By Susan Lowe
An eclectic group of writers from across Canada will put fingers to the keyboard or, as in the case last summer, pen to paper, at precisely 8 p.m. on Friday, July 20, thus kicking off the sixth annual Muskoka Novel Marathon.
For the following 72 hours, save for a few breaks to eat and sleep, this committed group of writers will remain mostly sequestered until the closing bell rings at 8 p.m. on Monday, July 23.
Each writer is allowed only a one-page outline going in. What comes out is very often a manuscript well in excess of 100 pages.
What motivates writers to participate in such an ordeal? The opportunity to write uninterrupted by the demands of daily life? To devote an entire weekend to what feeds their souls? To reap the benefits of quality time spent with like-minded individuals? To have their work critiqued by a panel of renowned judges? To win the opportunity to have their manuscript sent directly to a publisher? To support a program that will enable others to enrich their lives through the written word? Likely all of the above, plus some.
Even though the event has been organized by the Muskoka Literacy Council (MLC) for the past three years, it began as the brainchild of writers Martin Avery, Christina Kilbourne and Huntsville’s own Mel Malton.
In her role at the helm of the Muskoka Literacy Council, Susan Lowe is the key organizer of the annual Muskoka Novel Marathon. She is also an active member of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts board of directors.The marathon has been supported by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts as a “fringe event” of the summer festival for the past five summers. When it began in the old National Bank building on Huntsville’s Main Street in 2002, it had just those three participants. Last year’s group of 23 was the largest to date, a group that swells in number each year.
As a result of these annual marathons, Canadians are the benefactors of at least four new published novels. Mel Malton’s The Drowned Violin was released at the kick-off event to the 2006 marathon. Christina Kilbourne, a two-time winner of the marathon, released her novel The Roads to Go Home Lake at the same event and her marathon-winning novel Dear Jo is being released this spring.
Paula Boone, winner in 2005, is currently in discussion with a publisher and her marathon manuscript Double Take may be in stores as early as this fall. Kim Russel-Brooks’ winning entry in 2006 is in the process of being reviewed by a publisher, while four-year veteran Peter Brandt has also had one of his works published, albeit from another writing marathon.
The students at the MLC are also beneficiaries of this event. Over the past five years, writers have gathered almost $20,000 in pledges to support MLC initiatives. To date, the pledges have gone to improve computer learning opportunities through the purchase of hardware, as well as software resources, to support the many academic and employment-based programs offered at MLC.
Although the agency has been in operation almost 15 years, it is one of Huntsville’s best-kept secrets. Until recently, it was not widely known that adult students can access free upgrading in reading, writing, math and computers from very basic levels up to and including GED preparation and college entry programs.
The new ACE program, a partnership with Georgian College but delivered at the MLC, began in January with communications and numeracy classes on Monday and Tuesday nights respectively.
For registration packages or to find out more about the Muskoka Novel Marathon 2007, contact Susan Lowe at the MLC (789-1850) or e-mail lowes.atthefarm@sympatico.ca.
To find out more about programs or volunteering opportunities at the MLC contact Amy Nadrofsky at the above number or e-mail literacy@vianet.ca.
