Please join me for the cowboy-themed launch of  my second kids' novel

THE BALLAD OF KNUCKLES McGRAW (Orca Book Publishers)
You can read the first chapter here http://issuu.com/orcabookpublishers/docs/knuckleschapter.

 Saturday, April 10, 1 pm. at the Newton Library, 13795 - 70th Ave.

Readings. Books sales (Vancouver Kidsbooks) and signing.
Cowboy refreshments. Bandanas for everyone.
Door prizes include a one-hour riding lesson for two.

Bring the kids. Wear your cowboy boots and spurs.

Hope to see you there.

LP

---
Lois Peterson
www.loispeterson.net

the balla

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Surrey Writers' School - Spring newsletter
April 2010

  
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS from the SWS 
Further info. and registration http://surreywritersschool.com/coursesandregistration.aspx

Hero's Journey - Sat. May 15 10:15 - 1:15 p.m.
Semiahmoo Library, 1815 - 152 Street
Discover how this very useful storytelling framework can help you build meaningful stories.
 
Story, Art & Craft - Sat. May 15  1:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Semiahmoo Library, 1815 - 152 Street
Explore and practice four craft elements that bring your ideas for fiction and nonfiction to life on the page -
characterization, dialogue, pace, and metaphor.
While you don't have to take both workshops, each complements the other.
 
Introduction to Creative Writing  - Fall session
Fleetwood Library, 15996 - 84 Ave.
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Sept. 28 - Nov. 6 
 
Poetry workshop - fall session 
If you'd be interested in fall poetry workshop, please contact instructor Heidi Greco  (heidigreco@...)
with your preferred days/dates. 
Further information will be posted at the website once it's confirmed.
 
******

COMING EVENTS

Anthology Launch: WORDS Youth Literacy Project
Tuesday, April 20, 7 - 8:30
White Rock Community Centre, Hall A
A join project by Alexandra Neighbourhood House and the Surrey Writers' School
Meet the authors and artists - many of whom are publishing creative writing in English for the first time.
Readings ~ Free copies of the anthology for everyone who attends ~ Refreshments.

White Rock Open Mike
Thuesday, April 15 Pelican Rouge Coffee House Central Plaza, SW corner of 152nd St and 16th Ave.
Sign-up from 7 pm to 7:25; the reading starts at 7:30 - five-minutes each
FREE. Sponsored by the Community Arts Council of White Rock and Surrey.

Short Course: Writing about the natural world
2 Saturdays, May 1–8, 11am–4pm, Simon Fraser University - Harbour Centre
Fee $230 / WRIT 671
See website for long course description and for details on registering
http://www.sfu.ca/wpp/twnwr.htm

Fiction workshop with Dave Margoshes
Saturday, May 29th, White Rock. Location tba.
Presented by the Community Arts Council of White Rock and Surrey
Register by May 11th in ordert to submit work for discussion.
$45 for members of the Community Arts Council and students; $50 for non-members.
Details: www.whiteartscouncil.com or phone 604-536-8333. 

Canadian Authors' Assc. CanWrite! Conference
June 24 - 27, Harbour Towers Hotel, Victoria
Wrokshops, Keynote by Patrick Taylor (Irish County Doctor), blue pencil cafe, etc.
Lois Peterson presents a memoir workshop.
Complete program + registration details http://www.canauthors.org/conference.html

Other
Thanks to everyone who attended last Saturday's launch of THE BALLAD OF KNUCKLES McGRAW.
Photos - and recipes as requested - are now posted here: http://lpwords.blogspot.com/

Send YOUR NEWS ~ Upcoming events/readings/publication news, etc. 
to lp@... 

--
Lois Peterson, Surrey Writers' School
Just Imagine...
www.surreywritersschool.com

