Wordworks Spring/Summer 2011 Self Promotion

Spring / Summer 2011

From Obscurity Into the Limelight: Branding and Publicity for Writers Adding To and Changing Your Blog Tips for A Dynamic Presentation

SPRING 2011

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Editor’s Note

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President’s Note

FEATURES 4

8 From Obscurity Into

the Limelight: Part 1 - Branding for Writers

By Julie Ferguson

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From Obscurity Into the Limelight: Part 2 – Publicity for 21st Century Writers

By Julie Ferguson

Adding To and Changing Your Blog – Part 2 –

By Susan Greig

10 Tips for A Dynamic

Presentation

By Ben Nuttall-Smith

FED AGM 2010 12 Annual Report

COMMUNITY 18 Launched

New Titles by Federation

Members

WORDWORKS–SPRING 2011

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27 Regional Reports

Member News from Around

the Province

Cover collage: Susan Greig

FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS

Editor’s Note Blowing our own horns.

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THE FEDERATION OF BC WRITERS IS THE VOICE OF WRITERS IN BC—SUPPORTING, DEVELOPING AND EDUCATING WRITERS WHILE FOSTERING A COMMUNITY FOR WRITING THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE.

n polite society, tooting one’s horn has traditionally been seen as unseemly – one just does not. Some purists still think that for anyone in the arts, self-promotion is selling out; that you’re not a ‘real’ artist unless you are suffering and sufficiently silent, in your dark Parisian garret.

And still others insist that creativity and marketing are mutually exclusive and can’t exist in the same psyche. Tell that to all the self-supporting, working artists out there.

But times have changed and it’s a whole new wired-in world out there, baby, and any literary type, whether writer, editor, or educator, who wants to make a mark in the writing world needs to not just toot, but blow that horn; long and loud and proud… and strategically.

It’s time to get on your self-promo surfboard and ride that networked wave all the way to Success Island (my apologies for the mixed metaphors – just couldn’t resist). It’s all about Connecting, Communicating, and Creativity – from signing up for the next open mike night, to getting all your electronic ducks in a row, to figuring out that branding is just about showing the world what makes you and your work unique and indispensable.

I like to call it, and often do, The Art & Engineering of writing: whether you’re banging out your next book or breaking into the marketplace. We know about the art-part: the heady surge of creativity and inspiration that propels us into and through our writing projects, but what about the gear-part: the endless edits and skillful planning? And how do we get ourselves and our work noticed in that great arena of talent and expertise out there?

If you’re not cyber-savvy and promo-focused yet, we’ve brought together in this issue some of the best and brightest approaches and people to help you start ramping up, right away.

Julie Ferguson takes us firmly in hand and guides us “From Obscurity Into the Limelight” on the double paths of “Branding” and “Publicity.” Susan Greig takes us on the second leg of a three-part journey of blogging ourselves to fame and fortune. And once we’ve written our brilliant tome and marketed the heck out of it, Ben Nuttall-Smith’s “Tips for A Dynamic Presentation” will help us captivate our audiences and propel us to stardom.

Remember folks, no writer is an island, and as we reach up for the hand above us, we lean down for the hand below.

Happy Horn-Blowing Everyone!

—Sylvia TayloR, Executive Director

Publisher

THE FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS

Editorial Committee CRAIG SPENCE MARGO LAMONT BEN NUTTALL-SMITH DANIELA ELZA SYLVIA TAYLOR

Editor

SYLVIA TAYLOR

Production

ODETTE HIDALGO

Webmaster

SUSAN GREIG

Board of Directors

PRESIDENT: CRAIG SPENCE VICE-PRESIDENT: GEORGE OPACIC (provisional) 2nd PRESIDENT: SUSAN GREIG TREASURER: GEORGE OPACIC SECRETARY: MARGO LAMONT LOWER MAINLAND/SUNSHINE COAST: DANIELA ELZA FRASER VALLEY: BEN NUTTALL-SMITH ISLANDS: ALISON GAIR SOUTH EAST: PATRICIA RAWSON CENTRAL: SYLVIA OLSON NORTH: SHEILA PETERS DIRECTOR AT LARGE: RENEE SAROJINI SAKLIKAR

Staff

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR—SYLVIA TAYLOR MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR—BARBARA COLEMAN THE FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS PO BOX 3887 STN TERMINAL VANCOUVER, BC V6B 3Z3 T: 604-683-2057 EMAIL: FEDBCWRITERS@GMAIL.COM WWW.BCWRITERS.CA ISSN # 0843-132 9

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40685010 POSTAL CUSTOMER NO. 7017320 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO FEDERATION OF BC WRITERS BOX 3887 STN TERMINAL VANCOUVER BC V6B 3Z3

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WORDWORKS–SPRING 2011

FROM THE PRESIDENT

President’s Message

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hope you will excuse me, but I’m about to commit a faux pas.

I am about to become that most inconvenient of personages: the uninvited guest.

In my defense I point to the title next to my name. I am your President. So when I invite myself to take a seat at your favourite coffee shop klatch – as I am about to do – you can rest assured it’s not an imposition. Rather, it’s important Federation business that mustn’t take ‘no’ for an answer.

It is in that magnanimous spirit I am embarking on the President’s 2011 Summer Literary Caffeine Tour, a trek that will make stops in every corner of our vast realm, and which will unite the far flung limbs of our body politic in a joyous, vibrating leap of celebration!

No need to get out the fancy cutlery or set me at the head of a long table loaded with lavish fare when I come a’ calling. No, no!

Your usual coffee haunt will do just fine. I want to get to know you as you are, in your natural settings and habiliments. If flannel shirts and suspenders are the norm, so be it; if silk blouses and Gucci shoes are more your style, bring it on. Whatever is customary in your neck of the woods when summoning the muse, that’s what I want to experience.

And if you aren’t a habitué of coffee shops – but I would ask how you could possibly be a writer and not addicted to the bittersweet brew – then invite me to any grove, or nook, or cranny where inspiration dwells. Could be a mountaintop, could be a kitchen, I can even meet you on the high seas if you too, are fond of paddling. I am willing to digress from the caffeine tour at a moment’s notice if some other locale suites you better.

All I ask is that you invite me. Deluge me with invitations.

Flatter me. Shower me with requests. In short, create the opportunity and I will come. Your President will slingshot like a comet from Vancouver Island through the gravity of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, out into the Fraser Valley, on to the sunny Central region, achieving a sort of apogee in the South East, then following an arc into the North.

After that, the presidential entourage – my partner in life Diana Durrand and possibly our trusted canine Buddy – will bend

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our orbit back toward the ever-stationary centre of our universe in Southwestern BC, where we will be sustained by a lingering buzz and an unending stream of memories from our best summer vacation ever.

What really excites me about this idea is the opportunity of bringing together Federation members. At each stop along the way I hope to be joined by Fed colleagues for sessions of informal talk about the Federation of BC Writers; what it means and how it’s doing; and for literary events of any size, shape or form that celebrates the art of bringing ideas to life through words.

It won’t matter if there’s just the two of us or a hundred, just so long as the muse be at the table and we can have a bit of enlightening fun.

This grand procession will be recorded for posterity. Video highlights of our café klatches will be posted on the President’s 2011 Summer Literary Caffeine Tour Blog. Fed members from north to south, and east to west will be united through the wonder of digital technology and Internet cafés. We will all get to share snippets of each other’s worlds as perceived, recorded, and posted by yours truly.

Sound like fun? Well, I hope it’s interesting enough to get me out of the uninvited column at least. If you have an idea for this project, get in touch with your Regional Representative. You can get contact information at www.bcwriters.ca by clicking ‘Meet the Board’ under the ‘About’ menu. Or you can email me directly at president@bcwriters.ca.

I look forward to meeting you and to improving my knowledge of coffee shop culture in British Columbia. Who knows, maybe as a fund-raiser we can create a Literary Coffee Shop Guide to BC. Now there’s a thought!

Please note: Dates for the President’s 2011 Summer Literary Caffeine Tour are not set in milestones, but I do have to find a sequential time space continuum to make this plan work, and it does have to happen sometime in August when your president can book holiday time. Be specific in your locals, but flexible in your timing if you can. I look forward to meeting you. —Craig Spence

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FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS

From Obscurity Into the Limelight Part 1 – Branding for Writers

By Julie H. Ferguson

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Your expertise could be a indicator for mid today’s ceaseless chatter online your brand and will certainly add value – perand in the media, writers have to emhaps you are household name or a leading ploy a new approaches to gain publicprofessor in your field. Make lists of possible ity for their work. These two articles will help themes and all your expertise. you promote your books and articles amidst a Asking others, who know your writing, million others. can provide insight into your commercially First, you must be crystal clear about the published books and articles. Often they diskind of writing you produce. The marketingcover something that is too obvious for you to babble for this is “branding” and it applies to see and sharpens your results. writers as much as to a box of detergent.

If you write in more than one genre or Branding is about gaining name recognition subject, go through the process for each one. and a solid market position that highlights you For example: and your product.

• Canadian history that focuses on the In today’s publishing industry, it is also an Photo credit :Terri Smolar, Coordinator, motivation of extraordinary leaders. essential component in developing your plat- Public Relations Program, Kwantlen • The guiding light for Canadian form and increasing sales of your books and ar- Polytechnic University. writers. ticles. Branding ensures that editors instantly © Julie H. Ferguson 2010 Differentiating Your Brand: Once you think of you when they need material on your topic, in your genre, in your style. But, most importantly, branding have identified your brand, your next step is to lift it out of the ordinary. It’s a fact of life for an author, especially novelists, to means getting known as an author or freelancer worth reading. write in a highly competitive sub-category. The brand you settle The branding process for writers includes: on must clarify how your work differs from the others. You have to • identifying your brand(s) • differentiating your books/articles from others in the same find an angle (a different focus) that makes your output stand fiction sub-category or nonfiction subject above the crowd. Writing style comes into it too – lyrical or edgy, • positioning you and your work accurately. for example.

Answer the questions: Identifying Your Brand: Your first task is to figure out the • What makes my book(s) or articles different or better than overarching theme of all your books or articles, and the expertise others on similar subjects? If it is unique, why? Make a list. and value you bring to them. This will eventually reveal your brand, • How can I make my work more different, useful, and which is much more than your books’ category and sub-category, special than others? Compile another list. or an article’s topic.

Ponder these questions for a while and keep adding to the To say “I write mysteries” or “I’m a travel writer” is insufficient. These are not specific enough, nor are they themes. Mystery lists. Then select the two most important differences.

brands can be the sleuth themselves - think of DI Lynley in Elizabeth George’s novels; in the travel world, a brand may be a region or mode of travel that you make your own.

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FEATURES

Looking at my two brands, the differences I bring to each are: • I write Canadian history that other writers neglect. I use creative nonfiction techniques for my books and some articles.

• I focus on the process of getting commercially or self-published, not the craft of writing that has an overabundance of books and articles.

Positioning Your Brand: Once you are crystal clear about your brand, you must decide where you want your books/articles to be seen and to be available, and what you want them associated with?

Knowing your brand and its differentiation will guide you in these positioning decisions: the where, when, what, and how of branding. Your online presence and media targeting will flow easily from this too.

If you are an emerging writer, register your own name as a web domain (e.g. www.julieferguson.ca). Do what it takes to get as close as you can to the name that appears or will appear on your book covers and in your byline. Initially, a blog may be a sufficient online presence, but still buy your domain name so no one else can get it. You also get a professional email address. No professional writer should use a hotmail or gmail address, or a silly handle like brilliantwriter@.... Keep those for your personal correspondence.

(See why at www.beaconlit.blogspot.com/2010/10/writers-needprofessional-email.html.) Once you have a portfolio of articles or a book accepted for publication, then create your website.

If you have more than one brand, one website should still be all you need. Above all, make it shout out your brand and make it interesting to strangers, as well as your potential readers, to ensure repeat visitors.

Then get to work on the rest of your positioning: • Start a blog for each brand if they are unrelated. Make them different from each other, but congruent with each brand – template, colours, content.

• Emphasize your brand(s) on your blog(s): Write to it! Keep the blog current and tell readers what you learn. Keep posts to

WORDWORKS–SPRING 2011

about 400 words. Make your blog interactive with links, images, videos, and podcasts. Don’t write on other subjects, like your visit to Palm Beach – visitors won’t come back.

• Put links from high-visit websites and blogs on yours and vice versa - they bring more traffic.

• Feature your brand(s) on your social networking sites. If you have a Facebook page for family and friends, get a separate business (fan) page for your writing life – there’s a vast community out there. Consider a biz page for each book title as they launch. (See http://beaconlit.blogspot.com/2010/12/ beacon-literary-services-now-has-page.html.)

Twitter allows more than one account, so have one for personal use and another for your writing brand(s). Tweeting sells more books than a website ever does.

