FROM The Shuswap Association of Writers

PO Box 1134, Salmon Arm BC, V1E 4P3

CONTACT Ineke Hughes

250-833-5634

ihughes@jetstream.net

For Immediate Release

The Early Bird Registration deadline for the Shuswap Lake International Writers’ mini Festival is fast approaching!  Tantalizing choices await those who come to this one-day smorgasbord of workshops and readings on May 26 at the Prestige Harbourfront Resort in Salmon Arm, BC.

Will it be Bernice Lever’s workshop about memories and memoirs?  Or Don Sawyer’s topic, writing for children?  Al Forrie talking about what happens to your query letters and manuscripts when they reach a publisher, or Arthur Black sharing how you too can be funny?

Perhaps John Lent’s workshop discussing approaches to form, design and closure of contemporary fiction will entice you, or Miranda Pearson’s elucidation of the process she goes through when making creative decisions about composing her poems may be just the inspiration you need to create a masterpiece.  If the environment and our natural world are subjects you want to tackle, you won’t want to miss Dr. Klay Dyer’s workshops.  Then again, Anthony Dalton illuminating the dilemma of how much research is enough may be the answer. 

Bernice Lever lives on Bowen Island, BC, and has published and edited in many genres during her career.  Salmon Arm resident Don Sawyer will launch his latest books, The Meanest Teacher in the World and Miss Flint Meets the Great Kweskin (Chestnut Publishing), at the festival. Joining us from Saltspring Island, BC is Arthur Black, of CBC Radio fame.  Arthur credits his writing success to having a ³punny² surname.  Coming all the way from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is Al Forrie, whose background in teaching, both in high school and university, and his work as editor-in-chief, developmental editor, book designer, production manager, marketing and promotions manager, and sales agent for Thistledown has given him a truly global education in the mysteries of the publishing world.

John Lent hails from Vernon, BC, and is a founding member of Kalamalka Press and the Kalamalka Institute for Working Writers while Anthony Dalton, whose illustrated feature articles have been published in 20 countries and nine languages, joins us from Tsawwassen, BC.   Another Salmon Arm resident, Dr. Klay Dyer, is on the faculty of Creative and Critical Studies at UBC Okanagan in Kelowna.  Miranda Pearson lives in Vancouver and is currently an instructor at Simon Fraser University’s Writer’s Studio.

These speakers will all share their experience, insight and knowledge of the world of words.

The choices will indeed be difficult, but no matter which workshops you choose, you’ll be glad you chose to attend the Shuswap Lake International Writers’ mini Festival.

The Early Bird Registration deadline is May 11, 2007, and early bird tickets are $85.  After May 11, tickets are $100.  The festival runs from 9:30am to 9:00pm, with the Registration Desk open at 8:30am.