at North Shore Writers Festival Aislinn Hunter Anne Giardini Pam Freir Linda Granfield In L e w i s C a r r o l l ' s A l i c e i n W o n d e r l a n d the M o c k T u r d e tells A l i c e w h a t subjects they study i n the undersea s c h o o l . These include Reeling and W r i t h i n g ; the different branches of arithmetic - A m b i t i o n , D i s t r a c t i o n , U g l i f i c a t i o n a n d D e r i s i o n ; M y s t e r y , ancient a n d m o d e r n ; D r a w l i n g , Stretching, F a i n t i n g i n C o i l s ; Laughter a n d Grief. Such was Carroll's q u i r k y genius that these subjects n o w sound more relevant and intriguing than the V i c t o r i a n curriculum he was parodying. This year, the seventh annual N o r t h Shore Writers Festival, A p r i l 19 - 29, has lined up a group of writers w h o represent a wide variety of subjects, styles and backgrounds - w h o appear in a series of free readings at local N o r t h Shore libraries. (Check library websites for details of the schedule.) is both reeler and writher, both film-maker and writer. In A p r i l 2003 he and Leanne A l l i s o n left O l d C r o w , Y u k o n , to join the Porcupine C a r i b o u H e r d on their epic journey. For five months they migrated on foot with the 123,000-member herd from wintering to calving grounds in Alaska's A r c t i c N a t i o n a l Wildlife Refuge, and back again - 1500 k m across snow and tundra. They completed their journey five months later and headed straight to Washington, D . C . to tell politicians and activists what they had found. Being Caribou tells this story. Mystery, ancient is the territory of lack W i n i . Scottishborn W h y t e had careers in teaching and the stage before he began to pursue his fascination with R o m a n Britain. T h i s , combined with a preoccupation with A r t h u r i a n legend, led him to the writing of his " A Dream of Eagles" series of novels, in w h i c h he sets out to establish K i n g A r t h u r in a realistic and feasible historical context. Whyte's readership is large, loyal, enthusiastic and they won't let him stop writing this fascinating saga. For mystery, modern we have two representatives. Historian 's longtime, impassioned pursuit to understand and uncover the history of British C o l u m b i a has earned her a position as a Fellow of the R o y a l Society of C a n a d a . In her latest investigations she looks into the little-known history of a local landmark. In Stanley Park's Secret: The Forgotten Families of Whoi Whoi, Kanaka Ranch and Brockton Point she tells the story of the settlers 10 March | April of Stanley Park. C o m e find out h o w she uncovered these secrets and h o w the past lives on in the present. Fellow fossicker in the past is Torontonian I inda Granfield. Granfield has written fresh and intriguing books on topics from circuses to immigration, but she has a special interest in the wars of the twentieth century. In Brass Buttons and Silver Horseshoes: Stories from Canada's British War Brides she bring together a rich collection of stories, from a generation of women w h o took a risk in a new land and who contributed much to the texture of our nation. Join her for an afternoon of remembering. A l s o from Toronto is mystery-suspense writer Peter Robinson. A m b i t i o n , derision and other powerful human impulses are his stock in trade. R o b i n s o n was born in Yorkshire and made his way to Canada destined for an academic career. In 1987 he gave birth to Detective Chief Inspector A l a n Banks in a novel called Gallows View. A substantial shelf of books featuring the troubled and very human detective have followed. The latest is Strange Affair. Critics say " c h i l l i n g , evocative, deeply nuanced w o r k s of art." R o b i n s o n says "some explorations into the dark side haunt m e . " The N o r t h Shore Writers Festival has a tradition of inviting food writers, mostly because all the organizers are keen on eating. This year they're pleased to welcome, under the heading of Distraction (and possibly Stretching if you actually indulge in all the recipes) reir, f r o m G a l i a n o Island. Freir's book Laughing With My Mouth Full: Tales from a Gulf Islands Kitchen is a series of investigations into such subjects as fiddlehead foraging, artichoke wrestling and the C o r n i s h H e n Stuffathon. For foodies and folks w h o like a good yarn. Laughing and Grief are a telling description of the territory of fiction and this year two highly-regarded novelists