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/

Workshops Still Available at Art & Words 2023

Fifteen Finalists at Arts & Words

Did you know that we have 15 finalists from our first Book Awards for BC Authors attending and giving readings at the Art & Words Festival at the Gibsons Public Market, August 10-13?

Heather Conn - No Letter in Your Pocket

Vince Ditrich - The Liquor Vicar & The Vicar’s Knickers

Michael Kluckner - The Rooming House

Vicky Earle - Exploring Vancouver Naturehoods

Catherine McNeil - emily & elspeth

Barbara Black - Music from a Strange Planet

Michelle Poirier Brown - You Might Be Sorry You Read This

Lyn Baldwin - Drawing Botany Home

Sharon Easton - Beach Moose & Amber

Cynthia Sharp - Ordinary Light

Mary-Anne Neal - Under the Midnight Sun

David Phillips/Maggie Guzzi - Poems

Lyn Baldwin - Vancouver’s Naturehoods

Esmeralda Cabral - How to Clean A Fish

Dr. Chris Honey - The Tenth Nerve

And counting. . .

Dr. Chris Honey at Arts & Words

We are so honoured that Dr. Chris Honey, neurosurgeon from UBC and author of The Tenth Nerve, a finalist in our Book Awards for BC Authors contest, will be giving a reading from his book on Saturday, August 12th at Art & Words.

Reserve your free seat here:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/690170036157?aff=oddtdtcreator

Sunshine Trio at Art & Words

Don't miss out on the Sunshine Trio on Sunday, August 13th, Noon to 1 pm at the Art & Words Festival, with Flute - Jane Ogborne, Keyboard - Alan Ogborne, Bass guitar - Ward Tinney. Reserve your free seat at:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/sunshine-trio-tickets-690124600257?aff=oddtdtcreator

Thank you to Westland Insurance

What a pleasure it was to meet with Reginald Bennet at Westland Insurance, our new sponsor for Seaside Fair today. Thanks again Westland Insurance for your generous donation! Thanks to our member, Monica Davis, retired employee of Westland Insurance, for making this happen.

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)

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

Little Bookshop coming to Art & Words

We're excited and pleased to announce that Little Bookshop of Squamish will be bringing their mobile bookshop to Art & Words on Saturday, August 12th to the Gibsons Public Market and will be fully stocked with books by the Finalists of the SCWES Book Awards for BC Authors contest. Some of the authors will be there to do signings. https://littlebookshop.ca/ 

Art & Words All Access Passes

We have just released 50 all access passes to the Writers' Workshops at the 2nd Annual Art & Words Festival for $99. Snap one up before they're gone.  Register here on EventBrite.

Vince R. Ditrich at Art & Words

Vince R. Ditrich will come from Vancouver Island to do a reading & signing from his books at the 2nd Annual Sunshine Coast Art & Words Festival, Gibsons Public Market, Saturday, August 12, 1 pm. He will be the emcee of our first annual SCWES Book Awards for BC Authors, as well as read from his Liquor Vicar books, and do signings and book sales. Reserve your free seat without delay. Seats are limited, book here at EventBrite.

Accommodation for Art & Words

The Gibsons Landing Inn located across the street from the Gibsons Public Market is the official accommodation for the Art & Words Festival. There's a special conference rate.

To book your room (min. three night stay), please call Maureen and say you're an Art & Words Festival attendee to get the special discount. 

https://www.facebook.com/GibsonsLandingInn/

Pre-order Lunch for Art & Words

Pre-order your delicious box lunches from Emelle's at Art & Words from this fabulous menu. Contact Emelle's Market Bistro to order at the Gibsons Public Market, 473 Gower Point Rd,   604.886.8814

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.

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.