LITFEST NEW WEST Workshop Descriptions Register here: http://artscouncilnewwest.org/litfest/program/workshops/workshop-descriptions/ Theatre #1 11:00-12:00 Lois Peterson – Story: Process and Product Story is at the heart of both fiction AND non fiction. In this lively workshop, consider seventeen questions to help you develop an initial story ‘germ’ in a way that brings it to life for your readers… whatever their age.
12:45-1:45 Sylvia Taylor – Navigating the Publishing World Self-publish or Traditional-publish? Agent or publicist? Editor or writing group? Making your way into and through the publishing world can feel like wandering through the jungle. Learn what to pack, how to avoid pitfalls and quick sands, and what trail to follow, to get you happily a nd successfully to your goal.
2:00-300 Heather Hortness – Going Beyond Google: Library Resources for Writers Are you a globetrotter and want to write about your amazing travel experiences? Are you writing the next bestseller mystery and want an interesting way to kill off your victim? Are you interested in self-publishing your carefully crafted teen novel? Whether you’re a seasoned wordsmith or a fledgling writer, the library has a wealth of resources that can guide you through the writing process: from conducting your research, to creating your manuscr ipt, to finding the right publisher. This one-hour presentation introduces the many print resources, databases, and websites that can be accessed at the New Westminster Pu blic Library.
3:15 – 4:15 Publisher’s Panel: Richard Olafson (Ekstasis Editions, and Pacific Rim Review of Books – Victoria), Kitty Lewis (Brick Books – London, Ontario), Manolis Aligizakis (Libros Libertad Publishing – Greater Vancouver area lower mainland) Richard Olafson
Since 1982, Ekstasis has released over 200 books. Originally, Ekstasis published almost exclusively poetry, but it now is a multi-genre press
publishing poetry, literary fiction and non-fiction, metaphysics, theatre and most recently Children’s and Young Adult books under the Cherubim Books imprint.
Kitty Lewis
Founded in 1975 in London, Ontario, and publishing poetry only, the press continues its dedication to fostering interesting and compelling work
by both new and established poets. With editors and production scattered across the country, printing and distribution locate d in Toronto, and administration in London, Brick Books is a unique publishing organization that works.
Manolis Aligizakis
is a Canadian publisher that publishes all genres of writing including Translations. Their literary tastes are trans-generic, cultural
concerns are global and they’re also interested in discovering new talents who explore the cultural complexity and linguistic diversity of the 21st century Canadian experience. As well as established writers, older forms, voices from beyond… Libros Libertad considers poetry, fiction, drama, and short stories from emerging Canadian authors.
Theatre #2 11:00 – 12:00 Daniela Elza – The Business Side of Writing Will dedicate time to considering the business aspects of writing. Submissions to magazines, book publishers, anthologies, readings, book tours, memberships in writing organizations etc. How do we balance the writing with the business of writing. Bring your questions.
12:45 – 1:45 Don Hauka – Both Sides Now: Essential Elements of Adaptation Adapting your book to the screen is tough – how about adapting your screenplay to the novel form? Don Hauka’s done both and learned the essential elements of adaptation. Participants will discover the secrets of the art of media-metamorphosis and answer hard questions like “What hill do you want to die on?” and “Which of your children do you want to murder first?” Hauka will use his personal experience in adapting his mystery novels t o the screen and vice-versa and give other examples from Jane Austen to Plato to give participants the essential elements of adaptation.
2:00 – 3:00 Max Tell – presents Buzz Buzz and Hubub Max Tell, “Hands will clap, toes will tap, and mouths will bipity-bib-bamboom”. Please don’t ask what any of this word-womble means. It’s far too ridiculous, but lots of fun. An award winning songwriter, dubbed “The International Troubadour” for his many world tours and “BC’s Own Dr Seu ss” for his playful turn of phrase, Max has delighted tens of thousands of children world wide for close to thirty years. Max has six acclaimed CDs to his credit and has received accolades for his songs and stories worldwide. Max Tell has a warm heart, a gentle nature, and a childlike sense of humour. His unique handling of language and vivid twist of phrase creates cartoons in the brain basket.
