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Writing Events and News for
FEBRUARY & MARCH, 2012
A Poetics Duo with Ann Elizabeth Carson and Donna Langevin Wednesday, February 22, 12:00 PM, Toronto University Women’s Club – Faculty Club, 41 Willcocks St., Toronto. Join Ann Elizabeth Carson and Donna Langevin for an afternoon of poetry at the Toronto University Women’s Club. Lunch is $25. Guests of members and speakers are welcome. Contact Ann at 416-694-5500 or Donna at 416-362-0455 for more information.
National Film Board Mediatheque with James Neufeld Wednesday, February 22, 7:00 PM, National Film Board of Canada – Mediatheque, 150 John St., Toronto. The National Film Board is celebratring 60 years of the National Ballet of Canada with an archival display and guest speakers. Join James Neufeld, author of Passion to Dance (Dundurn Press), for a Q&A session following the screening of Flamenco at 5:15, Ballet Adagio and Tour en l’air.
Reading with Nathan Englander Wednesday, February 22, 7:30 PM, Harbourfront Centre, Brigantine Room, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto. Join Nathan Englander as he reads from his latest short story collection, What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank (Knopf Canada).Ticket information at http://www.readings.org/?q=weekly/authors_nathan_englander
Pivot Reading Series with Jennifer LoveGrove, David Seymour and Nathan Whitlock Wednesday, February 22, 8:00 PM, The Press Club, 850 Dundas Street W., Toronto. Pivot brings you the cure for your post-Valentine sugar-crash blues: Join them for a sweet evening of readings by Toronto darlings Jennifer LoveGrove, David Seymour, and Nathan Whitlock. Jennifer LoveGrove is the author of the poetry collections The Dagger Between Her Teeth (ECW Press) and I Should Never Have Fired the Sentinel (ECW Press). She has recently completed a novel and is currently at work on a new manuscript of poetry. Her writing has been published widely, most recently in THIS Magazine, Taddle Creek and The Puritan Magazine. In 2010 she was shortlisted for the K. M. Hunter Artist Award for Literature. Currently, she divides her time between downtown Toronto and rural Haliburton, and can be found online at jenniferlovegrove.com. David Seymour’s first book, Inter Alia (Brick Books), was short-listed for the Gerald Lampert Award for best first book of poetry in Canada. Some of the poems in Inter Alia were used as lyrics by the roots-rock band The Warped 45s for their debut album 10 Day Poem for Saskatchewan. Recently his poetry was short-listed for the 2009 CBC Literary Award, and thrice now has been included in the Anthology of Best Canadian Poetry. David’s second book, For Display Purposes Only, will be released by Coach House in 2013. He currently lives in Toronto where he works in the film industry. Nathan Whitlock is the author of A Week of This: a novel in seven days (ECW Press). His fiction, reviews, essays and journalism have appeared in The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, Maisonneuve, Toro, Geist, Fashion, Quill & Quire and elsewhere. He is currently the culture editor for Toronto Life magazine.
Speakeasy Reading Series with Meaghan Strimas, Jill Margo, Tyler Pennock and Melissa Major Thursday, February 23, 7:30 PM, Magpie Tavern, 831 Dundas Street West, Toronto. February at the Speakeasy Reading Series will be the cat’s pyjamas! The joint will be jumpin’ with fabulous readers and plenty of giggle water and hooch on hand, courtesy of the fine folks at Magpie Tavern. Come hear readings from the following authors: Jill Margoo is originally from the west coast. She has worked as executive director of the Victoria School of Writing, and artistic director/host of two reading series (Sundays at the JBI and the Robson Reading Series). Her work has been published in the Malahat Review, Monday Magazine and Geist. She has been a finalist for both a Western Magazine Award and for the Malahat Review Long Poem Prize. She is currently at work on a novel. Tyler Pennock is Metis and Cree from the community of Faust, Alberta. He received his HBA from the University of Toronto in 2009, specializing in Aboriginal Studies. His plays have been workshopped at Weesageechak festival (through Native Earth Performing Arts),and the Mayworks festival. Tyler also writes poetry and creative non-fiction,and his works have appeared in the Yellow Medicine Review, through the University of Minnesota press. Melissa Major is a playwright, poet and theatre director with double-jointed fingers. Because of that perhaps, her writing has been published in CanPlay, Open Book Toronto, an anthology called Shades of Grey, Sydney Law Society Journal and International Psychogeriatrics. She has worked over 75 stage productions and her scripts have been produced in Canada, USA, Hong Kong and India. Melissa is also the Artistic Director of The Cheshire Unicorn. Meaghan Strimas is the editor of The Selected Gwendolyn MacEwen, and the author of two collections of poetry, Junkman’s Daughter and A Good Time Had By All. At work on a new poetry book and a novel, Meaghan lives, works and writes in Toronto. Free event.
