A nice problem to have

When I'm not micro-pressing, I'm teaching at St. Lawrence College, and like many teachers, I just can't read for pleasure during the school year. Maybe it's because I do so much reading when I mark. Maybe it's because I'm tired at the end of the day. Maybe it's because I'm lazy.

But the winter semester ENDS NEXT WEEK. I am a wee bit giddy at the thought of sitting in the pale spring sun and....wait for it...reading for pleasure.

But what to read?

I will start by re-reading Melanie Dugan's next book to be published by UpStart; Bee Summer will come out spring 2014. It's going to be an excellent summer read!

But seriously, what to read? Maybe it's time to figure out how Goodreads works so I can find some good recommendations.

                                                                                            

 

What are you doing tonight? Maybe you should listen to CFRC's Finding a Voice and hear some more readings from the Lake Effect 6 launch! Five to six pm, 101.9 FM on your dial.

Listen to the radio

CFRC (101.9 FM on your dial, but you can listen online too, natch) will be featuring readings from the Lake Effect 6 launch this Friday, April 12.

"Finding A Voice" is a rare thing--a local host features readings and interviews with local poets. On a local, independent radio station.

Tune in between 5 and 6 pm to hearmy introduction, Carolyn Smart's opening remarks, and readings by three of Lake Effect 6's authors.

And you should tune in other times, too. It's an awesome cool radio station. Here's the schedule so you can plan your listening.

Writers and workshops ... a romance

We do love workshops, don't we? Getting into your character workshops, how to get published workshops, developing your narrative workshops, get that novel finished! workshops.

We love them so much because we spend so much time all alone, writing writing writing. We need to talk to someone about the writing. We need to share the writing. We need some help with the writing. We need some perspective on the writing. We need to figure out how to publish the writing.

And sometimes we just need a break.

Kingston Writers Workshop will be offering a series of writers workshops starting in the fall of 2013. So far the line up includes a day-long session called "Mysteries of Publishing Revealed: What Writers Need to Know From Publishers, Marketers, Editors, and Designers."

Sounds fun, no?

Another workshop will be delivered by broadcaster and speech coach Carl Richards: public speaking for writers--interviewing, TV and radio skills, how to read at your launch, sound bites, and more.

Some of us adore the spotlight. Some of us would like some help, please. Carl helps!

Who *is* Kingston Writers Workshop? We are editor Carla Douglas and (UpStart Press) author Melanie Dugan and yours truly, the Christina Decarie half of UpStart Press. (Who did our cool logo? The other half of UpStart Press, Darryl Joel Berger.)

Drop us a line if you'd like to be contacted about Kingston Writers Workshops in the future.

 

Lucky Lake Effect

Ten years ago, I was lucky enough to find myself in one of Carolyn Smart's creative writing courses at Queen's University. I remember commenting to a fellow classmate near the end of term, "I don't think I've ever met a teacher who so *believes* in her students." (What Carolyn taught me about being a teacher is fodder for another blog entry).

One of the ways Carolyn demonstrates her belief in her students is by publishing them. Every two years, she compiles and edits Lake Effect: An Anthology of Work by the Creative Writing Students at Queen's University.

I was lucky to be in Carolyn's course. I made lifelong friends there, including Laurie Lewis, the original publisher of Lake Effect. (Laurie is one of those astonishingly cool people that make you say, Oh my god. I can't believe I *know* her!)

I was lucky to be in the first volume of Lake Effect. (I even got to name it!)

And I am lucky now to have the privilege of publishing Lake Effect, Volume 6.

Darryl designed it; that's why it's so gorgeous.

The launch is Wednesday, April 3, 7 pm, at the Renaissance. (Click through. It's gorgeous.)

Melanie Dugan on CFRC - Finding a Voice

Melanie Dugan spent some time on CFRC, our very good local college radio station, talking about Dead Beautiful and the upcoming Kingston WriterFest (which is going to be awesome).

Listen to the interview here.

Tai Shan and the Big Dipper by Peter Lem

After a long and courageous battle with cancer, my friend and co-worker Peter Lem passed away at home on Friday, August 31st, one day before his 37th birthday. He will be sadly missed by his beloved wife and best friend, Sonya, and his faithful dog, Lucky.

Peter spent the final eight months of his life writing his memoirs. His own words explain how important this project was and what it meant to him:

Writing this memoir took me on a path of self-discovery, and every word was a step into the unknown.  There were moments of great excitement, my heart pumping as I knew I was on the verge of a great discovery. There were also moments of great despair and sadness, knowing I had to revisit painful moments from the past that at times brought me to tears. This memoir will be a keepsake for my family that will last through the generations. These stories are the ones a parent tells a child before bedtime, or over the table during Sunday dinner with family; they are passed from eldest to youngest through gentle conversations between grandparent and grandchild. 

Peter’s memoir is hard-bound, with full-colour photographs, and is illustrated throughout by Darryl Joel Berger. It will be available by November 2012, and can be ordered either here or  by cheque. (Please write to upstartpress@kingston.net for orders paying by cheque or for shipping to outside of Canada).

All proceeds will be donated to the Peter Lem Memorial Fund, which will support St Lawrence College students directly affected by cancer.

Please contact upstartpress@kingston.net for purchasing information.

Donations to the fund can also be made online at www.givetoslc.ca/PeterLem.

adventures in epublishing

It was a wee bit shocking how easy it was to convert this to an ebook, especially after reading so much from the big houses about how difficult this all is.

It isn't.

Click here to learn how you can own Dead Beautiful for only $5.99. Kindle not included.