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Writing Classes, Conference, and VB Publishing
Inspiration into Action
Friday and Saturday June 25-26, 2021 Mark Your Calendar!
Registration for the 2021 Conference is Now Open chuckanutwritersconference.com
“Along Chuckanut Drive,” Nancy McDonnell Spaulding
Whatcom Community College 360.383.3200 Bellingham, Washington
A Great Gift...
Decomposition Notebooks
"I love Decomposition Notebooks! They are eco-friendly, made in the USA, and printed with soy ink. They're available in an array of colors and styles and would make a great gift for anyone—no matter their age. This is truly a time when we can all benefit by giving ourselves a creative outlet—by finding solitude within our busy day to write down our inner musings, ideas, and feelings." –Kendra
LITERATURE
Ex Libris: 100+ Books to Read and Reread
by Michiko Kakutani available now, hardcover, Clarkson Potter
“Books can connect people across time zones and zip codes, across cultures, national boundaries, and historical eras,” Kakutani writes in her introduction to Ex Libris. Here readers will discover novels and memoirs by some of the most gifted writers working today; favorite classics worth reading or rereading; and nonfiction works, both old and new, that illuminate our social and political landscape and some of today’s most pressing issues.
A Great Gift...
BC Mini Pens
"Cute pens suitable for adults, kids, and teens alike—brighten someones day with fun novelty pens that come in a variety of styles and designs, including dinosaur heads and cat tails." –Hannah J.
Chuckanut Writers
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Classes for Your Writing Life
Village Books and WCC Community & Continuing Education offer a writing instruction collaboration called Chuckanut Writers. These programs are designed to inspire and encourage writers at all stages of their writing journey. Check out
these upcoming virtual classes:
Freelance Writing & Editing: Keeping an Wild Mind Writing The Art of Becoming Illustrated Journal with Nancy Canyon a Professional Wordsmith with Nancy Canyon
Tuesdays, 2/02/21 - 2/23/21, with Charles Hoppe Tuesdays, 6pm-8pm (4 sessions) Wednesdays, 2/3/21 - 2/17/21 3/09/21 - 3/30/21, Spend four evenings discovering the power of "wild 6pm-8pm (3 sessions) 6pm-8pm (4 sessions) mind writing"! Based on Natalie Goldberg's book, In the information economy, there's a near-endless Keeping an illustrated journal of personal discovWriting Down the Bones, this intriguing class frees demand for skilled writers and editors. But most eries and life observations is a delightful way to the mind through a unique practice that eliminates aspiring wordsmiths don't know where to start. record daily experiences and create an heirloom. writer's block. Instructor Nancy Canyon will lead Where do you find work? What do you charge? Through guidance, this class will support your new and experienced students through a variety of What kinds of projects should you take on? This daily recordings in pictures and words. Different exercises–rewardingparticipants with a daily practice- course answers those questions and more as you drawing techniques and writing styles will be style, fundamentally changing one's writing forever. learn to build the foundation of a thriving free- explored; no prior experience is necessary. Nancy Ms. Canyon invites all inquisitive minds to enroll. lancing career. Instructor Chas Hoppe has built a Canyon, MFA, is a published author and artist. dynamic writing and editing career. Over a decade, Her new book, The Daily Artist, is forthcoming. Portraits & Elegies–Write a Chapbook he has helped produce content for local authors, major publishers, and everything in between. Have a blank journal and fine or medium point black waterproof drawing pen the first session.
with Jeremy Voigt
Wednesdays, 1/20 -2/17/21 All classes take place in a virtual classroom using Zoom 5pm-7pm (5 sessions)
In this time of isolation and anxiety the mind naturally shifts to thinking about the people that matter, and have mattered most, in our lives. It is also easy to feel unproductive. The goal of this class is to contend with both of those situations. With a series of prompts and exercises focused on generating a series of portraits and elegies, we will write a draft of an entire chapbook. Jeremy Voigt is a poet and educator living in Bellingham. His poems have appeared in Prairie Schooner, Nimrod, and other magazines. His first chapbook was Neither Rising nor Falling from Finishing Line Press.