Tightrope Authors Do An “About Face” Thursday, February 23, 7:30 pm, David Kaye Gallery, 1092 Queen West, Toronto. Jim Nason & Ruth Roach Pierson (Contrary) will be part of a poetry and prose event inspired by Susan Low-Beer’s art exhibition “About Face”. The reading includes Kelley Aitken, Grant Carmichael, Maureen Scott Harris, Margaret Hollingsworth, Maureen Hynes, Sue Macleod, Alayna Munce and Sheila Stewart.
Ruth E. Walker & Dorothea Helms offer their popular Write to Win! Workshop Saturday, February 25,10:00 am – 4:00 pm at Trent University’s Oshawa campus, 55 Thornton Road South, Oshawa. Writers, do you want to win that writing contest? Want to land that publishing contract? Sign up for Write to Win!, a one-day boot camp to improve your fiction or creative non-fiction contest entry. Ruth E. Walker and Dorothea Helms share their tried-and-true tips and techniques for boosting a submission’s chances. And, bonus!-these seasoned contest-winners have not only won writing competitions, they have also judged and even administered contests. They’ll show writers how to avoid the common mistakes that can knock an entry out of the running-sometimes even before it is read. Writers are asked to bring the first page of work they hope to submit to an upcoming competition. Through a combination of lecture, demonstration and exercises, they’ll tune up their entry. Then, they’ll put it to the Write to Win! test-will it make it past the first reading? This fun, one-day workshop takes place The fee is $110, with a discounted rate of $95 for members of recognized writing organizations such as The Writers’ Community of Durham Region. Preregistration is required. For full workshop details and online registration, visit www.writescape.ca, e-mail info@writescape.ca, or phone 905-728-7823.
How to Engage and Charm Your Audience February 25, is an intensive one-day workshop designed for writers, editors and other artists who want to overcome their dread of facing an audience, and for more experienced speakers who want to improve their presentation styles. You will receive an assessment of your skill in: voice projection; image; dramatic presentation; and synergy. You will have the opportunity to develop methods to help refine your performance and improve your connection with your audience. For more information or to enroll download the brochure at http://writeware.ca/index.phpmain_page=page or contact Herb Ware at workshops@writeware.ca.
Secrets of Writing a Page-turner–18 secrets from the pros Saturday, February 25, 10: am- 3:30 pm, Tweedsmuir Presbyterian Church, 6 John Street, Orangeville. Ever stayed up all night reading a book? In this workshop, you’ll learn you how to build that kind of tension. And we’ll help you put into practice the techniques professionals use, on every page and in every kind of story, to create drama and tension. Fee: $38.94 + hst = $44 paid in advance or $42.48 + hst = $48 if you wait to pay at the door. To register, please make out a cheque to Brian Henry and mail it to: Brian Henry, 110 Reiner Road, Toronto, ON M3H 2L6. To reserve a spot now, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca
Small Print Toronto’s Totsapalooza: Mouse-City Calling Sunday, February 26, 2:00 PM, 783 College Street (At Shaw), Toronto. Mouse-City has musicians, politicians, storytellers and thinkers, but it doesn’t have any buildings or roads! On Sunday February 26 that is going to change. Small Print Toronto is hosting its fourth annual Totsapalooza: Mouse-City Calling. During an afternoon of fun and excitement, urban builders between 2-8 years old will construct a giant model city for storybook mice out of recycled materials. Matthew Blackett of Spacing Magazine, Josh Fullan of Maximum City, Rani Sanderson of Jane’s Walk and City Councilor Adam Vaughan will advise young city planners about urban design. And Lisa Kelly of Centre For Art & Soul will help them build their structures. Small Print Toronto will celebrate the 45th anniversary of Frederick by award-winning author Leo Lionni. Readings of Lionni’s classic mouse-themed picture books will be done by City Councilor Mike Layton, poet Damian Rogers, CBC host Kevin Sylvester and novelist Vikki VanSickle. To herald Mouse-City in vintage DIY style, local veterans of Toronto’s indie scene will play original renditions of songs from The Clash’s landmark album London Calling. And Unfinished Business will turn their amps up to eleven (which is how old they all are). Prepare to pump your fists and twitch your whiskers along with this trio! Adults $12 / Kids $8 / Non Walkers Ride Free. Advance Registration at www.smallprinttoronto.org
