Write on Bowen - A Festival for Readers and Writers

Presenter Biographies

	Bolen, Dennis E. Panelist: Accessing the Spoken Word Blue Pencil Editing Dennis E. Bolen is a novelist, editor, teacher and journalist; in 1989 he helped establish the international literary journal sub-TERRAIN, and served there as fiction editor for ten years. Mr. Bolen has acted as a community editorial board member of The Vancouver Sun newspaper, and on the boards of a literacy advocacy organization, a literary collective and a theatre company and has written criticism, social commentary, arts advocacy and editorial opinion for numerous journals and newspapers in Canada. He is the author of five novels and two short story collections, his latest book being Anticipated Results, published March 2011 by Arsenal Pulp Press.

	Bosshard, April Workshop Facilitator: Beyond the First Draft Blue Pencil Editing April enjoys working with adult and young adult writers to pursue their creative dreams. After working in film and TV production, she turned to writing and has since published poems, short stories, and articles. April lives with her family on Bowen Island where she is in the process of completing a final revision of a young adult novel.

	Brown, E.R. Panelist: Publishers' Panel Blue Pencil Editing E. R. Brown's work has been dramatized for CBC Radio and has appeared in Prairie Fire, Event and Front magazines. He spent fifteen years as an advertising/marketing writer before writing Running the Green, his first novel. Born in Montreal, he now lives in Vancouver, where he is at work on his next novel.

	Charles, Norma Workshop Facilitator: Writing for Young People: How to Build Powerful Scenes Norma Charles has taught Creative Writing in the Continuing Education Department at UBC and given workshops and readings in schools and libraries locally, across Canada and in the USA. In addition to three picture books, Norma has written fifteen novels for children including Sophie Sea To Sea (Beach Holme) which won the British Columbia Year 2000 Book Award, The Accomplice (Raincoast) which was nominated for the Sheila Egoff award in 2002, and All The Way To Mexico (Raincoast), winner of the 2005 Chocolate Lily Award. Her latest novel, Chasing A Star (2009) is about a girl trying to track down the famous figure skater Olympic star, Barbara Ann Scott.

	Dalton, Anthony Workshop Facilitator: Research: Get It! Write. Anthony Dalton is the author of five non-fiction books and co-author of two others, with two more due for publication in 2010. He is the national President of the Canadian Authors Association and has presented workshops on a variety of writing-related subjects at conferences and conventions across Canada. An adventurer, explorer and a public speaker, he uses his experiences to teach with passion and with humour.

	Ferguson, Julie Get Going with E-books, E-readers, and E-publishing Blue Pencil Editing Julie H. Ferguson believes writers need practical assistance, current information, and support throughout their journeys to publication. So far, she has guided hundreds of freelancers and authors towards publishing success through her lively presentations and practical one-on-one coaching. A working writer for nearly 40 years, Julie is the author of fourteen nonfiction books, including Book Magic: Turning Writers into Published Authors (2008) and Crafting Irresistible Query Letters that Result in Publication (2004), as well as four on Canadian history (Dundurn). Her many articles have appeared in national and international magazines, as well as online. Julie is also the owner and operator of Beacon Literary Services and a sought-after professional speaker for writers and teachers' events.

	Gardner, Soressa Panelist: Accessing the Spoken Word Blue Pencil Editing Soressa Gardner is a vocalist, improviser and electronic music composer who collaborates with authors (Dennis E, Bolen, Evie Christie), dancers (BODAC) visual artists (Birdwise, Ballesteros) and a range of musicians. She is a member of the recently formed Vancouver Electronic Music Ensemble. Her work has been performed at Vancouver New Music Festival 2010, the Western Front, Square Waves Electronic Music Festival and Rutgers University-Camden. She holds a music degree from Vancouver Community College. Community involvement, a sense of play, and crossing disciplines are motivating factors in her artistic explorations. Her prize winning piece Mayne at Midnight was performed at the Untwelve concert in Illinois and another composition was chosen for the 60x60 Athena Mix in Kentucky this March.

	Getsinger, Jennifer Workshop Facilitator: Nature Journaling A long-time observer of nature, Jennifer Getsinger draws on her geological college teaching experience, and now does freelance writing and editing. She studied anthropology and geology, working in field geology, report writing and editing, in government, academia, and the mineral exploration business. A graduate of SFU's Writers' Studio in creative writing, Jennifer has led many informal writing groups and outdoor field trips over the years and facilitated circle council workshops.

