YA fiction writing with Anita Daher

Through the Looking Glass

Wednesday, September 28 to November 23 

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Aqua Books, 274 Garry St, Winnipeg, MB

Yes, this course will continue despite the impending closure of Aqua Books. 

We will relocate to another central location if and when necessary. Thanks!

Cost: $225 ($200 before September 1) 

To register contact Aqua Books or call 943-7555.  

The workshop is limited to 12 people. 

Bring a notebook and pen, and/or a laptop.  You will benefit from at least having a beginning, and an idea of the book you think you will write.

Anita Daher leads you on a  journey designed to further your teen novel-in-progress. 

In-depth information about writing for teens, and the children’s writing and publishing industry in Canada.  The focus will be on craft with exercises, assignments, workshopping, and at the end - a party!

Anita Daher has been in the book publishing industry for more than fifteen years. She feels “place” infuses her writing, and is grateful to have lived in communities like Summerside, PEI, Moose Jaw, SK, Churchill, MB, Baker Lake, NU, and Yellowknife, NT. 

Her short stories have appeared in Prairie Fire, and she is author of seven youth novels, including Spider’s Song, and Racing for Diamonds (both 2006). 

She has led workshops across the country, and has been a popular presenter at conferences and festivals. Anita edits novels for Great Plains Teen Fiction.

Maurice Mierau & MWG Mentorship Reading

Aqua Books is pleased to be the permanent home of the venerable poetry series 

Speaking Crow. The Crow starts on Tuesday, June 7, at 7:00 pm and is followed by two open-mic sets and short breaks in between.

Maurice Mierau is the author of two books of poetry: Ending with Music and Fear Not, which won the prestigious ReLit award for poetry in 2009. He is also the editor for the new online magazine The Winnipeg Review.

Mierau’s work exemplifies a bitter illustration of and a desperate railing against a fallen human world filled with catastrophic violence. His powerful poems, lyric but also given to being conceptual, set up a negotiation between some of humanity’s most compassionate philosophies and those most ungovernable emotions. What is presented throughout is a desire to muck defiantly through human harms toward a state of living in dignity and peaceably.

******

Manitoba Writers' Guild presents

2011 Sheldon Oberman Mentorship Program Reading

Aqua Books, Thursday, June 9 · 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Mentor and apprentice pairs have been working together on apprentices' projects since January. Come celebrate their successes in this annual culminating event of the Program, which will feature readings by apprentices introduced by their mentors. 

This year's program pairings are: 

Jonathan Ball mentoring Debbie Calverley

Anita Daher mentoring Tara Lee Baxter

Sarah Klassen mentoring Annie Deeley

Chandra Mayor mentoring Jack Frey

Maurice Mierau mentoring John Herbert Cunningham

Duncan Thornton mentoring Reshal Stein

Writers' Union of Canada: Group Signing

Come to Grant Park in the Atrium on Saturday, September 18 at 1:00 p. m. and meet some of Winnipeg's best authors. 

The authors are there to meet you and sign copies of their works.

This special signing, which is being organized by The Writers’ Union of Canada, features many Union members signing their latest books including:

Anita Daher: On the Trail of the Bushman 

Doreen Pendgracs: Before You Say Yes…: A Guide to the Pleasures and Pitfalls of Volunteer Boards 

Michael Van Rooy: A Criminal to Remember

Armin Wiebe: Tatsea

Uma Parameswaran: A Cycle of the Moon 

Deborah Froese: Out of the Fire 

Sarah Klassen: A Feast of Longing 

Steve Benstead: Driving Blind 

Gabriele Goldstone: The Kulak’s Daughter 

The Writers’ Union of Canada is a national organization of professional writers that works to advance conditions for all writers and to foster writing in Canada.  The union was founded by writers more than 30 years ago to work with governments, publishers, booksellers and buyers to improve the position of Canadian writers.

Have a great day.  How can you miss - you're in Winnipeg!

Anita Daher Writes for YA

This Autumn, Aqua Books, 274 Garry Street, between Graham and Portage, will be featuring Through the Looking Glass: A YA fiction writing intensive with Anita Daher.

Tickle your muse and develop skills as Anita leads you on a journey into the world of writing picture books, children’s periodicals, middle grade and teen novels. 

Anita will share in-depth information on the genre, and the children’s writing and publishing industry in Canada.  There will be exercises, assignments, dynamic interaction, and at the end - a PARTY!

Cost: $225 plus GST ($200 plus GST before September 1) 

Register: kelly@aquabooks.ca or 943-7555 

Classes will be on 9 Thursdays, September 30 till December 2, 

from 7:00 p. m. to 9:00 p. m.

The workshop is limited to 12 people. Bring a notebook and pen.

Anita Daher has been a major presence in the book publishing industry for more than 15 years.  She feels “place” infuses her writing, and is grateful to have lived in communities like Summerside, PEI, Moose Jaw, SK, Churchill, MB, Baker Lake, NU, and Yellowknife, NT. 

Her short stories have appeared in Prairie Fire Magazine.  She is author of seven youth novels, including Arthur Ellis and MB Book Award finalist Spider’s Song (2006), and Arthur Ellis, Hackmatack and Diamond Willow finalist Racing for Diamonds (2006). 

Anita has led workshops across the country, and has been a popular presenter at conferences and festivals.  When not teaching, presenting, or working on her own stories, Anita edits teen novels for Great Plains Publications.

Have a great day.  How can you miss - you're in Winnipeg!

Farewell Book and Brier Patch Book Store

On June 30, John Kress, owner of Regina’s Book and Brier Patch Book Store, announced that, after 33 years of business, they will be closing at the end of July. 

To honour their place in the literary landscape, and their support for prairie writers and publishers, a celebration has been planned by members of the writing and publishing community. 

All authors, publishers and other well-wishers are welcome to join them on Friday, July 23rd from 8:00-10:00 p.m. at the Book and Brier Patch Bookstore, 4065 Albert Street, Regina SK.   

If you can bring a snack, please let them know.

You can also share photos of your book launches and events held at Book and Brier for an album to be presented to John that evening.  

Please mail photos and any notes you’d like included by July 16 to Alison Lohans, 76 Dolphin Bay, Regina, SK S4S 4Z8.  Please add the note “Book and Brier” on the lower left-hand corner of the envelope.

Accommodations: 

The West Harvest Inn at 4025 Albert Street,right next door to the Book and Brier, is offering a special rate of $105, single or double occupancy, for the night of July 23.  To book, call 1-800-853-1181 or 306-586-6755 and ask for Connie.

Please RSVP to 

Judith Silverthorne at 306-949-5499 (Regina), jsilverthorne@sasktel.net 

or 

Anita Daher at 204-489-2940 (Winnipeg), anita.daher@shaw.ca 

Have a great day.  How can you miss - you're in Winnipeg!