Branch
Echo #10 – circulated March 17th, 2006
We wish Lorraine Drdul a speedy recovery from her major surgery.
We welcome Sue Harper to our writing group and to the CAA - Okanagan Branch. Vicki Bissillion has organized the OWL [Okanagan Writers League] successfully and the publications in Event come out as an insert in the Daily Courier every other Friday. Vicki is in Texas now but will be home soon to answer your questions and welcome snappy poems and short stories fewer than 600 words. Please contact Vicki at bissillion@shaw.ca
On January 26th Beth Greenwood presented "The Novel: Selling Better Than Ever" at the Public Library. The room was full and Beth gave a very academic presentation of the history of the novel and modern day fiction. I found the theme was well developed and helpful to all writers of all genres. I didn't do well on the test at the end.
On Saturday, February 23 at 1pm Bev Sloboda will offer a two hour session on crafting the story - Hook Line and Sinker - at the Main branch of the Public Library.
On March 29th at 1 pm Sterling Haynes will present his topic Writing Zany with a little help from Devon Muhlert on Rap 'r Rhythm. Please humorous bring work in progress - rap, limericks, poetry, postcard stories under 250 words. We hope to have a lively discussion.
On March 23rd we hope to have Vancouverite Anthony Dalton talk about travel writing. Perhaps we may have a half day workshop and ask local travel writers Jim Couper and Judy Steeves to talk as well. This programme is in the developing stage.
On May 24th [long weekend] Devon Muhlert - the topic is TBA perhaps Meditational Writing or Does Your Writing Have Personality.
On June 11th we will have a short business meeting, lunch and wrap up.
The sessions on the second Wednesday at noon a Staccatto's bistro at the RCA will continue 'til June. On Feb 16th [Wednesday] Beth Greenwood will lead the discussion on novels - fiction in progress.
Nancy Holmes, creative writing teacher and poet at UBC-O has started bringing in visiting speakers to the Public Library. On January 24th the visiting poet was Neil McLeod, a teacher at Trent University and the U of Regina. He was very funny and he combined English with his native Cree language into a hilarious presentation. Watch for Nancy's programme this winter, it will be good.
Okanagan College and the Alternator Gallery Philosophers will present poet Stephen Bok, professor of English at the University of Calgary. His best selling 'Eunonia' is in its 20th print run. On Saturday, February 16th at 8pm at the Mary Irwin Theatre in the RCA you can hear professor Bok.
The Writer's Market is holding its 16th International Self-Published Book Award [deadline May, 2008] Contact fkerner@pubproj.com
Mother Tongue Publishing Ltd. Is looking for poems [up to three] for their BC Anthology 'Rocksalt' Submissions to - submissions@mothertonguepublishing.com Editors: Mona Fertig and Harold Rhenisch. Deadline May 15th, 2008.
The 10th annual Okanagan Short Fiction Contest sponsored by UBCO. Details at www.okstorycontest.org
Lake's Creative Non-Fiction Contest with the topic "Pines" Deadline June 1st. For further details - www.lakejournal.ca
Indian Country Anthology editors are looking for stories for their anthology about aboriginal people of North America. The deadline is May 18th and contact IndianCountryAnthology@gmaik.com
I have taken on the public announcements job to notify the media outlets, 'til this summer. I will be glad to do this if I get feedback from presenters or writers. No feedback, no publicity - Sterling Haynes -sjhaynes@shaw.ca
The CAA's AGM meeting is in Edmonton July 3rd to 6th, 2008. The CAA Alberta Branch at the U of A Conference Centre hosts it. Early registration is rewarded and registration after March 1st is $325.00. Accommodation at Schafer Hall, newest residence on campus, is $50.00 per night single. At the Campus Tower Suite Hotel [on campus] a one bedroom suite can sleep up to four is $149.00, a two bedroom can sleep up to six is $199.00 plus tax per night - a double, two single bed and a pullout double. Car parking is $5.00 per night. Upscale, at the McDonald Hotel is $189 double per night in the old part and in the new part of the hotel with a view is - do you really want to know?
Hope to see you there. Cheers
Sterling Haynes