Fall is the time we say goodbye to summer and return to our usual routines; back to school for the kids and for the rest of us it鈥檚 a chance for personal renewal.

It鈥檚 also when the Princeton Readers and Writers group will host our third annual Writers Festival on Saturday Sept 14 6:30-8 p.m. for author speaking event, and Sunday Sept 15 11a.m.- noon for two simultaneous workshops. All free to the public with registration, at the Princeton Public Library, 107 Vermilion Street. Presented by the Okanagan Regional Library. Please contact festival director, Paula Shackleton via email pshackleton@orl.bc.ca, or call us at the library, Jeremy Dearden 250-295-6594 for further details.

This year we host two fascinating speakers on our 2019 theme, THE EXAMINED LIFE. Get ready to jump-start your social and emotional intelligence. This year鈥檚 topic has personal connotations for me. Many of you know that my husband passed away over a year ago, and in the process of dealing with this we turned to a dear friend who is a certified psychologist with expertise in coaching people through difficult life transitions. Her new book encapsulates her wisdom, experience and process. She guides us through a process of self-examine toward valuable decisions toward healthy outlooks and practices. It鈥檚 called, 鈥淏E WISE NOW: A GUIDE TO

CONCSIOUS LIVING鈥� (Published by Feel Inc. Apr 2019) 442 pgs and is available online to order or digitally download. (Printed copies of the book from the author are being pre-delivered.)

Our next author-speaker is none other than the former CEO of Weyerhaeuser Canada Inc., (2008-2014) Anne Giardini O.C., O.B.C., and Q.C.

Don鈥檛 be intimidated by all the letters following Anne鈥檚 name. Despite the degrees, honours and accolades: the Order of Canada, Queens Council, and contributions as the 11th Chancellor of Simon Fraser University, Trustee of the Vancouver Writers Festival, Chair of the BC Achievement Foundation, winner of BC鈥檚 Most Influential Women in Finance award and much more, Anne is one of the most approachable people you can imagine.

In addition to a productive career in business as a leader and mentor, she is also a three- book author, (The Sad Truth About Happiness, Advice for Italian Boys) who together with her son Nicholas Giardini, has edited a wonderful book titled, 鈥淪tartle and Illuminate鈥� (Penguin Random House 2016), which is a collection of her famous mother鈥檚 advice on writing. Anne鈥檚 mother was one of Canada鈥檚 foremost authors: Carol Shields.

Readers will be well familiar with her works: Stone Diaries, Larry鈥檚 Party, Unless. This book, Startle and Illuminate is a wonderful examination of Carol鈥檚 writerly world, her inspiration and her connection to writing with her students from creative writing taught at University of Alberta.

We have asked the library to order copies of these books for our loaning collections, but even if you don鈥檛 get the chance to read them in advance, you will enjoy hearing these author read from their books, and discuss all the topics along our theme, as well as participate in discussions that follow.