Events, Readings and Book Launches
FedBCW members: If you are reading, launching a book, or holding a book signing, please tell us and we will post it here. For a timely posting, send your notice at least two weeks in advance of the scheduled event. Email your information (follow our standard copy format as seen below), including date, time, title, description, location, “more info” contacts, and any particulars to bcwriters@shaw.ca. For a listing of regular slams and open mike readings, see here: http://www.bcwriters.com/reading.php
Vancouver and Lower Mainland
Monday May 12, 7 pm
BEACH READS—HOW DO THESE AUTHORS DO IT?
Beyond Beach Reads: More Than Meets the Eye - with 3 local authors
Holidays are about escaping the demands of real life, and what better accompaniment than a fun beach read. But be warned - you might actually learn something! Writing fiction isn’t just a flight of fancy. Often it involves a lot of research. Come and learn how three local authors research and write their books. Local romance authors, Susan Lyons, Kate Austin and Eileen Cook will lead a panel discussion and reading about Beach Reads: More Than Meets the Eye. In the Alice MacKay Room at the Vancouver Public Library. Free. - Susan Lyons (www.susanlyons.ca) writes hot romantic stories that dabble in deeper issues for an international fan base. Her fifth just-published novel, She’s on Top, is receiving rave reviews across the board as a “luscious and sexy romance”.
- Multi-published Kate Austin (www.kateaustin.ca) writes stories that are thoughtful and heartwarming—routinely top picks by industry reviewers. Her latest, Seeing is Believing, “has it all—romance, sexual tension, mystery, adventure and a strong heroine."
- Disabilities counsellor by day, Eileen Cook has turned to writing at night. Her much-anticipated debut novel, Unpredictable from Penguin/Berkley (February 2008) is “destined to climb to the top of the bestseller lists.” (www.eileencook.com).
Co-sponsored by the Vancouver Public Library and Romance Writers of America®- Greater Vancouver Chapter.
Monday May 12, 7 pm
‘SNOW MAN’ AUTHOR READS
The SFU Writing and Publishing Program and the Geist Foundation present David Albahari, author of Snow Man and Götz and Meyer. Free but reservations required. At SFU Harbour Centre (515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver). More info: cstudies@sfu.ca – 778-782-5100 - http://www.sfu.ca/wp/.
Monday May 12, 7-9 pm
SFU WRITERS' LECTURES BEGIN
In partnership with the Canada Council and Geist magazine, the Writing & Publishing Program at SFU is hosting three public lectures, three workshops, and three podcasts of interviews with writers. The writers are David Albahari, Sheila Heti and Michael Yahgulanaas.
The first lecture and reading is with David Albahari, a world-renowned Serbian writer, speaking on Memory and Narrative. Albahari is known for his novel Opis smrti (Description of Death), written in the 1980s and for novels and short stories written in Serbian that have not been translated. In 1994 he moved to Calgary and has established himself as a translator. He has also recently begun to write for publication in English. One of his new endeavours is a memoir of childhood in Serbia. He has created a photographic memory tour of his childhood and his family. At SFU Vancouver, Harbour Centre. Free but reservations are required. More info: cstudies@sfu.ca or 778-782-5100 - http://www.sfu.ca/wp/pdf/SFU-WPPLectureSeries-DavidAlbahari.pdf.
Wednesday May 14, 12 pm
MYSTERY AUTHOR READS AND SIGNS
At the UBC Bookstore (University of BC, 6200 University Blvd., Vancouver). Free. More info: www.sharonrowse.com.
Friday May 16, 7 pm
STUNT LAUNCH
Launch of Claudia Dey's new novel Stunt along with special guest appearance by local author Teresa McWhirter, author of the recent publication, Dirtbags. Free. At the Rhizome Café (317 East Broadway, Vancouver). More info: http://claudiadey.com/writing.html.
Saturday May 17, 11 am
KINDERCARD'N EVERY CHILD READY TO READ
This workshop is about early literacy and what parents and caregivers can do to help 4 and 5 year olds become aware of and comfortable with books and language. In the Oakridge Meeting Room Oakridge Library Branch (#191-650 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver). More info: Oakridge Branch at 604-665-3980.
Saturday May 17, 2 to 4 pm
MARIA’S TANGO – BOOK SIGNING
Author Maria Barcos signs copies of Maria’s Tango at Chapters On Broadway (corner Broadway & Granville, Vancouver). More info: Jameswoewoda@shaw.ca or call 604-788-2962.
Sunday May 18, 12 noon
CBC RADIO STUDIO ONE BOOK CLUB
The CBC Radio Studio One Book Club and Barbara-Jo's Books Cooks present Taras Grescoe and his new book Bottomfeeder: How to Eat Ethically in a World of Vanishing Seafood. The author of the bestselling The Devil's Picnic will entertain you as he tours the world looking for delicious seafood. Special guest co-host for this event is Quang Dang, Chef de Cuisine of C Restaurant.
