Award and was short-listed for the Guardian Prize, as well. Blink & Caution won another “Arthur” as well as Tim’s second Horn Book Award. The Emperor of Any Place, received seven starred book reviews and was short-listed for the Governor General’s Award. And The Starlight Claim won the John Spray Award of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre. His work has been published in Japanese, Korean, Danish, Dutch, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Catalan and Hebrew.
Tim was named as the Canadian representative for the 2012 Hans Christian Andersen Award of the International Board on Books for Young People. On September 28th, of that same year, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.
This delve - In close conversation with writers event is funded in part by The Writers’ Union of Canada.
The 2025 Lanark Lit Festival of Writing is presented by Almonte Readers & Writers thanks to the generous funding support of Lanark County, the Municipality of Mississippi Mills, the Perth & District Community Foundation, and the Elizabeth Kelly Library Foundation, with community partnership from the Mississippi Mills Public Library, the Perth & District Public Library, Mill Street Books, Almonte Writers Guild, and with the community support of Equator Coffee, OVC Almonte, Jazzy’s Brewhaus and other local partners
Write-in for June (AWG)
Presented by the AWG, come write for 20- or 30-minutes followed by 5-10 minutes of break for the duration of the event. This is a drop-in event, so you are welcome to join and leave at whatever time suits you.