Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society

READ SUNSHINE COAST BC 

Sunshine Coast Festival of Written Arts Authors over 42 years.pdf
100 Years of Writers on the Sunshine Coast.pdf
SCWESApr2024Calendar.pdf
A&W Schedule 2024.pdf
SCWESMar2024poster.pdf

Art & Words Interviews

When you and your A&W partner are ready, here are the interview times on stage. This year there's only one/team. Sunday is being kept relatively flexible in case we need to catch up, so unless you can't appear any other day, please don't sign up for Sunday. Keep in mind, there may be minor changes required.

Sign up here.

Art & Words Billets

If you have a room available during Art & Words for one of our visiting authors or artists at low or no cost for one or more days/nights, please sign up here.

Art & Words 2024 Volunteers Needed

For those of you who couldn't participate in Art & Words 2024, please consider signing up for a fun two-hour shift during the festival (August 22-25) at the bustling Gibsons Public Market, please. Rub shoulders with artists and authors from all over Canada. 

For those of you who are participating, please sign up for at least one shift. 

Schedule a volunteering shift here.

Not An Island Winter 2024

Poetry & Prose by the Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society - Kindle edition by scwes.ca, Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society, Dakin, Emma, Davis, Monica, DeGrass, Jan, Hackett, Robert, Healey, Michael, Hicks, Caitlin, Lin, Juliet, Lobo, Del, Peck, Frances. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTGTKXDW?ref_=pe_93986420_774987470

February Entry Special

For the month of February we’re showing authors book love with an entry fee of only $40.

scwesbookcontestnew.pdf
scwes2023yearinreview.pdf
Sunshine Coast Festival of Written Arts Authors over 41 years (1).pdf

Some Photos from the Art & Words Exhibit at the Gibsons Public Library

Coast Reporter Article: Expanded Art & Words festival lauds top authors, stirs creativity

https://www.coastreporter.net/local-arts/expanded-art-words-festival-lauds-top-authors-stirs-creativity-7421802

BC Booklook Article on the SCWES Book Awards

https://bcbooklook.com/scwes-book-award-winners/

SCWES Book Awards for BC Authors Winners.pdf

Thank you Westland Insurance

We are so grateful and pleased to announce that Westland Insurance of Sechelt is sponsoring SCWES's Seaside Art, Photography & Book Fair that showcases local artists and authors at the Seaside Centre in Sechelt, August 18-19. Thank you, Westland Insurance.


Jan and Mark Take Centre Stage

Jan DeGrass would be delighted to see you at her reading on Saturday, August 12 at 3:30 during the second annual Art & Words event at Gibsons Public Market. She's sharing the stage with Mark Cameron who we know will be entertaining. But she will read a few entertaining pieces too—excerpts from her war brides novel and a humorous story about aging rockers (the musical kind).

Who: Jan DeGrass and Mark Cameron. Who are appearing courtesy of The Writers’ Union of Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts.

When: Saturday, August 12 starting at 3:30 p.m. until 4:15.

Where: In the atrium of Gibsons Public Market, 473 Gower Point Road, Gibsons.

Price: It’s free but it's suggested you save a seat at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/.../jan-degrass-mark-cameron... .

You are welcome at any of the events during the entire four days from August 10-13 and that includes readings, book sales and the ceremony for prize winners of our SCWES Book Awards for BC Authors. Many events are free thanks to generous sponsors and grant agencies, though the workshops might charge a fee.

See more and sign up on the Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society website: (https://www.scwes.ca/art-words/art-words-schedules)

Thank You Howe Sound Pulp & Paper

We are so grateful to Howe Sound Pulp & Paper for a grant to the SCWES Book Awards for BC Authors. Thank you so much for your contribution. This means a lot to promote literature in BC. 


SCWES BOOK AWARDS FOR BC AUTHORS 2024.pdf

The King of Solitude: An Interview with Grant Lawrence

Read Cathalynn Labonté-Smith's review in the Mirimichi Reader here.

Coast Reporter Article on the Book Awards

SCWES Book Awards for BC Authors Finalists web 3

Almost An Island Podcast

Our first Almost An Island Podcast was a huge success on Friday, May 19th. Michael Gurney is editing the recorded conversations, so stayed tuned. Here's some photos from the day with Marissa Fisher, Lise Kreps, Cat Mac, Stephen Smith and Mike Starr. Our next podcast workshop will be Friday, June 9th, from 1-5pm. Send in a brief summary of what you want to chat about for 20 to 30 minutes with Michael and Cindy to sunshinecoastwritersandeditors@gmail.com by May 30th, thank you.

Thank You Rotary Club of Gibsons

SCWES would like to express our sincerest gratitude to the members of the Rotary Club of Gibsons for their generous donation for the 2nd Annual Art & Words Festival at the Gibsons Public Market, August 10-13. Your contribution will go a long way in ensuring the success of our festival, and we are deeply grateful for your support.


Thanks to your kindness, we will be able to provide a stage for local artists, writers, and musicians to showcase their talents and promote the arts in our community.


We believe that art and literature play a vital role in promoting cultural exchange, community engagement, and social cohesion, and we are thrilled to have your support in our mission. Your donation is an investment in the future of our community, and we are honoured to be the recipients of your generosity.


Once again, thank you for your support, and we hope that you will continue to be a part of our community's cultural and artistic initiatives. https://portal.clubrunner.ca/252/

BENEFITS OF AN SCWES MEMBERSHIP


SCWES has many benefits for your $20/year. We are a supportive and inclusive group, here to help all of our members develop at all levels. We have a diverse group from beginners to a Governor-General award winner.