Engaging Ideas: Modris Eksteins, Solar Dance Feb 27, 7:00 pm, Centennial Hall, Burlington Central Library, 2331 New Street, Burlington. Info: A Different Drummer Books. Tickets: $10
The Next Step in Creative Writing: A 12-week course Feb 27 to June 4 (Note: the first readings will be emailed Feb 27; the first class will be March 5.) 6:45 – 9:00 pm, Glen William’s Town Hall, 1 Prince Street, Georgetown. This course will challenge you to take a step up in your writing. The format will be similar to the “Intermediate” and “Intensive” courses, but less demanding. Over the twelve weeks of classes, you’ll be asked to bring in just four pieces of your writing for detailed feedback. All your pieces may be from the same work, such as a novel in progress, or they may be stand alone pieces. You bring whatever you want to work on. Besides critiquing pieces, the instructor will give short lectures at the start of each class, addressing the needs of the group and will provide writing prompts for those looking for a project. But there won’t be any in-class writing exercises; all writing will be done at home. In addition to learning how to critique your own work and receiving constructive suggestions about your writing, you’ll discover that the greatest benefits come from seeing how your classmates approach and critique a piece of writing and how they write and re-write. This is a challenging course, but extremely rewarding. Fee: $170.80 + hst = $193. Advance payment only. Theses courses are very popular and may fill up fast, so enroll early to avoid disappointment. To register, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca To register, please make out a cheque to Brian Henry and mail it to: Brian Henry, 110 Reiner Road, Toronto, ON M3H 2L6 To reserve a spot now, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca
Censored Then and Now: The Politics of News Media from WWII to the Digital Age Tuesday, February 28, 6:00 PM, Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen Street West, Toronto. The Book and Periodical Council invites you to their annual celebration of Freedom to Read Week! Freedom to Read Week is an annual event that encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. To celebrate this freedom award-winning Canadian journalist, best-selling author and historian Mark Bourrie, author of The Fog of War: Censorship of Canada’s Media in World War Two, will discuss the past and present of censorship in the Canadian news media with critically-acclaimed novelist, journalist, censored author and activist Susan Swan, author of The Wives of Bath and The Biggest Modern Woman of the World. The evening will also feature the announcement of the winner of the 2012 Freedom to Read Award, presented by the Writers’ Union ofCanada. To RSVP, please contact publicity@thebpc.ca. For more information, or to find out about Freedom to Read Week events happening across Canada, visit www.freedomtoread.ca.
Philippa Dowding Reading at the Toronto Public Library Wednesday, February 29, 1:30 PM, Bloor Gladstone Library, 1101 Bloor Street W., Toronto. Philippa Dowding, author of The Gargoyle in My Yard and The Gargoyle Overhead (Dundurn Press), will be reading from her books at the Bloor/Gladstone branch of the Toronto Public Library.
Reading with Charlotte Gill, Robert Hough, Kim Thúy Wednesday, February 29, 7:30 PM, Harbourfront Centre, Brigantine Room, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto. Finish the month with readings by three award-winning authors! Charlotte Gill reads from her Charles Taylor Prize-nominated work of non-fiction, Eating Dirt. Robert Hough reads from his fourth novel Dr. Brinkley’s Tower. Kim Thúy reads from her Governor General’s Literary Award-winning novel, Ru. For ticket information, http://www.readings.org/?q=weekly/authors_shalom_auslander_kim_thuy.