• Knowing your brand will identify events and conferences where you should be seen and heard. Join non-writing organizations and associations that serve those interested in your subject and get involved. Join writers’ associations and those specializing in your genre.

• Join the media conversation and begin to offer yourself for interviews, etc., when the timing is right. (See how in “Part 2: Publicity for 21st Century Writers” on page 6) The results of clarifying and positioning your writing brand are gratifying: When an editor wants an article on post-retirement travel, they think of you; when a publisher wants a book on BC history in the 1860s, they think of you; when a reader wants a Vancouver mystery, they think of you; when a media outlet wants an expert commentator, they think of you.

Julie H. Ferguson is the author of 12 nonfiction books, three photo portfolios, and many articles in national and international markets. She speaks at writers’ conferences and coaches writers seeking commercial or self-publication. Julie owns Beacon Literary Services: www.beaconlit.com, www.beaconlit.blogspot.com, www.facebook.com/beaconliteraryservices, and www.twitter.com/BLSJHFerguson.

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FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS

From Obscurity Into the Limelight Part 2 – Publicity for 21st Century Writers

By Julie H. Ferguson

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broadcast on your subject. Read or watch etite and animated, Smolar was the ideal them closely for a while and discover their person to ask about author promotion styles and approaches, as well as opinions. If in the connected world of the 21st they have blogs, read their posts frequently. century because she understands writers. She When you find a fit, add them to your list. was one for 30 years and an award-winning Create a Top Ten. journalist with a major Canadian broadcaster • Begin to engage your targeted media before she became a seasoned public relations individuals in an e-mail conversation. Start professional. Now Smolar passes on her with local media – attract their attention by expertise to the next generation as the coordinasending them a note, a blog comment, or a tor of Kwantlen’s two-year Public Relations suggestion after they write/broadcast/blog Program in Richmond, BC. about your subject. Be sure your email is First of all, writers must identify their relevant and includes human interest. (Never writing brand and learn how to differentiate it send attachments – put everything in the body (see Part 1 of this article on page 4) The secof the email.) Once you have developed a ond task is to create an online presence that relationship with the locals, spread your net to aligns with this brand (see how at http://bea- Photo credit :Terri Smolar, Coordinator, Public Relations Program, Kwantlen regional and national markets. Later, target conlit.blogspot.com/2010/03/developing-auPolytechnic University. overseas media. thors-online-presence.html). The final step, © Julie H. Ferguson 2010 • Be aware of what each kind of media seeks. and the focus of this article, is getting ongoing Community markets want local, human-interest stories – the publicity for your work, whether you publish books, articles, or warmer and fuzzier, the better. Regional/national media want both. Today, over 90% of commercially-pubbed authors, and all items that are relevant to current news items, or stories for self-published authors and freelancers, do their own promotion. columnists/commentators whose specialties align with yours.

In this competitive, connected world, Smolar explained that pubFor example, target a conservative political commentator for licity has evolved and writers must use new approaches to get approright-wing subject matter or points of view. priate exposure in the media and on blogs. Smolar’s first directive is • Your conversation (suggestions, etc.) must always offer “Target! Target! Target!” and her second is “Create relationships!” The something new. If you are a mystery writer this could be former is so critical that her college program teaches a whole course new crime stats in the circulation area or a little known on the subject. Smolar began with a reminder of the three approaches human-interest story related to a local crime. If you can tie that rarely result in effective publicity: an event that has just happened to the mystery your book • Sending out blanket media releases explores, so much the better. Your angle and focus must • Paying an online company to disseminate releases make sense for the market you are targeting.

• Sending releases to the main desk of a publication, or a • Be patient, journalists are busy. You may not hear from radio or TV station ensures they won’t be read by the right them until your tenth approach. Then, without warning, person. Smolar then outlined her comprehensive publicity your phone rings. Be ready with your verbal pitch focused recipe for freelancers and authors in the 21st century. Here on your latest suggestion/idea. Practice it ahead of time and it is: make it short – under 30 seconds. Keep a script with your • Develop a media list for your brand of writing (if you have phone if this scares you. After you’ve delivered it, stop talkmore than one brand, compile separate lists). Check newsing and let the journalist carry the conversation. Be prepapers, periodicals, blogs, journals, radio and TV to find pared to make a fast decision. journalists, commentators, and columnists who write or 6

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• Bloggers require a different approach. They don’t like to be pitched. Source the best blogs for your subject and read them regularly. Make another top ten list. Then if there is a good match, new authors should first join the conversation.

Start commenting regularly on posts; then begin to contribute ideas, knowledge, and perhaps photos, referring to past posts. Later, you can offer a blog post or two. In contrast, well-known authors can offer themselves for interview and as a guest blogger from the get-go.

Smolar believes the biggest problem for writers these days is obscurity not copyright infringement. She advises writers to be generous – give away some work to increase your visibility. Of course, don’t post your best writing or parts of a work-in-progress online, rather articles you have sold many times, summaries, teasers, or

book trailers. “Get you and your work out there,” Smolar said.

Then she looked me square in the eye. “You have a blog and a website, don’t you? Facebook? Twitter?”

Smolar wrapped up: “If you learn what kind of writer you are and how to target, then offer something new and focused. Your efforts and patience will pay off handsomely. When you repeatedly plug in the right idea to the right media at the right moment, you will emerge from obscurity into the limelight.”

Julie H. Ferguson is the author of 12 nonfiction books, three photo portfolios, and articles published in national and international markets. She speaks at writers’ conferences and coaches writers seeking commercial or selfpublication. Julie owns Beacon Literary Services: www.beaconlit.com, www.beaconlit.blogspot.com, www.facebook.com/beaconliteraryservices, and www.twitter.com/BLSJHFerguson.

Submission Deadline July 15, 2011 WORDWORKS–SPRING 2011

Details at www.bcwriters.ca under “Fed Programs”

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FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS

Adding to and Changing Your Blog – Part 2 of 3

By Susan Greig,

Fed of BC Writers Webmaster & 2nd Vice President

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ased on the first part of three: “Setting up an Author Blog or Website 101”, begun in the fall/winter 2010 edition of WordWorks, you will have set up your blog and have already become a member of the web world. This step-by-step tutorial will allow you to make changes to the author blog that you created on wordpress.com.

1. Go to www.wordpress.com, enter your User name and password. Click on the log-in button.

You are now at your Dashboard page or control panel-this is where you will work on your blog-it’s your cockpit, so to speak, only visible to the pilot. The left hand side has a list of all of your “tools”.

2. Open a new tab or browser window and type in your blog’s url address.

You will now have two tabs open. One will show your dashboard and the other will be your site as others see it. Every time you make changes on the dashboard you may wish to refresh the second tab so that you can see how the changes look on your site.

3. Click on Settings and then General (Settings). This where you can change your name, email address, time zone, language, date and time settings. Save your changes.

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4. Become familiar with the tools on the left hand side of your Dashboard.

Posts. Click on the Hello World post and you will be taken to the Text Editor; this feature is almost like using Microsoft Word. Click on the small box that has a series of squares—this is called the ‘kitchen sink’ and will show you more tools to work with. Change the Hello World Title to whatever you want your first posting to be about, i.e. New to Blogging; our author F. Ed Test has chosen “My first Post”.

See this at www.fedtest.wordpress.com.

You can now write whatever you want; you can change the size of the font, centre your posting, and add an image. You can save your posting as a draft, schedule the posting to be published at a particular time, but in this case hit the Publish or Update button and the changes will be made. Take a look at your blog by refreshing the second tab.

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Pages. This is the area where you can create additional pages for your blog. WordPress has given you an About Page.

You can click on New Pages to add others such as Contact, Portfolio, etc. Again, you will use the Text Editor.

You can write whatever you want and upload photos.

Select the template box and change to one column, no sidebar. This will make all of the widgets disappear and you will have a layout that is not a blog format.

If you wish to get rid of the comment boxes on those pages you will need to go the Dashboard Pages page again and use the bulk actions box and edit. Select Comments and do not allow.

Appearance. This is the section where you can decide what your website looks like.

Theme. The current theme you were automatically given is called Twenty Ten. It is a theme that allows you to change the photo header. There is also a browse theme section so that you can choose from a multitude of other themes. F. Ed. Test has chosen to stay with the twenty-ten theme.

Background. This allows you to change the colour behind your theme.

Header. This is the spot where you can change the photo at the top.

Widgets. Widgets are things that you can add to the sidebar of your blog. You can opt to have a search box, calendar, photos, and links to other blogs.

Congratulations! You have now made adjustments to your blog and set up your site with pages and a variety of features.

Be sure to check out www.fedtest.wordpress.com. Our fictional author, F. Ed Test, has followed our tutorial and has set up a blog with a number of pages. He decided he liked the original header and has not changed the background colour. He has however, added the calendar widgets to the right sidebar on his blog page.

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Where to from here?

Everything else you need to know can be learned over time.

You can get help from the wordpress.com site through the community forms.

Another favourite source for help by our fictional characters is all of the great information at youtube.com. You can go to youtube. com, for example, before you start this tutorial, and enter “Wordpress. com tutorial set up”. This will give you a number of videos to watch that will walk you through the same process that we have described here in print.

Other good examples are: WordPress dashboard WordPress static pages WordPress tutorial website WordPress upload photos YouTube houses multitudes of videos that will help you through each step in setting up your site and will be a great asset to going beyond the basics.

A Final Reminder for Fed Members Once you have your new blog or website set up please be sure to contact us at fedbcwriters@gmail.com and let us know that you would like to add your new website address to your Fed Member profile. We will also be happy to add your website link to our Member’s Websites Page.

Stay tuned for the third and final part of this series which will appear in the summer 2011 edition of WordWorks.

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FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS

Tips for a Dynamic Presentation

By Ben Nuttall-Smith Fed of BC Writers Regional Director, Fraser Valley

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any writers spend years polishing a manuscript until they finally achieve the goal of publication. But publication leads nowhere unless followed by intense and well-organized promotion. Ideally, the best promoter for any written work must be the author. Personality sells books. However, when the presenter fumbles, hums and haws, and worst of all, is inaudible during a public reading, there will be very limited prospect of sales.

Dynamic presentation can be learned. Stage-fright and lack of projection can be overcome.

One only needs to develop a basic set of physical skills and learn the few rules of good presentation.

The following list of do’s and don’ts is gleaned from my own experience and from a number of dynamic presenters over the years, most recently from presentations by Anthony Dalton and Ivan E. Coyote.

Before your Presentation: Attend open mike nights and public readings as an observer, as much as possible.

Drink lots of water. Try to avoid eating and drinking carbonated drinks (they’ll make you belch). Above all, avoid alcohol before you read.

Relax for several minutes before your presentation, focusing on your diaphragm with deep breathing. Stretch all your limbs using tension / relaxation exercises. Exercise your jaw and tongue. Yawn.

Your diaphragm and breathing are centres of energy.

Clear your throat before going on and have a few sips of water.

Here’s a bit of good news for you. Know that nervousness is good. It produces adrenalin. “Butterflies” in the stomach are not a sign of fear but of excitement, which, properly understood and controlled, can communicate itself to the audience in terms of vital, stimulating performance.

Microphones, Sound Technicians and Co-Presentering: Find out the name(s) of the sound people and introduce yourself.

Be friendly and respectful. They know if there’s a squeal or if you’re too loud or too soft. Be patient. They know their job.

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Do not test the microphone by blowing, tapping, etc. just use a verbal “check! check! check!”

Tie the microphone to the boom.

Attend open mike nights and public readings as an observer, as much as possible.

Your Material for Presentation: Make sure you have a Readable Manuscript (Print size 14 + 1.5 to 2 line spacing.)

Make sure you’ve chosen appropriate material be flexible. You should always have alternate materials ready. For instance, what if someone before you reads something so close in style to what you have chosen. You might wish to select a different reading.

Memorize beginnings and endings.

Think of readings you’ve enjoyed. What moved you? Was it solely the written word or was it the presentation? Did the presenter have fun?

Number and mark pages with stickers at the beginning and the end of the piece. Pre-read using a stopwatch. Know the accurate length in time of your selection(s). Never run over time.

For a 5-minute reading plan 4½ minutes.

Respect and be supportive of co-presenters. Listen to their presentations and refer to them in a positive way and to something they said or read.

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Left Image: Fed of BC Writers Fraser Valley Regional Director Ben Nuttall-Smith, and Central Regional Director Sylvia Olson. A few pointers at the Presentation Skills Workshop in Kamloops.

During Your Presentation: Whether or not you use a podium, try to have your manuscript at chest level. Look out at the audience not down.

Create a connection between you and the listener. Listen closely to them and respond authentically.

If using a book, don’t bend the cover back.

Use engaging body anguage like lean forward, gesture outwards, smile. Eye contact is critical so try to look toward everyone at some time in your presentation.

