Writers Fair
Kamloops Writers Fair
Mark Your Calendars! November 2nd & 3rd, 2012
The Old Courthouse Cultural Centre
Watch this space for more details on this year's event soon!
-----
From the 2011 event:
Printable Conference Schedule and Information
Keynote Speaker
Sylvia Taylor
Sylvia Taylor is an award-winning freelance writer, editor and educator in Metro Vancouver, with a passionate commitment to communication. From conference keynotes to private tutoring, from book and script editing to business websites, from ghostwriting to LifeStory writing, Sylvia offers writing-related services “Taylored” to every literary need and purpose. Whether supporting others in their self-expression, collaborating in commissioned work or creating insightful commentary and reportage, Sylvia draws from her professional background in education, administration, healthcare, and creative arts. She writes a wide variety of magazine and newspaper articles and commercial works and consults with a diverse range of entrepreneurs and businesses. She edits in all genres and works extensively with authors through all stages and phases of writing and publishing.
Sylvia is current Executive Director of the Federation of BC Writers, after nine years as a Regional Director and two years as President. She is also an inspiring public speaker and presenter at conferences and in writing programs and judges numerous writing competitions. Her creative writing has appeared in anthologies and genre magazines, in Canada and the U.S, and was shortlisted for the 2008 CBC National Literary Awards. Her devotion to wellness and the arts led to a nomination for the Women of Excellence Awards.
WORKSHOPS
Building Your Professional Platform: The Art & Engineering of Making A Living In the Writing World
Facilitated by Sylvia Taylor
Getting published and making a living isn’t just about writing anymore – it’s about building a solid foundation, a platform, of credibility and expertise. For experienced and emerging writers alike, we need to build our presence from the ground up, with good planning, good tools, good materials and creative flair.
Agents, publishers, and clients expect writers to be seen as a viable part of a literary community from which their books and written materials can be sold. From appearing on Oprah to writing the church newsletter – there are many ways a writer can build a platform and gain recognition as a presentable professional. The good news is it’s not that hard to create a platform from which to launch your work.
This workshop will explore the many ways writers can use these skills in the corporate, educational, media, literary, and consulting worlds. Includes practical tips and approaches to creating work opportunities and how to translate what you know into what you earn.
Writing From The Wild Side
Facilitated by Deanna Barnhardt Kawatski
Deanna Barnhardt Kawatski grew up in Kamloops. She has spent half of her life either living in the wilderness or writing about it. She has broken her own trail as a writer, has followed her passion, and she will read from her work and share stories. Insights into a writer’s life will be offered as she talks about her process. A writing exercise will invite participants to visit their own wild side. In this interactive session Deanna will welcome questions whether pertaining to craft, writing for magazines, tackling book length projects, working with publishers and editors, or going the independent publishing path. This will be a chance to ask.
A Successful Writer's Life
Beyond First Person
Facilitated by Harold Rhenisch
Facilitators
Deanna Barnhardt Kawatski
Deanna Barnhardt Kawatski is the author of best-selling Wilderness Mother and BC Book Prize nominee Clara and Me. She has travelled extensively and spent three years living in Europe in the 1970s. Deanna met George Ryga in 1974 and he became her mentor. Deanna's poetry and short stories have appeared in various anthologies including most recently, Imagining British Columbia, a Federation of BC Writers book published by Anvil Press. Deanna served as regional representative for the Federation of BC Writers from 2000 to 2002. She also worked as writer-in-resident at the Ryga Centre in 2002.
Harold Rhenisch
Harold Rhenisch has published 25 books, including poetry, fiction, translation, essays, photo books, memoir, and environmental writing, and works as an editor and writer exploring new genres and cooperative projects. He has won awards for journalism, memoir, poetry, and drama, inluding the CBC Literary Prize, the Malahat Long Poem Prize, the George Ryga Prize, and the National Playwriting Award. His most recent book is Motherstone: British Columbia’s Volcanic Plateau. He lives in Vernon, BC.
Bernice Lever
Bernice Lever creates poetry on Bowen Island, BC, Canada. Her ninth poetry book is, Generation, Black Moss Press. She edited WAVES, Fine Canadian Literature from 1972-1987. Bernice's travels have led her to read poems on 5 continents.
Now a freelance editor, she enjoys helping others get published. An active Canadian Authors Association member, she has prose books, too.
She's a presenter, her 4th time, at Surrey International Writers' Conference, 2010. Bernice strives to put as much passion and honesty into her poems as did her teachers. She gets "high" on words.
Panel Moderator: Dana Ramstedt
Dana is the author of various craft articles, personal essays and recipes. She has won numerous short story and poetry contests. She has competed at the Vancouver Story Slam for three years where she developed her spoken-word skills. Currently she is serving as president for the Interior Authors Group In Kamloops and is producing the group's second collected works.
Venue
The Old Courthouse Cultural Centre is located at 7 Seymour Street West (corner of Seymour and 1st Avenue)in Kamloops, BC. This historic three-storey brick building is a Kamloops landmark. The Court House was built in 1909 and stands as a symbol of justice and authority.
Places to Stay
Kamloops Towne Lodge (Conference Sponsor!)
1250 Rogers Way
250-828-6660
Relax in Kamloops green hotel, geo-thermal & 4 Green key rated.
The 202 room hotel features an indoor tropical atrium & courtyard with natural salt water pools.
Relax in the hot tub, exercise room or sauna
Convenient on-site cold beer, wine & spirits store
Located near shopping, theatre & restaurants
Fantastic dining in the hotel at Ora Restaurant & Lounge
Complimentary parking, local calls, and internet access.
For directions to the hotel, see the following MapQuest link: http://mapq.st/oLhhVh
Downtown Kamloops boasts many quality hotels which are in walking distance of the Old Courthouse Cultural Centre.
Coast Canadian Inn (2 blocks)
339 St. Paul Street
250-372-5201
Plaza Heritage Hotel (4 blocks)
405 Victoria Street
250-377-8075
Hotel 540 (5 blocks)
540 Victoria Street
250-372-2281
The Thompson Hotel & Conference Centre (6 blocks)
650 Victoria Street
250-374-1999
GENEROUS SPONORS