	Kraljii Gardiner, Elee Workshop Facilitator: Unbuilding the Blocks: Strategies for Writing Without Restraint Saturday Dinner Event Facilitator: Write to the Island: Adventures in Social Writing Elee Kraljii Gardiner directs Thursdays Writing Collective, a program for writers in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. She has published four chapbooks of work from Thursdays Writing Collective and is the coeditor with John Asfour of Vancouver V6A, an anthology from Arsenal Pulp launching in fall 2011. Elee leads workshops on creativity and writing and is a frequent collaborator. Her writing appears in Canadian and US publications in print and online and is forthcoming in Spanish translation.

	Lyon, Annabel Opening Night Presenter Annabel Lyon is the author of Oxygen (stories, 2000), the Best Thing for You (novellas, 2004), Encore Edie (juvenile novel, 2007), The Golden Mean (novel, 2009), and most recently All-season Edie, a sequel to her first kids' book. The Golden Mean was nominated for the Scotiabank Giller prize, the Governor General's Award for Fiction, the Ethel Wilson fiction prize, the Commonwealth Prize, and the Impac Dublin literary award. It won the Rogers Writers Trust fiction prize. Lyon teaches fiction writing through the University of British Columbia's optional-residency program.

	McKinnon, Neil Workshop Facilitator: Incorporating Humor into Your Writing Neil McKinnon has been a businessman, archaeologist, university lecturer, and freelance writer. He has worked in China, Japan, Mexico, Canada and the U.S. and holds a BSc in Math and BA and MA in archaeology. His articles and stories have appeared in Canadian, Japanese, Mexican and U.S. publications. His first book, Tuckahoe Slidebottle, was a finalist for the Stephen Leacock Humour Award and the Alberta Award for Short Fiction. He and his wife Judy have been married for 46 years.

	Manson, Ainslie Workshop Facilitator: Writing for Young People: How to Build Powerful Scenes Ainslie is the author of eleven books for young people: three biographies, three picture books, three history connected stories, and two novels. In addition, she has given hundreds of talks and readings in schools across Canada and in the U.S., and even in England and Uganda. Ainslie has also facilitated workshops for adults who wish to write for children. See www3.telus.net/ainsliemanson

	Martin, Susanne Panelist: Publishers' Panel Susanne Martin lives on a small island on the Canadian West Coast and is a published author of both fiction and nonfiction. Susanne also has considerable experience working as an editor and publisher. In 2005, she co-founded TruffleTree Publishing, a small publishing venture that specializes in helping authors publish limited edition books. TruffleTree Publishing has worked with numerous clients and produced portfolios, memoirs, anthologies, as well as fiction and non-fiction volumes. They also assist clients with their own POD projects. Susanne has considerable experience in traditional publishing ventures as well.

	Nicolson, Cynthia Workshop Facilitator: Writing for Young People: How to Build Powerful Scenes A Bowen resident since 1980, Cynthia Nicolson is a teacher and writer with a passion for helping kids learn about math and science. Cynthia has written 16 information books for children, including Exploring Space, winner of the American Institute of Physics annual science writing award. Cynthia has taught at both the elementary and university levels. This year, she will retire from close to 20 years of classroom teaching at Bowen Island Community School. In the future, Cynthia hopes to continue to be involved in the school's award-winning environmental education program and to explore fiction as well as non-fiction writing.

	Nuttall-Smith, Ben Workshop Facilitator: Voice and Performance Skills for Writers and Poets Blue Pencil Editing Ben Nuttall-Smith studied Theatre, Voice and Music at McGill University, at the Saint Michael's Choir School in Toronto and at the University of Windsor, and obtained a Master's Degree in Theatre from Western Washington University. He has taught Theatre and Voice at all levels from primary school classes to senior secondary school and adults and has directed Theatre and Musical Theatre also performing such roles as Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady and Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof among others. Ben is an executive member of the Canadian Authors' Association, Federation of British Columbia Writers and the Canadian Poetry Association. Poet and sometimes editor, Ben's historical novel Blood, Feathers and Holy Men was published by Libros Libertad January 2011. A second novel is optioned for 2012.

	Sonik, Madeline Workshop Facilitator: Creative Memoir Madeline Sonik is an anthologist and an eclectic, award-winning writer. Her book-length publications include a short story collection, Drying the Bones; a novel, Arms; a children's novel, Belinda and the Dustbunnys, and a poetry collection, Stone Sightings. Her most recent work, Afflictions & Departures (Anvil Press) is a collection of experimental memoir. She currently teaches in the Department of Writing at the University of Victoria.