Take time to get to know your audience. Be there for them, not you and your work.

Develop a relaxed posture. The entire body should be balanced but flexible, responsive and coordinated. Stand straight and easy.

Relax the shoulders.

Achieve silence with silence.

Work on ‘hand management’: no coin jiggling, hands jammed in pockets, tapping podium, etc. And if your hands are trembling, put your read-sheets on the podium.

Don’t sit unless you have to. If you do sit be aware of legs and body position. Practise in a mirror.

If standing, don’t rock, jiggle, pace etc. Use subtle body shifts for voice change. (When two or more are talking) and when emphasizing.

Don’t preamble: “This is a piece I wrote”, etc. If you need to introduce your selection or book, prepare a brief description.

Project so that everyone can hear you. Do not confuse projection with volume. Volume means degree of loudness. Projection is directing the voice to a specific target.

Enunciate. Be aware of word beginnings and endings.

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Take your time. In general, we tend to read aloud too rapidly.

Interpretation is worth the risk. Slow down. Enjoy the written word. Savor it. Feel the power and drive of the vocabulary. Use variety of tone, pitch, inflection and tempo. Some words need to be thrust out, some almost whispered. Try a tape recorder. Listen to other artists.

Don’t be afraid to imitate. Better to be remembered as a bit “kookey” than as dull and boring. Be daring. Skill will develop with practice.

Use variety. High emotional pitch must be followed with relaxation and release from tension. These rhythms must be discovered, studied carefully, and practiced for the best effect. Most people are only able to concentrate fully on any idea for a very short span of time. The writer’s variety and the reader’s change of inflection as well as timing and use of pauses will allow for fatigue and wavering attention in the audience.

Try to be smooth and regular. Avoid jerky delivery and use pauses to accentuate important points or passages.

Don’t ‘tag’ your characters even though they’re written in as “he said, she said”, just use slightly different voices.

Reading is not acting. Oral reading must be unobtrusive.

A skilled narrator brings written work to life.

Ben Nuttall-Smith has a degrees in Education and Theatre and has taught Theatre and Voice to youth and adults and directed numerous productions.

He has worked as a radio announcer and actor and gives Voice and Performance Skills Workshops for Writers, Poets and Public Speakers. He is author of two books and is Fraser Valley Rep for the Fed of BC Writers.

11

FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS

2010

Annual Report

President’s Report ~ Craig Spence

Annual General Meeting 2011

2010-2011 has been a year of awakening, struggle and renewal for the Federation of BC Writers.

In August of last year, less than three months after our last AGM, the BC Arts Council announced that our operating grant, which had already been delayed by three months, would be cut by 85 percent.

That was a very rude awakening. The reasons cited for this draconian reduction were: an over-reliance by the BC Fed on provincial operating grants; and a perception that we as an organization had not renewed programs and services to our members.

I will only note in passing the disturbing irony of a funding cut that knocked us off a proposed course of renewal, which the Board had already identified as an urgent need. Instead of continuing with those plans we were forced into crisis mode, with our decision-making centred on financial survival rather than longer term planning.

So the first thing I want to do is thank the Board and Staff for the determined steps taken to keep the Fed viable and functioning.

Past President, Margaret Thompson, Victoria; First Vice President, Louise Framst, Prince George; Treasurer, George Opacic, Vancouver; Secretary, Margo Lamont, Vancouver; Member-at-Large, Renee Sarojini Saklikar, New Westminster; Member-at-Large, Susan Greig, New Westminster; Regional Rep Central, Sylvia Olson; Regional Rep Fraser Valley, Ben Nuttall-Smith; Regional Rep The Islands, Alison Gair; Regional Rep North, Sheila Peters; Regional Rep South East, Jennifer Craig; Regional Rep Lower Mainland/Sunshine Coast, Daniela Elza.

Each of you deserves thanks for the work you have done under extraordinary circumstances to keep the dream of an organization that serves BC’s writers alive.

I especially want to thank Executive Director Sylvia Taylor and Secretary/Membership Coordinator Barbara Coleman for continuing to manage the day-to-day business of the Federation even after the Board reluctantly cut their already slim allotment of hours in half. Their dedication went above and beyond what could reasonably be expected.

Call to Order and Welcome 1. Approval of the AGM Agenda 2. Approval of Minutes of the 2010 Annual General Meeting 3. President’s Report 4. Executive Director’s Report 5. Treasurer’s Report 6. Program Reports: WordWorks Off The Page Website Literary Writes Competition 7. Community Outreach Report 8. Nomination and Election of New Directors — Vacant Board Positions 9. Open Floor for the Membership 10. Adjournment

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WORDWORKS–SPRING 2011

ANNUAL REPORT

Open Mike reader, Kami Kametsuka delights AGM participants like Dan Green.

After the initial shock of that dismal day had been absorbed, your directors and regional representatives rallied immediately.

There was never any question the Fed would weather the storm, and there is no question in my mind that we have emerged a stronger, more resilient organization. We got down to the business of rebuilding even as we joined other arts and cultural organizations that were voicing their concerns at the disproportionate scale of cuts to the arts that had been meted out by the Provincial Government.

That campaign would ultimately be successful. Our funding was largely restored in October. However the signal we received in August and in subsequent discussions with the BC Arts Council came in loud and clear. The goals of renewal and establishment of a broader funding base have continued as dominant themes for the Board over the last six months and will continue to hold centre stage in 2011-2012.

With those two overarching priorities as our backdrop, I will review some of the key decisions and measures that have been taken by the Board in the past year.

In the Program category we continued to produce Word Works, the ‘flagship’ publication of the Federation of BC Writers and the venue where members get to profile new works, share ideas and celebrate successes.

In the last issue, of course, we ran the stories of our Literary Writes winners. As usual presentation of these stories was our main contribution to the Word on the Street Festival. The Board has decided to add a Youth award to the Literary Writes competition in 2012 as part of its goal to attract more young people as members.

Off the Page was once again a huge success, sending 29

WORDWORKS–SPRING 2011

Federation authors into schools throughout BC to do readings and presentations. Many thanks to Louise Framst for all the hard work she did organizing this key program.

Finally in the program category – because it is funded through our gaming funding – the BC Federation of Writers undertook a complete redesign and re-launch of its web site: www.bcwriters.ca is our new home; our dot-com site will be grandfathered and eventually be dismantled. Susan Greig managed this huge task, logging countless hours remaking our virtual image.

I have dwelt at some length on programs because this will be an area of significant challenge for the Fed in 2011-2012. We are in the final year of a three-year contract to receive gaming funding from the Province. After this year – unless things change – those funds will dry up. Which brings me to the next section of this report – decisions the Board has taken to renew the organization and secure its place in the future.

A key decision has been to develop a comprehensive sponsorship plan. The Federation of BC Writers has 700 plus members. Bringing those members together with services that will help them develop their skills, produce and distribute their works, and achieve their goals will be the basis of mutually beneficial sponsorship agreements.

Mobilizing the membership is another high priority. The Fed is – and I hope it always will be – a member-run organization. It is your organization. The Board has formed a Membership Committee cochaired by Daniela Elza and Ben Nuttall-Smith. We are actively seeking a Volunteer Coordinator to work with that committee.

Connecting to the regions has been another preoccupation of

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FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS

Board of Directors 2011/2012 Executive Board President – Craig Spence Past President – Sylvia Taylor/Margaret Thompson Treasurer – George Opacic Secretary – Margo Lamont 1st Vice President – George Opacic (provisional) 2nd Vice President – Susan Greig Regional Directors Lower Mainland – Daniela Elza Fraser Valley – Ben Nuttall-Smith Islands – Alison Gair Central – Sylvia Olson South East – Patricia Rawson North – Sheila Peters Directors at Large 1. Renee Saklikar – Lower Mainland 2. Open for Nomination

Guest Author and featured reader, Patrick Taylor reads from Irish Works.

the Board. This year we implemented Skype meetings so that Regional Representatives can participate in most of our Board meetings. We are in the process of finalizing a program of regional grants to encourage FED sponsored programs in the six regions of the province: South East, North, Central, Fraser Valley, Vancouver/ Lower Mainland, and the Island. Increasing the FED’s presence and involvement in the regions through assistance with promotions, dedicated event funding, and organizational support will be an important focus of the Board in the coming year.

The Board is actively seeking a Youth Coordinator. The twoway benefits of appealing to young writers cannot be overstated.

The literary environment is changing. Rapidly. E-books, online story-telling, collaborative writing, melding of literary works with video and audio, print-on-demand publishing… the tide of change is in full-flow and there is no sign of it ebbing soon. In appealing to young members we as an organization have to be conscious of the changes that are affecting us all. The FED is seeking a Youth Coordinator to help with this priority.

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Regional Representative for the Island Alison Gair has been hard at work organizing a cutting edge festival, which will focus on the influences and opportunities presented by new technologies to writers.

I’ve gone on for quite a while and still there are many initiatives that have been taken and contributions made, which I haven’t touched on. To those I have left out, my apologies. I want to conclude by saying that in 2010-2011 the Board roughed out many new programs in response to the changing environment it found itself in; 2011-2012 will be a defining year for the Federation of BC Writers, as we work to implement the excellent ideas I’ve outlined.

Your support is essential to that task. I want to thank the membership for supporting the organization that supports writers in BC. What are we? We are the things already mentioned plus a whole lot more. Just follow the Federation Vox for a month and you will gain an appreciation for how diverse we are as an organization and how active the literary community in BC is.

Who are we? We are you, and without your active support we cannot be everything we want to be for BC Writers.

WORDWORKS–SPRING 2011

ANNUAL REPORT

Treasurer’s Report ~ George Opacic

Executive Director’s Report ~ Sylvia Taylor

This year has been a very difficult one with respect to the Federation’s finances. The continuing dedication and sacrifice of our two staff members – Sylvia Taylor and Barbara Coleman are very gratefully acknowledged. Through the hard work of staff and Board members we have been able to improve our financial position over the year so that services were not significantly affected. The Forecast commentary, below, explains how critical it will be to change the tragectory of our financial processes.

Throughout the challenges of 2010, The Federation maintained its level and quality of services to our growing membership. The Board also put in place much of the groundwork necessary to recover from a decline in the number of events, particularly in the outlying regions, and to diversify its revenue sources.

1. Funding Grants Updates While we were initially advised, along with other arts organizations, that we would not be receiving further public funding through 2010, the BC government did restore the majority of our expected grant funds. In August 2010, we received $15,375 through the BC Arts Council.

The Gaming Grant, Direct Access Program, provided us with $18,500.

2. External Auditors Further to the requirements of Canada Council for the Arts, and BC Gaming, the Federation must have its financial records prepared under the “Notice To Reader” format by external Auditors. We have continued to use Boyd & Company to prepare our Notice to Reader Financial Statements for the current fiscal year. Our thanks go to Marilyn Boyd for her generous and timely assistance in the preparation of our yearly financial statements.

3. Year End Financial Statements Financial Statements for the year end are available through the Fed office.

4. Forecast The Federation, along with other arts and culture groups, can expect to see continued reductions in public funding. This will become an urgent situation, if we do not significantly expand and diversify our revenue sources. In this climate of restraint directed at arts and culture organizations, there will be fewer sources of public funds.

Our alternatives for income are increasing memberships, attracting sponsorships, soliciting donations, and effectively exploiting the resources that we have for the sale of services.

The Cash Flow Forecast, available through the Fed office, shows the minimum improvements that must be achieved over 2011, in order to remain as a viable organization.

WORDWORKS–SPRING 2011

Highlights of the past year include: • an 11% increase in members; • establishment of a $500 per region incentive program to encourage events throughout BC (to be implemented beginning in 2011); • adoption of a comprehensive Sponsorship Program (already underway); • a completely new and significantly expanded website; • a designated volunteer website development and update coordinator; • initiation of social media communication (Twitter, Facebook); • quarterly issues of the Federation membership magazine WordWorks; • 12 issues of the Federation VOX, membership e-newsletter; • strong presence at nine major literary festivals/conferences throughout BC; • funding and coordination for 29 writers/authors to present in schools throughout BC; • 22nd annual literary competition with $600 in cash prizes; • formation of new committees in: Membership, Sponsorship/ fundraising, Volunteers; • sponsored public readings at literary events throughout BC; • Federation-sponsored workshops in social media for writers; • expansion of board to thirteen directors (including regional reps) to facilitate growth; • upgrade replacements of head office computer and printer; • upgrade of financial reporting systems with monthly reports to the Board; • social media communication (Twitter, Facebook) through new website; • financial support of Word On the Street Festival and Ymir Writers Festival.

Originally a chapter of the Canadian Authors’ Association, the Federation of BC Writers was incorporated in June 1976. It mission is to: foster the art and profession of writing in British Columbia; to generate a sense of community among BC writers; to provide support for writers at all stages of their careers; and to raise public awareness of the writers of BC, their work, and their contribution to regional and Canadian cultures.

