January 2020 RCLAS Ezine Wordplay at Work, Issue 70

Dear Royal City Literary Arts Society Members:

Happy New Year RCLAS membership and volunteers.

A big thank-you to all of you for your dedication to the cause and amazing support over the last year!

We are a fantastic team and work together so well to make RCLAS an organisation we can all be proud of.

We, on the Board, are also keen to get your input on our programs and services.

Are we providing the best we can in terms of services and support to writers? Is there more we can do?

We want your ideas.

What would you like us to be doing over the coming years?

I would also like to ask you, to ask yourself, if you would like to get more involved in helping us run RCLAS? We have a small Board and need new people with new skills. Please do contact me if you would like to find out more and have an informal chat about possibilities.

We board members are approachable people. Reach out to us to discuss any thoughts and ideas that you might have.

One last thing.

To all of you, writers young and old, new and more experienced. Keep on doing what you do. Have faith that the written word can move the hardest hearts, express the most delicate ideas and feelings and change lives in ways that no other art form can.

Wishing you a wonder full and word full 2020!

Best, Alan Hill RCLAS President Email alanhill@rclas.com January 2020

WRITE ON! CONTEST 2020  Deadline April 1, 2020  Winners will be announced May 15, 2020 Submission Rules: 

3 Categories: o Non-Fiction (1500 words max) o Fiction (1500 words max) o Poetry (1 page single spaced max)

    

Submit entry as a Word Document (Font Times New Roman, Size 12) 1st prize - $150, 2nd prize - $100, 3rd prize - $75 for each category.

3 honourable mentions in each category.

Winners and honourable mentions will be published in RCLAS E-Zine, Wordplay at Work.

Fees $10 per submission for members, $20 per submission for non-members.

Annual RCLAS Membership $35 a year.

Maximum three submissions per person, total combined in any of our categories.

Previously published work will be accepted as long as author retains copyright.

Cover letter to include Name, Address, Email, Phone, Category, Title, Payment option.

Submissions to judges are anonymous. Visit www.rclas.com for list of judges.

Current Board Members are not eligible to submit.

Winner’s Reading Event: Date to be announced.

     

SUBMISSION and Payment OPTION 1: Pay via Paypal at www.rclas.com AND email entry and cover letter to writeon@rclas.com

SUBMISSION and PAYMENT OPTION 2:

Mail your cheque or money order to: Royal City Literary Arts Society Box #308 – 720 6th Street New Westminster, BC V3L 3C5 AND email entry and cover letter to writeon@rclas.com (DO NOT mail submission) For further information Email: writeon@rclas.com

“rclas members”

Winter Issue 70

RIVER’S WINTER ENCOUNTER © Jerena

Tobiasen

The young man hastened along the sidewalk of a busy city street crowded with holiday shoppers. Hands stuffed in his pockets and toque pulled low over his ears, he watched clouds of frozen breath float before him.

“This will have to be a quick lunch, Riv,” Ben said, flicking the loose end of a scarf-end over his shoulder. “I have to get back to the office.

“Me to,” River replied. “The boss wants a draft of my work on his desk before I leave tonight. I’m expecting a courier shortly. In the meantime, I have just enough time to grab a quick bite.”

The two young men skirted the building on the next corner, headed for a café and a warm lunch. Without warning, River’s feet slipped out from under him. River’s arms flailed as he tried to break his fall. Unfortunately for her, a young woman rushing toward him received the brunt of a flying arm.

Knocked off balance, she stumbled sideways and slipped on the same patch of ice.

River, sprawled on the sidewalk, provided a perfect landing pad for the young woman. “Oof!” Intuitively, his arms wrapped around her, holding her safe. When she raised her head to glare at him, he felt drawn into pools of ice-blue eyes. ~

The young woman, on the other hand, was both baffled and annoyed. Her gloved hands pressed into his chest as she struggled to regain composure.

“Now look what you’ve done!” she declared, pushing herself up, feeling River’s assistance. She glanced around her, watching boots stomp over printed pages that she had spent hours writing and assembling that morning. Her face reddened with anger and frustration.

Ben bent to retrieve the crumpled pages before the chilly breeze could carry them into the street. River regained his feet and brushed detritus from his overcoat. ~ “My apologies, miss,” River said, his cheeks pinking with embarrassment.

“Are you alright?”

“You need to watch where you’re going,” she scolded. She snatched the pages from Ben’s hand, tears flooding her eyes. “You’ve ruined my report!

