At the Picton Branch Library, we have new meeting room spaces, and we will be putting them to good use throughout October with a number of author events planned.

On Thursday, October 12 at 2 p.m., we’ll have a visit from a couple of self-described “aging road poets”. Rob Watkins and John Gardiner will present an afternoon of “Stories & Songs”. Rob Watkins, who hails from Napanee, is a gifted songwriter who has been performing for over 40 years and is best-known for being part of the band Watkins Harp. John Gardiner’s writing has often been compared to iconic author Alice Munro because of its smalltown flavour and it has appeared alongside stories by D.H. Lawrence, Margaret Atwood and Amy Tan. His second book, My Lefthanded, Backwards, Upsidedown Life & Assorted Short Stories, was released in the fall of 2021. There is no admission cost, but the hat will be passed and there will be books and music for sale.

On Saturday, October 14, Poet-in-Residence at the Al Purdy A-Frame Kristeen MacLeod will host two presentations available at no cost. The first, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., is entitled “Tuning In: Body-Inspired Writing” and asks the question, “How can we actively evoke states of creative flow using the body?”  In this relaxed workshop, participants will learn to bypass static and noise, tune into sensory awareness, and infuse the act of putting words on paper, or other artistic work, with new resonance and power. Explore the link between the body/nervous system and creativity through slow, gentle movements and breathing (yoga and Feldenkrais method) and writing exercises.  From 1:30- 2:45  p.m. in the afternoon, she will host “Lake Effect” Poetry Reading which promises to be a lively and inspiring reading by nine poets from the County and Kingston regions. Poets appearing will be Ashley Elizabeth Best, Nancy Jo Cullen, Andrew Faulkner, Y.S. Lee, Jane Macdonald, Kirsteen MacLeod, Sadiqua de Meijer, Shani Mootoo and Sarah Tsiang.  For more information on these poets, or to register for “Tuning In” visit peclibrary.org.

Rounding out the month on Saturday, October 21, we will host Women Killing It, a crime writers festival featuring Vanessa Westermann, Carolyn Whitzman, and Catherine Fogarty. Tickets are $40 and include a light lunch.

-Liz Zylstra