Saturday May 17, 10 am - 12:30 pm [next one]
GRIND WRITERS GROUP
We meet. We write. We read, we give & receive feedback. Supportive, stimulating. Every second week at the Grind Gallery Café (4124 Main St. @ 25th Ave., aka King Edward Ave) in the back - on alternating Saturdays and Sundays..... All genres, genders, ages & stages. Bring a pen & paper or your laptop. See details and upcoming dates in Writers Groups under the Press Room tab.
Friday May 23, 7-10 pm
CROSSING LINES - POETRY BOOK LAUNCH
In the Great Hall of the Canadian Memorial Centre for Peace at (16th and Burrard, Vancouver). CL poets are welcome to read their poems from the book – but since this is the biggest of numerous launches organizers need to hear from everybody who wishes to attend and (they hope) read at least one poem. The possibility has been raised of having someone else read a poem by any local poet unable to come on that night. This launch is being organized by CL poets Susan McCaslin (smccaslin@shaw.ca) and Heidi Greco (heidigreco@hotmail.com).
Sunday May 25, 6 to 8 pm
MARIA’S TANGO BOOK LAUNCH
Author Anna Barcos launches her book Maria’s Tango at the Vancouver Museum in the lobby. With a professional tango dancers from Argentina, dancing, tango music, audio and visual shows, food and drinks. More info: Jameswoewoda@shaw.ca or call 604-788-2962.
Monday May 26, 7:30 pm
A CELEBRATION OF ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH
Hosted by Alejandro Mujika-Olea and Ariadne Sawyer. Featuring poets Fiona Tinwei-Lam, Anita Aguirre Nieveras, Aly Sunderji, Todd Wong, Sonam Rinchen, and St. Jude’s choir, accompanied by Ruby Cortez, who will sing in Tagalog and English. in the Alice MacKay Room, at the Vancouver Public Library downtown in Library Square (350 West Georgia Street, Vancouver). More info: www.vpl.ca.
May 28-31, 2008 SYMPOSIUM: TRACING THE LINES
A Symposium on Contemporary Poetics and Cultural Politics to Honour Roy Miki. Following Miki’s exemplary work as a socially engaged poet, editor, activist, critical theorist, and teacher, the symposium will address the challenges of linking intellectual and political work while imagining spaces of freedom and production.
Beginning with a reading by Roy Miki on Wednesday evening, the event will consist of three evening events (May 28, 29, and 31st) and two days of creative/critical panels and presentations addressing the reach of Miki’s work and its literary and social contexts. Topics include contemporary poetics; politics of the imagination; the role of the public intellectual; Asiancy; editorial activism; and the history, politics and art of redress. To facilitate ongoing discussion and debate, there will be no concurrent sessions.
Writers, scholars, and artists participating include Jeannette Armstrong, Michael Barnholden, Marie Annharte Baker, George Bowering, Louis Cabri, David Chariandy, Susan Crean, Wayde Compton, Jeff Derksen, Phinder Dulai, David Fujino, Monika Kin Gagnon, Hiromi Goto, Marwan Hassan, Smaro Kamboureli, Larissa Lai, Jacqueline Larson, Chris Lee, Tara Lee, Walter K. Lew, Ashok Mathur, Daphne Marlatt, Kirsten Emiko McAllister, Scott Toguri McFarlane, Cindy Mochizuki, Mark Nowak, Baco Ohama, Grace Eiko Thomson, Fred Wah, Rita Wong, and Jerry Zaslove.
Cost: for fully employed $35.00; under-employed & students $20.00; or pay what you can.
Pre-registration would be appreciated. Email your name and address to roymikicelebration@yahoo.com (pay when you arrive). Or send a cheque or money order to: Asian Canadian Studies Society, 342-East 5th Ave, Vancouver, BC, V5T 4H6. More details or info: see www.tracingthelines.net.
Thursday May 29, 7:30 pm
BARBARA KINGSOLVER
The Vancouver International Writers Festival and HarperCollinsCanada Ltd. present the bestselling author of The Poisonwood Bible and The Bean Trees, who will talk about her new non-fiction book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. More info: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/community/specialevents.
Friday, May 30, 7:30 pm
SIMON WINCHESTER READS
The Vancouver International Writers Festival and HarperCollinsCanada Ltd. present the bestselling author of A Crack in the Edge of the World and The Professor and the Madman who will read from his new book, The Man Who Loved China: Joseph Needham and the Making of a Masterpiece. Details at: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/community/specialevents.
Monday June 2 [next one]
First Monday of the month until June
OPEN MIKE FOR TEENS
Are you tired of singing in the shower or reading poetry to your cat? We are too - and we're here to do something about it! On the first Monday of every month between October and June, teens are invited to come on stage in the Peter Kaye room at Central Library at Library Square in Vancouver - and do their thing! Anything goes, from stories to poetry to songs. It can be your own material or someone else's. Doesn't matter who wrote it, we wanna hear it. More info: 604.331.3691. Call for start time.