15

FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS

The Federation’s long-standing and highly successful provinceThe Federation of BC Writers supports the practice of writing and innovative, engaging literary works. It has a unique wide programs include: role as BC’s only members’ organization for writers throughout • Off The Page Writers In the Schools ~ 30 writers bring their the province, but its activities dovetail with other organization expertise to the classrooms such as: the Canadian Author’s Association, which has a national • Literary Writes Competition ~ annually awards significant perspective; The Writers’ Union of Canada, which serves cash prizes in genre-themes published writers; the Periodical Writers Association of Canada, • WordWorks Literary Magazine ~ quarterly issues addressing which focuses on a specific segment of the writing community; all aspects of the writing world Pandora’s Collective, which is oriented towards literary events; the Surrey International Writers Conference, the International • Hire A Writer ~ members post their expertise for employment Writers Festival and Word on the Street, which are annual, geo• Federation VOX ~ monthly e-newsletter & blog, posting graphically situated literary events. opportunities for submissions, employment, professional developThe Federation provides consistent, comprehensive ment, readings, launches etc information and workshops for BC writers about markets, professional development, technology and trends. It is dedicated to developing the voices of BC writers in all regions. The FBCW provides leads for manuscript submissions and freelance Staff &Board work opportunities. The office receives about 130 emails and telephone calls each week from members of the public seeking All province-wide Federation services and programs serving over 750 members are managed by three paid part-time contract advice, information or resources.

Outreach is an important function of the FBCW. Regional workers (Executive Director 20 hrs/week, Administrative representatives and executive board members participate in Assistant 8 hrs/wk, and IT Specialist 2hrs/mo) from a 300 sq ft panel discussions and presentations to writing groups and rented office space in downtown Vancouver, a 12-member creative writing programs at local colleges and universities. volunteer Board of Directors (including a four-person executive They staff tables at literary festivals and writing conferences and four committees), and a corps of volunteers contributing to throughout BC, including Vancouver’s Word On The Street, the website maintenance and event coordination and service within Surrey International Readers and Writers Conference, the Powell the six geographic regions of the province: Vancouver/Sunshine River Writers’ Conference, the Shuswap Writers’ Conference, the Coast, Fraser Valley, The Islands, Central, Southeast, and Haida Gwaii Festival of the New Moon, to name a few. Regional Northern. Each region is represented by a board member who reps and members organize regular meetings, writing groups, and lives in that region and promotes writers, the arts, and the literary community in urban and rural settings in every corner of public readings throughout the province.

Materials about book launches and readings by Federation the province.

We bid farewell and our members are sent to the credeepest thanks to our board ative writing departments at Membership members who have served their BC universities and colleges.

Current members as of May 1, 2011 terms with unfailing commitThe Federation has contra adRegions Current New in past year ment, creativity, and support. vertising agreements with Southeast 64 7 The Federation of BC Writers, Geist and subTerrain magaCentral 89 16 the literary and greater commuzines and is in discussions with North 40 9 nity have been enriched by BC Bookworld. The informaFraser Valley 86 19 your phenomenal contribution. tion-rich FBCW web site is The Islands 188 20 Jennifer Craig ~ Southeast, and available to all writers and the Van/Sunshine Coast 266 38 Louise Framst ~ Vice President. community at large with links ______________________________________________ posted on the web sites of lit 733 (706 May 2010) 109 erary organizations, publications and writing groups across BC and Canada.

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WORDWORKS–SPRING 2011

ANNUAL REPORT

Volunteers ~ Margo Lamont, Board Secretary Except for .75 FTE administrative hours, the Fed is totally run by volunteer labour.

Last year the Fed’s Board of Directors was poised to further develop our volunteer program. We decided to recruit a dedicated volunteer to help us meet our goal of greatly enhancing member participation in the running of the Fed and the delivery of our programs. We are now back on track after the funding challenges of last year and are currently actively looking for an experienced Volunteer Coordinator.

We thank our 100% volunteer Board for their work and time during what turned out to be a very challenging year. Except for one spot, we had a full Board this year which meant representation all around the province.

When our president had to leave suddenly, we were fortunate have previously recruited Craig Spence who was able to move into the job seamlessly. We recruited an excellent Treasurer, George Opacic who is putting our financial house in order. And a new member-at-large, Susan Greig who has rolled up her sleeves an completely revamped our website, launched a blog and many other innovations, with help from regional rep Daniela Elza (Van/Lower Mainland) and Alison Gair (The Islands). We also give our sincere thanks & gratitude to Guillaume Levesque our former Webmaster who, although he charged us a minimal monthly maintenance fee for some of his work, also donated many hours of volunteer time on our website over many years.

Our regional reps on the Islands, Lower Mainland/Sunshine Coast, The Valley, the SouthEast, Central and the North do a lot of unsung work for this Federation of ours. They are the sinew that holds the Federation together through their communications to and from our 750+ writers spread throughout the province.

Thank you also to our members who are already involved in helping the Fed deliver our programs – volunteers who staff our tables at important literary events such as The Word on the Street, The Granville Island Readers & Writers’ Festival, The Surrey International Writers’ Conference, Powell River Writers’ Conference, Summer Dreams Festival, and many more.

We are also laying the groundwork for a Youth component to our programs and services and are currently recruiting a Youth Advisor and volunteer team.

WORDWORKS–SPRING 2011

Website ~ Susan Greig, Webmaster/Director At Large A renewed web site was one of the key objectives the board set for itself this year.

Over the past few years, feedback came to our staff, board members, and regional representatives that the Fed website was difficult to navigate and that some of the information it held no longer met the needs of members. Last fall a review of the nuts and bolts of the site and other writers’ organization sites was undertaken. To understand what members wanted conversations where held with Federation members about the website and several dummy sites were created and tested.

The board decided to move ahead with creating a new look and site with clean lines, more white space, and photos. In late December, Director Susan Greig and Leanne Campbell of Imaginewrite Communications worked on the remake and relocation of the site to www.bcwriters.ca. This included a transfer of all of the old information to the new site and since that time, Susan with the help of several volunteers has been working on updating and reorganizing the site.

A number of longstanding features of the original website were retained but there are also many new features. The new Literary Link section features workshops, festivals, organizations, reading series, writing groups and resources. The Fed Program section features enhanced Off the Page program pages, which include profile sections for each participant, and a Workshop page featuring events put on by the Fed itself. A very welcome change has occurred with the creation of a new VOX blog which contains up to date postings of events all across the province; the email version of the Vox is currently being phased out and all members are being signed up to receive postings through a subscription to the blog.

The bulk of the work is done on the new website and the old site has been retired although there is still a lot of fine-tuning to be done along with the creation of standard work processes for each aspect of website maintenance. Director Susan Greig continues to work with and train our website volunteers. We extend special thanks to Regional Reps, Daniel Elza and Alison Gair and Fed member Carol Garvin for their sharing their skills and for their hard work. We can be very proud of the fact that we now have a beautiful website with over 120 pages that better meet the needs of our members.

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FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS

LAUNCHED

My Nature

Close to Quitting Time: An Anthology Celebrating Work

Fleeting Shadows

Leaf Press, 2010

Edited By David Fraser

Spica Book Design, 2010

ISBN# 978-1-926655-10-9, $17.95

Ascent Aspirations Publishing, 2011

Christine Lowther

For half the year, Christine Lowther lives on a float house in Clayoquot Sound. The other half, she lives on pavement or moves about, restless.

Her poems come from the edges of polite society, of the ocean storm, where unexpected things happen, where changes occur. With a foot planted on each side, she has become a keen observer, a wise voice. “... shining poetry. ... This collection is a fine fusion of nature and human nature.”

—George Elliot Clarke.

Christine Lowther is the author of New Power (Broken Jaw Press), co-editor and co-author of Writing the West Coast: In Love with Place (Ronsdale Press). Her work has appeared in The New Quarterly, The Fiddlehead, Walk Myself Home, Wild Moments: Adventures with Animals of the North and elsewhere.

She lives in Clayoquot Sound where she teaches monthly writing workshops.

ISBN# 978-0-9736568-6-2, $18.95

Work is never easy. It can be drudgery; it can be bliss. If one is lucky, it is a passion that can turn every effort into a form of play. Close to Quitting Time is an anthology depicting the various facets of work.

Labour is inherent in our lives, in our memories of loved ones and in the archetypal images of a lost paradise where the first work began.

The work of the sea with its relentless waves that erode the landscape and the work of nature’s creatures add to the collective abundance of the earth. Turn over a rotting log and you will find a miniature landscape of moving things, visible and invisible, all gainfully employed.

Some of us know the graveyard shift at the mill, the hard toil of the prairie, the patience needed for customer service, the challenge of care-giving, the kneading of our daily bread, the boredom of the work camp, the slavery of the sweatshop and the struggle of thought.

In Close to Quitting Time, showcases the varied creative efforts of 68 writers, from six provinces in Canada, from 12 states in the USA and from Argentina, Britain, Israel, and Scotland.

David Fraser lives on Vancouver Island. He is editor of Ascent Aspirations Magazine.

His poetry has appeared in many journals and anthologies, including Rocksalt, An Anthology of Contemporary BC Poetry and Walk Myself Home. He has published three collections of poetry, Going to the Well (2004), Running Down the Wind (2007) and No Way Easy (2010). His fourth collection is Caught in My Throat (2011). He is the artistic director for Nanaimo’s spoken-word series, WordStorm www.wordstorm.ca.

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Kamal Parmar ISBN# 978-0-9867199-0-5, $10

Kamal Parmar has crafted verses of beauty, life, and childhood memories in India, verses that reflect her acute observation and innate sense of being in sync with nature.

Created by words that are simple but poised, her writing allows a deeper level of meaning to surface, inviting the reader to ponder awhile.

She also writes about the prairies, where she spent many years under the living skies trying to understand the language of the vast and bleak landscape.

Wisdom and naiveté, twinned with nostalgia, are juxtaposed to add to the complexity of thoughts and feelings that swell this volume so full of meaning – a journey to self-discovery.

Kamal Parmar has been passionately involved in the genres of poetry and creative nonfiction since her high school and university years. She did her Masters in English, then worked as a freelance journalist. Kamal’s desire to take up writing as a full-time profession flowered when her first poem, “A Prelude to the Evening,” was published in a popular magazine. She has a few books published in India and the UK, and numerous poetry publications in Canadian and U.S. literary journals and anthologies.

WORDWORKS–SPRING 2011

launched

This Innocent Corner

Small Mechanics

Carollyne Haynes

Peggy Herring

Lorna Crozier

Trafford Publishing, 2010

Oolichan Books, 2010

McClelland & Stewart, 2011

ISBN# 978-1-4269-2144-5, $24.95

ISBN# 978-088982-268-9, $19.95

ISBN# 978-0-7710-2329-3, $18.99

Set in Devon, England in the 1960s, Raised by Committee tells the story of an abandoned and abused young girl’s journey as she struggles to make sense of her past. At age 12, Gail is made a “ward of the courts, as being in need of moral protection.” She is placed under the care of the ubiquitous Children’s Committee and sent to live in a children’s home. Set against a backdrop of Beatlemania and the sexual revolution, Raised

by Committee chronicles Gail’s roller coaster emotional ride as she rails against the restrictions put on her life and struggles to fill the void left by her parents. As much as she resents the interference of the Children’s Committee, deep down she realizes that she needs their protection – from herself as much as anyone. Gail’s life runs the gamut from despair to hope. Just when she thinks everything is fine, it blows up in her face again and again.

Fifty-year-old Robin Rowe returns to Dhaka, Bangladesh, her first visit since she was an exchange student there in 1970. The country, then East Pakistan, was on the brink of the war that led to its independence from Pakistan.

Robin was repatriated just as the violence erupted and as a result of the conflict, lost touch with her friends, and with the Chowdhury family with whom she boarded that year.

On her return visit, Robin discovers a shocking truth about her legacy in the country.

A well-intentioned act she carried out has had disastrous repercussions. Overwhelmed with this news, she returns home to Salt Spring Island, BC where she must come to terms with the consequences of her act in Bangladesh, as well as with other unresolved parts of her life.

Making peace with her mistakes and accepting the uncertainty of her future requires her first to understand the part she has played in the conflicts in her own life, and then to become willing to engage with a world that is complex, unpredictable and sometimes as stubborn as Robin herself.

The poems in Lorna Crozier’s rich and wide-ranging new collection, a modern bestiary and a book of mourning, are both shadowed and illuminated by the passing of time, the small mechanics of the body as it ages, the fine-tuning of what a life becomes when parents and old friends are gone.

Brilliantly poised between the mythic and the everyday, the anecdotal and the delicately lyrical, these poems contain the wit, irreverence, and startling imagery for which Crozier is justly celebrated. You’ll find Bach and Dostoevsky, a poem that turns into a dog, a religion founded by cats, and wood rats that dance on shingles.

