This week’s blog is packed with author events, workshops and opportunities, both in-person and online. Scroll down to learn more about two out-of-province residencies for emerging writers, an author event featuring FREE books, a flash fiction contest, two triple book launches, calls for manuscripts from two publishing houses, poetry readings, an opportunity for emerging playwrights, and more!
Note: the Federation of BC Writers is not directly affiliated with any of the following organisations or groups.
Submit your event or announcement to our next blog post here, or contact Rachel at rachel@bcwriters.ca.
Webinar: Author Care Tips with Chelene Knight
Thursday, June 8, 1:30-3:00 PM (PDT)
Online via Zoom
Books BC members and friends: Free
Non-members: $25
The session will provide resources for how to develop an author’s kit and how to support authors in discovering and communicating their unique non-negotiables, and time management strategies. Publishers will gain tips to establish expectations with authors, system and time hacks when working within limited resources, and communicating author care to funders. All participants must agree to abide by our code of conduct.
Author Reading: The History That We Share, by Robert Janning
Saturday, June 10, 3:00 – 4:30 pm
Nanaimo Harbourfront Library, 90 Commercial St., Nanaimo
FREE
Join local historian Robert Janning as he reads from his new book The History That We Share,
All who attend this event will receive a complimentary copy of Janning’s 352-page hardcover book. For details, visit:
https://virl.bc.ca/event/author-event-with-robert-janning-author-of-the-history-we-share
Triple Book Launch: Nature, Nurture and Rewild
Tuesday, June 13, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Bolen Books, #111-1644 Hillside Avenue, Victoria, BC
Free; books for sale and signing
Everyone welcome
Join three authors in conversation with moderator Yvonne Blomer as they discuss all things wild and natural, and launch their new books: The Coastal Forager’s Cookbook: Feasting Wild in the Pacific Northwest, by Chef Robin Kort; Tracking Giants: Big Trees, Tiny Triumphs, and Misadventures in the Forest, by Amanda Lewis; and Four Seasons by the Salish Sea: Discovering the Natural Wonders of Coastal Living, by Carolyn Redl.
Emerging Writers Residency: Poetry
Application Deadline: June 14, 2023
Residency: September 25 – October 6, 2023
Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff, Alberta
This two-week writing program supports new writers in poetry at varying levels of accomplishment, from not-yet-published writers to those with one published book. In this workshop-based residency, you will work closely with Suzanne Zelazo and Sharanpal Ruprai to expand your practice and focus on improving writing skills.
The residency provides thematic teaching from faculty members and professional guests, Q&A sessions, public readings, and one-on-one workshopping. Mentors will discuss ideas, experiences, and obstacles that you may be encountering with your writing from across poetic genres.
https://www.banffcentre.ca/programs/emerging-writers-residency-poetry-2023/20230925
Hummingbird Flash Fiction Prize: Call for Submissions
Deadline: Thursday, June 15, 2023
Winners notified: July 15, 2023
Entry fee: $20
Editorial Critique: $25
Have you got the write stuff? Pulp Literature’s 2023 Hummingbird Flash Fiction Prize is now open! Enter for your chance at the $300 top prize and publication in Pulp Literature Issue 41, Winter 2023. Send us your best previously unpublished short fiction under 1000 words by June 15. All entries include a 1-year digital subscription to Pulp Literature. See all contest details at https://pulpliterature.com/contests/the-hummingbird-flash-fiction-prize/
Triple Book Launch: Three Raven Chapbooks
Saturday, June 17, 7:00 pm
Zoom
Celebrate the launch of three new Raven Chapbooks with poets Marlene Grand Maitre, Susan McCaslin, and Ian Thomas. Guests will also hear poems from the 2022 Raven contest winner Zoe Dickinson, 2021 winner Kyeren Regehr, and 2020 poets Lorraine Gane and David Haggart.
To attend this special event, send a registration request to: RainbowPublishers@shaw.ca. Books may be ordered at RavenChapbooks.ca.
Poets Corner Reading Series: Derek Beaulieu and Gary Geddes
Wednesday, June 21, 2023 7:30 PM PST
In person: Fairleigh Dickinson University (842 Cambie Street), Vancouver, BC
OR Online via Zoom
By Donation (suggested amount $5.00)
Derek Beaulieu has authored twenty-six books of poetry, conceptual fiction, and critical writing, as well as over 200 chapbooks and 6 edited volumes. His work is consistently praised as some of the most radical and challenging in contemporary Canadian writing.
