Literary News
by Barb Rees Are you ready to take your writing to the next level? Do you need more tools in your writing kit? You’re just starting out and want encouragement? All this and more awaits you as the former Festival of Writers, all grown up into a world-class Writers’ Conference, celebrates its 7th anniversary. Presenters include Heidi Greco with “The Prickly Art of Self-Editing” and award-winning author Brian Brett on creative non-fiction with “Writing Your Life.” Federation of BC Writers’ Director Sylvia Taylor offers a master class on “Building Your Professional Platform: A Blueprint for Success.” Canadian Association of Authors’ President, Anthony Dalton, brings his master class, “Don’t Give Away All Your Rights: Understanding Publishing Contracts.” Back by popular demand, the writing contest, this year entitled “So You Think You Can Write”, offers cash prizes and conference registration. Join us for entertaining opening ceremonies on April 30 at Dwight Hall as Powell River’s version of American Idol judges take on the contest winners. Contestants will write poetry or prose using “Take it to the next level” as the theme. A West Coast Writers’ Banquet on May 1 at 6:00 p.m wraps up the weekend with entertainment. Everyone welcome! For the first time, PRWC Society is offering sponsorship to people who are serious about writing but have financial difficulties. Businesses or individuals have the opportunity to sponsor a writer’s $120 registration or a portion thereof. Writers who want to be considered should write a letter outlining how serious they are about writing, why financial circumstances make it a hardship to attend, and what they can pay towards registration. Sponsors’ names are posted online and on some promotional material. Send requests or offers to sponsor to: Powell River Writers Conference, #14-7624 Duncan St. Powell River, V8A 5L2 |
|||
by Eva van Loon Words have been diligently watered over the summer in Powell River, with spectacular new results: a second anthology of our kids’ peace poems, several totally local books out of two new publishing houses, and a wave of word-wrighting activity in the community. Live Poets’ Guild have published PRIPPA 2009: Can You Hear Peace? This is Powell River’s first totally locally written, edited, published, and manufactured perfect-bound book. Not only does it make a great memento of Powell River or Christmas gift, it is the first step in affordable, accessible community publishing. A new local publishing house, The Pack Press, has published glasstown, a poetry collection by young local poet Katje van Loon, a 23-year-old VIU student. The Pack Press accepts submissions of literary work and intends to publish a literary journal commencing 2010. Another new publishing house, situated in Nanaimo but owned by a Powell Riverite, Motley Crew House, has published Bitters, by local author Kaimana Wolff. This suspenseful novella features art by Powell River painter Skye Morrison on the cover and recently brought world-famous Frank Deiter, of Okanagan Spirits, to host an absinthe tasting in honor of launching the book. Like Can You Hear Peace and glasstown, the book is available at Kingfisher and Breakwater bookstores and at Paperworks. At under $20 retail, both books are outstanding examples of local initiative in literacy and publishing, demonstrating to the community the affordability and accessibility of publishing eco-friendly real books right here in our town. Next on the press are The Pack Press’ Parallel: forty-nine Canadian poets speak to Obama. In this book, some of Canada’s best poets tell Obama something of what it means to be Canadian. Stuff we thought he should know. |
|||
by Martin Rossander Our ship of state did spring a leak, although festooned with bells and whistles. Who could have dreamed of such a glitch to well laid plans by free-trade tycoons? Were affairs not assured, in full-blown knowledge that market value knows what’s best? For all? CRASH! The Titanic—no less. 
So came today’s “Meltdown”, reminiscent of the 1929 stock-market crash. Had you been there, as I was, you’d still remember the lean years that followed: a full decade of hunger amidst plenty, the destruction of produce to bring back prices, the situation finally rescued in great smears of global violence and waste known as World War II. Nevertheless we were repeatedly assured, “Prosperity is just around the corner. Have faith!”