These poems turn over the stones of words and find what lies beneath, reminding us why Lorna Crozier is one of Canada’s most well-read and commanding voices.

Raised by Committee

Born in Devon, England, Carollyne has been playing with words in one form or another all her life. From editorial assistant on London’s famous Fleet Street, to regular newspaper columnist, to this, her first full-length novel, Carollyne continues to make music with her words. Her postcard fiction piece entitled “Bless You” was read on CBC’s North by Northwest.

Peggy Herring is a writer living in Victoria, BC. Her short fiction appears in literary journals and anthologies in Canada and India.

She’s lived in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, England and Japan. She’s worked as a journalist, international development consultant and volunteer, and as a teacher. This Innocent Corner is her first novel.

WORDWORKS–SPRING 2011

19

Lorna Crozier is the author of 15 previous books of poetry, including Inventing the Hawk, A Saving Grace, and The Blue Hour of the Day: Selected Poems. She is also the author of a memoir (winner of the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize) and the editor of several anthologies. Born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, she now lives in BC and teaches at the University of Victoria.

FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS

Into the Heart of the Country

Made That Way

Pauline Holdstock

Susan Ketchen

HarperCollins Publishers, 2011

Oolichan Books, 2011

ISBN# 978-1554686346, $32.99

ISBN# 978-088982-270-2, $12.95

Into the Heart of the Country explores the relationship between the English fur traders in Churchill, Manitoba, and the native women on whom they relied on for their survival. It is a vivid literary interpretation of the historical research begun by Sylvia Van Kirk into the complex role played by women in Canada’s fur trade culture. However, unlike Van Kirk, Holdstock eschews notions of ‘tender ties’ in favour of presenting the crude survival tactics employed by both men and women. […]

Holdstock’s writing manages to be both heartbreakingly poetic and densely detailed.”

In this stand-alone sequel to Born That Way, Sylvia has begun medical treatment for her genetic disorder but, as usual, not all goes according to plan. Sylvia must develop a deeper understanding of what “normal” means, and decide how important it is to get there.

In Sylvia’s opinion, it’s really not the right time for her to have her own horse, but Grandpa ships one to her anyway, a small grey he thinks is the perfect match. True enough, Brooklyn is as strong-minded and spirited as Sylvia. So it’s odd that Kansas doesn’t seem to like him, and refuses to explain why.

This is a heartfelt, funny continuation of Sylvia’s misadventures in which she experiments with the ways of the boss mare and learns how to influence those around her, and how to take charge of her own life.

—The Globe & Mail, March 25, 2011.

Pauline Holdstock is a Canadian citizen who has lived in Canada for almost 30 years.

She writes novels, short fiction, and essays. Her books have been published in the UK, the U.S., Brazil, Portugal, Australia, and Germany, as well as in Canada. Her novel Beyond Measure was a finalist for the 2004 Giller Prize and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize (Canada & Caribbean Region), and won the BC Book Prizes’ Ethel Wilson Award for Fiction in 2005.

She also writes nonfiction and was the winner of the Prairie Fire Personal Journalism Prize (2000). Pauline has taught at the Victoria School of Writing and the University of Victoria.

My Wonderful Nightmare: Spiritual Journals Inspired by Cancer

Susan Ketchen was born in Nanaimo, BC. A lifelong amateur equestrian, she admits to pursuing an alarming number of professional careers—including many years as a family therapist—before returning to an early interest in writing. She now resides on a small Vancouver Island hobby farm with her husband, two cats, two horses, and a flock of mostly geriatric chickens.

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Erin Higgins And Alma Lightbody Trafford Publishing, 2010 ISBN# 978-142518-725-5, $18

A shocking diagnosis of ovarian cancer at age 31 forces Erin to question her very existence and life purpose. Her dance with cancer inspires her to bare her soul through her journals which guide her to teach and share with others.

Erin’s research, studies, and practical experiences are revealed in detail to enable everyone to learn what she learns, especially about “listening to your body.” As her body begins to deteriorate, Erin shares the last part of her journey and faces the reality of dying. Part Two shares deeply revealing stories from others about Erin’s process after death and how she “bridges” the two worlds through metaphysical forms of communication.

Erin Higgins was actually diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 31 and began journaling her experiences, treatments, and emotions. Erin was always a storyteller: outspoken, animated and funny. But, this time the story is about her and she speaks to the reader with intimate and gut-wrenching honesty.

Alma Lightbody has degrees in Medical Technology, an MBA in business, and multiple certificates in Holistic Health and Shamanic Healing with her last 20 years focused on energy medicine. Alma worked closely with Erin as a wellness practitioner and is proud to be co-author of this book.

WORDWORKS–SPRING 2011

launched

No Way Easy

Collected Poems of Patrick Lane

No Way Easy

Blue Saltwater

Edited And With An Introduction By Donna Bennett And Russell Morton Brown, With An Afterword

By Nicholas Bradley

David Fraser

Dan Green

Ascent Aspirations Publishing, 2010

Amazon.com, 2010

ISBN# 978-0-9736568-4-8, $16.95

ISBN# 9781451581249, $10USD

No Way Easy, David Fraser’s third collection of poetry, is raw and candid in its responsive reflection on the universal journey towards awareness. He begins with observations from a state of shock produced by the entrance into the unconsciousness of the world. From there he moves through the chaos and trauma of growing up and delves into memory and epiphany in a life of ordinary circumstance seen through extraordinary eyes. This is a journey we all must take, surviving the shock of childhood and adolescence and becoming our own unique selves, free of the pain and suffering of the past.

These poems are narratives that will strike a chord and evoke in the reader his or her own different but similar stories.

Revenge turns a homecoming celebration into tragedy when fire kills the family of 16-year-old aboriginal Blue Saltwater, destroying his boyhood dreams and forcing his relocation from the pristine islands of Haida Gwaii to the St. Ignatius Residential School for Boys. Exiled and forgotten within this predatory cauldron of thugs and pedophiles, Blue executes a daring escape and reveals the abusive underworld of Brother Denny Boyle.

A harrowing trip through the wild back country of British Columbia leads Blue to Vancouver where he is overwhelmed by the excitement and false glitter of the notorious Downtown East Side, extinguishing his desire to return home and leading to his descent into addiction. A chance encounter with a remnant of his past brings rehabilitation and a journey by sail along the rugged northwest coast to return Blue to his island home so that he may regain his ancestral birthright. Disaster strikes off the rocky shoals of Cape St. James and presents Blue with the ultimate challenge to his survival and the reclamation of the life that was stolen from him years before.

Harbour Publishing, 2011 ISBN 978-1-55017-547-9, $44.95

This volume represents the accumulated richness of 50 year’s work by one of Canada’s most important poets, Patrick Lane. Here, the reader can see how he developed from an engaged recorder of difficult experience—even traumatic violence— into a master poet whose meditations on nature, human frailty, and love allow him to balance the world’s suffering with stunning moments of transcendent beauty and a vision of peace.

Lane expresses himself in a variety of forms and tones—in turn despairing and rejoicing, tender and brutal, imagistic and elegiac, deeply personal and universal. As Nicholas Bradley observes, in an afterword written for this volume: “The journey that Lane’s works trace has been long and difficult but, as this collection demonstrates, his poems achieve both understanding and grace.”

Edited by two distinguished scholars of Canadian literature, this long-overdue book gathers a lifetime of work. Ranging from “Letters from a Savage Mind” (1966) to “Witness” (2010), this collection contains more than 400 poems (many revised for this publication) and demonstrates the breadth of Lane’s achievement.

David Fraser lives in Nanoose Bay, on Vancouver Island. He is the founder and editor of Ascent Aspirations Magazine, since 1997. His poetry and short fiction have appeared in many journals and anthologies; he has published three collections of poetry – Going to the Well (2004), Running Down the Wind (2007), and No Way Easy (2010). To keep out of trouble, he helps develop Nanaimo’s spoken-word series, (www.wordstorm.ca).

Patrick Lane is the author of more than 20 books of poetry, a novel, a book of short stories, and a memoir. The Montreal Gazette called his memoir, There Is a Season, a “tour de force that will break your heart and put it back together again.” His poetry has won nearly every literary prize Canada offers, including the Governor General’s Award.

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Dan Green (www.dangreen.ca) practiced general dentistry in West Vancouver before retiring in 2003. Since then, besides working part-time with the Faculty of Dentistry at UBC, he has studied with the University of British Columbia Writing Centre. Blue Saltwater is his first novel. Dr. Green and his wife currently split their time between British Columbia and Arizona.

FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS

Shrinking Violets

From the Coast to Turkey and Back: Watercolours and Drawings

Rocky Mountain Tales

Quattro Books (Toronto), 2011

Paul Harris Jones

Trafford Publishing, 2010

ISBN# 978-1-926802-36-7, $16.95

Seabird Press Limited, 2010

Heidi Greco

Aside from the fact that she was born with bright orange hair, Reggie has always felt pretty ordinary. She works as a supermarket cashier, and her life as a single mother isn’t exactly what she’d wanted. But just when things start going the way she thinks they’re supposed to, she discovers even that road isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

“As gripping a read as you’re likely to come upon…”

—Dave Margoshes, author of Bix’s Trumpet and Other Stories.

“Shrinking Violets is an atmospheric, spooky novella of dreams and secrets… but the heart of the story is the bond between a loving mother and son.”

—Mark Anthony Jarman, author of My White Planet.

Aside from having been employed as a cashier in a supermarket, Heidi Greco doesn’t have a lot in common with Reggie, the main character in Shrinking Violets. She lives in Surrey, BC where she now works as a writer, editor, and instructor. Heidi’s collections of poetry are Siren Tattoo and Rattlesnake Plantain (both from Anvil Press). Her poems have appeared in many anthologies, including A Verse Map of Vancouver and radiant danse uv being. In 2009, Lipstick Press published A: The Amelia Poems, a limited edition chapbook about Amelia Earhart. Shrinking Violets is her first novella and co-winner of the 2011 Ken Klonsky Novella Contest.

ISBN# 938-0-968549-84-1, $29

This collection is a third in a series of Jones travel books showing his versatility, this time as an accomplished artist, following two earlier volumes of poetry and short stories.

Bookended by self-portraits and studded with fine sketches along the way, in From the Coast, here we have delicate and transparent water colours of landscapes and birds encountered on his travels from his home on the Sunshine Coast to Vancouver, the Interior, across Canada and eventually to London, Portugal, and Turkey where he lived for five years.

Paul Harris Jones studied art in London, Vancouver and Ottawa. He lives in Vancouver and on the Sunshine Coast with his wife, Mavis Jones, poet and writer. Paul has written and illustrated several other books, including Shaheen, a book on falconry and another dealing with the threatened marbled murrelet.

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Arlene Pervin ISBN# 978-1-4269-3170-3

Rocky Mountain Tales is an eclectic collection of stories about the developing West. These original excerpts, taken from a variety of regional newspapers and other sources, reveal the world as it was then. They tell of adventurers and entrepreneurs, of fishing tales, cougars and high diving elk.

“Of Men and Ink” is about three early newspaper men whose writing reveals the voices of the developing West. Through humour, political satire and commentary, Pervin’s stories reveal what life was like—and their vision for the West—as written by men and women who wrote of their time and place and dared to cross the line in words.

Rocky Mountain Tales is available through Amazon, the Trafford bookstore and at regional bookstores in the Kootenays. Kootenay Tales, another collection of stories, is also available.

Arlene Pervin was born in Montréal and graduated from McGill University with a BA. She has worked in several libraries and in an independent bookstore. When she’s not reading or writing, she pursues one of her many interests—gardening, baking bread, studying Spanish and dragon boating. Arlene is currently working on a series of personal essays.

WORDWORKS–SPRING 2011

launched

The Book of It

The Amazing Foot Race of 1921: Halifax to Vancouver in 134 Days

The Canterbury Trail

iCrow Publications, 2011

Shirley Tucker

Brindle and Glass Press, 2011

ISBN# 978-0-9869441-0-9, eBook, $2.99

Heritage House Publishing, 2011

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/the-book-of-It-

ISBN 978-1-926936-05-5, $19.95

Daniela Elza

ebook/dp/B004VNLWV8/

Nothing can prepare us for what is about to be experienced. In the case of creativity and imagination nothing really should. So what is a description to do? This poetic approach to it is about that which cannot be named, but can be pervasive in our lives (if we let it). It is about our being and becoming in the inconclusive manuscript of life.

“When it comes to the gap between education and learning, Daniela ‘gets it.’ She happily explores it with her playfulness and unique poetic forms, writing in and out of the spaces between the brick and block buildings and the playgrounds filled with the ‘petals,’ ‘thought,’ the ‘hollows of trees,’ and where you might find ‘a blue guitar with one string.’

