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Authors tell tales of adventure and misadventure

By Jenn Watt

For the seventh year writers gave voice to their stories in front of an enthusiastic audience at the Community Room in Haliburton for Tall Pine Tales on July 17.

“I have great respect for people who write” said MC Mike Jaycock who frequently interviews local and international authors for Canoe FM. He described the work ethic of one of the world’s most prolific authors Danielle Steel who has a sign by her computer that reads: “There are no miracles there is only discipline.”

While certainly most writers who read their works aloud last week weren’t pumping out seven novels a year like Steel Jaycock said they possessed a commonality: dedication creativity and a love of the written word.

Tall Pine Tales is three evenings over the summer each including different writers from writers’ circles in Haliburton Bracebridge Baysville and Dwight.

Minden Times columnist author and veteran journalist Jim Poling Sr. presented his short story Winter Hunters about an unlikely and fraught relationship between a man and a wolf. Margot Ziorjen took the audience on a road trip across Canada using journal entries from her children. Works written by Fred Gregory read by Pat Bett focused on wildlife while Katie Christensen’s story brought listeners on-board a flight to Toronto.

Baysville’s Judy Snodden and Murray Payne both entertained with their works; while Sherry Rondeau and Marie Rempel of Bracebridge offered more contemplative pieces.

Tall Pine Tales was founded by Melody Richardson who was a writer and mentor from Muskoka and encouraged writers to embrace oral presentation of their work.

One of the organizers Pauline Johnson said writers groups helps trigger memories and tackle stories in new ways.

The Reading/Writing Connection meets the third Wednesday of each month in the Minden library branch from 10 a.m. until noon.