I’m expected to deliver this within the next thirty minutes. How can I do that now?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t see the patch of ice,” River replied, spreading his arms in defence.

“What can we do to remedy the situation?” Ben asked.

“Yes,” River interjected. “Our office is just around the corner. Is there anything we can do?”

The young woman took a deep breath, seeming to contemplate her dilemma.

“Perhaps,” she said. “May I borrow a computer to reprint the pages?”

“Of course!” River replied, relieved that a resolution was in sight. “Ben, why don’t you grab us a couple of sandwiches and we’ll meet you back in the office.”

“None for me, thanks,” she said, waving her hand sideways. “I’ll eat later. I need to get this sorted first.”

Ben continued to the café while River led the young woman to his office on the sixth floor of a nearby office tower. Entering through an unmarked side door, he indicated a vacant desk covered in piles of paper. From her handbag, she withdrew a portable disc drive and plugged it into the computer. Then stuffed the ruined pages into her bag.

“The disc is clean,” she said with a faint smile. “I just opened a new package this morning. I’m glad I had the foresight to copy my work onto it and bring it along.”

A few minutes later, River handed her a brown envelope into which she slid the freshly printed pages.

“Thank you,” she said as he guided her toward the door.

“No need for thanks,” he said. “I’m the one who ruined your work. I’m only happy we were able to recover the day!” He stood in the doorway and watched her find her way to the elevator, where she skillfully avoided a second collision, this time with Ben and a bag of sandwiches.

Both young men waved goodbye and wished her success as the doors closed. ~ In the lobby of the building, the young woman withdrew a note from her coat pocket. “6349 Broadway,” she muttered, approaching the concierge.

“Excuse me. I’m looking for 6349 Broadway. Is that nearby?”

“This is 6349 Broadway, miss.”

“Really?” she asked, gazing at her wristwatch and realizing that she had five minutes left within which to deliver her work. “How fortunate.”

She returned to the elevator and pressed the button for the seventh floor.

Seconds later, the doors opened onto a well-appointed reception. In response to the receptionist’s greeting, she glanced at the note again.

“I’m here to see R. Eddy,” she announced, holding up the note as evidence.

Soon after, a young man appeared from a corridor behind the receptionist’s desk. His face lit with recognition as he greeted the young woman, hand extended.

“Y-you’re R. Eddy? she asked.

“I am,” River replied, grinning. “How may I help you?”

“I’m to deliver this to you,” she said, extending the envelope he had recently handed to her.

“Ah!” he exclaimed with a chuckle of awareness. “Then you must be Winter Merriweather! Please follow me. I’ve been expecting you!”

------------------------------- RIVER’S WINTER ENCOUNTER copyright Jerena Tobiasen

THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD © Julia

Schoennagel

It was raining as usual when she awoke on that November morning.

“Darn!” she thought. “What to do today?”

Then she snuggled deeper into the blankets, smiling in anticipation, remembering. This was to be a Most Special Saturday.

Tonight her auntie was taking her to see Cinderella. She knew the story, of course; she’d had the Disney movie for a long time. But this was to be so much more special than just going to a movie—they were going to see the ballet. The ballet! She shivered in excitement.

She’d never seen a ballet before, not really. Sure, she’d seen some dancing stuff on TV, where a good-looking guy in tight pants lifted a girl in a frilly skirt up and down in time to the music, but somehow she just knew this was going to be different, not like anything she could ever imagine or that she’d ever seen before.

The ballet! Auntie had explained to her that it was a story set to music, where the actors danced out the story instead of speaking it.

It was hard to imagine how anyone could tell a story without words,

but she knew it would be simply wonderful just to hear the music.

Krystle had always loved music, all the sounds of it, and she was eager to hear real people really playing on real instruments. Auntie had told her, too, that there would be a whole orchestra with all the bright shiny horns and squeaky violins, and the conductor waving his baton so that all the players would keep together. Ooooooh! It was going to be a truly wonderful day!

Of course, the day couldn’t go fast enough.

Krystle rushed

through breakfast, rushed through lunch, rushed through some shopping with her mum. And when she got home, she couldn’t wait to have a bath and change into the beautiful, new, black velvet dress with the pink rose on the bodice. She felt like a princess as Mummy helped her zip it up and then brushed her hair until it shone.

Krystle was fairly dancing herself by the time they got to Auntie’s. Auntie’s apartment was a special place to visit, for Auntie always had neat things to do and yummy things to eat. And Auntie always listened.