We have a new writers' circle starting in Gibsons every other Thursday and one in Sechelt starting May 4,, every other Thursday.


We have a monthly group meeting, the last Sunday of the month at Mission Point House starting with a quick business meeting, then a program, such as book launch, or speaker. Sunday, April 30th, 2 pm we have a panel on ChatGPT, with two AI experts and myself, a networking break with refreshments, then a hands-on workshop on Chat, so bring a laptop or tablet. In May, we have a book launch by local author, Caitlin Hicks. In June, we're going to talk about a Heritage project with a Literary Landmark map, both a flat map, web-based and an app. Our grant for the project from Heritage BC, of which we are members, is in process. We break for the summer.


August 10-13, 2023 we host the 2nd Annual Sunshine Coast Art & Words Festival at the Gibsons Public Market with 30 events, all free except 14 workshops for writers, artists and photographers at a nominal cost.


We will have the representative from the Federation of BC Writers, of which we are members, join us for two days to give us information about the organization and its benefits and to answer questions. We will probably have other representatives from other writing organizations as well and writing programs. Go to our eventbrite site to reserve your seats:

https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/2nd-annual-sunshine-coast-art-words-festival-1970599


We have four authors being sponsored to read by The Writers Union of Canada and the Canada Council of the Arts. I assist authors in their applications to TWUC and apply for the grants as an organization.


We have an online Membership Directory for authors who want to promote themselves at: https://www.scwes.ca/membership-directory


We have a quarterly magazine, "Not An Island" both online and paper-based that gives members an opportunity to be published. We are publishing an annual in time for our Festival this year. https://www.scwes.ca/not-an-island


With both our website and FB page we keep members up-to-date with news, contests, and their achievements.

https://www.facebook.com/sunshinecoastwes/


You receive a monthly calendar of events.


But of all that we have to offer, building a sense of community is the best thing we have to offer. We collaborate and take part in several community events throughout the year, including the Art Crawl. 

Remembering Arthur Lightbourn

It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of our dear member Arthur Lightbourn, at 1:03 am, Tuesday, December 27th, 2022 at the Sechelt Hospital. On behalf of SCWES, I extend our condolences to his daughter, Laurel Lightbourn and her family at this difficult time. My heart breaks for her as Arthur doted on her, as he did all of his family. He shared with me in the short time we knew each other, late into the night, how much he adored her and all his family. It was a privilege to have known such a kind and lovely soul.

Arthur had a story published in our first issue of "Not An Island"  a year ago (https://www.scwes.ca/not-an.../not-an-island-winter-2021-22). He wrote a book, which was the biography of the fascinating Vita Simpson, a Sechelt resident, who turned one hundred years-old on March 21, 2021.  ("Our Vita" is available for loan at the Sechelt Public Library.)  A "Coast Reporter" article about Arthur's book can be found at: https://www.coastreporter.net/.../100-years-of-vita-3575592

Arthur Francis Lightbourn earned a BA in English with Honours from St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia (1956). He worked as a reporter for the Halifax Chronicle Herald and the Toronto Star.

As a freelancer in California, he wrote features and personality profiles for newspapers. His awards include several first place San Diego Press Club awards, National First Place IFPA Award (2002) for Original Writing about the first American military officer to enter a Nazi concentration camp to liberate its prisoners.

His daughter, Laurel was instrumental to Arthur becoming a member of SCWES, as he was living in a care home when he joined and not able to attend our meetings. Without Laurel's assistance, Arthur wouldn't have been able to join our community, and I would never have known him.

On his application form, Arthur wrote that his goal within the society was, "To encourage other writers to be the voice for those who need a voice, and to challenge the status quo." He also said that he was working on a save the cougars project.

I met Arthur in-person at Lions Gate Hospital this summer when we were patients in the same hospital room across from each other. For my entire stay, Arthur told me fascinating stories that he wanted to write when he got out of the hospital. He was an inspiration.

He never complained while in the hospital. He was appreciative of everything that the nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, janitors and everyone did for him at Lions Gate and I believe he was the same while at Sechelt Hospital, because that's the kind of person he was.

After I left Lions Gate, I eventually got word from Laurel that he was transferred to Sechelt Hospital. I was at Sechelt Hospital visiting a friend, a founding member of SCWES, and Arthur was in the next room. Stephen and I popped in and saw Arthur. He was much recovered compared to Lions Gate Hospital days and was waiting for a placement in a care home.

Eventually, he found a spot, but unfortunately he ended up back at Sechelt Hospital again. Laurel let me know just before Christmas, that he would be leaving us. I wouldn't have a chance to see his dear face again.

He was in hospital in total for about four months, when Laurel let me know.

Goodbye, dear Arthur, as you write stories in whatever press room you are in now.

-30-

https://vimeo.com/784788399

100 Writers in 100 Years on the Sunshine Coast Kickoff Event.pdf

Presentation on Kindle Direct Publishing

scweskde.pptx

Purpose

There’s an influx of new authors to serve on the Coast as well as our solid base. There’s a new generation of young authors and publishers to pass on the blue pencil to and retirees, who are ready to lay their astonishing memoirs at our feet if they can just get going on it.

We are a magnet for creative souls on the Coast. We may not know exactly why, but it’s almost mandatory that you’re a potter, painter or writer to live here. We have our ensemble of diverse voices, and within it there are cozy groups organically and beautifully forming. 

 Need more information? Send an email to sunshinecoastwritersandeditors@gmail.com