The East End Writers’ Group presents How to Write a Bestseller, with New York Times bestselling author, Kelley Armstrong Saturday, March 3, 10:00 am-4:00 pm, World’s Biggest Bookstore, 20 Edward St, Toronto (A block north of Dundas, just west of Yonge St.) This workshop will give you the inside scoop on what gives a novel best-selling potential. You’ll learn how to get readers emotionally involved in your story, how to raise tension, control your pacing and keep your readers turning the pages. But you won’t just hear about some of the best secrets of the trade; you’ll learn how to apply them to give your own writing a sharp new edge. Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing teacher for more than 25 years. He has helped many of his students get published, including guest speaker Kelley Armstrong. Kelley has hit the New York Time’s bestseller list with both her supernatural thrillers for adults and her urban fantasy for teens. Kelley’s principal publishers are Random House Canada, Bantam and HarperCollins in the U.S., and Little, Brown in Britain. To date, she’s published more than two dozen books, most recently Spellbound, a supernatural thriller for adults, and The Gathering, for teens. She’s also writing a series of illustrated novellas with Subterranean Press. Fee: $38.94 + hst = $44 paid in advance or $42.48 + hst = $48 if you wait to pay at the door. To register, please make out a cheque to Brian Henry and mail it to: Brian Henry, 110 Reiner Road, Toronto, ON M3H 2L6. To reserve a spot now, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca
Portobello Reading Series featuring Ann Elizabeth Carson Saturday, March 3, 1:30 PM, Portobello Café, 995 Bay St., Toronto. Ann Elizabeth Carson, author of The Risks of Remembrance, is the feature poet at the March edition of Portobello Saturdays, an afternoon event hosted by Linda Stitt and Paul Solmes. For more information contact 416-926-1800.
Rowers Pub Reading Series Monday, March 5, 7:30 pm, Harbord House, 150 Harbord St, Toronto. Join us for our marvelous March features: Michael Fraser, Sheila Heti, and Jane Munro. Evening begins at 7:30 pm–come early for a pint or a great meal! Free–a hat is passed. For more info, call 647-430-7365. We acknowledge financial assistance from The Ontario Arts Council; The Canada Council for the Arts; The Toronto Arts Council; The Writers’ Union of Canada; The League of Canadian Poets; Tightrope Books. For more information please visit http://rowerspubreadingseries.com
Centenary Celebration of Irving Layton’s Birth Monday, March 12, 7:00 PM, Harbourfront Centre, The Garden Terrace, 235 Queen’s Quay West, Toronto. Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of Canada’s greatest poets, Irving Layton. John Rammell and Ann Elizabeth Carson will open the Centenary Celebration with readings from An Unlikely Affair, poet Dorothy Rath’s collection of her 30 year correspondence with Layton. For further information see visit http://www.irvinglayton.ca or the Irving Layton Centenary HUB Facebook page. For tickets call the box office at Harbourfront: 416-973-4000
Author Event: George R.R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons Tuesday March 13, 7:00 pm, Indigo Manulife Centre, Toronto. Meet George R.R. Martin – award-winning author and executive producer of the HBO hit Game of Thrones – as he signs A Dance With Dragons, the newest book in the epic bestselling A Song of Ice and Fire series. Follow @indigogreenroom on twitter for up-to-the minute information. Event details to be posted here once confirmed.
Author Event: Gail Simmons, Talking With My Mouth Full Tuesday March 13, 7:00 pm, Indigo Yonge & Eglinton, Toronto. Join us as Gail Simmons – Top Chef judge, Special Projects Director with Food & Wine magazine and trained culinary expert – signs her charming and revealing food memoir, Talking with My Mouth Full.
Author Event: Jodi Picoult, Lone Wolf Tuesday March 13, 7:00 pm, Church of the Redeemer, 162 Bloor St. W., Toronto. Join bestselling author Jodi Picoult as she shares her gripping new novel. Lone Wolf brilliantly describes the nature of a family: the love, protection, and strength it can offer-and the price we might have to pay for those gifts. Presented by Simon & Schuster Canada with official bookseller World’s Biggest Bookstore. For tickets visit TicketWeb at http://m.ticketweb.ca/snl/VenueListings.action?venueId=32097&pl= while quantities last.