The Book of It hopscotches its way between poetry and philosophy, and invites the reader to join in its fun.”

—Al Rempel, poet (understories, Caitlin Press, 2010) and alternate teacher.

“Without doubt, The Book of It is a pleasant surprise even to itself.”

—Arlene Ang, editor of The Pedestal Magazine, and author of seeing birds in church is a kind of adieu (Cinnamon Press, 2010).

Daniela Elza’s work appears in over 50 publications. The Book of It is Daniela’s first ebook. Her full length poetry book, The Weight of Dew, is forthcoming with Mother Tongue Publishing (Spring, 2012).

It was February 1st, 1921, and more than 2,000 people had come out to cheer husband and wife Jenny & Frank Dill as they took the first steps of a hiking race that would take them from Halifax to Vancouver in 134 days. Last to enter, the Dills faced long odds of catching Dartmouth postman Jack Behan and his son Clifford, already 160 miles ahead. Soon the entire nation was caught up in the daily drama of the five contestants. The hike became Canada’s amazing race, a welcome antidote to a bleak economy, high unemployment and a nation still healing from the scars of war.

Shirley Jean Roll Tucker is a Canadian theatre director, designer, and playwright whose works include Ratz ‘n Alma-An Intrigue; The Queen Of The Shuswap; You’re Loving, Kind And True, Jack Boy; Hey, Nurse! Sowing Seeds In Danny, a musical adaptation of Nellie McClung’s novel; The Supper Waltz; Annie’s Solitude; The Last Supper of Nadya Stali; Morning is Wiser Than Evening (A Baba Yaga Tale). A Fine Arts teacher before becoming a writer, she is active in BC theatre and has produced, designed, and directed numerous main stage productions.

The Amazing Foot Race of 1921 is her first book of nonfiction. Born and raised in Alberta, Shirley now lives on a heritage property in the Shuswap region of BC.

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Angie Abdou ISBN: 978-1-897142-50-9, $19.95

It’s the last ski weekend of the season and a mishmash of snow enthusiasts is on its way to a remote backwoods cabin. In an odd pilgrimage through the mountains, the townsfolk of Coalton—from the ski bum to the urbanite— embark on a bizarre adventure that walks the line between comedy and tragedy. As the rednecks mount their sleds and the hippies snowshoe through the cedar forest, we see rivals converge for the weekend. While readers follow the characters on their voyage up and over the mountain, stereotypes of ski-town culture fall away. Loco, the ski bum, is about to start his first real job; Alison, the urbanite, is forced to learn how to wield an avalanche shovel; and Michael, the real estate developer, is high on mushroom tea.

In a blend of mordant humour and heartbreak, Angie Abdou chronicles a day in the life of these industrious few as they attempt to conquer the mountain. In an avalanche of action, Angie Abdou explores the way in which people treat their fellow citizens and the landscape they love.

Angie Abdou is a fiction writer and teacher who has a PhD. BC BookWorld called her short story collection, Anything Boys Can Do, an “extraordinary literary debut.” The Globe & Mail praised her first novel, The Bone Cage, for its “beautiful writing.” She has been involved in writing programs throughout the country.

Raised in Moose Jaw, she now lives in Fernie and teaches at the College of the Rockies.

FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS

Vernal Equinox

Singing Away the Dark

Penny Loves Wade, Wade Loves Penny

Manolis

Written By Caroline Woodward Illustrated By Julie Morstad

Caroline Woodward

Simply Read Books, 2010

—from a starred Quill & Quire review.

Caroline Woodward’s second novel returns to her Peace River roots with a contemporary story about middle-aged love enduring despite prolonged separations. The story winds around Penny Toland, resolute ranch wife and part-time teacher and her husband, Wade, reluctant rancher and good man, adrift behind the wheel of his long-haul truck.

Wade loops south on an odyssey from the Peace River region to the West Coast, then across the province through the Okanagan. At home, Penny endures covetous neighbours, notso-friendly bank managers, and suave strangers intent on access to their land, while Wade encounters Lotus Landers, biker gangs, and a ravishing all-woman country punk band from Smithers called The Sireens, amongst other temptations.

A retelling of Homer’s classic Odyssey, as well as a tribute to hardworking ranch and farm couples who work as a team and endure the vagaries of the climate, the markets and the romance-corroding strain of financial hardship, this novel—rather than replicate the wars of ancient Greece—examines the lingering effects of World War One on three generations of a family.

“Very few books about six-year-olds can show kids that age act in realistically brave ways.”

“Caroline Woodward is a BC writer who’s far from average and well worth getting to know.”

—School Library Journal.

—Rebecca Wigod, Vancouver Sun.

Caroline Woodward (www.carolinewoodward. ca) grew up in BC’s Peace River country, has published six books for adults and children and is now writing and working as a relief lightkeeper, based on Lennard Island near Tofino.

Caroline Woodward (www.carolinewoodward.ca) grew up in BC’s Peace River country, has published six books for adults and children and is now writing and working as a relief lightkeeper, based on Lennard Island near Tofino.

Ekstasis Editions, 2011 ISBN# 978-1-897430-69-9, $21.95

“In Vernal Equinox, his third volume of poetry from Ekstasis, Manolis is at his most intimately eloquent and passionately exuberant. As with Ovid, as with Neruda, the quotidian and the ordinary are transcended by Eros. The poems in this volume are taut, lyrical and informed by a powerful and subtle music, infused by unsentimental directness and sensual precision.

Working within the domain of consciouslyreduced perceptions, Manolis pushes language to its outer edge, locating the sayable within the shifting tumult of the real. Moment to moment the poems move through the world, rooted in a dark radiance and a luminous energy, charged with sensuality and grace.”

—Richard Olafson, poet.

Manolis was born in a small village, Kolibari, on the island of Crete in 1947. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Sciences at the Panteion University of Athens. In Vancouver he attended SFU for a year, taking English Literature in a non-degree program. He has written three novels; a large number of collections of poetry, which are slowly appearing as published works; and various articles and short stories in Greek as well as in English.

ISBN: 978-1-8974478-41-3, $18.95

What is a Grade One girl to do when the school bus stop is a mile away in the mid-winter darkness? When the obstacles include barbwire gates, snowdrifts obliterating the road, a cranky bull and the icy north wind, as well as unseen thumps and hoots and howls in the bush?

Caroline Woodward transformed her childhood fears by singing her little head off and then hiding behind large poplar trees to safely cross a farmyard filled with cattle. Thanks to a kind and watchful neighbour, strong lungs and a good imagination, the six-year-old manages to reach the school bus on time.

Singing Away has been nominated by the Canadian Library Association for the 2011 Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award for Best Illustrated Picture Book and for the 2011 Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Award in Ontario, which is decided by school children.

“This quietly stunning tale empowers all young children—whether they get to school by snowshoe or SUV—to overcome fear with imagination.”

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Oolichan, 2010 ISBN: 978-088982-267-2, tpb $18.95

WORDWORKS–SPRING 2011

launched

W.B. Yeats and George Yeats: The Letters

Demeter Goes Skydiving

Edited By Ann Saddlemyer

University of Alberta Press, 2011

Susan Mccaslin

Oxford University Press, 2011

ISBN #: 978-0-88864-551-7, $19.95

ISBN# 978-0-19-818438-6, $59.95

During the 22 years of their married life, W.B. and George Yeats corresponded regularly and fully whenever they were apart. They discussed his writing and other projects, their family and friends, and the social, artistic, and political scene in Ireland and the United Kingdom in far more detail than with anyone else. Both were splendid and enchanting storytellers; Yeats wrote to his wife, “You are much the best letter writer I know, or have known.”

The letters include fascinating drafts of poems, statements of belief, candid descriptions of people and events and, in some cases, offer biographical and historical corrections to the popular narrative of Yeats’s life. The letters— many never before published—not only tell the story of the marriage of two minds and the world they created, but also illuminate how Yeats worked on his writing and reveal a refreshing image of the poet as a family man.

Ann Saddlemyer has published extensively on Irish and Canadian theatre and edited the plays of J.M. Synge, Lady Gregory and the letters between the founding directors of the Abbey theatre. Her edition of the letters of Synge received an award from the British Academy and more recently, Becoming George, her authorized biography of Mrs. W.B. Yeats, was shortlisted for the James Tait Black Memorial Prize.

What if Demeter, the timeless fertility goddess of ancient Greek myth, slipped through a crack into the 21st century, shook off her ankle bracelets, corn tassels, and garlands, and began a tour of our improbable culture?

Award-winning poet Susan McCaslin exercises the profound mother/daughter trauma forged in the Demeter-Persephone myth with unapologetic modernity. This sequence takes on a novel life all its own: Hades steals away the maiden into a cult/culture of distorted body image, addiction, high anxiety, and rampant consumerism. Mother Demeter must negotiate this alien world of health clubs, paparazzi, and so-called reality shows locked in spiritual winter. McCaslin’s lyrics are by turns profound, hilarious, and devastating as she journeys to the heart of a mother’s love for her daughter.

Susan McCaslin (www.susanmccaslin.ca) is a prize-winning author of 11 volumes of poetry and eight chapbooks. Her work has appeared in literary journals across Canada and the U.S. She has edited two poetry anthologies, is on the editorial board of Event, and is an editorial consultant for The Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion. She completed her MA in English at Simon Fraser University and her PhD at UBC. After 23 years as an Instructor of English and Creative Writing at Douglas College in New Westminster, Susan is now a full-time writer, giving poetry workshops, talks, and readings. She lives in Fort Langley, BC.

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Underwater Robotics: Science, Design & Fabrication

Co-Authors: Dr Steven W. Moore, Harry Bohm, Vickie Jensen Illustrations: Nola Johnston Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center of Monterey, CA; 2010 ISBN# 978-0-9841737-0-9, $99.95

This unusual textbook introduces students, educators, and other aspiring inventors to the littleknown world of subsea technology. Each chapter begins with a true-life scenario that sets the stage for the ocean science, physics, math, electronics, and engineering concepts that follow. This 770page resource includes step-by-step plans for building a basic shallow-diving robot plus a “What’s Next?” section with ideas for modifications and more complex projects. Underwater Robotics features over 500 illustrations, diagrams and photos of underwater craft, several resource appendices, an extensive glossary and index.

“This is the text and reference book that underwater robotics educators have been waiting for.”

—Drew Michel, Marine Technology Society, ROV Committee Chair.

“This is the most comprehensive book written to date on remotely operated vehicles (ROVs)…such useful detail that many interested readers will be encouraged to learn more, thanks to the authors’ well-conceived presentation.”

—William P. Stewart, SNAME member and past chairman, Offshore Committee.

Vickie Jensen has co-authored other successful books on this unusual subject. Build Your Own Underwater Robot & Other Wet Projects, written with Harry Bohm, has sold over 17,000 copies and is in its 10th edition. Vickie’s company, Westcoast Words, (www.westcoastwords) handles worldwide distribution.

FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS

Mystery of the Missing Luck Jacqueline Pearce Illustrated By Leanne Franson

Blood, Feathers and Holy Men

Henry Hamster Esquire

Ben Nuttall-Smith

Ben Nuttall-Smith

Libros Libertad, 2011

Libros Libertad, 2010

Orca Book Publishers, 2011

ISBN 978-1-926763-10-1, $23

ISBN# 978-0-9865938-1-9, $14.95

ISBN# 978-1-55469-396-2, $6.95

In this 10th century story, an Irish priest and some monks, shipwrecked in the Hebrides, are taken as slaves by Norse traders. Following a series of cataclysmic events, they are stranded, with another young slave and two Norsemen, on the coast of a strange new land where they meet an indigenous people with an amazing culture and civilization.

Blood, Feathers and Holy Men is a search for spiritual truth. It also tells a fascinating and sometimes violent tale of Quétzalcoatl, the same mythical Mexican deity who, 500 years later, would convince Montezuma that the marauding Spanish conquistador, Cortez, was the god Quétzalcoatl returned as promised.

Henry Hamster is snatched from his cage by Ginger, the family cat. The adventures that follow include further pursuit by Ginger, an unwitting rescue by Jeremy, the German Shepherd, meeting a rat named Reginald Repulsive and a grass snake that eats mice.

The story ends happily when Henry is found by his master, Billy, in the garden tool shed.

Sara loves her grandmother’s bakery. It’s a special place, not only because of its delicious Japanese buns and pastries, but because of the time Sara spends there with Obaachan, her grandmother. But things aren’t going well for the bakery. When Naneki Neko, the bakery’s lucky cat statue, goes missing, Sara wonders if the bakery’s luck is gone for good. Then a mysterious cat appears in the back yard one night and inspires a plan. With the help of her friend, Jake, Sara just might find the statue and restore the bakery’s lost luck.

This chapter book is part of the Orca Echoes series for beginning readers.