3:15 – 4:15 Margo Bates – What A Character! Humor Writing Workshop Stories and storytellers are the very fabric of our culture. We learn about history, society, and people’s experiences throug h their stories. Writing humor is an art. Characters aren’t always funny. Stories are often serious. It’s the way a character reacts to a situation that can be humorou s. Workshop participants analyze the story of Nana Noonan and her granddaughter Maggie Mulvaney, the main characters in P.S. Don’t Tell Your Mother by historical fiction writer Margo Bates. President of Canadian Authors Association
Classrooms #2217 11:00 – 12:00 Enrico Renz & Lawren Nemeth – Sense Rhythm and Rhyme Join Enrico Renz and Lawren Nemeth on an introductory to song writing. Sense rhythm and rhyme looks at the 3 different elements that makes a great song. This one hour course will get you moving in your seat as you learn about the most common mistakes in song writing. Enrico and Lawr en have been Co-hosting the Songwriter`s open mike for the Royal City Literary Arts Society at the Heritage Grill in New Westminster for the last year. All that is required is an open mind, a bit of soul and a small book for notes.
12:45 – 1:45 Ruth Kozak – Travel Writing Workshop: Blogs, Articles & Memoir Come and share your travel adventures in a travel writing workshop. Learn how to turn your travel adventures into marketable articles, creative non-fiction stories, and interesting blogs or travel memoirs. The workshop includes some 10 minute timed writings as well as writing instruction and critiquing, and how to write travel blogs and keep journals of your travel adventures.
2:00 – 3:00 Bob Robertson & Linda Cullen – Double Exposure’s – Introduction to Comedy Writing Canada’s multi award-winning comedy team of Linda Cullen and Bob Robertson, the creators of one of Canada’s most successful CBC radio and TV serie s, Double Exposure, will teach you the basics of writing comedy scripts. Using audio and video examples, the workshop will be gin with the history of comedy and humourous writing. Participants will see many examples of comedy or humour writing, learn the role of Arts Council of New Westminster, in partnership with Douglas College, New parody and satire and see the basic structures of creating entertaining Westminster Public Library and Royal City Literary Arts Society, will be bringing scripts. If you’ve always wanted to you the 3rd Annual “LitFest New West” in celebration of the literary arts. learn about comedy writing, this is the place to start, taught by two of Featuring Key Note Speaker: Garry Geddes, a Canadian Poet and Writer and Canada’s best comedy writers.
3:15 – 4:15 Jacquie Pearce – Writing for Children 101Do you want to write for kids? Learn the basics of writing and publishing children’s books in Canada. Explore the importance of character, setting, plot and through-line in stories for children (picture books, chapter books and novels). Come away with the inspiration and resources to get you started.
winner of the 2008 Lieutenant Governor’s award. Garry has long been considered one of Canada’s most important men of letters, teacher, writer-in-residence, critic, anthologist, translator, editor and most important writer. He has received numerous awards including the E.J. Pratt Medal, Canadian Authors Association Prize two Archibald Lampman awards and the Gabriela Mistral Prize for his service to literature.
The festival will culminate with the LitFest Showcase featuring music, poetry and spoken work performances on Saturday at 7:00 pm in the Laura Muir Auditorium at Douglas College. All events are open to the public and are free of charge. Donations gratefully accepted. For more information on the presenters and event details, please call
604.525.3244 or go to www.artscouncilnewwest.org
Jonina Kirton a Métis/Icelandic poet lives in New Westminster, BC with her husband and editor Garry Ward. Her writing, which is often dark and delicate, has been featured in between earth and sky anthology, V6A: Writing from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside Anthology, home & away (an Anthology Chapbook), Enlightening Times UK, Other Tongues: Mixed - Race Women Speak Out Anthology, Pagan Edge, First Nations Drum, Toronto Quarterly, Quills Canadian Poetry Magazine, New Breed Magazine, emerge and a number of online journals. Her first collection of poetry and lyric prose, page as bone – ink as blood, will be released in the Fall of 2015 with Talon Books.