Naughty! Must not point the finger! When one finger points at another, three fingers point back. Why blame elected officials for a situation engendered by grassroots apathy? Politics has neither imagination nor elbow room to cope with anything beyond routine and taxes. Hear now this clarion call to jumpstart a new initiative: Beyond Survival, last known as a one-hour weekly talk show broadcast by JUMP radio in Powell River, feels obliged to switch to the printed word and invites the community to join in creating think tank #2.. Artists, writers, thinkers, children, housewives, mothers, recyclers, bankers, and bill collectors, give us your thoughts! To all salespersons engaged in furthering consumerism, in an idle moment, jot down your impressions, your “druthers” in a positive vein for inclusion in a soon to be published book—to be published entirely in Powell River! (PR has a new cottage industry—community publishing!) |
|||
|
|||
“This story was inspired by Dr. Seuss, his Lorax, and the friends of Eagle River. It is dedicated to life...lost, displaced, and affected by the trashing of special places.” So reads the inscription of the new story, Way back in Time When the Forests Were Green. 
A year ago, Earth Day, local elementary teacher Anne Howey was moved to create a local version of Seuss’s timeless tale of environmental waste. Anne is a second-generation Powell Riverian who, as a youth, explored endlessly the area’s forests, rivers and beaches. I was happy to be asked to illustrate the book. I thought it a nice match for a style I’ve developed for my hand-painted cards, using acrylic paint under ink. After deciding to donate the proceeds to conservation efforts, we designed something small, with the lightest footprint possible, to spread the message. Luckily, local media guru Corey Matsumoto prints right here in town, exclusively on recycled stock, like the magazine you are holding. (Next step—renewable tree-free paper!) One year after the project’s inception, a standing-room-only crowd took in a reading and toasted the book at its launch on Sunday, April 19th, at Bemused Bistro, where the original illustrations are now on display. For just $10, you can get your own copy of the book. This is a handsome little book, perfect for mailing. |
|||
by Barb Rees Calling all writers—those who would like to get started writing, accomplished writers, or anyone who just loves books! We have a great deal for you: Mar.27: Opening ceremonies 7:00-9:00 p.m. include winners of the writing contest, and Anthony Dalton spinning his stories from around the world, “Adventures of a Writer.” Doors open at 6:30 with a book fair, silent auction, and host bar. Adults:$10.children 18 and under free. Tickets available at Breakwater Books or by calling Barb: 604-485-2732 Mar.27: Public Library: 1:30-2:30 p.m. Sylvia Taylor will present a mini-version of her “Life Story Writing” workshop. No admission. Mar.28: Two of BC’s best speaker/authors: Sylvia Taylor ,President of BC Federation of Writers, award -winning freelance writer, editor and speaker will teach memoir or family history writing, “Life Story Writing.: Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary.” Anthony Dalton, National President of the Canadian Authors Association, author and British adventurer will present “Getting It Write” on why research is vital for all genres of writing. Spend the day surrounded by books and writers. Pre-registration required. Writing contest open to all ages. Deadline March 13. Both the opening ceremonies and the workshops will be held at the CEP Local 76 Union Hall, 5814 Ash St., across from Dwight Hall in the townsite. Registration, program, bios, and writing contest at: www.festivalofwriters.com |
|||
A new reading club will focus exclusively on an early ‘70s classic that put Powell River on the international literary map. The Eden Express by Mark Vonnegut chronicles the author’s attempts to establish a communal farm on 80 acres at Powell Lake and his subsequent mental breakdown. The author, son of the late novelist Kurt Vonnegut, broke new ground with his eloquent description of his own psychic unraveling, which fortunately proved to be short-lived. After giving up on Powell River, Mark Vonnegut returned to his native Massachusetts and became a pediatrician. The book’s richness derives not only from Vonnegut’s first-person account of what it’s like to drift into uncharted psychological waters (the book is typically shelved with psychology texts; such is its power of description) but from its opening chapters, which capture the hope and values that inspired many Age-of-Aquarius types to flee to the wilds of British Columbia in search of utopia. MacLeod Cushing, who is organising the reading club, says its purpose is to read the book as a group and discuss its enduring value. “The Eden Express was important when it came out in 1975 and it is just as important today because of its timeless descriptions of youthful idealism and mental illness. We can be proud that Powell River is immortalised in these pages.” Cushing says he hopes The Eden Express Reading Club will generate enough interest to persuade Mark Vonnegut to revisit old haunts in and around Powell River. “If enough people become interested, we will contact Mr. Vonnegut and invite him to do a reading in Powell River. Perhaps he would enjoy seeing a few familiar faces from 35 years ago. He edited a recent posthumous collection of his father’s work, and he’s been spotted on the reading circuit.” |
|||
by Barb Rees Experienced and first-time writers will benefit from Powell River’s 5th annual Festival of Writers, Friday and Saturday, April 11, 12, 2008. The action happens at schools and at CEP Local 76 Union Hall, 5814 Ash St. (across from Dwight Hall). Friday evening features Daniel Wood, world-traveled magazine journalist, and his slide show, “Around the World in 80 Minutes” at the Max Cameron Theatre, April 11, 7:00 p.m. 