Krystle knew she could tell her auntie absolutely

anything, without getting into trouble, which came in pretty handy sometimes.

Auntie was almost ready to go, dressed in a lovely blue suit made of shiny fabric, but said she couldn’t decide which earrings to put on. She held out her hands towards Krystle. Diamond pendants lay sparkling in her right hand, and blue sapphires gleamed in her left. Krystle chose the diamonds, and when Auntie had put them in her ears, clapped her hands, saying, “Oh, Auntie, they look so

pretty!” Auntie hugged her tightly. She said that Krystle looked very pretty, too, and they went to put on their coats.

The theatre wasn’t very far from Auntie’s house, and Krystle was very excited to see the crowds of people lining up to find their way into the auditorium.

Taking her by the hand, Auntie led her straight up to the front towards a funny black wall. Krystle was most surprised to look over this wall and see rows of empty chairs, some with instruments leaning against them, and wire stands with music open on them. Truly, the orchestra pit was a curious thing.

It was a disappointment, though, when they sat near the back, right on the aisle.

“I can’t see anything,” she complained. “I can’t see the stage.

I won’t be able to see what’s happening.” She wiggled and stood up and sat down and wiggled some more.

Auntie put an arm around her. “When the show starts, my love, you must be very still and very quiet.

You will be able to see, I

promise. But other people will be very cross if you talk all the way through.”

Krystle flounced in her seat. She’d wanted to sit right near the front, but she understood that they had to stay where they were, because Auntie had said so. Then she noticed that people were hurrying to their seats, and there was something thrilling in the air.

Looking down towards the funny wall, she could see the tops of some people’s heads. The orchestra was coming in! Abruptly, the

lights dimmed and the theatre went quiet. She moved to the edge of her seat. Why were people clapping?

At the front, a spotlight shone down on the funny wall and a man’s head appeared. “The conductor,” Auntie whispered, and the music began with a loud crash of cymbals.

As the curtains opened and the first characters danced on to the stage, Krystle knew Auntie was right. She could see perfectly; there was no one in front of her and she hadn’t realized how high the stage actually was.

She had a perfect view.

She slid back

against her seat. Auntie smiled.

The music soared and swelled and filled the rafters.

The

dancers whirled and spun. It was easy to follow the story. Then poor Cinderella in her rags was left alone by the cold fireplace as her ugly stepsisters went off to the ball with their horrible mother.

Now the music softened and sweetened, its sound all tinkly.

The shivery harps and the piano resounded as the coloured lights turned the stage into a mysterious forest. Krystle didn’t realize that Auntie heard the sigh of complete enchantment when the pink-andwhite-and-silver good fairy fluttered en pointe on to the stage. The child sighed softly, almost reverently. “Oh,” she breathed, “a real ballerina.”

The magical evening was a complete success.

---------------- THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD copyright Julia M. Schoennagel

Winter’s Celestial Music © Deborah L. Kelly Absolute silence this night, far removed from the noise of every day’s busyness.

Absolute silence on this Winter’s eve. As the snow falls, I can hear the whisper, on a snow-lit night, of our ancestors: “Care for the land, in return, the land will care for you.”

Carrying the knowledge of the other side, with the sight of all things: past, present, future, the elders wish to share, if one is willing to listen.

I see their faces in the mists of Winter.

Haunting stillness echoes through this absolute silence, reminding me; each breath I take, each beat of my heart, is sacred.

With cosmic rhythm moving through the soul, we must always be willing to dance to Winter’s celestial music.

“some stuff” we do!

November 2019

Tellers of Short Tales with host Alan Hill Held at the Anvil Centre GONE VIKING with featured author Bill Arnott.

Thanks Bill, everyone had a great time! Such an entertaining evening!

January 2020

Tellers of Short Tales with host Lozan Yamolky Held at the Anvil Centre Featuring Author Shawn Gale.

Thanks to Shawn for a fabulous reading! We had an excellent turnout. Brilliant!

Next session: February 20, 2020 with author Trevor Carolan

November 2019 In Their Words with Ruth Kozak at the Anvil Centre (TOP ROW) Featuring Stephen Karr, Isabella Mori, Janene White Next session: January 30, 2020

Winter Celebrations at the Anvil Centre --------- RCLAS Readings, January 4, 2020 with Emcee Carol Johnson (Top Left) Featuring Stephen Karr, Lozan Yamolky, Cynthia Sharp and Janet Kvammen.