Antonia Levi is best known for her non-fiction on Japanese animation, and is now in the process of reinventing herself as a fictionista. In that process, she has experimented with a wide variety of opportunities within the writing community, from the year-long, intensive Writer's Studio at SFU to more casual groups that include potluck suppers along with critiquing. She also participated as a curriculum designer and mentor for SFU's Southbank Writers Program. She has published three books of nonfiction, numerous articles, a column, and several short stories. She is currently working on two novels and a short story collection.
After 20 years of human rights work in conflict zones around the world, Corey Levine now hangs her hat in Victoria B.C. where she contemplates the state of the world on daily walks at the beach with her cousin’s dog. Her writing credentials include The Globe and Mail and Ottawa Citizen newspapers, and This, Embassy and Peace Magazines.
RCLAS WRITER OF THE MONTH
Carol Shillibeer
Carol doesn't much like writing about herself in the third person, so here are some of the bare facts. She has a mixed ethnic heritage, and bits and pieces of the various groups show up in her work. She also has some neurological anomalies, epilepsy and such. That shows up too. She loves science (chemistry particularly) and math. She also reads (and teaches) tarot, dream interpretation and other metaphysical pursuits. She's extremely secular and explains the apparent dissonance by virtue of her view on reality: there are events (empirical facts) and there are narratives (stories to explain the connections between facts). Events have no meaning in themselves. Narratives are ways human beings have to causally connect events. Narratives are neither true nor false, but rather, explain, more or less, the connections between events without going to the extreme of denying select events. When a narrative comfortably fits the actuality of events, then the narrative can provide solutions to sticky situations. When a narrative loses its fit, life can get uncomfortable. At such time, one should consider changing the narrative to better fit the real-world set of events (that frankly don't care a jot about belief or narrative or life problems). In other words, Carol puts the event first (since it won't change to suit), and narrative second (or at least tries to). In this way Carol pursues basic scientific methodology even with poetry and tarot. Carol maintains a webpage at www.carolshillibeer.com. Under the "about" tab there is a list of publications, many of which have online links. Still here are three of her favourite poems. Published in Freefall Magazine in the fall of 2013: "vehementia" Published in Ygdrasil in April 2013: "goat brothers" Published in Room Magazine, Issue 35.1: "the dock: a place to tie nothing but the world" Yes. They are true stories.
The Last Plane by Robert Hirzer was recently published and is available in both paperback (soft cover) and ebook formats. The author was born in Waterloo County, Ontario. After studying medicine at the University of Western Ontario, he moved to British Columbia where he continues to work as a family physician. The Last Plane is his first novel. He lives with his wife in New Westminster, BC.
Here’s a brief synopsis of the book: The discovery of a cache of old letters belonging to his father prompts a grieving physician to revisit the past. His journey of discovery leads him to an entirely new view of his parents’ lives and also sets off a re-examination of his own. The story follows an impoverished family of five children growing up in post-World-War-I Austria and continues through the upheaval of World War II and beyond. Spanning three generations and two continents, this compelling saga interweaves historical romance, adventure yarn, memoir and mystery. Whether on the brutal battlefields of Russia, in a quaint Irish fishing village or by a small collection of German graves in southern Ontario, a common theme emerges: history, the narrator learns, is never what it seems, and the search for a better future is often hindered by the haunting grip of the past. The paperback (soft cover) book is now available (with a sample preview) at amazon.com. Ebook versions are now available at amazon.ca (Kindle) and kobobooks.com (Kobo).
