Mayan Calendar not about mass destruction says author

I’m on my way to a book launch at the Ben McNally Bookstore in Toronto. The book is Movement of Stillness: as Revealed in the New Mayan Calendar – Post 2012 by Jacqui Derbecker. Jacqui contends that the perception of mass destruction most people see as the promise the Mayan calendar is not the correct interpretation. The Barrie-based author’s view was channeled through the automatic writing process from Edgar Cayce, a well-known mystic philosopher, seer, channelor and author who lived from 1877- 1945. Jacqui says his interpretation has changed the negative perception to that of positive, high vibrational prophecies. She says that the prophecies in her book touch on the emotional, physical and community aspects of our lives. It should be an interesting event. I’ll report more tomorrow (Saturday).

If you want to hear the tale first hand, Jacqui will be at Ben McNally’s from 6:30 to 8:30 this evening. That’s at 366 Bay St., near Richmond.

Workshop for writers- This Saturday

Reva & I are running a workshop this Saturday titled How to Engage and Charm Your Audience. It’s designed for writers who want to learn effective techniques that will capture your audience when you stand up to read your work. Reva works with each person’s personal style, helping them enhance their strong areas and bolstering weaknesses. Reva’s been an artistic director for local theatre as well as directing at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and in Los Angeles. She has trained corporate CEOs, organizational chairmen, actors and writers to connect effectively with their audiences.

We would like at least five more people to enrol before the end of the day this Wednesday (Nov. 23). It is intensive with a lot of hands-on work but as one of our recent participants said: ” Exceeded my expectations, a safe environment (to express yourself in), with lots of practical exercises.” — a good reading helps sell books.

If you’re interested you can download a brochure at Writeware.ca.

If you plan to attend, email me at workshops@writeware.ca (copy & paste this address) so we know you’re coming. Bring your payment with you to the session on Saturday. (You can also pay on-line if you are not a member of one of the associations that get discounts — listed in the brochure. To pay on line, click here: http://writeware.ca/index.php?main_page=product_workshop_info&cPath=1&products_id=26.)

Poets gather in Quinte

Purdyfest is an annual August holiday gathering of poets in honour of Al Purdy’s famous poem, The Country North od Belleville. The get-together this year actually starts on July 29 with a pot-luck supper.

On Saturday at noon, the first literary event will be a symposium on the life and works of poet Raymond Souster. It will be held in Marmora’s local library. (Raymond was born in 1921 & lived in Toronto. He is a major Canadian poet who been honoured with the Order of Canada — he has written at least 50 books of poetry, shared in two others, and edited three poetry magazines.)

Purdyfest is a huge outdoor festival with people camping at Faiers’ ZenRiver Gardens retreat, and artists performing at the Marmora Dam. Expect poetry collections to be launched as part of the dozens of reading events throughout the day. On Sunday, the 31st, The Canada-Cuba Literary Alliance will offer a group reading at ZenRiver Gardens.

If you like poetry, this event is a chance to meet and get to know a number of developing and established Canadian artists. You can read your own work as well at the round robin reading starting at 4:30 on Saturday.

Check out the Quinte Arts Council page for more info: http://www.quinteartscouncil.org/Qac/QAC/arts/purdyfest.htm.

Food in the Field & Poetry in the Park

If you’re a food lover, you might try the free one-hour workshop on Saturday (July 16) led by vegetarian chef and author Denis Cotter. I expect you’ll see him create dishes from his most recent cookbook, For the Love of Food, published by Harper Collins. The workshop runs 11 a.m. until noon in the Fido Classroom followed by a book signing until 1 p.m, in Evergreen Garden Market. The Fido Classroom is at 550 Bayview Ave. and the Garden Market is adjacent. Look for signage when you get there or ask at the welcome centre.