HOLIDAY MEMORIES, RCLAS Members Walking the Lantern Labyrinth Winter Celebrations at the Anvil Centre January 4, 2020

And wait for it…

There is “MORE STUFF” on the way

Upcoming 2020 Events Info: secretary@rclas.com Please watch for event updates and news via our website www.rclas.com and our social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @royalcitylit

RCLAS Writing Workshop: “The Marvels of Flash Fiction” Facilitator: Karen Schauber Date: Saturday January 25, 2020 Time: 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Location: Anvil Centre, 4th Floor, Rm #417 Workshop Fees: RCLAS Members $15/Non-members $25 https://rclas.com/workshops/ Pre-register at secretary@rclas.com Workshop Description: This dynamic 120-minute workshop introduces participants to the key elements in writing fabulous flash fiction.

As a genre, flash fiction has exploded onto the literary arts scene exciting the imagination of readers and writers alike and creating a word-wide phenomenon of followers obsessed with the form.

Flash Fiction, a brief condensed story written in under 1000 words, is a fully realized narrative, infused with sumptuous imagery, intentional word choice, crafted to surprise, delight, and challenge the reader; all in a flash.

Workshop participants will walk away with a definitive understanding of what flash fiction is, and what it is not; will delight in crafting ‘killer sentences’, incorporating the five ‘S’s’ and the five senses, inspired by visual and text-based prompts, in two energizing creative writing exercises. Participants will conclude the workshop with the key tools to sculpt and polish a fabulous flash fiction piece Karen Schauber is a seasoned Family Therapist practicing in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her earlier writing is non-fiction and details three decades of psychosocial and analytical cases. Flash Fiction is a new and welcome adventure for her. Karen’s flash fiction is published in 25 Literary Magazines and

Anthologies including Brilliant Flash Fiction, Bending Genres, CarpeArte, Ekphrastic Review, Fiction Southeast, and Poems for the Writing: A Textbook.

Recently published, her first editorial flash venture the Group of Seven Flash Fiction Commemorative Anthology is a celebration of Canadian modernist landscape painters. http://GroupofSevenFlashFiction.weebly.com.

In her obsession with flash fiction, Karen also runs http://VancouverFlashFiction.weebly.com, a critique circle and resource hub.

She can be reached directly at http://karenschauber.weebly.com

“Cat Musings Reading Series” Variety Open Mic Feature Poet Stephen Karr Host: Janene White Date: Wednesday January 29, 2020 Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm, Doors open at 6:30 Free admission Location: New West Artists Gallery (beside Renaissance Books) 712C - 12th Street, New Westminster Stephen Karr is a library technician and poet who lives in Vancouver. He is currently writing and editing his first book of poetry which will examine his liver transplant process from an existential perspective. He is a regular at open mics and has featured numerous times in the Greater Vancouver area.

He is a member of The Federation of British Columbia Writers and Royal City Literary Arts Society. .

In Partnership with Renaissance Books, New West Artists and Royal City Literary Arts Society.

RCLAS presents “Tellers of Short Tales” Feature Author: Trevor Carolan Date: Thursday February 20, 2020 Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Free admission.

Location: Anvil Centre, 4th Floor, Room 417 Close to Skytrain. Wheelchair accessible.

Come to listen! Bring a friend!

Bring a short story to share on Open Mic. Description: A program of monthly readings designed to engage fans of the short story genre with emerging and published short story writers Trevor Carolan’s work includes many books of non-fiction, poetry, translation, and anthologies, as well as journalism and interviews. He served as literary coordinator for the XV Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, and has been Coordinator of writing and publishing programs at the Banff Centre. He has also worked as media advocate on behalf of Aboriginal land claims and Pacific Coast watershed issues. A former elected Councillor in North Vancouver, he holds a PhD. for studies in Literature, Ecology and ideas of the Sacred in International Relations. His documentary film Cascadia: The Life and Breath of the World features appearances by many distinguished eco-writers. He teaches English and Creative Writing at University of the Fraser Valley, and is Co-editor of Pacific Rim Review of Books. His eco-lit collection Cascadia: The Life and Breath of the World received a Best American Essays Citation in 2013.

More at: www.trevorcarolan.com

RCLAS Writing Workshop: It’s Alive! Putting Inanimate Objects to Work Facilitator: Joan B. Flood Date: Saturday February 22, 2020 Time: 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Location: Anvil Centre, 4th Floor Workshop Fees: RCLAS Members $15/Non-members $25 https://rclas.com/workshops/ Pre-register at secretary@rclas.com Please confirm with us which workshop you have paid for.

