Friday, September 21 to Sunday, September 23, 2012
Writing Talks
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12:00 ::
What is the Mystery? Where do the ideas come from? Join four authors of the mystery writing genre as they discuss how to begin, where their inspiration comes from and how to keep readers in suspense. Debra Purdy Kong, the author of The Opposite of Dark, first in the Casey Holland transit security mysteries. Robin Spano, the author of the Clare Vengel Undercover Novels—crime fiction with a modern urban edge. Her most recent novel is Death Plays Poker. Elizabeth Elwood, an author and playwright whose mystery books and plays have entertained readers and audiences across Canada. Joan Donaldson-Yarmey, the author of seven travel books, has now written three mystery novels in what she calls The Travelling Detective Series, the main character of which is a travel writer. Moderated by Stephen Miller, an actor and the creator of the Pyotr Ryzhkov historical thrillers.
1:00 ::
Have you always wanted to write about your personal experiences, but been uncertain how to proceed? Here you’ll be able to discuss the nuts and bolts of memoir and personal essay writing in a supportive environment. Throughout, you’ll be encouraged to experiment and be provided with a number of writing techniques that will assist in transforming your life stories into literary non-fiction. Bring your pens and paper and be prepared to write! Madeline Sonik is an eclectic, award-winning writer and anthologist. Working in a wide variety of genres, her most recent work, Afflictions & Departures is a collection of first-person experiential essays.
2:00 ::
What work should the political poem do at this time? How do you give voice to your political ideas? Join four local poets as they read their poems and discuss their engagement with the social–political in their work. Mercedes Eng is an affective labourer, living and writing in the Downtown Eastside. Christine Leclerc co-facilitates The Enpipe Line, over 47,000 kilometres of poetry written in resistance to the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines. Reg Johanson is a writer and teacher in Vancouver on occupied Coast Salish territory. Cecily Nicholson is the Coordinator of Funds with the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre and has collaborated as a member of the Press Release poetry collective. Moderator Jen Currin’s The Inquisition Yours won the Audre Lorde Poetry Prize. She teaches creative writing at Kwantlen University and for the SFU Writer’s Studio.
3:30 ::
In this lively, interactive 75-minute event we will write communally using creative prompts derived from significant moments in Vancouver history. From Hamilton’s city streets to Habitat ’76, from the 1918 General Strike to the hockey riots—all you will need is paper and pen. Sharing your writing is encouraged, but not mandatory. Elee Kraljii Gardiner writes with and directs Thursdays Writing Collective on the Downtown Eastside. Michael Turner is a Vancouver-based writer of fiction, criticism and song.
