Ontario Writers' Conference Press Release

The Ontario Writers’ Conference is a one-day event on May 1, 2010. Cost for a non-member is $210. Conference attendees who stay overnight at the Ajax Garden Hilton will spend an exclusive evening at Port Perry’s Ocala Winery. The press release is below. ~ Clyo

DURHAM REGION, ON, MARCH 12, 2010:

Writers sure know how to kick off a conference. Delegates to the May 1st Ontario Writers’ Conference (OWC) staying at the Garden Hilton will start celebrating the night before at an private party cooked up by conference organizers and the Region of Durham. OWC delegates step on a bus that whisks them away to an exciting and exclusive evening at Port Perry’s Ocala Winery.

Best of all, it’s free!

Imagine: a starlit evening sipping Durham ’s finest fruit wines made from fruit grown a stone’s throw away. Nibbling on bite-sized morsels of home-grown local ingredients: herb sausage flavoured with Ocala black currant wine, roasted emu on baguette, pulled pork mini wraps, buffalo tacos in tortilla scoop, northern spy apple in homemade caramel sauce in a phyllo cup.

Host Irwin Smith escorts delegates on a vine-to-vintage tour of the winery and invites them to sample his delicious chardonnays and merlots. Afterwards, more time to mix and mingle, engaging in stimulating conversation with authors, local politicians and other guests, and visiting displays of local merchants’ wares. The lilting notes of a steel drum, played by Joy Lapps, “the princess of pan,” weave a mellow musical background. Finally, sated and content, the delegates step back on the bus for the trip back to the hotel.

This magical night, courtesy of Durham Region Tourism, awaits OWC delegates booking an overnight stay at the Ajax Garden Hilton.

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On May 1, 2010, writers will flock from Ontario and beyond to Ajax for the Ontario Writers’ Conference (OWC)to rub elbows with world-famous authors like sci-fi giant Robert J. Sawyer and funny guy Richard Scrimger? Delegates enjoy a full of workshops, blue pencil session, networking and panel discussions, continental breakfast, buffet lunch and dinner, and the Festival of Authors, all for $210. Attendance at the Festival of Authors only is $10. Complete details, registration forms and online registration (PayPal and major credit cards) are available at www.thewritersconference.com

. To register by mail, forward form and cheque or money order to: Ontario Writers’ Conference, 85 Chambers Drive , Unit #5, Ajax , ON L1Z 1E2 .

The Ontario Writers' Conference is a premier arts organization that conducts educational, challenging and interactive workshops, panels, roundtables and other writing-related events, led by writers, arts-related facilitators and industry professionals. The Ontario Writers’ Conference endeavours to connect, educate and inspire writers everywhere.

The Ontario Writers’ Conference thanks its many sponsors and partners, including Amplified Communications

, Phanta Media

, the Ontario Arts Council

, InStore Products

, the Writers’ Circle of Durham Region, and Blue Heron Books.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Barbara Hunt
Ontario Writers' Conference
bhunt(at)thewritersconference.com
905-985-4409

Sarnia Spoken Word Events

Award-winning poet Debbie Okun Hill has sent us the following event schedule for Sarnia's Spoken Word.


OUT-OF-TOWN EVENTS (TAKING PLACE IN SARNIA):

April 16

Special guest London poet Andreas Gripp will read from his new book The Fall during a Spoken Word/Open Mic Reading at Urban Nature Centre, 184 Christina Street N. (inside the Energy Exchange Building beside Themptations) in Sarnia, Ontario. Start time at 7:30 p.m. Open mic to follow. For more information www.spokenwordsarnia.wordpress.com

April 18

Hamilton writers and award-winning poets from Sarnia will celebrate National Poetry Month by launching five new books including And Left a Place to Stand On: Poems and Essays on Al Purdy. Start time: 1 p.m. at Lawrence House Centre for the Arts in Sarnia, Ontario. Open mic to follow. For more information www.lawrencehouse.ca

April 30

Sarnia's Spoken Word is the last Friday of the month from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Walter Petryschuk Turret Room of the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts, 127 Christina Street South in Sarnia, Ontario. For more information www.lawrencehouse.ca

May 28

Sarnia's Spoken Word is the last Friday of the month from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Walter Petryschuk Turret Room of the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts, 127 Christina Street South in Sarnia, Ontario. For more information www.lawrencehouse.ca

June 25

Sarnia's Spoken Word is the last Friday of the month from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Walter Petryschuk Turret Room of the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts, 127 Christina Street South in Sarnia, Ontario. This open mic event will take a break during the summer months and returning again on September 24. For more information www.lawrencehouse.ca

Pat Brown's Recent Successes

Pat Brown has had some recent successes. Since I'm putting them in the April 2010 LWS newsletter, I'm adding them here as well. ~ Clyo

Pat Brown’s novel L.A. Heat won the Rainbow Award for Best Mystery/Suspense novel and took second place for Best Overall Gay Novel of 2009.

Her novel L.A. Boneyard has been nominated for the Arthur Ellis award for Best Canadian Crime Novel and for the Daphne du Maurier award for Best Mystery/Suspense.

Her latest release, L.A. Bytes, has received a very positive review at Literary Nymphs.

Pat was also a guest blogger on the book review blog Love Romances & More where she wrote about her passion for "the dark lady" known as Los Angeles. Congratulations Pat!

Novelist John Passfield shares experience in turning local stories into literature

John Passfield spoke about turning local stories into literature, with examples from his London novel, Victoria Day, at our March 18 general meeting.

Here's how our March 2010 newsletter described John, in advance of his presentation:

John Passfield's approach to writing and publishing is unique. He publishes a companion journal for each novel in which he documents the day-by-day decision-making that went into the novel's development. He also chooses compelling subject matter.

In Grave Song, he explored one man's loss of his family to the 1930's cholera pandemic.

In Jumbo, he explored public reaction to the death of the circus elephant in 1885, a loss that reverberated around the world.

In Pinafore Park, he explored the response of St. Thomas residents to the drowning of children in 1925.

In Rain of Fire, he explored how an inquiry tried to assess responsibility for a deadly train crash in 1887.

Now, in Victoria Day, John weaves together themes explored in previous works as he tells the story of the sinking of the steamboat Victoria in London on May 24, 1881.

How did he do it? John will discuss his process and share his thoughts about how local history and literature can shape each other and enrich our understanding of both.