Swimming in words

[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A99E90;”] P [/dropcap]eople rarely need an excuse to go to Port Fairy, but if you love books, writing, or just words, this weekend is the perfect time to visit the quaint fishing town for the Ex-Libris Festival of Words.

The event runs from Friday to Sunday and this year’s theme is Dressed to Kill, offering the tantalising combination of crime and fashion.

Once again festival co-ordinator Marg Sinnott and her team have pulled together an impressive line-up of authors and guest speakers, including the former editor-in-chief of Vogue Australia, Kirstie Clements, former detective Simon Illingsworth, prolific children’s author Justin D’Ath and the Western District’s own, much-loved ABC announcer Derek Guille.

In keeping with the community spirit of the festival, there is a vast array of events to suit all tastes and many are free.

For a full listing of guests and a downloadable copy of the program, please visit the Ex Libris website.

In conjunction with the Ex Libris Festival of Words, quirky local bookshop Blarney Books & Art (James St) is holding its annual children’s picture book illustration exhibition, which this year is called UNREAL.

Helen and Des Bunyon from Customs House Gallery are hosting the event, which is now – remarkably – in its 24th year.

Again, the line-up of work to be displayed is impressive and includes illustrations by the award-winning Shaun Tan, Leila Rudge, Judy Horacek, Felicity Marshall and Mark Wilson.

(And be sure to tuck an extra couple of dollars in your wallet, because it is almost impossible to walk out of Blarney Books without buying at least one secondhand gem tucked away on their shelves.)

For more about the illustration exhibition, visit their website.