October 21-26, 2008
21st ANNUAL VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL WRITERS’ AND READERS’ FESTIVAL
Info at: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/
The Islands
Victoria
Friday May 9 – check time
CROSSING LINES POETS READ @ PLANET EARTH
Organizer Wendy Morton will include a segment within the regular Friday night Planet Earth reading series in Victoria, in which any Crossing Lines poets can read their poem(s) from the book. (Wendy explains that she will be one of the featured readers then – it’s a gig that had to be rescheduled when her 2007 BC trip got cancelled, due to illness in her family.) If you are interested, please contact Wendy – wendymorton@shaw.ca. So far, the other CL poets expected to read are: Kim Goldberg, Isa Milman, Ann Sorensen, and Wendy.
September 2008
WORKSHOPS & MORE…
The Greater Victoria Public Library and Vancouver Island Regional Library are planning a Writer in Residence program to commence September 2008. This is a first for our library systems and with such a rich and diverse group of local authors, we hope this will be an annual event. The program will give a local author a paid opportunity to work on their material and also offer our communities the benefit of their experience and talent. The chosen author will be mentoring emerging writers including reading and commenting on manuscripts, conducting workshops and participating in other activities to share their experiences with our communities. More info: http://www.virl.bc.ca/.
Nanaimo
Sunday May 11, 1 pm
CROSSING LINES - POETRY BOOK LAUNCH
At the Vault on Victoria Crescent. More info from organizer Kim Goldberg at Goldberg@ncf.ca.
WORDSTORM IN NANAIMO
From its beginning WordStorm has played to packed houses with a full slate of readers--some coming from as far away as Seattle, Vancouver, Victoria, Courtenay, Qualicum, Duncan, Ladysmith, Prince Rupert, Protection Island, Gabriola Island, Port Alberni and Ucluelet.
It’s an ongoing reading series that focuses on all types of the spoken word -- poetry, short fiction, storytelling, improv, music, song -- with two components: a prearranged reading series, and an excitingly competitive spoken word competition.
Reserve a ticket and ask to be an open mike reader or sign up at the door. The readings are always be a mix of genres, and the sign-up for WordStorm will be in categories - poetry and prose. Key elements are quality writing and entertainment. Material read must be the reader's own work and be read without props or instruments. Three judges will be chosen from the audience for each WordStorm. Audience participation is encouraged.
You can sign up for WordStorm Open Mike in advance by email, and also between 6:30 and 7:00 at the door. Admission is $5 at the door. The money collected will go entirely to prize-winners and towards mimimal operating costs.
Join us at The Mermaid's Mug (357 Wesley Street, Nanaimo). The Mug has a capacity of about 50 people, so don't be disappointed. Reserve ahead through by email, or take your chances at the door. All reservations must be picked up before 6:30 or they will become void, and spaces will be given out on a first come/ first served basis. No refunds. Come out to just listen and be entertained, or sign up to be part of the entertainment. Everyone is welcome! Questions about WordStorm? Contact David Fraser at ascentaspirations@shaw.ca or Cindy Shantz at 250-722-2566 (cindyshantz@shaw.ca). Web: www.wordstorm.ca.
- May 27th – check time
Naomi Waken - Gabriola Poet * Michael Armstrong – Playwrite & Actor * Florentia Scott - Port Alberni Poet – Lightning * Judy Millar - Nanaimo Writer/Poet Lightning.
Fraser Valley
Central
May 23-24, 2008
6th ANNUAL SHUSWAP LAKE INTERNATIONAL WRITERS’ FESTIVAL
At the Prestige Harbourfront Resort & Convention Centre, Salmon Arm, BC
May 24, 12:30-1:30 pm - Launch (Imagining British Columbia: Land, Memory & Place) and lunch sponsored by the Federation of BC Writers and the Shuswap Association of Writers. On the deck of the Presige Hotel Saturday and featuring Deanna Kawatski, Jan Drabek and Luanne Armstrong reading from the Federation's new anthology.
May 23, 2-4:30 pm - Pre-Festival Workshop with independent book editor Elizabeth Lyon – “Creating Sound Structure for Your Novel or Memoir." Advance registration: $30.
May 23 (check for time) - Special Coffee House featuring novelist, freelance writer, editor, and publisher Luanne Armstrong. Eight Festival authors include Luanne Armstrong, Jan Dravek, Peter Grauer, Deanna Kawatski, Elizabeth Lyon, Dennis (D.C.) Reid, Shirley Jean Tucker, and Tom Wayman.
More info: www.shuswapwritersfest.ca
South East
July 14-27, 2008
FERNIE WRITERS’ CONFERENCE
More info: http://ferniewriters.org/
North
Wednesday May 21 – check time
CROSSING LINES – POETRY BOOK LAUNCH
The launch in Nelson, thanks to Judy Wapp, will be in the evening at the Ideas Café in the Oxygen Art Centre. More info: Jane Byers, jane_byers@hotmail.com.
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