THE WRITER'S STUDIO CELEBRATES 10 YEARS Three winning manuscripts to be
published in 2011  VANCOUVER, Mar 15, 2010 – The Writer's Studio at Simon Fraser
Universityis celebrating its tenth anniversary. The Writer's Studio is an
awardwinning, non-credit certificate program in creative writing that
teachesstudents writing, editing and critical thinking skills while
emphasizinggroup learning and the importance of building a strong
writingcommunity. The Writer's Studio writers who have recently published,
orwill in 2010 publish their books are: Rhonda Waterfall, Arleen Pare,Michelle
Elrick, Sara Leavitt, Gurjinder Basran. Several of these areaward-winning books.
The Writer's Studio recognizes however, that formost writers, getting published
for the first time has becomeincreasingly difficult. For this reason, the
Writer's Studio willcelebrate its tenth anniversary by sponsoring a national
literarycompetition- the 1st Book Competition.  The 1st Book Competition is a
national competition that is looking fororiginal, book-length manuscripts
written in English by emergingCanadian writers who haven't previously published
a book. The winningmanuscript in each of the three categories of fiction,
creativenonfiction and poetry, will be published by Vancouver's Anvil Press
in2011.  "It's a first in Canada," says Director of The Writer's Studio
andauthor, Betsy Warland. "And due to changes in publishing and theeconomy, 1st
Book is a dynamic response to the fact that emergingwriters from across the
country find publishing more and moredifficult," she adds. "It's also a great
fit for The Studio and Anvil'sgoals of supporting talented emerging writers with
their entry into theliterary community."  Anvil Press publisher Brian Kaufman
agrees. "This is a fantasticopportunity for both emerging writers and for us:
the 1st BookCompetition will allow three writers with great manuscripts to
bypassthe slush pile and move to the front of the queue. It's what thebusiness
types like to call a win-win situation."  The 1st Book Competition deadline for
entries is May 31, 2010.Submissions will be judged anonymously and on merit
alone. Contestjudges are Mark Anthony Jarman, fiction; Karen Connelly,
creativenonfiction; Gregory Scofield, poetry. For further contest details
andguidelines or to download an entry form,
visit:http://www.thewritersstudio.ca/news/1st-book-competition/  The Writer's
Studio is a one-year, continuing studies creative writingcertificate program at
Simon Fraser University. For more informationvisit: www.thewritersstudio.ca

ONLY TWO WEEKS LEFT TO REGISTER…

BCATW ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM


WHERE: Historic Listel Hotel, 1300 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC
WHEN: May 8, 2010 from 1:00-4:00 (REGISTRATION 12:00-12:50)
WHAT: "BROADENING OUR HORIZONS: Learning to Write in Various Travel Genres"
PANEL OF WRITERS with breakout groups
WHY: Camaraderie, refreshments, gourmet basket raffle, prizes galore!

  (Your registration fee includes lunch, gratuities, venue AND program)

  The panelists consist of:

JOHN LEE, speaking about cultural travel.

John is an award-winning travel writer whose work has appeared in the Lonely
Planet Travel Guides, National Geographic Traveler, the Globe and Mail, Chicago
Tribune and US Airways in-flight. As well, he has written the books Walking
Vancouver and Drinking Vancouver.

RANDALL SHIRLEY, speaking about cruise/luxury travel writing

Randall's work has appeared in Bon Appetit, Air Canada OnAir, Travel+Leisure,
the

Boston Globe and Calgary Herald. He is also the travel editor of Outlooks,
Canada's gay national lifestyle magazine and editor of the gay cruise website,
meetmeonboard.com.

LORI HENRY, speaking on ecotourism/adventure travel.

Lori is the Western Canada Travel Writer for Suite101.com  Her guidebook work
includes publication in Fodor's Nova Scotia & Atlantic Canada. She has also
written for Reader's Digest, Western Living, VIA destinations, West, FLARE and
Western Living.

JOANNE SAVARI, speaking on culinary travel

Joanne was the inaugural travel editor for the National Post. Currently, she
writes for Western Living, The Vancouver Sun and CanWest News Services and
occasionally for other publications such as Alive!, Wine Access, Calgary Herald
and Taste. She is also author of the 2006 culinary-travel-memoir Paprika: A
Spicy Memoir from Hungary.

And …

One more writer, TBA, speaking on seniors travel.

Format: Each writer will speak for 8-10 minutes about writing their particular
genre of travel writing. There will then be a 20-minute period to allow general
questions from the audience. That will be followed by two in-depth sessions
where people will have a chance to sit at a table with the writers of their
choice and pick their brains about writing in that genre of travel writing.

DON'T MISS OUT! BRING A FRIEND!
TO REGISTER, SEND YOUR $15 REGISTRATION FEE ($35 for non-members) TO:
Robert Scheer, Treasurer, 502-6282 Kathleen Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5H 4J4
We're trying to set numbers for the food and seating, so please register as
early as possible.

Questions about registration? Contact Robert Scheer at robertscheer@...

SEE YOU AT THE 2010 SYMPOSIUM ON MAY 8TH!

COME EARLY!

