Wondering how to enter the SiWC writing contest? The guidelines for 2010 are up at http://www.siwc.ca/contest/2010 Check them out!

Our deadline this year is Friday, September 10, 2010, but no need to wait until the very last minute. With $1000 prizes in every category, why not use the time to explore a new genre as well as your favourite? Categories are poetry, storytellers, non-fiction, and writing for young people. September will be here before we know it, and we're already looking forward to reading your efforts. Happy writing!

Hello!

I've been awol a bit, deep in a writing project or two, but I am surfacing here long enough to draw your attention to a number of mid-winter events to help re-kindle your inspiration.

In Vancouver, as a part of the cultural Olympiad, we have the W2 Real Vancouver Writers' and Culture series every Wednesday in February. Here's a summary of the writers who will be coming out to read -- many of them SiWC alumni!

Here's a summary:

February 3rd – Hosted by Sean Cranbury

Richard Van Camp, John Burns, Brendan McLeod, Bruce Grenville, Cathleen With, Jennica Harper, Robert Chaplin

February 10th – Hosted by Charlie Demers

Kevin Chong, Jen Sookfong Lee, Ian Weir, Chris Walter, Peter Darbyshire, Jenn Farrell, Jane Sayers, Shay Wilson, Larissa Lai, Anne Stone.

February 17th – Hosted by Elizabeth Bachinsky

Teresa McWhirter, Lee Henderson, Elizabeth Bachinsky, Heather Susan Haley, Nikki Reimer, Chris Hutchinson, Dina Del Bucchia, Amber Dawn, Donato Mancini, Sonnet L’Abbe, Jonathon Wilcke, Catherine Owen.

February 24th – Hosted by Hal Wake

Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, Steven Galloway, Timothy Taylor, Rhonda Waterfall, The Yarnbombers Leann Prain and Mandy Moore, Weldon Hunter, McKinley M Hellenes, Alex Leslie, kc dyer, Leilah Nadir, Caroline Adderson, Brad Cran.

Find out more HERE.

One of the really wonderful things for me about the SiWC is getting the chance to witness, hear about, and share in turning points for the writers who attend. For some, it's meeting their agent or getting that book deal. If you've been following our blog, you've seen some of those good news stories here. For others, it's that moment when they are finally able to say "I'm a writer" and believe it.

Over at the Prairie Chicks blog, writer Pamela Callow describes her own turning points, including a chance meeting across a SiWC banquet table with the very editor she was hoping to meet: http://prairiechickswriteromance.blogspot.com/2010/01/welcome-pamela-callow.html

If you're a Vancouver local, chances are you've spent some time in Duthie Books over the years. Sadly, the last remaining location will be closing at the end of February after half a century as part of the Vancouver landscape. http://www.vancouversun.com/Vancouver+Duthie+books+shut+down+after+years/2459603/story.html 

Every time I think of Duthie Books, I think of one of my favourite turning point stories: Michael Slade's tale of the gift Bill Duthie gave him as a young teen. He shared the story for us in a video interview with kc dyer, posted here in'08: http://www.siwc.ca/blogs/siwcadmin/michael-slade-video-interview 

Do you have your own turning point story to share? We'd love to hear about it in the comments.

New books galore this winter from members of our SiWC family. Here are just a few examples:

Michael Slade, long-time friend of the SiWC, has a new book out just in time to give you something to read on dark January nights, or maybe between periods of Olympic hockey or while the Zambonis clear the ice during the speed skating heats. Red Snow tackles the idea of a terrorist attack during the winter games. Check out the details here: http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/15382--new-mystery-novel-focuses-on-possible-terror-attack-during-2010-games

2009 presenter Carol Mason has just revealed the cover of her new book, due out in February, and bound to sit on a totally different shelf from Slade's. The Love Market explores love and choices, divorce and first love. Information here: http://www.carolmasonbooks.com/carolmasonbooks.com/The_Love_Market.html

And our own Diana Gabaldon and co-writer Sam Sykes have a story in the anthology The Dragon Book, which she describes here: http://voyagesoftheartemis.blogspot.com/2009/12/dragon-book.html

Are you an SiWC attendee with good news to share? Post it here in the comments or email me at kathychung at siwc.ca. We'd love to hear about it!

I've just come from the Christmas assembly at my daughter's school, complete with a performance by the 50 member grade 4/5/6 recorder ensemble (orchestra? band? group? What do you call it when it's 50+ kids but only one kind of instrument?)

Anyway, the official kick-off to the holidays at school reminded me that it really is that time of year. For me, that means turkey dinners, lots of baking, and family gatherings. Whatever you celebrate, all of us here at SiWC wish you the very best of times this holiday season. Enjoy!

Just had a peek at some of the photos literary photographer Don Denton shot at the conference this year. They are fabulous! Check them out HERE.

[This is a sample, of a chat between Jack Whyte and Anne Perry]

 If you were at the conference, they are guarenteed to bring back great memories -- and if you were sadly absent -- have a peek to see what you missed!

 ~kc

Lorna Suzuki is a long-time conference attendee, and this year she launched the latest book in her Imago series at our Saturday Evening Book Signing event. Yesterday she posted an interview with me on her blog, and I thought I'd just note it here, as there is a book giveaway involved. You can get a signed copy of any of my published titles, sent off to you just in time for holiday giving -- but you'll have to pick up the details of the contest by reading Lorna's post HERE.

Enjoy!

~kc

It's been a heck of a year for 2009 SiWC presenter Annabel Lyon and her book The Golden Mean, which was nominated for the Giller, the Governor General's Award, and the Writers' Trust. We are THRILLED to congratulate her for winning the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. The jury called the book an "alarmingly confident and transporting debut novel." Pretty impressive stuff, don't you think? You can read more about the award here.

CONGRATULATIONS, ANNABEL!!

Recently had an email from presenter, agent Sharlene Martin. She reports:

I signed TWO clients from the SIWC---Bliss Goldstein and Christine Myers—both coincidentally from Bellingham, WA and both alumni of Stanford University! 

Congratulations to both Bliss and Christine -- how exciting! We'll watch your progress with interest as you [and your agent] reach for the stars!

~kc

also blogging as 

sweetly tweeting @kcdyer & @SiWCtweets

Heigh ho, gentle readers.

Just come off of a Very Busy Month after the conference,which has slowed my blogging pace here, somewhat. [For evidence of all that I've been up to, feel free to hop on over to my blog and have a peek!]

I can tell you that SiWC command central is already hard at work planning for 2010. But we still have a few outstanding issues to tie up for 2009. I just yesterday uploaded all my pix from the conference to my flickr page. Will load them here on the site when I can, but for now, you can check them out HERE if you'd like. Feel free to comment or share -- [please credit the photographer if you do...]. 

Next on the agenda is the on-line announcement of this year's contest winners! These names were formally announced on Friday, October 23, 2009 at the conference, but in case you missed it...the winners are: