SiWC Blog
Here we go! In a few hours we'll be in conference week.
Of course, things don't really get started until Thursday afternoon with the Master Classes -- but don't fool yourself ...we are HOPPING here at SiWC central!
I'm going to request, as of this posting, that any changes you require to your Pitch or Blue Pencil appointments be made at the conference. We will have EXTRA staff on our Appointment Desk to help deal with your requests.
Let me add that there are still tons of appointments left, even for those who have booked already. Once we ensure that everyone has had a chance to get at least one appointment, we open up the doors for repeat appointments. This is why a weekend conference pass is such a deal -- at most other conferences appointments cost big money.
One of the reasons we keep our conference prices so low, and can offer bargains like INCLUDED pitch and blue pencil appointments is that SiWC is [apart from a couple of small contracts] ENTIRELY volunteer run.
Yep -- that's right. From the Board who puts things together to the folks who catch the doors at the workshops so they don't bang closed -- all volunteer. We are getting very close to launching this conference this year, but can always use more volunteers.
Tell your friends! It's a great way to rub shoulders with some of the best writers, agents, editors and industry people in the business. We use volunteer drivers, introductions you name it. If you know someone who might be interested, please have them email me at kcdyer@siwc.ca
~kc
We've just added a new author and agent to our line-up for this year. Let me introduce you!
This is Sharlene Martin.
She is the Founder of Martin
Literary Management, a nonfiction agency located in Seattle. She
specializes in highly commercial nonfiction genres including memoirs,
prescriptive (how to) parenting, health, business (entrepreneurial
driven) true crime, celebrity related books and pop culture.
She is the
co-author of the upcoming Writer’s Digest book: Publish Your Nonfiction Book: Strategies for Learning the Industry, Selling Your Book, and Building a Successful Career.
You can find out more at her website, here: http://www.MartinLiteraryManagement.com
And this...is Anthony Flacco.
 Anthony is Blue Pencil GOLD to us here at SiWC. With a background in fiction, non-fiction and screenwriting, you can bring all genres to him and get a helping hand.
Anthony Flacco is co-author of Publish Your Nonfiction Book
from Writer’s Digest (Nov. 09) with literary agent Sharlene Martin. In
that same month, The Road Out Of Hell will be published by
Sterling/Union Square. This historical true crime focuses on the true
story behind the murders that formed the basis for the movie Changeling,
and specifically on the life of young Sanford Clark, the thirteen
year-old who was held for two years at the Wineville murder ranch and
forced to participate in the most gruesome of crimes. Anthony’s main
source for that story is Jerry Clark, the surviving son of Sanford
Clark.
Okay...we've had Room Sharing, Ride sharing...
and now, Ferry Sharing!
[Unlike Fairies or even Faeries -- BC Ferries are made for sharing!]
If you are looking for a ride from Tswwassen Ferry, why not share your info here? We've got a bunch of Islanders coming -- share the gas, save the fare and save the air!
Leave your contact info in the comments -- and let's share that ferry*!
*No actual fairies were involved in the writing of this psa.
~kc
also blogging as leftwriter
fleetingly tweeting @kcdyer & @siwc2009
 Sean Cranbury, plugged in social media guy runs a live radio show called ' Books on the Radio'. The show runs live Wednesdays on CJSF 90.1 FM.
Past shows are available as podcasts on his site. And this week, he's put up an interview he did with me regarding the conference this year.
We sat in the sun on Commercial Drive last week and watched the world go by as we chatted.
Enjoy!
~kc
also blogging as leftwriter
sweetly tweeting @kcdyer & @siwc2009
Sharing the link love on this Turkey Day...
Kamloops This Week Hearts Diana Gabaldon and mentions sending writers our way.
SF writer and wunderkind John Scalzi stops taunting the tauntable for long enough to laud SiWC success story Janice Hardy's new series. [and she hearts SiWC along the way...!
In other news...
have you got your antennae yet?
~kc
also blogging as leftwriter
sweetly tweeting @kcdyer & @siwc2009
~kc
also blogging as leftwriter
sweetly gobbling @kcdyer & @siwc2009
This week we're continuing with our series of presenter introductions, combining old friends who are returning to us with new faces to the SiWC experience.
Today's n ewbie is Annabel Lyon.
Annabel is the author of work in quite a variety of genres, but this year has really been her chance to shine. She's just found her name on the shortlist for the Giller Prize, as well as the Writers Trust awards, so we are very excited to have her join us.
If you check out the presenter page on our site, you'll find that Annabel is the author of Oxygen (short stories), The Best Thing for You (novellas), and All-Season Edie (juvenile novel).
Her first novel for adults, The Golden Mean,
will be published by Random House of Canada in August 2009. She has
taught fiction writing at the Banff Centre's Wired Writing Program and
is currently an instructor with UBC's Booming Ground. She lives in New
Westminster, BC.
What it doesn't say is that Annabel is the new voice of young Canadian Literature -- and we are SO lucky to have her!
Returning to us this year is fabulous agent Sorche Fairbank. Sorche [pronounced Sore-ka] is one of our long-time friends of the conference, and we are thrilled to have her back with us again.
We've talked about this wonderful new website before, but now our own Don McQuinn's endeavour is up and running, and they've got their first newsletter out.
I've had a peek and it is loaded with information. You can learn the basics about available webinars, how to apply for Advanced Classes, and a look at upcoming speakers [including SiWC 2009 presenter, author Terry Brooks]. Be sure to check out the website at www.wiredwriters.net or to email info@wiredwriters.net for more information.
Even better, come to the conference and talk to Don McQuinn about his new endeavour in person!
~kc
also blogging as leftwriter
sweetly tweeting @kcdyer & @siwc2009
We said they were coming....And here they are!
SiWC 2009 is being invaded by Little Green Men!
Friday night, Michael Slade is bringing his 'Shock Theatre' LIVE radio plays back to SiWC . And, in honour of the upcoming Night of All Souls, and the subsequent celebration of Hallowe'en, this year's entry will be a reimagining of the famous Hallowe'en broadcast of WAR OF THE WORLDS.
But those are not the little green men of which I speak [or...type.] Last year at the conference, we had a special celebration in the form of a Masque. To keep things fresh, instead of a Masque this year, we are planning to celebrate Slade's little green men by bringing in aliens of the writerly kind.
Our challenge to YOU, dear attendees, is to dress up on Friday night -- for dinner, if you choose, and for the special Friday Night version of Shock Theatre -- if you dare -- as YOUR favourite alien.
Any alien, in any imagined universe is fair game.
Is ET your guy? Have him phone home from SiWC 2009!
Would you rather beam up as Captain Kirk?
Do it!
So here's the deal.
Long-term friend of the conference Janet Oakley has had another of her stories published.
She writes: "As promised, I found out about PUTTING THINGS AWAY, shortlisted last
fall [ in the SiWC 2008 contest -- ed.]. It will be published in December 2009 in A CUP OF COMFORT FOR
GRIEVING HEARTS, with shipping to the stores in November. ...
DRYWALL IN THE TIME OF GRIEF (winner non-fiction 2006) was published in
their Classic Addition two years ago. It was one of three selected to
be put into the expanded version of the original series. The book is
apparently one of their best sellers."
Congratulations, Janet! We are SO proud of you. Your story should emerge right after the conference, but this is a head's up for all who might read a beautiful, touching piece, elegantly written...to look no farther than this book.
~kc
also blogging as leftwriter
tweeting sweetingly @kcdyer & @siwc2009
|
Conference Blog
