EDMONTON, AB, December 5, 2022 – The Metro Edmonton Federation of Libraries is delighted to announce that Tololwa Mollel and Kate Boorman have been selected to serve as the 2023 Writers in Residence at the Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Strathcona County and St. Albert public libraries. Mollel and Boorman will offer a wide range of supports and programs to writers of all ages and experience levels, through their time with the libraries.
The Metro Edmonton Federation is a consortium of four libraries: Edmonton Public Library (EPL), Fort Saskatchewan Public Library, St. Albert Public Library and Strathcona County Library. Each is a partner in this venture and will play host to a Writer in Residence over the coming 12 months.
“We are pleased to welcome best-selling author Kate Boorman as EPL’s Writer in Residence,” said Pilar Martinez, CEO of EPL. “Kate is an acclaimed speculative fiction writer, and we are excited to see how her unique perspective will help strengthen the skills of both aspiring and established writers in our city.”
Kate Boorman will spend her year on the third floor of EPL’s Stanley A. Milner Library in the Writer in Residence office.
"The library is the cornerstone of a progressive community in so many ways and I am thrilled to be a part of EPL’s innovations for our city,” said Boorman. “I’m looking forward to connecting with creatives in all stages of their careers, offering one-on-one support, and hosting initiatives that spark the imaginations of readers and writers alike."
Boorman is an award-winning author who writes speculative fiction. Her books have been published in four world territories and have appeared on a variety of Best Of lists, and have won multiple awards, including the Alberta Writers’ Guild Award for Children’s Fiction and a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.
As the regional Writer in Residence, Tololwa Mollel will split his time between Strathcona County, Fort Saskatchewan and St. Albert, with multiple-month stints in each community. The first stop in his residency will be Strathcona County Library, starting in early January.
Mollel is an author of internationally published children’s books, as well as a playwright, storyteller and performer. Among his children’s books are The Orphan Boy – winner of the Governor-General’s award; My Rows and Piles of Coins and Big Boy – both winners of the Writers Guild of Alberta award; and From Lands of the Night.
He has also published adult non-fiction work and short stories and his work has been translated into variety of Asian, European and African languages.
Mollel says “My goal as Writer in Residence is to provide writing support suited to particular needs, helping individuals to develop not only their written work but their ‘voices’ as writers as well. I also aim to share my passion for writing and creative work, through inclusive WIR programs for preschoolers, preteens, teens, adults and seniors.”
While in residence, each writer will devote roughly half their time to mentoring other writers and the other half to working on personal projects.
Local writers at all levels can take advantage of workshops with both Writers in Residence and will also have the opportunity to work with them one-on-one. All of these services will be offered at no charge. More information will be posted on the websites of Edmonton Public Library (epl.ca) and Strathcona County Library (sclibrary.ca) early in 2023.
The Metro Federation Writer in Residence program is wrapping up a successful ninth year; 2022 writers Rayanne Haines and Norma Dunning have engaged with numerous aspiring and experienced writers in the metro Edmonton area through free one-on-one writing support, creative opportunities and dozens of writing programs. Haines and Dunning will pass the torch to the 2023 writers in the new year.
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