This Sunday is expected to be warm and partly cloudy, the perfect kind of day for lazing under a tree and listening to poetry. (The loaf of bread & jug of wine are optional.) You can do that at Oakville’s Sovereign House  from 1 to 3 p.m. In fact, check out the art exhibit inside Sovereign House, set your reactions in meter and rhyme and sign up to participate in the readings. (Apparently, you can read other work you’ve written as well.) To participate, contact Saskia van Tetering (vantetering@yahoo.ca), Chair of the Oakville chapter of Canadian Federation of Poets. Otherwise, just show up and enjoy the day. Sovereign House is located at 7 West River St. in Oakville.

Master class for novelists

I just received a note that Barbara Kyle is running a master class for novel-writing in August.

The two-day course to be held at the Toronto Writer’s Centre on Bloor St. W. starts Aug. 14, costs $250 and is limited to 10 people.

This course focuses on getting you published;  intensive work with peer-critiques of the first 30 pages of your novel (you have to submit some work beforehand), a private session with Barbara to discuss the pluses and minuses of your work, and lectures by her on getting published. Discussions will include electronic publishing, an area that has been inching its way toward credibility and, with JK Rowling’s recent announcement about offering her books online, may finally hit its stride.

Barbara has written seven novels that I am aware of; three thrillers under the pen name Stephen Kyle published by Warner Books, and three historical novels – her preferred genre – published by Kensington Books. Her seventh book, The Queen’s Gamble, is scheduled for launch on Aug. 30. Barbara also should have a good ear for dialogue with decades of acting credits in both the US & Canada in theatre, made-for-TV movies, sit coms, and a soap opera.

Barbara is a popular instructor so if you want to get into this class, contact her as soon as possible. For information or to register: bkyle@barbarakyle.com

Writing events coming up

Stellar Literary Festival is running again this year on Sunday, June 26 from 11 a.m. to 4:30. It’s in its usual spot at the Parkwood Estates, 270 Simcoe St. N. in Oshawa.

They have a full slate of authors, poets, & storytellers over the 5.5 hour event, including a couple of poets whom I enjoy, Saskia Maddock and Zohra Zoberi. At 2 p.m., Kim Michele is the featured performance artist (she combines talent on the harp & mandolin with storytelling).  I don’t know Kim but find that kind of chronicling fascinating.

If you are curious about getting published, four small press publishers are attending the festival: Hidden Brook Press owned by Richard Grove runs poetry contests, and publishes contest anthologies as well as the works of local writers and poets; J. Graham Publishing operated by Graham Drucker publishes chapbooks; Pine Lake Books owned by Lynn Marie Simpson is an online publisher and book distributor; and Daisy May Publishing operated by Pauline Cormier publishes authors of stories for children & young adults, offers writing workshops to children in the london area and publishes the children’s stories.

For more details on the festival, and its participants, go to:  http://www.stellarliteraryfestival.com/talent2011.html#tony

Summer writing plans

This is a quickie note to my loyal readers. Summer starts on Tuesday afternoon. If you haven’t done so already, plan your vacation writing program:

• set aside time to create and hone your stories, ponderings and poems
• research which magazines (print & on-line) are best suited to publish your work
• and allocate some money so you can enter a few contests.

Set up a schedule so that by September 23 (the fall equinox) you will have achieved your summer writing goal.

Oh, and keep an eye on this blog for information about writing events, book launches and organizations that want your work.

Anthology launching

Canadian Voices Volume 2 launches at 6:30 tonight from the Supermarket Art Bar on 268 Augusta Ave. Nine of the authors will read their work and a jazz band will entertain between times. The Art Bar has a huge section at the back that includes a raised stage for the performances and can handle a large crowd. If the attendance matches the first volume’s launch, it’ll be a busy evening.

If you can’t make it to the bar, you can catch the event live at: www.livestream.com/voodootv1 .

The book is available at most book stores, including Chapters — or you can buy it at the launch and have the fun of getting autographs of the more than 70 authors and poets who contributed.