I am proud to be part of the Writers' Community of Durham Region, serving as Vice President this year, as well as Workshop Coordinator. What a fine group of artists and writers, and every meeting and event confirms this for me! The WCDR Slam competition was a whole lot of fun, and I was so honoured to serve as a judge for the finalists' event at Brock House. Congratulations to Connie Dipietro-Sparacino for taking the top prize with her beautifully delivered piece! Take a look at her performance on the WCDR site:
http://wcdr.ca/wcdr/?p=7215
Also live is the discussion over Suzanne Desrochers' new book about seventeenth century Quebec, Bride of New France. Join in the discussion on WCDR's Reading As Writers site. I will be guest hosting one week of the discussion and have already started this acclaimed historical fiction novel. The site is also full of great links and resources for writers:
http://readingaswriters.ca/readingaswriters/
WCDR's next meeting is in September, when Suzanne will be speaking about the novel. Meanwhile, we have planned some workshops with Robyn Read, Acquiring editor of Freehand Books, through WCDR in August. Check the WCDR site for that as well!
http://wcdr.ca/wcdr/?p=6720
Have a great summer, and keep reading and writing everyone!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Historical Novel Society and WCDR SLAM
A lot of excitement for the month of June, I must say! I travelled to San Diego for the Historical Novel Society conference June 17-19 and had a wonderful time. So many talented writers there, and a real book fest. The conference is super well organized, the people friendly and helpful, and some very impressive and approachable editors and agents were present. I came back with an armload of books, many signed by the authors, and have fond memories of the sessions, the people and the readings. The historical costume night, the Friday night fight scene and Saturday night sex scene readings were fun and informative. All in all a great conference, and San Diego was a perfect backdrop. In 2012, the conference will be in London, England, and will include a cruise up the Thames to have a banquet at Hampton Court Palace! Talk about a historical fiction writer's dream. Here's a link to the HNS site:
http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/conference.htm
The WCDR SLAM competition auditions were held last night at Brock House, and what a turnout! Our room was packed, and we had 14 contestants, all of whom delivered a stirring piece. As judges for the event, Sue Reynolds, Dorothea Helms, Piers Walker and myself had a hard time choosing the seven finalists, but congratulations to:
http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/conference.htm
The WCDR SLAM competition auditions were held last night at Brock House, and what a turnout! Our room was packed, and we had 14 contestants, all of whom delivered a stirring piece. As judges for the event, Sue Reynolds, Dorothea Helms, Piers Walker and myself had a hard time choosing the seven finalists, but congratulations to:
· Phil Dwyer
· Connie DiPietro-Sparacino
· Michael Khashmanian
· Vilma Blenman
· Gwynn Scheltema
· Ruth Walker
· Helene Paquin
A job well done! We look forward to seeing you at the July 9th breakfast, and hearing your pieces again. The audience will have a hard time choosing, I'm sure. For registration go to:
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Writing Circle Wins!
It's been a very productive and successful week for fellow WCDR and writing circle members!
Tom Taylor has just published his wonderful book, Brock's Agent, which is available at Chapters. He has been touring historic sites, giving presentations and signings, and has some book signings at Chapters coming up. Thanks for the credit in your forward, Tom! It was my pleasure reading early drafts of the novel. Brock's Agent was also reviewed in the Globe and Mail on Saturday, June 4, 2011.
Check out my links page for Tom's book, or go to http://www.tomtaylor.ca/
Susan Croft and Mike Khashmanian are winners of the Scugog Arts Council's Literary Awards. For Alec's Girl and Switch, respectively.
http://www.scugogarts.ca/events.php#literary-arts
It's a great time to be a writer in Durham Region!
Tom Taylor has just published his wonderful book, Brock's Agent, which is available at Chapters. He has been touring historic sites, giving presentations and signings, and has some book signings at Chapters coming up. Thanks for the credit in your forward, Tom! It was my pleasure reading early drafts of the novel. Brock's Agent was also reviewed in the Globe and Mail on Saturday, June 4, 2011.
Check out my links page for Tom's book, or go to http://www.tomtaylor.ca/
Susan Croft and Mike Khashmanian are winners of the Scugog Arts Council's Literary Awards. For Alec's Girl and Switch, respectively.
http://www.scugogarts.ca/events.php#literary-arts
It's a great time to be a writer in Durham Region!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Coffee, Tea and Words
It's remarkable how many wonderful literary and artistic events there are in Durham Region. We truly are blessed. I have had the pleasure of attending and participating in a number of them recently, including the Durham Theatre Festival (what a talented group of players, and Mike Khashmanian's plays are always full of fun!), Susanna Kearsley's Rose Garden book launch at Centennial Building in Whitby (I am up to Chapter 5 of Susanna's new book and it's intriguing, plus the Cornwall, England, setting makes me long to return there), and the Coffee, Tea and Words event in support of Literacy in Durham.
To see pictures of these events, including a shot of me reading an excerpt from my new novel, In Service of the Queen, go to Snap Magazine, or follow this link:
To see pictures of these events, including a shot of me reading an excerpt from my new novel, In Service of the Queen, go to Snap Magazine, or follow this link:
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The Writing Life
Hey everyone! I am thrilled to announce that I won the Len Cullen Writing Scholarship! There is a world of talent in this region, and I am so honoured to be recognized by my writing peers. I can't tell you how delighted I am.
Accordingly, I plan to attend the Ontario Writers' Conference on April 30. I hear there is a picture of me with Wayson Choy at last year's event on their web site, but I was not able to get into his session this year, so kudos to those who did. Still, there is plenty going on there, so I am excited to be attending.