 ----- Original Message -----

From: Sylvia Taylor

To: surreywriters@yahoogroups.com

Cc: 'raincoaster media'

Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 9:46 AM

Subject: [surreywriters] blogging for writers course [1 Attachment]

 

 

Lorraine Murphy’s 10-week Blogging for Writers course that starts mid-May.

----- Original Message -----

From: Sylvia Taylor

To: surreywriters@yahoogroups.com

Cc: 'raincoaster media'

Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 9:46 AM

Subject: [surreywriters] blogging for writers course [1 Attachment]

 

 

Lorraine Murphy’s 10-week Blogging for Writers course that starts mid-May.

 
---
Lois Peterson
Surrey Writers School
Just Imagine...

Call for local authors for Sept 23 group reading sponsored by the White Rock and District Arts Council

Submit a copy of the book you'd like to read from and a cover letter that tells us a bit about yourself and your work. Bring these to the Community Arts Council's office in Windsor Square.

The office is open from 10 - 4, Tuesday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 - 3. If you wish to phone ahead, the number is 604-536-8333.

Materials will be accepted until closing time on Tuesday, July 6th.

A committee will consider all works submitted and will make a decision by early August. Four writers will be invited to participate as readers in an event to be held at Pelican Rouge Coffee House on the evening of Thursday, September 23rd. The four presenters will have the opportunity to sell their books as part of the event.

Books submitted for adjudication will be available for pickup by their respective owners no later than September, 2010.

info@...
1959 152nd Street, Suite #90,
White Rock, BC V4A 9E3, Canada

Purgatorio Press is now accepting submissions - purgatoriopress.com

I'm proud to announce that my first children's novel MEETING MISS 405 won the
2009/2010 Chocolate Lily Award for Fiction/Chapter Books. Penny Draper's book
GRAVEYARD OF THE SEA took second place in the category.

Ashley Spiers's PENGUIN AND CUPCAKE won the award for picture books, with Chris
Tougas's ART'S SUPPLIES taking second place.

The nominated titles for 2010/2011 will be posted at the Chocolate Lily website
this week. http://www.chocolatelilyawards.com/

LP
---
Lois Peterson
www.loispeterson.net

We're starting to look at 2011, and need to know what local writers might be
looking for in the next year of writing courses and workshops.

In the past year most events have been on Saturdays, due to difficulties in
finding evening venues that we can afford. We hope to have more luck in 2011.

For now, I'd love to hear from YOU.

1. What topics would you like to see covered?
2. Do you prefer evening courses (4/6/8 weeks) or 1/2 or full-day workshops?
3.  Do you have access to free/cheap community space in your complex or
building... (if your lead pans out, we'd give you a discount on the cost of the
course or workshop).
4. Any other suggestions or comments about writing, the Surrey Writers School or
Life in General, that you'd like to share.

Please simply Reply to this message or email me at lp@....

Much of what we decide to do in 2011 is likely to depend on the kind of response
we get from questionnaires like this.

Thanks for your comments.
LP
---
Lois Peterson
Surrey Writers School
www.surreywritersschool.com

 

We're starting to look at 2011, and need to know what local writers might be looking for in the next year of writing courses and workshops.

In the past year most events have been on Saturdays, due to difficulties in finding evening venues that we can afford. We hope to have more luck in 2011.

For now, I'd love to hear from YOU.

1. What topics would you like to see covered?
2. Do you prefer evening courses (4/6/8 weeks) or 1/2 or full-day workshops?
3. Do you have access to free/cheap community space in your complex or building... (if your lead pans out, we'd give you a discount on the cost of the course or workshop).
4. Any other suggestions or comments about writing, the Surrey Writers School or Life in General, that you'd like to share.

Please simply Reply to this message or email me at lp@....

Much of what we decide to do in 2011 is likely to depend on the kind of response we get from questionnaires like this.

Thanks for your comments.
LP
---
Lois Peterson
Surrey Writers School
www.surreywritersschool.com

Want to support talented young writers in our community? Judge(s) are needed for Surrey Public Library's Young Adult Writing Contest. Judges receive packages of entries (approximately 30 poems or stories) the 3^rd week of August and the judging deadline is September 13. Judging is done in pairs and we currently need one judge for Short Story ages 12-14. We may also need another judge for this category and also for Poetry ages 15-18 and Poetry 12-14.

 Information about the contest, including examples of previous winning entries, can be found at http://www.spl.surrey.bc.ca/Programs+and+Services/Programs+and+Classes/Young+Adult+Writing+Contest/default.htm

If you're interested in volunteering, please contact Gayle Harris, Youth Services Librarian, at gjharris@... (please include a category preference if you have one).