Please sign up for the Elevator Pitch workshop at our June 25 Meeting on Eventbrite.

SCWES Book Awards for BC Authors Judging in Progress

Thanks to those who entered our first SCWES Book contest. Our judges are busily scoring the submissions. We had double the number of entrants that we expected and are already planning for next year’s contest to be just as successful. We have invited all of the authors who have entered to Art & Words and hopefully at least some of them will be able to attend when we read out the names of the winners. 

Karen Abrahamson

Karen Abrahamson will be at the Seaside Art, Photography & Book Fair as both a Photographer and author with her own book table. 

KARENLABRAHAMSON.COM - Mystery, fantasy and romance at the dangerous ends of the earth – The various Incarnations of Author Karen L. Abrahamson.

Still Time to Enter our Book Contest

Holographic stickers for winners of the SCWES Book Award for BC Authors arrived today. Get your book entries, both traditionally and self-published, in by May 30th, Midnight to 787 Madison Place, Gibsons, BC V0N 1V1. Entry fee, $50 for books except poetry, $20. Etransfer to sunshinecoastwritersandeditors@gmail.com. Good luck. Winners announced at the Art & Words Festival, August 10th, Gibsons Public Market. 

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. 

Rae Armour at Art & Words

We are putting on our boogie shoes in preparation for Rae Armour, the Hootin' Nanny's performance at the 2nd Annual Sunshine Coast Art & Words Festival at the Gibsons Public Market, Saturday, August 12th, 12 pm to 1 pm. Reserve your free seat and don't be disappointed.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rae-armour-tickets-613538118027

Arts & Words  Workshop Registration

You can browse and register for events at Eventbrite.

Or you can print out the form below, fill it out, take a photo and send it to: sunshinecoastwritersandeditors@gmail.com.

What a turn out today at our magic hat match for the 2nd Annual Sunshine Coast Art & Words Festival! An article will be out on Feb. 10 in the Coast Reporter on our event Thanks, Steve for the photos this morning. 

Arts and Words 2023

It's time for writers and artists to put their names in for the 2nd Annual Art & Words Festival to be matched up by the "magic hat". This year we will be at the Gibsons Public Market. If you're new to the festival, or just want to put a smile on your face, check out the vibes from last year: 

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

Awards Given Out at the September Meeting

Presentation on Kindle Direct Publishing

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

Ready to sign up? Fill out the attached membership form.