After 5 successful seasons in 7 years, with more than 100 writers making the trip out to stay at the cabin, the Greenboathouse Reading Series has gained a reputation for quality, both in participants & audience.

The series' mandate has, from the beginning, been to introduce contemporary writers to an Okanagan audience. That's the official mandate. The other mandate has been to invite a bunch of interesting people from around the country to pull up a chair on the dock and hang out for a day or two, and to present their work to an enthusiastic and supportive community. It's been a convenient way to allow poets and authors to write off a plane ticket, kick back in the sun, and meet their audience & peers in a relaxed and cozy environment, and despite a few set-backs (like Andy Weaver's legendary snoring, rattling the foundation of the boathouse), the series has paid for itself ten-fold in experiences alone. But the official mandate pays just as well. Feedback and conversation following the weekly evening readings is a huge source of support and encouragement for participating writers, and Vernon's gracious audiences seem to have a pretty good time too (especially when the readings spill over into late-night beach fires at the cabin).

The last 2 events continued what has grown into a well-known and anticipated event in the Okanagan, and, according to Jay Ruzesky (what a guy) "judging by the fantastic community response, the Greenboathouse Reading Series should have a long and successful life."

These words are both a compliment and a challenge, and are appreciated on both fronts. Therefore, although we've skipped a year, the series ain't over, it's far from over. In fact we're just getting started.

If you're new to the series, please explore these pages to learn a bit about what we've been up to since 1999. You'll find full lists of previous participants, as well as info on our venues and a bit about the history of the event.

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