Jacqueline Pearce (www.jacquelinepearce. ca; www.wildink.wordpress.com) is the author of several novels for children, including Discovering Emily, about the childhood of artist Emily Carr, and Manga Touch, a contemporary story for reluctant teen readers, as well as Weeds and Other Stories, a collection of young adult short stories with Thistledown Press.

Flood Warning (working title), a chapter book about the Fraser River flood of 1948, will be out next spring. Jacqueline has degrees in English Literature and Environmental Studies.

“If you enjoyed Gary Jennings’ Aztec, NuttallSmith’s Blood Feathers and Holy Men is the book you’ve been waiting for. This blending of Irish, Norse, and Pre-Columbian mythology will keep you turning pages.”

—Patrick Taylor, New York Times and Globe & Mail best-selling author of the Irish Country series.

Ben Nuttall-Smith taught music, theatre, art, and language until he retired in 1991. He now lives in Crescent Beach, near Vancouver BC, where he writes, paints, makes music, and travels with his best friend and soulmate. He has published three books of poetry: Word Paintin;, Splashes of Light; and Scribbles from Afar; and an illustrated children’s story, Henry Hamster Esquire.

Ben Nuttall-Smith taught music, theatre, art, and language until he retired in 1991. He now lives in Crescent Beach, near Vancouver BC, where he writes, paints, makes music, and travels with his best friend and soulmate. He has published three books of poetry: Word Paintin;, Splashes of Light; and Scribbles from Afar; and an illustrated children’s story, Henry Hamster Esquire.

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WORDWORKS–SPRING 2011

COMMUNITY

REGIONAL REPORTS

Lower Mainland/Sunshine Coast Daniela Elza, Vancouver dandelionwings@gmail.com Rita Wong’s book, forage, was one of the five finalists in CBC’s Canada Reads Poetry 2011. Sonnet L’Abbe selected and defended the book: http:// www.cbc.ca/books/ canadareads/ Irene Butler arrived back mid-March from five months of travel in the Middle East and Vietnam. Her first spring promotion reading and book signing for Trekking the Globe with Mostly Gentle Footsteps held March 23 at the Dunbar Public Library in Vancouver was a success with a record turnout.

Julie H. Ferguson has been delivering E-books, E-readers, and E-publishing: Are You ready? to full houses. She is preparing the third edition of Book Magic: Turning Writers into Published Authors to reflect the explosion in e-publishing. It should be available for all mobile devices by June.

Kevin Spenst, along with Ray Hsu, Andrea Bennett, and Kim Fu, read at 125 venues in one day on April 21 for poetry month. The team biked from coffee shop to book store to ice cream parlour, to share their athletic aesthetic of haikus, free verse and the occasional performance art poem.

The day ended with full readings by each poet at the Vancouver Public Library.

Kevin also read at the OCW 5-year anniversary party at the Waldorf as well as at Spartacus books where he read from a collection of poems that were short-listed for the Robert Kroetsch Award for Innovative Poetry.

Irene Livingston’s poem, Fusion was published in the new Verse Afire, put out by TOPS, The Ontario Poetry Society.

Hendrik Slegtenhorst had three poems appear recently in Winnipeg’s Prairie Fire, and work forthcoming in Vancouver’s Canadian Literature, Saskatoon’s Grain, and Waterloo’s The New Quarterly.

Curtis and the Conclave of Invertebrates made the long list in the recent CBC Literary Awards in the long poem category.

Michael Hetherington recently launched a website to promote himself as a writer: www.michaelhetherington.ca. He has started to post a fragment of fiction on the site every day and intends to continue for 600 days. All these mostly three sentence fragments/stories are from his book The Archive Carpet.

Cullene Bryant graduated this year from The Writer’s Studio S.F.U. Betsy Warland, the director, has gifted writers with a great learning experience. In her year at the studio, Bryant published The Machine in emerge anthology, Compulsion in The Toronto Quarterly and Party Time in The Dalhousie.

Allan Brown read from his new poetry collection, One Way or Another, at a presentation by the Malaspina Writers Association (Powell River) on January 20.

On May 14 Kate Braid read at the Nanaimo Mayworks Festival with Kim Goldberg. Evan Westre worked with her on guitar. Kate and Kim first led a workshop on writing about your own work.

In honour of graduating, Daniela Elza (now Dr.) launched the book of it (her first foray into eBooks). She had a poem published in Quills, three collaborated poems in TheBluePrintReview #27, and one in Other Voices. Two of her poems also found a home in Close to Quitting Time Anthology.

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Fraser Valley Ben Nuttall-Smith, Crescent Beach bnuttall_smith@shaw.ca Thirteen scribblers attended our January Fraser Valley Meet & Greet at a White Rock coffee shop where writers had to compete with a group of Ham Radio buffs for air-time.

Lynda Grace Philippsen’s creative-non fiction entry was chosen as a finalist in the 2010 CBC Literary Awards Competition, from more than 500 submissions. “Pure Wool” is a tightly-layered story with a wide arc. Four generations, revolution, emigration, resettlement, and inheritance are compressed into a symbol: a wool blanket. You can read the story at Lynda’s website www.thewayofwords.com.

Lois Peterson’s fourth book for Orca Book Publishers has been accepted for spring 2011 publication. Tentatively entitled STALKER this is a hi-lo novel for teens in Orca’s popular Currents series.

Sylvia Taylor has signed a book contract with Heritage House to publish in summer 2012, The Fisher Queen, her literary memoir on the BC fishing industry.

She has done numerous readings from the manuscript, throughout Canada and the US at public events and writing conferences. She presented writing and editing workshops in The Shuswap and the Powell River Writers’ Conference in addition to her ongoing Level I and II Creative Writing courses in South Surrey/White Rock.

In January, Rebecca Cool received a good review for Fly Catcher Boy from Kids Book in Australia on http://www.kidsbookreview.com/

FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS

Ben Nuttall-Smith has a story published in the Silver Anniversary edition of Poemata, The Canadian Poetry Association Magazine. He received Honourable Mention in the Winter 2010 edition of LUCIDITY for his poem “Handyman’s Delight”. Several poems appear in Cyclamens and Swords. Ben read from his new novel, Blood, Feathers & Holy Men, in La Manzanilla, Mexico, in February, which raised money for local charities. Ben also read at a men’s breakfast in the same village. In March, he read at Renaissance Books in New Westminster, the TWS Reading Series in Vancouver, as well as four Sundays at Tanglewood Books in Vancouver. In April, he read with four other poets at the White Rock Library and launched his historical novel in Sechelt April 7, The Well in Victoria April 17, and at Type Books in Toronto May 30. He also presented his Dynamic Presenter workshop to a group of writers in Kamloops April 9.

Manolis Aligizakis read from two books as feature speaker at the Well in Victoria March 31 as well as White Rock library April 3, April 9 at the Newton Public Library, April 10 at the Greek Community Center in Vancouver, and April 15 in Parksville BC. Libros hosted a poetry night in cooperation with The Nile Creek Enhancement Society.

Max Tell’s latest CD, Monkey Mumbo Jumbo, will be included in the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s 2011 issue of Best Books for Kids and Teens.

Susan McCaslin’s new volume of poetry, Demeter Goes Skydiving (University of Alberta Press, April 2011), was launched in Fort Langley April 15 and Vancouver May 7 at the Canadian Memorial Centre for Peace. She launch in Edmonton on April 27 and toured in the Toronto area in early June.

In April, Fauzia Rafique presented her new novel Skena, in Punjabi (Gurumukhi and Shahmukhi) in Surrey

and at the Hellenic Community Centre in Vancouver.

Thuong Vuong-Riddick gave a reading of her books, Two Shores and The Evergreen Country at Fairleigh Dickinson University March, 2011.

In April, musician/writer Chuck Walker launched his 13th book, The Monk, published through his own publishing company, Band Factory Publishing.

Rebecca Kool presented Fly Catcher Boy in old-style Japanese storytelling, Kamishibai, (paper theatre) first during Sakura Days-Japan Fair at Van Dusen Gardens, April 2/3, accompanied by her husband/advisor, Takeshi and also gave two readings April 9 at Nitobe Gardens, on the UBC campus. Joining other artists and musicians April 12, Fly Catcher Boy was showcased at the Rotary Club’s Random Acts of Culture wine and dine on West Beach, White Rock, celebrating BC Arts and Culture Week. April 17, Rebecca and six other South Surrey/White Rock authors appeared at the Friends of White Rock Library’s Family Day where children and adults heard readings and visited author tables to meet and talk with children’s book writers.

Robert Martens read his narrative poetry at an evening of Mennonite Storytelling April 1 at the House of James in Abbotsford. On April 14, at the University of the Fraser Valley, he read several of his poems that are included in Louden Singletree, the university journal of writing and fine arts.

Islands Region Alison Gair, Victoria alison@downtownvictoria.ca Yvonne Blomer’s poems were shortlisted for the CBC Literary Awards and The Malahat Review Long Poem Prize.

She also organizes the Planet Earth Poetry reading series in Victoria (planetearthpoetry.blogspot.com).

Lorna Crozier read from Small Mechanics at the Ottawa Writers Festival, the Drumheller Library, the Medicine Hat Library and the VIWF. David Fraser launched his third poetry collection, No Way Easy. He performed in several Swiss cities and at Back Page Books, Planet Earth Poetry, Tongues of Fire, Acoustic Café, WordStorm, Wellington Library & Harbourfront Library, MayWorks Poetry Festival, Cambridge Arts Festival, Coffee Culture Café, and Hazelwood Writers Festival; he participated in Random Acts of Poetry and Off The Page 2011.

Kim Goldberg launched the re-issue of Ride Backwards On Dragon at the Galliano Literary Festival, where she also led Writing as Internal Alchemy. Her poetry and fiction have recently appeared in Literary Review of Canada, Poetry Is Dead, West Coast Line, ditch, and Quitting Time.

Picture by Carole Davis Left to right…Jean Ballard, Bernice Ramsdin-Firth, Tom Masters, Sylvia Holt, Liz Forbes, Carol Anne Wilkins The Chemainus Writers lift their coffee cups in celebration of ten years of a successful writers group. We have met nearly every two weeks, sharing, reading and critiquing our own and each others work. As you can see from the picture, food and laughter play an important role but a love of writing is the real attraction that keeps our group alive.

All of us are published in one way or another and all have novel length manuscripts waiting to be discovered.

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Katherine Gordon’s history of the McElhanney Group, Maps, Mountains & Mosquitos, won a silver medal for the 2011 Axiom Business Book Awards – Corporate History.

Beauty Queen, a short story by Margaret Gracie, was just published by West Virginia based literary journal Kestrel.

Carollyne Haynes read from Raised

by Committee at libraries in Qualicum Beach, Parksville, Campbell River, Courtenay, and Nanaimo. She spoke at Sunrise Rotary, the Qualicum Beach Heritage Society, and local book clubs.

Peggy Herring’s debut novel This Innocent Corner (Oolichan Books) launched in November 2010 with readings in Victoria, Vancouver, Seattle, Nanaimo, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and in her hometown of Alliston, Ontario.

Pauline Holdstock’s Into The Heart Of The Country (HarperCollins Canada) was launched at the VIWF. Roy Innes enjoyed excellent reviews for Murder in the Chilcotin (the 3rd of his Inspector Coswell mysteries). He read at Touchwood Editions’ At The Mike and participated in Read Dating 2011.

The Nanaimo Museum’s Literary Luminaries (8 local authors chatting with the public) event featured Kenn Joubert and Joyce Yardley. Joyce also presented one of her poems at the Nanaimo Public Library.

Susan Ketchen released Made That Way (Oolichan Books), a stand-alone sequel to Born That Way. Harbour Publishing is currently releasing The Collected Poems of Patrick Lane.

“The Waters of My Birth”, by Linda Langwith, was shortlisted in the Burnaby Writers’ Society Poetry Contest.

My Wonderful Nightmare (by Erin Higgins and Alma Lightbody) launched November 2010 at A Celebration of Local Authors.

Desmond Lindo read from his handmade chapbook, Nuts in May: Nursery Rhymes to Celebrate an Unwanted Election

and led a Subversive Rhymes discussion at the Courtenay Public Library in April.

Christel Martin became the Central Vancouver Island contact for Citizens for Safe Technology (citizensforsafetechnology.org).

Mary Ann Moore presented two workshops: Poetry as a Doorway In and Writing Home: A Whole Life Practice. She also facilitates Writing Life (a women’s writing circle) and reads at WordStorm.

Madeleine Nattrass’s poems were published in Branch magazine online (Wild issue) and an anthology to end violence against women, Walk Myself Home.

Kim Nayyer was one of 30 CBC election Citizen Bloggers. She published several book reviews with www.nyjournalofbooks.com and Canadian Law Libraries, and edited creative nonfiction for Island Writer.