Professional Writers’ Association of Canada: Writing Your Way: Careers in Corporate Writing and Copywriting Tuesday, March 20, 7:00-9:00 pm, Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre, 750 Spadina Avenue, Room 318, Toronto. Copywriting as a career? Find lucrative opportunities to serve businesses starved for clean, client-winning prose. Three expert copywriters tell you how to: leverage your periodical work, build a portfolio, find potential clients, and prepare a winning pitch. Registration: 6:30 pm. Panel Discussion/Q&A: 7:00 pm-9:00 pm. FREE for PWAC members and students (advance online registration); $20 for registration at door; $10 for members of associate writers’ groups (advance online registration); $15 for non-member (advance online registration up to midnight before event). Cheers with Peers networking follows at the Madison Avenue Pub, a welcoming watering hole conveniently located at 14 Madison Avenue, off Bloor Street near Spadina Avenue. (Pay for your own cheers.) More info, contact Dawn Boshcoff at d.boshcoff@pwactoronto.org Visit: www.NetWords.ca; www.PWACtoronto.org; www.PWAC.ca; www.WRITERS.ca
Crime Showcase Feat. John Brady, Ian Hamilton, Matt Lennox and David Rotenberg Wednesday, March 21, 7:30 PM, Harbourfront Centre, Brigantine Room, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto. Do you love crime writing? Then this is definitely the showcase for you! Authors at Harbourfront Centre presents a Crime Showcase featuring John Brady, author of The Coast Road, Ian Hamilton, author of The Wild Beasts of Wuhan, Matt Lennox, author of The Carpenter, and David Rotenberg, author of The Placebo Effect. Authors will read followed by a question and answer period moderated by Andrew Pyper, author of The Guardians. To purchase tickets visit http://www.readings.org/?q=weekly/authors_reading
The Barrie Writers’ Club presents Writing your life and other true stories Saturday, March 24, 10:00 am-4:00 pm, The Community Room in Zehrs, 472 Bayfield Street, Barrie (next to Wal-Mart, across from Georgian Mall) Have you ever considered writing your memoirs or family history? This workshop will introduce you to the tricks and conventions of telling true stories and will show you how to use the techniques of the novel to recount actual events. Whether you want to write for your family or for a wider public, don’t miss this workshop. Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He has helped many of his students get published, including our guest speaker, Dr. Ross Pennie, the author of The Unforgiving Tides, a doctor’s memoir of Papua New Guinea (Manor House Publishing). He has also signed a contract with ECW Press for three medical mystery novels. The first of these, Tainted, won Arts Hamilton Literary Award for Fiction. Ross’s second novel, Tampered, came out in May. At the workshop, Ross will speak on how to turn ordinary life into dramatic material and will answer questions about how he wrote his memoir and got it published.Fee: $38.94 + hst = $44 paid in advance or $42.48 + hst = $48 if you wait to pay at the door. To register, please make out a cheque to Brian Henry and mail it to: Brian Henry, 110 Reiner Road, Toronto, ON M3H 2L6 To reserve a spot now, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca
AICW Remembers the Internment of Italian Canadians will launch two volumes in five cities during March 2012 During the Second World War, an estimated 7,000 Italian Canadians, some immigrants, others Canadian-born, were rounded up by the RCMP. More than 600 were sent to internment camps in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. Some had property and businesses confiscated. Many more were classified as enemy aliens, their movements and activities restricted. Italian-Canadian bricklayers and doctors, miners and accountants were led away in handcuffs, simply because of their ethnic origin. Canadian politicians and journalists referred to the prisoners as “slimy subversive elements” and “jackals.” Although many remained behind barbed wire for years, none was ever charged with spying, sabotage or any other offense. The books are being published as part of AICW Remembers the Internment of Italian Canadians, a national project created to increase public awareness and knowledge about these events, with the aim of bringing about a greater understanding of the broader issues such as racism and discrimination in historical and contemporary terms. Simultaneously published as print books and e-books, the books are Beyond Barbed Wire – a collection of essays examining the internment from historical, social, literary, and cultural perspectives; and Behind Barbed Wire – a collection of short fiction, memoir, poetry, drama and visual art inspired by the internment. Launches will be held in Vancouver (March 6), Montreal (March 16), Ottawa (March 18), Halifax (March 24) and Toronto (March 31). Excerpts from both books are previewed in several issues of Accenti Magazine, and the winter issue is on newsstands now. Visit www.accenti.ca for more information.