I also read at this year's Literary Council Festival, and those who attended heard an excerpt from my new novel, 'In Service of the Queen'. This is a worthwhile and important event, and I was pleased to contribute by making a donation. I also had the pleasure of hearing Susanna Kearsley read from her new novel, Rose Garden, and I loved it! I attended Susanna's book launch last night, to a room full of over a hundred fans, and bought her new book. As always, Susanna was gracious, funny and articulate. I really enjoyed seeing her again!
My next writing event is the Robyn Read workshops! As you know, I am the Workshop Coordinator for WCDR, and we have organized a series of workshops with the Acquiring Editor of Freehand Books. These sessions are a rare opportunity to meet an established publisher and discuss your work. I am looking forward to discussing Wings of a Fly with Robyn.
After that, there is the Historical Novel Society conference in San Diego, which I am attending in June! That promises to be a wonderful experience, and I cannot wait to get there. And yes, I am attending the Saturday night session . . . but will not be reading . . . look it up, people!
Accordingly, I plan to attend the Ontario Writers' Conference on April 30. I hear there is a picture of me with Wayson Choy at last year's event on their web site, but I was not able to get into his session this year, so kudos to those who did. Still, there is plenty going on there, so I am excited to be attending.
I also read at this year's Literary Council Festival, and those who attended heard an excerpt from my new novel, 'In Service of the Queen'. This is a worthwhile and important event, and I was pleased to contribute by making a donation. I also had the pleasure of hearing Susanna Kearsley read from her new novel, Rose Garden, and I loved it! I attended Susanna's book launch last night, to a room full of over a hundred fans, and bought her new book. As always, Susanna was gracious, funny and articulate. I really enjoyed seeing her again!
My next writing event is the Robyn Read workshops! As you know, I am the Workshop Coordinator for WCDR, and we have organized a series of workshops with the Acquiring Editor of Freehand Books. These sessions are a rare opportunity to meet an established publisher and discuss your work. I am looking forward to discussing Wings of a Fly with Robyn.
After that, there is the Historical Novel Society conference in San Diego, which I am attending in June! That promises to be a wonderful experience, and I cannot wait to get there. And yes, I am attending the Saturday night session . . . but will not be reading . . . look it up, people!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Paying Tribute
While Words of the Season has been postponed until spring, the March Readathon is coming up for The Literacy Council (Isabella's Chocolate Shop, Oshawa, March 26); and the WCDR breakfast on March 12 (check it out: http://www.wcdr.org/).
In other news, Sunnybrook Hospital is publishing my poem, At Vimy Ridge, in their Veterans Centre newsletter next month. I am honoured to have this tribute delivered to the men and women who served this country.
In June, I will be at the Historical Novel Society conference in San Diego. I am looking forward to the costumes, the Saturday night 'romance' reading (think of a three letter word to describe this) and no doubt all the quaffing that goes along with such an event. Mostly, I look forward to interacting with fellow historical fiction writers, editors and publishers. So much to learn and so much fun to be had! Is this a cool business or what?
In other news, Sunnybrook Hospital is publishing my poem, At Vimy Ridge, in their Veterans Centre newsletter next month. I am honoured to have this tribute delivered to the men and women who served this country.
In June, I will be at the Historical Novel Society conference in San Diego. I am looking forward to the costumes, the Saturday night 'romance' reading (think of a three letter word to describe this) and no doubt all the quaffing that goes along with such an event. Mostly, I look forward to interacting with fellow historical fiction writers, editors and publishers. So much to learn and so much fun to be had! Is this a cool business or what?
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Writing Life
Hi Everyone!
Cold blustery winter, but writers like to hibernate, so that's okay! I have a few writing projects on the go:
Words of the Season continues! - I will be reading at the Durham Theatre Festival's event on February 23 at Murphy's Pub in Oshawa. The fun starts at 7 pm.
As Workshop Coordinator for WCDR (http://www.wcdr.org/), I am holding a writing workshop on February 6 with the fabulous editor Cynthia Good, of Penguin Publishing and Humber School for Writers fame.
The WCDR monthly breakfast meeting is February 12 at Ajax Conventiona Centre. Check the link above and come on out if you like. We have a fabulous speaker, journalist Sandy Naiman.
Historical Novel Society - I will be attending the conference in San Diego in June, and have already lined up some meetings and interest in my historical fiction novel, The Legend of the Triple Crown.
Other than that, I am still sending out my work, spending long hours at Starbuck's on the weekends, writing, writing, writing; and I'm working on a new piece of fiction that I hope to share with some of you shortly.
Happy Winter, and happy reading to you all!
Sally
Cold blustery winter, but writers like to hibernate, so that's okay! I have a few writing projects on the go:
Words of the Season continues! - I will be reading at the Durham Theatre Festival's event on February 23 at Murphy's Pub in Oshawa. The fun starts at 7 pm.
As Workshop Coordinator for WCDR (http://www.wcdr.org/), I am holding a writing workshop on February 6 with the fabulous editor Cynthia Good, of Penguin Publishing and Humber School for Writers fame.
The WCDR monthly breakfast meeting is February 12 at Ajax Conventiona Centre. Check the link above and come on out if you like. We have a fabulous speaker, journalist Sandy Naiman.
Historical Novel Society - I will be attending the conference in San Diego in June, and have already lined up some meetings and interest in my historical fiction novel, The Legend of the Triple Crown.
Other than that, I am still sending out my work, spending long hours at Starbuck's on the weekends, writing, writing, writing; and I'm working on a new piece of fiction that I hope to share with some of you shortly.
Happy Winter, and happy reading to you all!
Sally
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