Kamal Parmar announced the launch of her new poetry collection, Fleeting Shadows. One of her poems was selected for publication with the Poetry Institute of Canada.

The publication of Sheryl Salloum’s The Life and Art of Mildred Valley Thornton will be celebrated with launch events on June 9 (Vancouver), June 18 (Victoria), and June 25 (Salt Spring Island).

Christine Smart led a workshop, Story Sisters: Improvisational Storytelling with two other writers in April.

Pam Porter won the Prism Poetry Contest, with Ann Graham Walker making the shortlist out of 400 entries.

Caroline Woodward read Singing Away The Dark and Penny Loves Wade, Wade Loves Penny in Hudson’s Hope, Chetwynd, and Fort St. John libraries and the Dawson Creek Art Gallery. In May, her tour continues to Bellingham, Nakusp, Cranbrook, Fernie, Canmore, Calgary, Fruitvale, Rossland, Kaslo, and Grand Forks. Singing Away The Dark is shortlisted for a Canadian Literary Association award.

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Southeast Region Jennifer Craig, Nelson jlc@netidea.com

In February, Angie Abdou’s first novel, The Bone Cage, was a finalist for Canada Reads 2011. Debates on the choice aired on CBC’s Q, hosted

by Jian Ghomeshi.

The Bone Cage was defended by ex-NHLer, Georges Laraque. At the same time, Angie launched her second novel, The Canterbury Trail, a black comedy about mountain culture. Since then, Angie has spoken at literary events in Toronto, Calgary, Victoria, Fernie, Campbell River, Edmonton, St. Albert, Banff, Canmore, North Bay, Vancouver and Salmon Arm. She was also profiled in the National Jane Byers came in second place in the fiction category of the 2010 Kootenay Literary Competition. She is a poet and only dabbles in fiction.

Jennifer Craig’s memoir, Yes Sister, No Sister, was released for the mass paperback market by Ebury Publishing in the UK on September 30, 2010. It went straight into the Sunday Times bestseller list, second to Eat, Pray, Love and remained on the list for four months. In January 2011 it had sold 100,000 copies. Jennifer published an article, “The Age-old Struggle Against Vaccination” in Natural News, appeared on New York’s Gary Null Show to talk about vaccination, and gave a reading to support the re-launch of Horsefly magazine.

Anne DeGrace’s first novel, Treading Water, was the Kootenay Library Federation’s One Book, One Kootenay choice for 2010, having been shortlisted with In the Path of an Avalanche by Vivian Bowers and Blue Valley by Luanne Armstrong. As a result, Anne presented in fourteen libraries in the East and West

FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS

Kootenay in the fall. Anne’s third novel, Sounding Line was featured in CBC’s Mainstreet Program (Nova Scotia) as the February book club choice, causing the used book section of Frenchie’s in Lower East Pubnico to sell out instantly Anne DeGrace co-edited a literary cookbook, Seasonings: a year of local flavour in words and recipes. Fed members whose words are featured in the book include

Almeda Glenn Miller, Antonia Banyard, Arlene Pervin, Cyndi Sand-Eveland, Eileen Delahanty Pearkes, Jane Byers, Kris Huiberts, Patricia Rogers, Rita Moir and Tom Wayman. This full colour book has sold almost 2,000 copies since October 2010, raising more than $10,000 for the Nelson Public Library expansion.

In April, Jeanette Fairbairn gave a workshop to five teens on Setting and Dialogue at the Elkford Public Library’s new teen writing club. Jeanette learned from their enthusiasm and passion.

Lorraine Gordon reports that the Grand Forks Writers Guild celebrated National Poetry Month by holding its seventh Poetry Café at the Grand Forks & District Library. A small by highly enthusiastic group read poems for a fast-moving hour. This is the fourth year the Guild and the Library have co-sponsored poetry cafes.

Sandra Hartline wrote an original script about the early days of the Woman’s Movement in Canada and the

U.S. for the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. She produced and directed the drama in Nelson, which featured well known local women in period costumes.

Ernest Hekkanen has published the Spring issue of The New Orphic Review and a collection of poems titled Wintering Over: Poems Strewn on Snow.

Sean Arthur Joyce had the first chapter of his novel, Signs and Wonders, published in the Spring 2011 issue of the New Orphic Review. An excerpt from the first chapter was performed live by actors at the Silverton Gallery in November and a recording of the event was broadcast on Kootenay Co-op Radio in February.

Ross Klatte and his wife have returned from Yelapa, Mexico where Ross wrote the text for a book of photographs of the International Selkirk Loop, to be published as Selkirk Spectacular by Keokee Books of Sandpoint, Idaho this year.

Kuya Minogue read her poem, “homeless kodo” at the March 12 launch of Matrix Magazine’s special issue on Zen-inspired poetry.

Gord Turner continues to publish poetry and write columns for the Castlegar News on arts and community happenings.

He was second-place winner in the poetry category of the Kootenay Literary Competition and a guest poet at Rossland Secondary School in the Federation’s Off the Page program.

Seventeen people including members: Anne DeGrace, Arlene Pervin, Carol Gordon, Christine Sutherland, Cynthia Quinn-Young, Heather Haake, Holley Rubinsky, Jennifer Craig, Linda Crosfield, Patricia Rawson, Randi Janzen, Rita Moir, Sandra Hartline, Suzanne Shaw, attended the Spring writing retreat at Ymir. November 8.

Top Image: Fed member Edward Lee Fodi enchants a school group during his Off the Page-Writers In the Schools program presentation, funded by the Fed of BC Writers Bottom Image: Ymir Spring Writing Retreat

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Central Region Sylvia Olson, Kamloops solson44@shaw.ca

North Region Sheila Peters, Smithers speters@creekstonepress.com

Central member Susan Fenner’s short story “The Axis of Fault” was awarded second prize in UBC Okanagan’s Short Fiction Contes judged

by Annabel Lyon, author of The Golden Mean. Fenner read an excerpt at the Visiting Author Series featuring Ms. Lyon at the Kelowna Library.

Luke Kernan has finished the first draft of his book of love poetry, Nuova. He is also working on a new graphic novel series. The first script is finished for the initial book within the prelude arc of the Samael Series.

He has also completed a first draft of a children’s Irish fairytale, Heart’s Reign.

Susan McIver gave a public lecture on Words, Wit and Wisdom: My Life as a Writer, sponsored by the Summerland Heritage and Museum Society.

Kay McCracken was the guest speaker/reader at the Shuswap Writer’s Coffee House in March. She read from her new book, a work in progress. On behalf of Literacy Week, Kay gave a one hour workshop in April, Write Your Own Story: How and Where to Begin. She shared a little of her own memoir-writing journey with close to thirty people in attendance.

Sponsored by the Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap.

Deanna Kawatski read her children’s book in progress to a grade three class at Haldane Elementary School in Chase in March. She also presented a workshop in Salmon Arm in April for the Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society.

Kamloops hosted The Dynamic Presenter Workshop with Ben NuttallSmith Fed Fraser Valley Regional Rep, and Sylvia Olson taught a beginners memoir class sponsored by Kamloops Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services in March.

Sheila Peters travelled to Prince George and Terrace in April to meet with Fed members.

Members are busy writing and taking part in writing events and appreciate being kept informed through Fed services such as WordWorks, Federation Vox, and the new website as well as regional updates.

New Terrace member, Joan Conway, organized an April poetry reading in conjunction with a show at the Terrace Art Gallery with 17 people reading, including Fed members Norma Kerby and Kathy Bell.

Amanda Follett has begun plans for a second Rural Writers Retreat for Oct. 14-16, 2011 near Smithers. She also joined other Smithers writers, including members Joanne Campbell, Morgan Hite, and Sheila Peters to read at the Smithers Art Gallery on May 4 and May 26 as part of the Salmon Symphony events, a community celebration of the ways in which rivers connect us.

Fort St. James member Joyce Helweg is working with local genealogical researchers and writers to bring a workshop to her town; luckily Smithers has a very active genealogical society enabling connections between the communities.

Fraser Lake’s Doris Ray read from her book, Common Threads, at the Fed of BC Writers’ AGM in May, and gave a slide show presentation and reading at the Tommy Douglas branch of the Burnaby Public Library.

Prince George member Jacqueline Baldwin was the featured presenter at a session called The Healing Power of Story for School District # 57’s John McInnis Learning Centre in Prince George in April. She read narrative poems from her books Threadbare Like Lace and A Northern Woman. She also read stories from a work-

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in-progress entitled But Did They See Wildfire about her Scottish ancestors’ journey on a sailing barque to New Zealand in 1840.

Prince George member Vivien Lougheed has signed a contract with Creekstone Press and is completing her research into the hotbed of BC paleontology.

It’s a shift away from her usual guidebook writing (she’s published several), but includes a few hiking adventures and enough drama to appeal to her fans. Watch for Sidetracked: The Struggle for BC’s Fossils.

Lynda Williams, sci-fi writer and editor extraordinaire, has just released the second book in the Misfit series of novellas

by Krysia Anderson. Novella Misfit On Gelion is the sequel to Misfit Leaves Home and both books are contributions to the Okal Rel Legacies line Lynda edits.

Clucultz Lake’s Joylene Butler has sold the ebook rights to Dead Witness to MuseItUp Publishing, a Canadian electronic publisher, and has July 10 as a release date.

Heather Ramsay’s creative non-fiction chronicle of raising pigs on Haida Gwaii, The Pigdom, was published in Vancouver Review’s winter issue. She has also been working on a novel under the mentorship of Valemountbased writer Jaqueline Baker as part of Banff ’s Wired Writing 2010 Studio program. Heather continues to have articles published in Northword (including one about B is for Basketball, a great new alphabet book about the All-Native Tournament written by students and teachers on the islands with illustrations by Queen Charlotte’s Judy Hilgemann) and The Tyee (a feature interview with the authors of The Totem Pole: An Intercultural History, a finalist for a BC Book Prize). She, along with other members of the Haida Gwaii Arts Council, also hosted writers Margaret Atwood and Graeme Gibson on their reading tour of the islands. As well, she organized and read at The Writing on the Wall, a celebration of words held as part of The All-Islands Art Show at the Haida Gwaii Museum.

Join the Federation of BC Writers FBCW Membership Benefits The Federation of BC Writers offers a wide variety of services and programs to our members. These include:

• Keeping you informed: Our many contacts within the writing, editing and publishing communities keep our members in touch with related organizations throughout the province and across Canada. The Federation of BC Writers is a member of the Association of Book Publishers of BC, Alliance for Arts & Culture and Access Copyright. These, and a host of other links, enable the Federation to promote your needs and express your professional concerns at an influential level. Our website offers a wealth of information on writing including markets and resource listings.

• Literary Writes: The Federation holds an annual writing contest featuring a different genre each year. Winners are announced and cash prizes awarded at Vancouver’s Word on the Street in late September. The contest is open to members and nonmembers. Unpublished works only.

• Off The Page: Writers in Schools Program: Every year we arrange for and subsidize approximately 30 Fed member authors to visit public schools throughout the province to inform and inspire children and teachers about the world of writing and publishing.

• WordWorks: Our quarterly journal contains articles, author interviews, essays, new title section, markets and contests, current writing events, industry issues and members’ accomplishments. The journal is printed and delivered to our members and other interested parties. Occasional articles are reproduced on the web page. Advertising is accepted.

• Federation Vox/blog: The Fed produces a regular blog/ e-newsletter listing announcements of interest to writers (funding opportunities, contests, markets and various deadlines), advertising literary events (workshops, readings and launches) and promoting members’ achievements (award nominations, favourable reviews, new publishing contracts).

• Festivals: We participate in writing-related events throughout BC such as: Vancouver International Writers’ and Readers’ Festival, Victoria’s Literary Info-Fair, the Surrey International Writers Conference, BC Book & Magazine Week, the Shuswap Writers Festival, Write On Bowen, and The Word on the Street in Vancouver.

• Promotional Services: Members may post promotional listings for upcoming book launches, events or publications on our website, news blog, and WordWorks • Pro Development: opportunities for professional member writers to present in Federation or publisher-sponsored learning/ workshop events.

• Editorial, Writing & Design Services: Experienced and professional Federation members listed on Hire a Writer.

• Hire a Writer: Members can post their areas of expertise and contact information in the publicly-accessible online member directory on our website.

• Discounts: Most courses offered by SFU Continuing Studies Writings and Publishing Program, and on workshops offered by the Federation of BC Writers. .

• Connecting and networking: With writing colleagues at Federation-sponsored events, contribute to WordWorks, organize literary events, participate in readings and panel discussions, present workshops and attend literary festivals.

• Reduced subscription fees: subTerrain, The Capilano Review, and Geist.

• Free and expert advice: Contract clause? Copyright?

Looking for an Editor?

Visit our website at www.bcwriters.ca