The Writer’s Toolbox: Fiction
Join Roby Blecker for this series of practical exercises that will provide you with tools for your writing toolbox. Series can be taken as a whole, or you can select from the individual workshops to suit your needs and schedule. Each class runs from 6pm-9pm. Select individual classes
or take all six workshops. Working with Story and Plot I
Building Strong Characters Tue. Feb. 16 & Thur. Feb 18 Writing Compelling Dialogue Tue. March 9 & Thur. March 11 Working with Story and Plot II Prerequisite: Working with Story & Plot I. Chuckanut Writers Tue. Feb. 23 & Thur. Feb 25 Tue. March 16 & Thur. March 18
Creating Evocative Settings, Atmosphere, and Mood
Tue. March 2 & Thur. March 4
Maximizing Your Uniqueness as a Storyteller
Prerequisite: one or more of the preceding workshops in The Writer’s Toolbox Series to receive the greatest value in this final class. Tue. March 23 & Thur. March 25
Read more and reserve your space today at whatcomcommunityed.com You can also register by calling 360-383-3200
Village Books PUBLISHING
Village Books Publishing is proud to work with a wonderful array of local writers whose talents have brought excitement and life to our bookshelves for many years. Our publishing division proudly boasts an array of genres written by Pacific Northwest authors, including fiction and mystery, memoir and local history, and even children’s picture books. Below are a few of our latest additions. All of their books are currently on our shelves and worth taking a moment to appreciate!
52 Women of Whatcom
by The League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County 52 Women of Whatcom profiles women who were the backbone of their pioneer community—raising families, making friends with the tribes, contributing to local culture, and leading in the establishment of schools, colleges, hospitals and museums. They fought for the vote and gradually became elected leaders themselves and worked for the world beyond. As you read the stories of these women right up to the present time, you'll understand why each one is included in this book celebrating the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote and the 100th birthday of the LWV. A great gift! A portion of every sale will go to the League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom. A reading is in the works so keep an eye on villagebooks.com so you don't miss out!
Safehaven Reunion
by Carolyn Ilene Anderson On the fifth anniversary of Safehaven College’s reunion, former student Andi is sought out by her old college professor, Dr. Emelie Walraven. Walraven has something to tell Andi and her friends, and soon, the group of alumni are thrust into battling the dark forces that prowl the campus. This is an entertaining, often funny, story about friendship, values, family, and the battle between light and dark. Author Carolyn Ilene Anderson lives and works in the Pacific Northwest. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Fairhaven College and her master’s degree at Antioch University in Seattle.
New Reads by VB Publishing Clients
The Adventures of the Alphabet
by Ralph Myers In the Kingdom of the Alphabet, ruled by the Kindly Queen Fun-to-Read, all the letters live happily together as one large community. Everything seems perfect, until one day a mean Prince from the far away Kingdom of Can't Read arrives! Accompanied by bold colors and bright art, The Adventures of the Alphabet is a wonderful way for children to learn their letters, the function of vowels, and how they all work together to form words. "Hi, I'm Grandpa Ralph and like all grandparents, we love to spend time reading and teaching our grandkids how to read. My latest book was written with that in mind. I am especially proud of the beautiful illustrations done by my good friend, Sarah Brooks. I am the author of six other books, but this book is my first children's book."
Executive Malice
by R.L. Hann Executive Malice is the story of Teri Harlan, a successful Director working for Aerosystems in Seattle, who accepts an offer to rejoin her former company in Southern California as a VP. Upon arrival, she discovers the company she once loved has become infested with self-indulged senior executives and bizarre business practices. Being a problem solver, Teri jumps into the fray, hoping to fix what was once great. But when she unravels a dark corporate conspiracy, she’s assailed by the company’s malicious executive VP, ending up in mortal peril, and facing a shattering confrontation with her past. R.L. Hann spent 35 years working in management for major aerospace corporations. Now he lives in Fairhaven where he enjoys reading, research, writing, and communing with the trees.