Julie Ferguson, professional speaker and author of 15 books, will teach “Crafting the Irresistible Query Letters That Get You Published” on April 12.
Spend Saturday with Daniel and Julie as they guide us through the craft of writing, followed by a West Coast Writers’ banquet feting the winners of the annual Writing Contest and two new features: the local winners of the International Peace Poem Contest and a chance for all Powell Riverites to contribute two lines to the International Peace Poem itself.
Enter the writing contest and more by visiting our website at: www.festivalofwriters.com or call Barb Rees: 604-485-2732. |
|||
by Eva van Loon Powell River’s Live Poets’ Guild has invited the International Peace Poem Project to alight on the Sunshine Coast. Hatched on Maui, Hawaii, in 1996, the International Peace Poem, at two lines per poet in almost any language you can name, has grown to over 700,000 lines and was presented to the United Nations Assembly by founders the Maui Live Poets’ Guild in 2000. And it just keeps growing! (You can see the scroll at www.peacepoem.org.) 
Associated with the Peace Poem is the annual Peace Poem Contest for children and youth. The “season of peace and non-violence”, beginning on Martin Luther King Day in the US and honoring the anniversary of Gandhi’s assassination on January 30, 1948, as well, has grown popular as a time for people planet-wide to express their desire for peace.
Prizes at three levels will be awarded in four age-linked categories: Grade 3 or equivalent, Grades 4-6, Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12. All young poets to age 18 can ask teachers for details, or, if not in a grade or class, can email Kaimana.wolff@yahoo.ca for an entry form. Deadline for entries is March 15, 2008. There’s no fee, and no limit to the number of entries.
One grand prize winner will be chosen from the pool of winners. Winners will be announced at the Writers’ Festival banquet in April. Remember—you’re never too young for this: five-year-olds have won in the past, and deserved it. |
|||
by Barb Rees Do you love to put your thoughts on paper? Have you got yearnings to be a published author, improve your writing, or simply pass on family stories? Then the Powell River Festival of Writers third annual Fall Fest is just for you! With their vision to “celebrate the craft of writing and the joy of reading,” twice a year, they’ve attracted big name authors and publishers to Powell River over the last four years. This year, author Adam Schroeder, is excited to be teaching his one day workshop “Writing Your Socks Off” at the Fall Fest. He graduated with a Masters Degree in Creative Writing from UBC in 1999. Since then he’s written for magazines, taught creative writing and published Kingdom of Monkeys, and recently Empress of Asia. Empress of Asia has been nominated as finalist for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. Rally with other writers of varying levels of experience for a fun and informative day. Learn from the best while being encouraged by your peers to keep writing. A book fare, refreshments, workshop, handouts, and inspiration are sure to make this Fall Fest a day you’ll remember. Join them, Saturday November 3, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00p.m. at the French Club (downstairs), 5110 Manson Ave. Cost $50. For further details call Barb at 604-485-2732 or visit: www.festivalofwriters.com |
|||
