WordSpring is in Fredericton, May 30 - June 1, 2025!
If you can't attend for the whole weekend, we have a range of options for you.
Whether you are a student, a member, or a non-member, you can find something to enjoy during this 3 day festival. Remember that the Friday night Literary Soiree celebrating the winners of 2025 NB Writing Competition, as well as the New Brunswick Book Awards on Saturday night are open to the public, and free to attend.
1. Stay for the weekend
This includes all activities from Friday afternoon to Sunday at noon. Accommodations are separate from the festival ticket, but we have group rates available at the Crowne Plaza Hotel until April 29.
2. Buy a Saturday pass
This includes Mark Leslie Lefebvre's Saturday morning address, lunch, Pitch the Publisher and an afternoon workshop. And please attend the NB Book Awards on Saturday evening!
3. Or, attend a single workshop
You can choose one of our many available workshops, from Mark Leslie Lefebvre's discussion on the varied paths to publishing on Saturday morning, to one of the two writing craft workshops on Saturday afternoon, or one of two on Sunday morning.
If you have trouble registering, contact us at 506-974-1476, and we'll assist you.
This year, all events for WordSpring and the New Brunswick Book Awards take place in Fredericton, hosted by the wonderful staff at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 659 Queen St, Fredericton, NB.
The tenth annual NB Book Awards--which is a free event, and open to the public-- will be held on Saturday evening and emceed by Vanessa Vander Valk of CBC's Main Street. Our guest speaker is comedian and CBC host of Canada Reads, Ali Hassan.
We have a great lineup of workshops for you to enjoy, including the accomplished Mark Leslie Lefebvre, who will teach us about the many paths to publishing.
Register soon! WordSpring 2025 is only a few months away.
We will set up a merchandise table on Friday afternoon and evening at the Crowne Plaza. We will allow those who are launching books at WordSpring to sign up for us to sell your books on consignment in our shop.
Please advise us at info@wfnb.ca as soon as you sign up for the book launch readings, if you would like us to sell your books on consignment on Friday. Please note that every author is responsible to carry their books to and from the merchandise table.
Accommodations
A block of 20 rooms has been reserved until April 28 for WordSpring.
For the Crowne Plaza Group Online Booking Link: https://rebrand.ly/NBWritersFed0525
Guests are also welcome to reserve their rooms by calling our Front Desk directly at 1-506-455-3371, or by emailing reservations@cpfredericton.com and noting they are booking under the “NB Writers Federation” room block to secure the group rate of $163.00 per night (one parking spot per reservation)
Please note that the cut off date for group reservations is April 28th, 2025.
WordSpring Schedule
Friday May 30, 2025
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Welcome! Open Mic and book launch readings in the Junior Ballroom
Merch table, Coffee/tea/refreshment
····DINNER ON YOUR OWN····
6:00 pm -6:45 pm
NB Writing Competition Literary Soiree Reception (cash bar),
Open to the Public
Junior Ballroom, Crowne Plaza
Music By: Leo LaFleur
6:45 pm
Welcome by Cat LeBlanc, President
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Award Readings and Reception
Saturday May 31, 2025
8:00 am
Breakfast (for participants staying at the Crowne Plaza
9:30 am - 11:30 am
PUBLISHING OPTIONS workshop with Mark Leslie Lefebvre
· · LUNCH on SITE · ·
11:35am — 12:35pm
Three events on Saturday afternoon in the Grand Ballroom
12:45 pm - 2:30 pm
Pitch the Publisher (organized by Partridge Island Publishing - to register, contact Amanda Evans at this email: amanda@partridgeislandpublishing.ca )
2:30 pm — 4:30 pm
Brian Bartlett & Michael Pacey - Poetry
OR
Mike Thorn - Horror
--DINNER ON YOUR OWN--
Join us to celebrate the tenth annual
NB Book Awards!
6:00 pm - 9:00pm
Grand Ballroom,
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Fredericton
May 31, 2025
Main Ballroom,
Crowne Plaza Fredericton.
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm:
The NB Book Awards Reception
Music by: Catherine Kennedy
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm:
Live ceremony
Hosted by: Vanessa Vander Valk, CBC
Guest Speaker: Ali Hassan
Book Table provided by: Westminster Books
Trophies provided by: Glass Roots Inc
Sunday June 1, 2025
8:00 am
Breakfast for participants staying at the Crowne Plaza
9:30 am -11:30am
Two workshop options for Sunday morning. Choose from:
Ryan Griffith - Playwriting
OR
Gerard Collins - Writing Great Dialogue
Checklist for Members
Make sure you didn't forget to register for anything with limited space!
Did you sign up for the Open mic and Book Launch?
Did you contact Amanda Evans (amanda@partridgeislandpublishing.ca), if you'd like to participate in the Pitch the Publisher event Saturday afternoon?
If you want to stay at the Crowne Plaza for one or both nights, did you make your reservation on or before April 28?
