This week’s post is full of activities and call-outs to keep you engaged.
Scroll down to learn more about the upcoming Verses Festival of Words, the Vancouver Island Regional Library’s Local Reads program (and how to get your book into BC’s other regional libraries), a Hollyhocks scholarship opportunity, your chance to join a Pandemic Book Launch at Word Vancouver, and much more.
The FBCW is the Community Sponsor for the April 26 performance of the Dakh Daughters at the Nanaimo Port Theatre. We’ll have a table in the lobby before the show and during intermission. Drop by and say hello if you’re nearby – or better yet, buy a ticket and come see the show!
If you’re looking for more literary events both online and in person around the province, check out the Read Local BC calendar or Pandora’s Collective Community Calendar.
If you’re looking for a list of upcoming contests, visit our Contest Bank. (You must be logged in as a member to access this page.)
Note: While we hope that the listings below are of interest to FBCW members, the Federation of BC Writers is not directly affiliated with any of the following organisations or groups.
Submit your event or call-out to our next blog post here, or contact Rachel at rachel@bcwriters.ca.
Pandemic Book Launch
Saturday, September 16, 2023
APPLY NOW
Word Vancouver
UBC Robson Square, Vancouver, BC
Word Vancouver recognizes the effect COVID safety measures had on book launches and are hoping to give authors who published books in 2020 or 2021 another platform to reach the public and sell their new works.
The exhibitor fee for this section is $15 per author – and just $10 for FBCW members. Each exhibitor for this section will have a one-hour time slot to sell their works from a half-table.
Authors interested in launching books at Word Vancouver can apply here: https://notionforms.io/forms/word-vancouver-pandemic-book-la…
Verses Festival of Words: Alternative Literary Arts Festival
April 20 – 29, 2023
Live in Vancouver (various venues) and Online via Zoom
Canada’s largest alternative literary arts festival, Verses Festival of Words offers up dynamic programming celebrating a broad definition of literary arts, including spoken word poetry, storytelling, page-based poetry, singer-songwriters, improvisers, and more. Come be swept away in a wave of word-bending wonder, where activism and art take centre stage. Experience the transformative power of words, written, spoken, and sung.
Visit https://www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/events/ for details and registration information
Book Signing: Bill Engleson’s new novel, The Life of Gronsky
Saturday, April 22, 2023, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Abraxas Book Gifts, Denman Island, BC
Join author Bill Engleson as he signs copies of his new novel. “The Life of Gronsky is a funny, engrossing, and compelling story about a character you’ll remember long after you’ve finished this book.” Terry Fallis, two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour.
DAKH DAUGHTERS: Underground Ethno Punk Cabaret from Ukraine!
Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 7:30 pm
Port Theatre, Nanaimo, BC
Armed with musical instruments in hand, these seven actresses create a life-affirming performance about love, freedom, and beauty which – at the end of the day – will save the world. Immerse yourself in an experimentally-creative space where the walls of boring routine are broken!
The Federation of BC Writers is the Community Sponsor for this performance of Dakh Daughters. Come say hello to us at our table before the show and during intermission.
For more information, visit https://www.porttheatre.com/events/spotlight-dakh-daughters/
Poetry in the Gallery: Trevor Carolan and Henry Young
Sunday, April 30, 2023, 2:00 pm
Seymour Gallery, Deep Cove, BC
Light refreshments
Celebrate National Poetry Month with Trevor Carolan and Henry Young with an afternoon of poetry in the gallery, supported by the Canada Council for the Arts. This reading event will include the new “Maplewood Suite” featured in the latest Wingspan Journal of Wild Bird Trust of BC.
Registration is required. Please RSVP online at seymourartgallery.com, or call 604-924-1378.
Job Posting – Executive Director of the WFNS
Deadline for applications: May 8, 2023 at 5 pm Atlantic Time
Halifax, Nova Scotia
The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia is seeking a creative, skilled, and innovative leader to oversee their fundraising, strategic, programming, and operational activities. A demonstrated passion for the literary arts is a must for this senior leadership role. This is a four-day-per-week, permanent position with a salary range of $52,000 – $58,000, based in Halifax, NS. More information can be found at https://writers.ns.ca/jobs/
SCWES BOOK AWARDS FOR BC AUTHORS 2023
Submission deadline: May 30, 2023, midnight PT
6 x $100 awards
New in 2023, the Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society is offering book awards in fiction, nonfiction and poetry categories, in both traditional and self-publishing streams. A first-prize winner in each category will be announced at the Annual Sunshine Coast Art & Words Festival. A total of 6 first-place prizes will be awarded – one each for traditionally published fiction, nonfiction and poetry books, and one each for self-published fiction, nonfiction and poetry books. For more details, visit https://www.scwes.ca/
Scholarship Opportunity
Workshop: SERIOUSLY FUNNY – THE MAGIC OF HUMOUR IN STORYTELLING
June 11 – 16, 2023
APPLY NOW
Hollyhocks, Cortes Island, BC
Explore the transformative power of humour in storytelling with Janelle Hanchett and Lisa Page Rosenberg. Hollyhocks is offering a limited number of scholarships for this workshop (and others) to members of underrepresented and marginalized communities. Awards range from partial to full tuition.
For workshop details, visit https://hollyhock.ca/programs/6012/seriously-funny-the-magic-of-humour-in-storytelling/.
For information on the Hollyhocks Scholarship Program, visit https://hollyhock.ca/scholarships/
Local Reads Program – Vancouver Island Regional Library
ONGOING
Submission Details: https://virl.bc.ca/local-reads/
With their Local Reads Collection, the Vancouver Island Regional Library is making it easier than ever for local and independent authors to get their new work into the VIRL collection, and for readers to find the latest local titles.
Authors can now fill out an online application form to have their book considered for VIRL’s print collection. Successful titles will be available to readers across the library system, and specially labelled so they are easily discovered and celebrated as a local read.
NOTE: If you live in another region of the province, search your local library website for “Suggest a Title” or “Purchase Suggestions” for instructions on how to apply to get your book in your library’s collection, or contact your local librarian.
Call for Submissions – Greber Freelance Awards
Deadline: June 23, 2023
Open to freelance writers who are continuous residents of Canada
The Greber Awards offer separate prizes – book ($5000.00) and magazine ($2000.00) – for freelance writers working on projects concerning social justice issues. For eligibility requirements and submission details, visit https://www.greberwritingaward.com/call-for-submissions
