If you are interested in all things literary, then you are spoiled for choice in the Geneva and Vaud area. Not only is the area home to a large and important writers’ group (covering both fiction and non-fiction – see below), a reading group in Crans that is open to the public, but in a few weeks, the fabulous “Le Livre sur le Quais” will take place on the lake side in Morges from the 5th to the 7th September 2014.
English authors such as Andy McNab – “Bravo Two Zero, Immediate Action and Seven Troop”, Caroline Lawrence of “The Roman Mysteries” fame, Don Pollock – “The Devil All the Time”, Nathan Filer –” The Shock of the Fall”(Overall winner Costa Book Award 2014), will all be present at the fair.
The festival programme will be finalised later in August, but the weekend already looks very promising indeed. Some of the writers’ events take place on the CGN ferries. Cruising up and down on the lake listening to a reading or a talk, can be a lovely way to spend a weekend! Note – La Page Cornée the French literary group based in Gland, will also be present with authors’ talks and events.
Photo below – Author Douglas Kennedy in conversation on a boat at the 2012 fair
Below – Reading by the quayside
Meanwhile over in Geneva the Geneva Writers’ Group will resume its activities on September the 20th with a workshop entitled “Essay & Flash Nonfiction: Personal Narratives”.
Started in 1993, The Geneva Writers’ Group brings together over 200 English language writers from around 30 countries. The objective of the group is to encourage all forms of creative writing in English and to create a supportive community of both beginning and supportive writers. Meetings are held monthly, from September to June at the Geneva Press Club, with a programme of writing workshops, critiquing sessions, and master classes. Every two years the group holds the International Geneva Writers’ Conference at Webster University in Bellevue, alternating with a “Meet the Agents” weekend. The group publishes a biennial collection of prose and poetry, Offshoots, Writing from Geneva. The group also co-ordinate small writing groups, a mentoring service, and hosts the GWG Literary Prizes.
Photo below from the GWG conference in 2010
English Reading Group in Crans-pres-Celigny – Open to new members.
Marilyn Packham, a British resident living in Crans près Céligny would like to let other Living in Nyon readers know about a reading group that is open to new members. Here she explains a little about the group and what it is like to live in the village of Crans près Céligny itself.
“The English Reading Group in Crans-près-Céligny was formed around seven years ago. I am a member and over the seven years it has certainly widened my reading and introduced me to new authors and their work. We meet every five to six weeks between 14:30 and 17:00 in the comfortable, modern library of Crans-près-Céligny. Note – See previous Living in Nyon post here about the library and its art exhibitions.
In our reading group to date, we have read 54 books, mainly fiction. We all take it in turns to propose a book and we then give a short presentation and have a relaxed discussion over a cup of tea or coffee. We are currently nine members, who almost all come to every meetings. The group is made up of all ages, from the young to the more mature! We would like to maintain the size of the group at about twelve members so we are looking for a a few more members.
If you are English mother tongue, male or female and enjoy reading and sharing the enjoyment of reading, please contact me, Mally Packham, on mally.packham@bluewin.ch or call on 078 768 05 50 for more information.
Photo below – The lake near the port of Crans près Céligny.
Living in the village
As to living in Crans-près-Céligny itself, The village itself has changed from the quiet little Vaudois village we moved to 26 years ago. Like the whole of the Lac Léman area, the village has grown, new houses and new flats have been built. The roads and pavements are being enlarged and resurfaced for the ever-mobile community. The village has lots of clubs and groups – football teams for adults and children, a gym, tennis courts (indoor courts in winter), a crèche a modern primary school, a church, a port, a sailing club, a friendly pharmacy and a village shop. The village also has two superb restaurants, ‘Le Café de l’Union’ and ‘Le Café de la Versoix’. The food is excellent in both and the service quick and friendly. They are both very popular so best to book in advance. There is a regular bus service to both Nyon and Coppet. All in all, the village has blossomed and is a vibrant place to live, yet it still maintains the calm and quiet of the countryside”.