RCLAS member, Robert Hirzer would like to invite you to join him for his book launch on April 12, 2014 Sat afternoon 3:00 to 5:00 PM New Westminster Public Library. Inquiries/RSVP to servusbooks@gmail.com
Odysseus Elytis 1911 - 1997 Descendant of an old family of Lesbos, he was born in Heraclion (Candia) on the island of Crete, November 2, 1911. Sometime later his family settled permanently in Athens where the poet finished his secondary school studies and later visited the Law School of the Athens University. His first appearance as a poet in 1935 through the magazine "Nea Grammata" ("New Culture") was saluted as an important event and the new style he introduced - though giving rise to a great many reactions - succeeded in prevailing and effectively contributing to the poetical reform commencing in the Second World War's eve and going on up to our days. In 1937 he visited the Reserve Officer's Cadet School in Corfu. Upon the outbreak of the war he served in the rank of Second Lieutenant, first at the Headquarters of the 1st Army Corps and then at the 24th Regiment, on the advanced fire line. During the German occupation and later, after Greece was liberated, he has been unabatedly active, publishing successive collections of poetry and writing essays concerning contemporary poetry and art problems.
Odysseus Elytis (Greek: Οδυσσέας Ελύτης, born Οδυσσέας Αλεπουδέλλης; November 2, 1911 – March 18, 1996) was regarded as a major exponent of romantic modernism in Greece and the world. In 1979 the Nobel Prize in Literature was bestowed on him.
“On The Beat� with Lilija Valis Poetic Justice March 16, 2014
RCLAS SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC, March 2, 2014, at Renaissance Books. What a night! We couldn't stop laughing in between the singing, music-making with various instruments, improvising and dancing. We did country rock, folk, the blues, reggae and spiritual chants. We picked our hearts off the ground, asked to be held so we won't break, rode a unicorn, remembered when life was simple, wished we could turn back time, then returned to the heart of the present, to the light in each of us. Songwriters night cleared the day's debris.
Thanks, Lavana La and John for welcoming us to your place. http://www.renaissancebookstore.com/
Lilija Valis March 2014
"If you have a garden and a library," said Cicero around 50 BC, "You have everything you need." Sunday, March 17, 2014, those who came to Poetic Justice tested this claim. We met in a place packed with books, floor to ceiling, each bringing something from their soul garden to share with others. Rich fare from the three features: Ronica Prasad, new to Poetic Justice, offered us infinite possibilities of who we are and were or could have been, mixed with love and sorrow; Ariadne Sawyer told us about her work spreading world peace, poem by poem, country by country and read poems that came to her in dreams, mystical voices protecting this earth: and Sho Wiley gave us courage to not fear showing our wounds: "know that you'll never be the same," so embrace the new you, letting "there be a blue moon rose with the crown of thorns." She too offered love, including love of the immortals, who make "the air shiver with light." We had so many Open Mic readers, we had to shorten their time to four minutes each, much to our regret, because they were so good. Thanks to Neil Simmers, Jacqueline Maire ("Happiness does exist, in absentia."); Ibrahim Honjo ("I have love, you have money. I can make money..."); Kevin Taylor ("Spare me the lecture, Father, I'm going to hell, and we both know it."); Janet Kvammen read a Celtic blessing of the rain; Idrian Burgos; Enrico Renz; Jaz Gill; and Pamela Bentley (on how many of us there are in each of us).
