The Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story has unanimously decided to bring the festival to a close in 2025.
The committee would like to share their sincere appreciation to the community, volunteers, and funders for their many years of support and to the authors who continued to bring exceptional programming to the event. The remaining funds will be donated to community charities supporting women and youth.
The festival website will continue to host the archive of authors and short stories for an undetermined amount of time on this website. The Short Story Contest will continue through
Huron County Library click here for details.
Author Reading with Cindy Matthews
The Roach Family and Other Stories
Scroll down for details on Cindy's Masterclass
Saturday, June 8, 2024
11:15am -12:15pm at the Bayfield Community Centre, 4 Jane Street, Bayfield
The Reading is followed by a Q&A. The author will be available to sign books following the Reading.
In this new collection of short fiction, the characters in The Roach Family and Other Stories share one thing in common: they strive to fit in. A malingering mother pays an agonizing visit to her ex-husband, his boyfriend, the narrator, and a tank of hissing roaches. A previously voiceless child discovers he can communicate. A first-time mom blunders upon self-doubt and finger-pointing after leaving her infant behind at a support group meeting. Organizers of a writers’ festival determine that food allergies do matter. A grieving woman uses unconventional means to appease her sorrow. With flashes of dark humour and the juicy details she’s known for, Cindy Matthews captures an assortment of flawed characters that will linger long after the stories have been consumed. The Roach Family and Other Stories features richly drawn characters at odds with the conventions of society who seek unique and surprising ways to take charge of destiny.
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Masterclass with Cindy Matthews
Ignite the Writer Within - Dynamic Writing
Friday, June 7, 2024 - 2:00 - 4:00pm
at the Alice Munro Public Library Branch of Huron County Library
281 Edward Street, Wingham, ON
Ignite the Writer Within ~ Dynamic Writing MasterClass
In a hands-on writing workshop designed for both beginners and those grappling with creative blocks, local short story author and workshop facilitator, Cindy Matthews, will provide a safe and supportive space for writers to explore and expand their skills.
Through a variety of scaffolded free-writing exercises, participants will respond to prompts without constraint or self-editing. Tapping into both memory and imagination, writers will unearth unexpected ideas and emotions. Following the hands-on portion of the workshop, participants will have an opportunity to unpack the workshop’s impact on them and their writing.
NOTE: Participants should provide their own pens and notebooks for this session.
Writers attending this workshop will receive a free pass to the film screening LIVES OF GIRLS AND WOMEN, Friday, June 7, 2024 in Wingham Town Hall Heritage Theatre at 8:15pm. Your name will be on a list at the door.
AUTHOR BIO:
Cindy I. Matthews is a short story writer and visual artist. She and her husband live in a navy-blue house on one hundred acres in southern Bruce County. In her writing, she explores deeply flawed characters in contemporary settings. Cindy is the author of the award-winning short story collection Took You So Long (Porcupine’s Quill, August 2022) and The Roach Family and Other Stories (DarkWinter Press, April 2024). Learn more at cindymatthews.ca or by finding her on social media.