Poetry NOW: Fourth Annual Battle of the Bards Wednesday, March 28, 7:30 PM, Harbourfront Centre, Brigantine Room, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto. Hear 20 poets vie for the position of Canada’s Best Bard at the Poetry NOW: Fourth annual Battle of the Bards! The showcase of competing poets will be judged by a jury comprising Authors at Harbourfront Centre Director Geoffrey Taylor, Artistic Associate Jen Tindall and another judge to be announced will select the night’s winner. The reigning bard will be invited to read at the 33rd annual International Festival of Authors (October 18–28, 2012). Tickets to attend the event are $10 (free for members, youth 25 and under, and students with ID). AUTHORS is pleased to offer a 50% discount to members of the League of Canadian Poets, Writers’ Union of Canada and Playwrights Guild of Canada. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit readings.org or call the Harbourfront Centre box office at 416-973-4000. For full submission criteria and guidelines, publishers and poets please visit http://www.readings.org/?q=main/poetry_now_4th_annual_battle_of_the_bards
Spring Thaw writing retreat at Elmhirst’s Resort in the Kawarthas March 30 to April 1 Writescape’s Spring Thaw writers’ retreat strips away the excuses and the distractions that prevent writers from putting pen to paper. Spring Thaw offers participants the luxury of focusing on their writing while the resort takes care of the rest. The all-inclusive weekend getaway runs March 30 to April 1 at the scenic Elmhirst’s Resort in the Kawarthas. Not long enough? Participants can opt for an additional two days of writing with the “Extend Your Pen” option. The retreat offers writers guided writing exercises, private time for writing and reflection, and Writescape’s amazing “inspiration station” to stimulate their creativity. Writers also receive a private manuscript consultation with valuable written feedback from two professional editors. On Saturday, meet and chat with special guest authors Jonathan Bennett, Michelle Berry and Natalee Caple. They join the group for dinner and offer a stimulating evening program. The retreat is led by Ruth E. Walker and Gwynn Scheltema. This dynamic duo have taught a full range of programs from half-day workshops to weeklong retreats to college level credit courses. Scheltema is an award-winning freelance writer and poet, and a founding editor for the Canadian journal LICHEN Arts & Letters Preview. Walker is an award-winning writer, poet and playwright with fiction, poetry, and non-fiction work published in Canada, the US, and the UK. Elmhirst’s Resort, located near Peterborough, offers a relaxing combination of cosy cottage accommodations and spectacular gourmet meals with amenities like an indoor pool and onsite themed pub. The resort is set on gently rolling hills beside beautiful Rice Lake, a mere 90 minutes east and north of Toronto. The retreat includes all meals, a private room in lakefront cottage accommodations and resort amenities for $745. Extend your pen option, add $300. Discounts for alumni and members of accredited writing associations. Query for a non-residential day rate. For full retreat details and online registration, visit www.writescape.ca, e-mail info@writescape.ca, or phone 905-728-7823.
Creative Writing Workshop April 3-May 29, 7:00-9:00 pm over nine Tuesdays, Bloor St. United Church, Bloor & Spadina, Toronto. Cost: $300 or $275 if deposit received before March 1. Contact: rs2459@gmail.com or 416-516-0444. A great way to start writing, jump start your stalled writing, or push your writing to a new level. Join a new session of an ongoing creative writing workshop, which evolved out of a University of Toronto Creative Writing course. Through a series of writing prompts, we’ll explore various components of narrative prose–exposition, dialogue, point-of-view, style, etc. Each week participants write a short, assigned piece which we’ll read and discuss in class. These exercises are designed to spark the imagination and hone the craft of writing, and are suitable to writers of fiction and memoir, beginning writers or those further along. The workshop in general is conceived as a supportive, illuminating, entertaining and provocative environment in which to develop narrative skills and ideas. Our discussion of writing also includes examples from great classic and contemporary writers. The instructor, Roxanne Snider, is a published writer with an MFA in creative writing, who has taught at the University of Toronto’s Continuing Education, Her teachers include Barbara Gowdy, Amy Hempel and Sven Birkerts. More info: www.roxanneswritingworkshop.com