Gary Geddes has written and edited more than fifty books of poetry, fiction, drama, non-fiction, criticism, translation and anthologies and been the recipient of a dozen national and international literary awards.
Attendees can also register for three-minute time slots at the popular open mic – a draw for both emerging and established poets every month. Attendance is by donation to Poets Corner’s Pay the Poets fund.
Visit https://poetscorner.ca/ to register for Zoom.
Storied: Nature and Environmental Writing with Lyndsie Bourgon and Michael J. Hathaway
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 7:00 – 8:30 PM PST
Online event – registration required
Free
Join the BC and Yukon Book Prizes for Storied: Discussions on Books, Publishing, and the Creative Process. What goes into a piece of nature or environmental writing? Lyndsie Bourgon and Michael J. Hathaway will give a mini lecture on nature and environmental writing before taking audience questions. Lyndsie Bourgon is the author of Tree Thieves: Crime and Survival in North America’s Woods, a finalist for the 2023 Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize. Michael J. Hathaway’s book What a Mushroom Lives For: Matsutake and the Worlds They Make is a finalist for the 2023 Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize and the 2023 Jim Deva Prize for Writing that Provokes.
For more information and to register for this free event, visit: https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/event/storied-nature-and-environmental-writing-with-lyndsie-bourgon-and-michael-j-hathaway/
Banff Late Fall Residency Online 2023
Application deadline: August 9, 2023
Residency: November 20 – December 1, 2023
Online
The Late Fall Writers Residency Online is a small cohort program that gives participants a chance to learn from each other and faculty, attend exclusive talks, ask questions, and develop their practice. This 12-day online residency provides broad thematic teaching from faculty members Moez Surani and Klara du Plessis, Q&A sessions, and workshopping. Instructors will discuss ideas, experiences, and obstacles that participants may be encountering with their writing of both poetry and fiction. One-on-one mentorship will facilitate further craft and professional development.
Writers in all creative genres are invited to apply. The online program is designed for emerging and established writers with a proven publication record. We welcome writers from all ages (18+), backgrounds, and all gender identities and expressions.
https://www.banffcentre.ca/programs/late-fall-writers-residency-online-2023/20231120
Centrum Emerging Artists & Writers Residency
Centrum, Fort Worden, Port Townsend, Washington, USA
4 weeks, October 2024
Application deadline: August 15, 2023
No fees for this program
Stipend/Honorarium: $1500
The Emerging Artists and Writers Residency provides stipends, multiple resident gatherings, visiting artists & curators, and an open studio/public reading. This residency is aimed at writers, visual, and interdisciplinary artists in the Pacific Northwest who are at the beginning of their creative paths and can benefit from the time to focus and receive support from a community of peers and specialists in their fields.
Applicants must live in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, Idaho, or Montana
For more information, visit https://centrum.org/centrum-artist-residencies/
Emerging Voices: Call for Submissions for 2023-2024 Season
TheatreOne, Nanaimo
Application deadline: August 28, 2023
TheatreOne’s Emerging Voices is an annual series of workshops and staged readings of three new, original plays by local and regional playwrights. Participating playwrights benefit from dramaturgical support before, during and after the workshops, have the opportunity to engage with professional artists during the workshops and see their plays read before live audiences, receiving valuable feedback from actors and patrons.
To meet eligibility criteria, playwrights must reside in Canada and the scripts must be original plays that have not received a professional production. Final script decisions will be chosen by September 5, 2023, but further submissions are always welcome. There is no fee for submitting or for taking part. Selected playwrights will receive an honorarium based on PGC workshop rates.
Interested playwrights are invited to submit scripts to TheatreOne’s Artistic Associate, Tamara McCarthy at: ev@theatreone.ca.
Call for Submissions: Manuscripts and Proposals
Trail Creek
Trail Creek is a new publishing house and workers’ co-operative in the Kootenay region of BC that primarily serves established and emerging authors in Central and Western Canada. Trail Creek is a broad-based publisher with strengths in commercial fiction as well as narrative or creative non-fiction. In their current call they are welcoming unsolicited manuscripts and proposals in fiction and creative non-fiction, including essays and poetry. Find out more at trailcreek.ca/
Calling all storytellers and writers! WaveMaker Press is looking to fill their 2024 publication year with more amazing children’s and youth’s books with an emphasis on insightful perspectives and social change. They can be silly or serious, calm or crazy! Both oral stories and manuscripts are welcome. Please ensure manuscript word-counts match audience age. Review their submissions website at wavemakerpress.com/submissions
