Meetings & Workshops
Wednesday Evening Meetings
We meet monthly on the second Wednesday, September through June, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:45 p.m.). Our meetings are open to the general public and are held at the Alliance for the Arts & Cultural Events, Suite 100, 938 Howe Street in downtown Vancouver. Meetings include Vancouver Branch announcements and guest speakers (or events). There will be time for socializing (and book signing) at the end of the evening. We charge a nominal fee to non-members.
The Wednesday morning West Van Authors Group is now listed on the Writers' Group page.
Workshops
The Branch holds at least two workshops every year for which we charge fees. There is a substantial discount for our members.
Writer-in-Residence
If you want advice on your manuscript from an expert, Bernice Lever is our official Writer in Residence. Bernice, a former editor with the Dundurn Group (among many other accomplishments), will edit and evaluate for markets on the first 20 pages of your manuscript for the nominal sum of $25 (for both Members and Non-Members). Contact Bernice at 604-947-0017, or R.R. #1, B69, Bowen Island BC V0N 1G0, or .
Meeting: Wednesday, May 7, 2008 - NEW DATE
Panel Discussion on Writing for Children and Teens
- Date: May 7, 2008
Please note date change. - Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
- Place: Alliance for the Arts & Culture, Suite 100, 938 Howe St., Vancouver.
- Cost: CAA Members free; Non-members $5; Students (with student ID) $2
Our panel includes three authors who write for children and teens. There will also be a special tribute to the 100th anniversary of the publication of Anne of Green Gables.
Bios
Born in Calgary, kc dyer now lives with her children (and other animals) north of Vancouver BC where she works as a freelance writer, speaker and conference coordinator for the Surrey International Writers' Conference. The author of a number of books for young adults published in North America and the UK, kc has a secret fondness for inducing nausea in teens and can often be found sharing some of the greatest grotesque moments in history with large groups of high school students. Unable to see the folly of her ways, kc continues to write and most days can be found sitting at her desk, searching for the perfect word….
Website: www.kcdyer.com.
James McCann is the author of Rancour, Pyre, and the upcoming third book in the series, Dawn. Growing up on the icy plains of Manitoba, he spent most of his time as a teen reading comics and playing Dungeons and Dragons. Both of his hobbies taught him his storytelling tools that he now uses as an author and creative writing instructor. Unlike the creatures of the night of which he writes, McCann lives peacefully in the daylight with his Shih Tzu, Conan. He is currently working on his fourth novel, Kane.
Meg Tilly is the author of two adult novels: Singing Songs and Gemma. Her first YA novel, Porcupine, was released by Tundra in September 2007. Porcupine is shortlisted for the Shelia Egoff Children's Literature award and was chosen as a "The Top Ten Best Bets, 2008" for middle grade readers by the Ontario Libraries Association. Tilly is also known for her work in her former career as a film actress. Some of her better known films include The Big Chill and Agnes of God, for which she won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar. At present she is working on her second YA, Try and Stop. She lives in Vancouver BC with her family.
Website: www.officialmegtilly.com.
For More Information
For more information contact Jean at 604-943-9247 or .
Workshop: Saturday, May 24, 2008 - NEW LOCATION
Lois Peterson: Writing in Leaps and Bounds - from Idea to Publication
- Time: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (doors open at 9:30 a.m.)
- Place: 1080 Howe Street, Suite 700, Vancouver (New location, one block away from the Alliance).
- Cost: CAA Members $45; Students (with student ID) $55; Non-members $80.
This energetic workshop will help get your writing muscle in shape, offer insight into the power and perils of writer's block, and provide tools and strategies for moving your projects (real and imagined) from idea to publication. Expect to write a lot, brainstorm, share ideas, compile lists of all kinds, and go away newly energized and motivated.
Lois Peterson has been a freelance writer and worked in the non-profit sector for over 25 years. She holds a Certificate in Fundraising Management from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
Lois is a member of The Association of Fundraising Professionals; The Canadian Authors Association; The Children's Book Centre; The Editors' Association of Canada; The Federation of BC Writers; The Plain Language Association International; the Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers; and the Society of Children's Writers and Book Illustrators.
She has served as Coordinator of the Surrey Creative Writing Diploma Program, Contest Coordinator for the Surrey International Writers' Conference, Contest Judge for Beginnings magazine and Seventh Quark magazine, Prose Judge for the Cecelia Lamont Writing Contest, and 2007 non-fiction co-judge for the Surrey International Writers' Conference.
Registration
Space is limited, so please register early by sending the following:
- Your name, address, phone number and e-mail.
- Cheque or money order payable to Canadian Authors Association - Vancouver.
- If you are paying the student fee, a photocopy of your student ID or other proof.
Mail to:
- Canadian Authors Association,
- 851 Underhill Drive,
- Delta BC V4M 2V4
Deadline for registrations: Friday, May 16, 2008.
For More Information
For more information contact Jean at 604-943-9247 or .
June Social for Members
- Event: Social and Pot Luck Supper (each member may bring a guest).
- Date: Saturday, June 14, 2008.
- Time: 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
- More info: Contact .
- RSVP Deadline: by Saturday, June 7th.
Meetings: June, July & August
There are no meetings held during the summer months, although the Branch does hold a summer social gathering for members and their guests.
Meeting: Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Scott McIntyre: Publisher, Douglas & McIntyre
- Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
- Place: Alliance for the Arts & Culture, Suite 100, 938 Howe St., Vancouver.
- Cost: CAA Members free; Non-members $5; Students (with student ID) $2
Topics of discussion
- What is happening in the industry today?
- What are publishers looking for?
- What kind of authors are being accepted?
- What does a successful publication pitch include?
- Agents or not?
- UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity.
Scott McIntyre is Douglas & McIntyre's founding partner and current Chairman, CEO and Group Publisher. He was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. He entered publishing at McClelland & Stewart in Toronto in 1967, returning to Vancouver early in 1970 to join Jim Douglas and co-found what has become Douglas & McIntyre.
He has been actively involved in government relations and industry association work for almost 30 years, including leading book publishing trade missions to Japan and the Netherlands. For 20 years he was involved with Canada's international trade negotiations as a member, including time as Chair, of the Cultural Industries Sectoral Advisory Group on International Trade (SAGIT). His current community involvements include the positions of Vice-Chair of the British Columbia Achievement Foundation; Co-Chair of the Coalition for Cultural Diversity; and Trustee of the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation.
In 1996, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Simon Fraser University; in 1997, he was awarded the Order of Canada.
For More Information
For more information contact Jean at 604-943-9247 or .
Meeting: Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Kate Austin: The state of affairs on affairs of the heart
- Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
- Place: Alliance for the Arts & Culture, Suite 100, 938 Howe St., Vancouver.
- Cost: CAA Members free; Non-members $5; Students (with student ID) $2
The art of selling romance and women's fiction is more complicated than ever—paranormal, urban fantasy, erotic romance, erotica or inspirational. Kate Austin will help you make sense of what's hot (in more ways than one!), what's not, and who's buying what.
Kate Austin is a multi-published author of women's fiction. Her eighth book—Seeing is Believing—about a woman who sees death in photographs, was published in October 2007, by Harlequin's women's fiction line. Her next book—Book One of The Losers' Club—will soon be published in trade paperback. For more information about Kate, check out her Website at www.kateaustin.ca.
For More Information
For more information contact Jean at 604-943-9247 or .
Other Meetings and Workshops
Please contact or with suggestions for speakers or topics.
www.canauthorsvancouver.org/meetings.html
Updated: April 17, 2008