Workshop Description: Inanimate objects turn up in our writing all the time. By ascribing feelings and/or behaviours to inanimate objects you can add surprising elements to fiction, non-fiction and poetry. The car horn, the raincoat, the cell phone, the list goes on. How do we use these items to add depth, texture and reveal something about our characters in our writing? How do we do this without distracting from what we have to say?

This is an interactive workshop in which you will explore ways to use these objects through examples from published work, discussion and writing exercises.

Please bring paper and pen or your writing device of choice.

Bio: Joan B. Flood was born in Ireland and lived briefly in France and England before settling in Canada. A graduate of Simon Fraser University’s The Writer’s Studio (TWS), she mentored at TWS’s Southbank Writer’s Program and does manuscript consults, both privately and through the TWS outreach programs with Vancouver Public Library.

Her poetry, short fiction, and non-fiction have been published in anthologies in Canada, USA, and Australia.

New Girl, a Young Adult novel, published in USA in 2012, won the Orpheus Fiction Contest. Her story 87 won honourable mention in The Binnacle Ninth Annual Ultra-Short Story Competition 2012 (USA).

Left Unsaid, her adult novel, was published by Signature Editions in October 2017.

Website: www.joanbflood.com

RCLAS presents “In Their Words: a Royal City Reading Series” Date: Thursday, March 19, 2020 Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm, Free admission Location: Anvil Centre, 4th Floor, Room 413A Host: Ruth Kozak Three Feature Presenters Description: In Their Words happens on the 3rd Thursday of every other month.

Feature speakers present their favourite author from any genre in poetry, fiction, non-fiction or drama. Presentations include a brief commentary about the author and a reading of selections that exemplify what the presenter loves about the author’s work. A short Q&A follows each presenter

Interested in being a reader at “In Their Words” in 2020?

Email a note to Ruth Kozak at wynnbexton2@gmail.com

“Poetic Justice/Poetry New West” Sunday Afternoons (except Holiday Weekends) Time: 3:00pm – 5:00pm, Free admission.

Location: The Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St, New Westminster Open Mic. Prizes, trivia, writing prompt, fun!

Host: Warren Dean Fulton. https://www.facebook.com/groups/poeticjusticepnw/

Watch for upcoming news and announcements on our website www.rclas.com on Facebook Instagram @royalcitylit

WORDPLAY AT WORK FEEDBACK & E-ZINE SUBMISSIONS

RCLAS Members Open Call for Submissions IMPORTANT Submit documents WITH YOUR NAME and Title on the WORD DOC file Email janetkvammen@rclas.com Janet Kvammen, RCLAS Vice-President/E-zine

CURRENTLY SEEKING HAIKU FEB 2020 ISSUE 71: Special Feature Deadline January 31, 2020 Submit up to five haiku.

No theme required to submit.

Poetry, Short Stories, Book excerpts, articles & lyrics are all welcome for submission to future issues of Wordplay at work.

Thank you to our Sponsors & Venues      

City of New Westminster Anvil Centre Arts Council of New Westminster New Westminster Public Library The Heritage Grill New West Artists “Gallery on 12th

See upcoming events at www.rclas.com

Follow us on Instagram @royalcitylit

January 2020 Wordplay at work ISSN 2291- 4269 Contact: janetkvammen@rclas.com RCLAS Vice-President/ E-zine

Dear Readers: Hello RCLAS Members, both old and new! I wish you all a happy, healthy, and creative 2020. It is the beginning of my 8th year with RCLAS and this is my 70th Issue of Wordplay at Work.

70 issues in 7 years!!! I think that is worthy of a celebration!

It has been an honour working with RCLAS over the years, and becoming friends with so many of our members! Each month the ezine offers a small sampling of the diverse talent within our membership. Here’s to the many, many feature members… Thanks to those of you who have contributed in some way, be it big or small, since my first issue dating back to December of 2012. Certainly far too many poems, stories and poetographs to count. I look forward to reading all of your submissions in the coming months.

I want to thank our President Alan Hill and my fellow Board of Directors for another great year!

Best Wishes to each of you for a “Fabulous Twenty – Twenty, may it be full of creativity aplenty!”

To a new year and a new vision! CHEERS!

Sincerely, Janet Kvammen

RCLAS Vice-President