Hosts: LAWREN NEMETH & ENRICO RENZ
Photos By Lilija Valis
Songwriter Open Mic Lawren Nemeth and EnricoBookstore Renz at Renaissance March 2, 2014
- Lilija Valis On The Beat March 2014
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page as bone – ink as bone I thought I would take a chance and step out into new territory with my workshop page as bone – ink as blood. It is not totally new territory, my mentors; Ingrid Rose and Doris Maranda, have mapped out some of the psychic turf where memory and the body inhabit a space not always thought to be accessible. Working with Ingrid and Doris, who both use the unusual practices found in Continuum (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAacwbfveys), I was delighted with the changes in my writing. Through the breathing techniques and other body-centred practices that are offered in Continuum, I was able to birth poems and prose that satisfied my need to tell my story in fresh and unexpected ways. As I explored what Ingrid calls, “writing through the body,” I rekindled a deeper sense of connection to, not only my memories as a child, but also to my ancestors. As I used these practices to write, I began to remember that as a child I had a profound connection to the earth and to my Indigenous roots. I wanted to offer this workshop as an invitation to others who may wish to reignite a relationship with the part of themselves that know… the part that remembers the smell of the fertile earth; the part that never gives up. I am not Ingrid, nor Doris, and I am definitely not a Continuum teacher, so what I offered in the workshop was a merging of some of what I learned through Ingrid and Doris, with a simple answering of an inner call to use my drum as part of the “going deeper” exercise. We let go of the classroom/lecture structure and sat in a circle. It was a large circle, as there were at least 30 participants. After the breathing exercises, my drum and I went to each participant and showered them with drum beats from head to toe, trusting my instincts to guide me. Once finished, I read Sharon Olds, The Ferryer, as a prompt and invited all participants to write whatever came to mind, to not censor or edit anything. We shared our writing and debriefed the experience. A number expressed surprise at the results and many spoke of the influence of the drum on the exercise. Most were graced with rich first drafts that covered new territory for them. I am very glad that I followed my intuition and told fear to take a backseat so that I could step into this new territory with my workshop offerings. By all indications this one will be a keeper.
~ All my relations ~ Jonina
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jonina Kirton, March 2014
APRIL 2014 @ POETIC JUSTICE View Calendar and Bios at www.poeticjustice.ca
HERITAGE GRILL, BACK ROOM 3-5 pm Sunday Afternoons—three features and open mic 447 Columbia St, New Westminster, near the Columbia Skytrain Station CO-FOUNDER & BOOKING MANAGER—Franci Louann flouann@telus.net Website & Facebook Manager, Photographer—Janet Kvammen janetkvammen@rclas.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/poeticjusticenewwest/
April 6 Sunday 3-5pm Poetic Justice Featuring Jennifer Getsinger/Franci Louann/Renée Saklikar
April 13 Sunday 3-5pm Poetic Justice Featuring David Blinkhorn/ Kyle McKillop/ Keith Wilkinson Host: Franci Louann
April 20 CLOSED FOR EASTER WEEKEND
April 27 Sunday 3-5pm Poetic Justice Featuring Ruth Hill/ Alan Hill/ Elliott Slinn Host: Sho Wiley
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Janet Kvammen: RCLAS Director/ Newsletter Editor & Design janetkvammen@rclas.com Deborah Kelly
secretary@rclas.com
Open Call for Submissions - RCLAS Members Only
RCLAS Members – Want to be published in a Spring issue of our E-Zine? Send us your submissions on the theme – Rebirth, Renewal, Rejuvenation contact me at janetkvammen@rclas.com Poems, Short Stories, Book Excerpts & Songs are welcome for submission to future issues of Wordplay at work.
To RCLAS Members: Please send us your latest news, feedback on our newsletter and any ideas/suggestions that you may have. Would like to write a feature, a review or an article for the newsletter ? Feel free to submit your ideas. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
***Events Coordinator ( Compiling literary events/contests/ call for submissions listings for distribution to our members bi-weekly ) ***Volunteer Coordinator ***Event Volunteers
RCLAS Book Reviews Call for Submission:
Submit your book to Royal City Literary Arts, Box # 5, 720 Sixth St., New Westminster, BC V3L 3C5 for review in our new monthly review section of our magazine “Wordplay at Work”
April 2014
Wordplay at work
ISSN 2291-4269
RCLAS – Royal City Literary Arts Society Box #5 - 720 – Sixth Street, New Westminster, BC V3L 3C5 For further information Email – secretary@rclas.com
SPONSORS
Arts Council of New Westminster Wayne Wright Chuck Puchmayr The Heritage Grill Poetic Justice Poetry In The Park Saddlestone International Silver Bow Publishing
Contact: RCLAS Director/ Newsletter Editor & Design janetkvammen@rclas.com