	Stephens, David Workshop Facilitator: Toolbox for Re-approaching Your Manuscript Blue Pencil Editing R. David Stephens, MA, is the Senior Editor for Tradewind Books and an Associate Editor for Granville Island Publishing. He has taught at Tufts University, the University of San Francisco, Shoreline Community College and the U. B. C. (Editing and Re-writing Fiction / Getting Published) as well at S. F. U. (Editing Fiction). His children's book, My Animal Friends was chosen by the B.C. Ministry of Education to be given to 40,000 pre-school children as part of their Ready, Set, Learn Program. He has won the Irving Prize for American Wit & Humor from the University of California at Berkeley.

	Taylor, Timothy Opening Night Presenter Workshop Facilitator: Beginnings Timothy Taylor published his first novel Stanley Park in 2001. It was an immediate bestseller and a critical success. He's since published a prize-winning collection of short fiction, Silent Cruise, and a second bestselling and critically acclaimed novel, Story House. He is the winner of the Journey Prize, and has been finalist or runner-up for six other major national fiction prizes in Canada, including the prestigious Giller Prize. His work has also been chosen as the 'One Book One City' selection for Vancouver and named a finalist for Canada Reads.

	Turner, Michael Saturday Dinner Event Facilitator: Write to the Island: Adventures in Social Writing Blue Pencil Editing Michael Turner is an award-winning writer of fiction, criticism and song. His books include Hard Core Logo, The Pornographer's Poem, and most recently, 8x10. He is the co-author of Fred Herzog: Vancouver Photographs and has collaborated with artists such as Stan Douglas, Geoffrey Farmer and Andrea Young. He lives in Vancouver.

	Warland, Betsy Workshop Facilitator: Growing the Poem Blue Pencil Editing Creative nonfiction writer, poet, essayist, teacher, manuscript consultant, and editor Betsy Warland (www.betsywarland.com) is the director of The Writer's Studio Program at Simon Fraser University, and of her own five-month manuscript development program, Vancouver Manuscript Intensive. Warland's fascination with figuring out the requirements of each narrative was the inspiration for her recent collection of 24 essays, Breathing the Page - Reading the Act of Writing. Perhaps most known for her language-focused writing and ways of working with silence, scoring blank space on the page evokes as much meaning to her as inscribing written language. The unsayable, the secreted, the unknowable: these are her obsessions - how one encounters them in lover relationships, family, a homophobic society, a mono-truth society, or the inner work of spiritual practice.

Write on Bowen Programming Committee

	Carol Cram, Artistic Director Carol is the author of over 40 textbooks on computer applications and business communications for college-level courses. As a faculty member at Capilano University for 20 years, Carol coordinated programs in ABT and Continuing Education and chaired the Professional Development Committee. On Bowen Island, Carol is the president of the Bowen Island Arts Council and runs Coastal Patterns Gallery in Artisan Square. Carol is also hard at work on her second novel.

	Jacqueline Massey, Marketing Director As the Executive Director of the Bowen Island Arts Council, Jacquie plays a key role in promoting and celebrating the arts on Bowen Island. In addition, she is an accredited journalist and a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists. She has written hard and soft news stories, profiles, lifestyle features, previews, and reviews. In addition to print media, Jacqueline has written copy for audio/visual productions and the Web.

Other Members of the Write on Bowen Committee:

Alison Bate
Andrea Little
Bernice Lever
Richard Labonte
Tina Neilsen
Maureen Sawasy
April Bosshard

Events - Bios - Register - Travelling to Bowen - Blog site - Home

The Gallery

Unique Aproaches
Featuring the work of
Angie Bosworth, Michael Epp, Liz Watson
June 3 to July 7
Reception: June 8, 7-9pm
Click here for more info.

Gallery CALL FOR ENTRY

Seeking Bowen Artists for Directory

BIAC invites all Bowen artists, (performers, writers, filmmakers, dancers, potters, photographers, etc.) artisans, craftspeople, gallery owners, art teachers and anyone else involved in creative endeavours to be included in the soon to be published Arts & Cultural Directory. Click here to download the fillable form to ensure you are included in the directory to be circulated as an essential resources for those looking to employ local talent, purchase artist wares, take classes, visit studios and galleries, or experience other encounters with the arts.

Check out the 2012 Annual Report of BIAC. Download a copy here.

JOIN US!
or Renew Your Membership