Written By David Gomez
MIDDLESEX COUNTY & LONDON - Inside St. Anne’s Anglican Church Hall in Byron, visitors moved between rows of independently published books, a poetry station and local author displays during BookFest 2026 on April 18.
Organized by the London Writers Society, the event brought together writers from across the region while continuing the organization’s broader effort to support and promote local literature through workshops, networking opportunities, public readings and publishing initiatives.
The festival featured authors working in a wide range of genres, including fantasy, memoir, poetry, historical fiction and children’s literature. Copies of Out of the Woods: Voices from the Forest City, the London Writers Society anthology showcasing local writers and poets, were also available throughout the event.
One of the busiest interactive displays was the “Live Poetry” table, where society member Aprill Wall created personalized poems for visitors. Nearby, attendees contributed their own six-word stories to a public display board filled with humour, grief, mystery and reflection.
Local author CJ Frederick, also a member of the organization, attended with copies of her historical fiction novel Rooted and Remembered, a work previously connected to regional heritage storytelling and local history coverage.
Throughout the afternoon, readers spoke directly with authors, browsed vendor tables and explored displays encouraging residents to “Read Local.”
The event itself was made possible through the collaborative work of the London Writers Society executive committee, led by president Donna Costa and Content Coordinator Brenda Martin, alongside the participation of dozens of local writers and volunteers.
