1. Do I need to buy a ticket for SPARKS?
Admission is free and no tickets are required. Many of our patrons come for the whole day and many come for 1 or 2 sessions.
2. Will authors be available for book signing?
After every session there is time allotted for book signings and further conversation.
3. Will books be available to buy?
Yes, but they do sell out quickly.
4. Is Gushue Hall accessible?
Gushue Hall is fully accessible for patrons. The entrace on the south side of the building leads to an elevator which can be used to access the Junior Common Room.
5. Where can I park?
Parking is available for attendees free of charge in Lot 11. Please see the Memorial University St. John's Campus Parking Lot Map for details.
The SPARKS Literary Festival was founded in 2009 by poet and professor Mary Dalton, who served as the festival's director for the first 6 years. Now organized by Memorial's Department of English with ongoing support from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, SPARKS continues to celebrate the literary creations of Newfoundland and Labrador and showcase writers at various stages of their creative lives. It is what Dalton has called a "word spree." The festival also makes available displays of books and journals published in Newfoundland and Labrador and a mini-bookstore featuring works by the authors reading at the festival.
