Looking for a new way to entertain a passel of neighbourhood kids during March break? Why not whip up a batch of tasty coyote loaf? It's so simple: just snare and skin a coyote, blanch the meat for three hours, pound, braid, and bake. Yum! Okay, that's my entry for the North Shore Writers Festival's short-story contest. Entrants must write a maximum of 250 words incorporating the words coyote, braid, and blanch?—violence is optional—to win a $100 gift certificate to North Van stalwart 32 Books. Drop off your entry at any North Shore library branch by April 10 or e-mail it to writingcontest@cnv.org, including your contact info. Then mark off the week April 20 to 27, when the festival itself brings such authors as Susan Juby (Alice, I Think), John Vaillant (The Golden Spruce), and Ivan E. Coyote (Bow Grip?) to various branches. For details, visit www.northshorewritersfestival.ca/