Muskoka Literacy Council
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Muskoka Literacy Council
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Muskoka Novel Marathon 2008
The Muskoka Novel Marathon began 7 summers ago with just 4 writers in a small coffee shop in downtown Huntsville. These writers decided then that their efforts should support adult literacy and since that time, the Muskoka Literacy Council has been the benefactor of more than $29000 in pledges raised by this ever growing band of writers. Changes have been made over the years but, the consistent thread has remained – it is an event where writers help readers. The Muskoka Literacy Council has organized the Muskoka Novel Marathon over the past four years and has been supported by numerous community businesses who have donated food, coffee, water, gift certificates and Muskoka chairs as prizes. The Muskoka Novel Marathon is a fringe event of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts. The judges have graciously offered their experience and expertise to read through hundreds of pages of fresh ideas. On Saturday, September 27, Muskoka Novel Marathon 2008 writers, judges and supporters gathered to award the prizes for this year’s event held July 11to14 at the AETC in Huntsville. Congratulations to the winning writers – Kevin Craig, for his manuscript “The Reasons”, in the Adult category, and to George Alles, for his manuscript “The Onion Man”, in the Young Adult category. The winners will be given six weeks to revise and edit their manuscripts before they are sent to publishers for review. Congratulations also to Murray Milburn who was chosen “Rookie Of the Year”, Kevin Craig who won the coveted “B.I.C.” Award for the second time, Martin Avery who won both the “Most Prolific Writer” (210 pages) and the “Spirit Award”, and Anne Louise Currie for winning the famed “Remy Award” for most pledges raised ($435). Thanks to Mel Malton, Roy MacGregor and Robert Munsch for providing beginnings and endings for the stories of the Story Relay and, most especially, thanks to everyone who made donations to the writers of MNM 2008. Your generosity will in turn make a difference to the lives of those who are involved in improving their skills at the Muskoka Literacy Council.
Sincerely, Susan Susan Lowe President, Muskoka Literacy Council Chair, Muskoka Novel Marathon Committee
CONGRATULATIONS! There are several prizes awarded each year at the Muskoka Novel Marathon. For the awards voted on by writers for their peers, the winners are: Spirit Award: Martin Avery B.I.C. Award: Kevin Craig Rookie of the Year Award: Murray Milburn Most Prolific Writer: Martin Avery (210 pages)
The Remy Award for most pledges raised was won by Anne Louise Currie - $435. The final tally is more than $5000. Thank you sincerely. The money is much needed and will help support many students at the Muskoka Literacy Council in the coming months. The manuscripts were judged by a panel of 5 judges. The winners are: Kevin Craig, for his manuscript “The Reasons”, in the Adult category George Alles, for his manuscript “The Onion Man”, in the Young Adult category These two manuscripts will be sent for review to publishers at the beginning of November.
THANK YOU … Thanks again to writers Martin Avery, Tracy Nita Pender, Kevin Craig, Sharon Ledwith, Karen Wehrstein, Shirley Meier, Dawn Huddlestone, Kiaris Gharabaghi, Evelyn Pollack, Georges Alles, Julie Achtermeier, Anne Louise Currie, Erin Thomas, Murray Milburn, Tracey Lapham, Herb Ware, Bronwyn Russel, Kim Russel-Brooks, Lisa Young, Mike Lummis, Sheila Cook, Connie Knighton, Naomi Freeman, Jennifer Creasor, Ellen Pickering and Rob Smit who, not only spent a hot summer weekend sequestered in front of their keyboards but who also raised and donated more than $5000 to support the free adult literacy programs offered at the Muskoka Literacy Council. Thanks again to Tom Nunn at AETC, The Huntsville Festival of the Arts, the team at Metroland North Media, Larry Greenwood at Tim Horton’s, Manish Patel at Subway, Rick Birkhimer at Mr. Sub, Chris Hayes at Little Caesar’s, Dave Veitch of the Bulk Barn, and Maggie Rittenhouse and Randy Robinson of Robinson’s Independent for donating food for the writers, Pat Murphy at Canadian Tire for the donation of the Muskoka chair as a prize and to judges Anne Millyard, Anne Smith, Marguerite Urban, Noreen Mitchell and Linda Toner Fisher who read and provided feedback on 2000 pages in 8 weeks. Sincere thanks to Catherine Wyle at Coles who generously copied all of the 18 manuscripts for the judges. Susan Lowe Convener, Muskoka Novel Marathon 2008 President, Muskoka Literacy Council
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