In less than two weeks, we’ll be gathering to welcome Raul Inglis and the screenwriters into the first week of the conference. With the second week expanding to 5 sessions and two youth sessions, this year’s Conference is really shaping up.
If you know anyone interested in attending who has not signed up, a couple of notes on the sessions.
The Screenplay session has several openings. Raul Inglis is a treat to have with us and will be a tremendous leader. Poetry is full. Short story has a couple spots. Angie Abdou’s Jump Start filled early and we started a second section bringing on Jon Turk. We have a couple spots remaining in each session. Peter Oliva’s novel session has a couple of openings and John Keeble’s novel session has one potential opening for the right person—mss approval by John and conference director.
This year, we have Kuya Monigue leading a Zen Writing workshop on Sunday July 20. This one-day workshop opens inner writing through sitting meditation, walking meditation and directed writing exercises. Visit the Conference web site or Kuya’s site at www.zenwords.ca for a more complete description. Not an experience to be missed.
The new youth sessions are fairly wide open and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis. When they fill, they fill. We have numerous lodging options for the kids and chaperones attending including dorms in two of the hostels in town. If you know any youth who have finished one year of high school (10th grade or older), please encourage them to apply. Again, the information is on the Conference web site.
All the sessions (except the short story) posted suggested reading on the web site and the Facebook site so please check for your homework. There will be a quiz (ha ha).
Anne deGrace of the BC Federation of Writers is joining us for the Thursday panel discussion. "The Community of Writers, Pluggin’ In." and, with Overweightea, will host a do-it-yourself BBQ on the Deck of the Griz between the panel discussion and the evening reading in town.
The schedule is filling up, changing daily, so keep an eye on it. Anyone is welcome to come to any of the opening receptions and readings, so show and mix it up.
For the specifics, please go to the website or join the new Facebook page. Both are equally informative.
To sign up for the Facebook page just ask to join the group. We’re open to all. Attendees and just interested friends.
Beyond the conference, we have An Introduction to the Letterpress weekend in early August (jointly sponsored by Red Berry Press) and a thriller novel retreat at Island Lake Lodge with Mark Nykanen scheduled for September 28 to October 3. Mark won four Emmy's before leaving broadcasting to concentrate on writing psychological thrillers. His three critically acclaimed books have been translated into five languages and one became a German best seller.
See you soon.
Keith Liggett
