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Writers' chats break all that brainy silence

The writing craft is often seen as a solitary one, and certainly writers need a bunch of shush. But authors need readers, too. Live ones. Now, normally the Georgia Straight doesn't brag; it's just not our way. But in partnership with CBC Radio, we've brought nine writers to audiences of the CBC Radio Studio One Book Club just since January, and the list is not unimpressive: Anthony Bourdain, Daniel Handler, Mike Harcourt, Anosh Irani, Marian Keyes, George RR Martin, Louis Sachar, David Suzuki, and Paul Yee. We're doing it one last time, with Douglas Coupland on Monday (June 26); for tickets, visit www.straight.com/.

in + out

IN TOWN

EMILY CARR INSTITUTE OF ART + DESIGN
1399 Johnston, 604-844-3810 www.eciad.ca/cs/ Writing for Design July 11– August 15 ($170) with Brian Sutherland

SFU SUMMER PUBLISHING WORKSHOPS
SFU Vancouver, 515 W. Hastings, 604-291-5241 www.sfu.ca/pubworks/ Freelance Writing for Magazines July 12-13 ($425) with Denise Ryan Advanced Magazine Writing July 14-15 ($425) with Deborah Campbell and JB MacKinnon Symposium on the Novel—Elsewhere Literature: Canadian Fiction Goes International July 22 ($75, includes five books) featuring Anar Ali, Jim Bartley, Lewis DeSoto, JB MacKinnon, and Eden Robinson Getting Published: A Candid Discussion with an Agent and Publisher July 31 ($205) with Rob Sanders and Jan Whitford

UBC–HOLLYHOCK SPEAKER SERIES UBC
Robson Square. 800 Robson, 604-822-3333 On Memoir Writing July 17 ($21.40) with Sharon Butala

UBC WRITING CENTRE
various locations at UBC, 604-822-9564 www.writingcentre.ubc.ca/ Writing for the Screen Intensive Workshop July 10-14 ($425) with Marlene Rodgers Food and Travel Writing Intensive Workshop July 10-14 ($425) with Don Genova Novel Writing Intensive Workshop July 10-14 ($425) with Laisha Rosnau Writing for Children and Young Adults July 10-14 ($425) with Susan Juby Short Fiction Intensive Workshop July 17-21 ($425) with Laisha Rosnau Freelance Article Writing Workshop July 17-21 ($425) with Jennifer van Evra Writing Your Life's Story: Intensive Autobiography Workshops July 17-21 (Level 1), July 31–August 4 (Level 1), August 8-11 (Level 2) ($500) with Marlene Schiwy Body Soul Writing August 14-18 ($725) with Marlene Schiwy and Ursula Carsen

OUT OF TOWN

CENTRE FOR EXTRAORDINARY OUTCOMES
Cherryville, B.C., 306-565-3290 www.judithsilverthorne.ca/bcworkshop.htmlFind Your Writing Path Through Nature July 16-21 ($625) with Judith Silverthorne

HOLLYHOCK
Cortes Island, B.C., 1-800-933-6339 or 250-935-6576 www.hollyhock.bc.ca/ Poetry & Prose July 2-7 ($475, meals and accommodation extra) with Ellen Bass Writing of Memoirs July 12-16 ($475, meals and accommodation extra) with Sharon Butala Writing Life Stories August 4-9 ($445, meals and accommodation extra) with Julie Portman

ISLAND MOUNTAIN ARTS
Wells, B.C., 1-800-442-2787 www.imarts.com/ How to Get Work Published July 21 ($105 plus GST) with Luanne Armstrong Writing July 22-25 ($409 plus GST) with Luanne Armstrong Writing and Creative Arts for Kids (ages 6-12) July 22-25 ($199 plus materials fee $10) with Kim Tetarenko and Dahne Harding Poetry Intensive July 26-27 ($190) with Laisha Rosnau

SHUSWAP WRITERS FESTIVAL
Prestige Harbourfront Resort, Salmon Arm, B.C., 250-832-4831 www.shuswapwritersfest.ca/ Shuswap Lake International Writers' Mini Festival June 24 (1 session $25, 2 session $44, 3 sessions $60) featuring Kuldip Gill, Michael Hetherington, and Harold Rhenisch.

SONGANDWORD
Shaw Island, WA, USA, 360-468-3964 www.songandword.com/ Creating a History: World-Building in Fiction June 23-25 ($295) with Alma Alexander Research, Research, Research: THEN Plot, Write, Publish & Market August 18-20 ($295) with Pam Withers People Making: Creating Characters Who Are More Than Corpses August 25-27 ($295) with Patricia H. Rushford

SUNSHINE COAST FESTIVAL OF THE WRITTEN ARTS
Sechelt, B.C., 1-800-565-9631 or 604-885-9631 www.writersfestival.ca/festivalevents.htm 24th Annual Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts August 3-6 (festival pass $275, individual events $15) featuring Maude Barlow, Brian Brett, George Fetherling, and Donna Morrissey.

VICTORIA SCHOOL OF WRITING
Victoria, B.C., 250-595-3000 www.victoriaschoolofwriting.org/ 11th Annual Victoria School of Writing July 16-21 ($585 tuition +$375 accommodation) with Maria Coffey, Gary Geddes, Charlotte Gill, John Lent, Susan Musgrave, Billeh Nickerson, and Kevin Patterson

Later this summer, we're asking another five wordsmiths to explain themselves, this time in a very large round room over the course of one very busy day (July 22). As part of the SFU Summer Publishing Workshops Symposium on the Novel, Anar Ali (Baby Khaki's Wings), Jim Bartley (Drina Bridge), Lewis DeSoto (A Blade of Grass), J.B MacKinnon (Dead Man in Paradise), and Eden Robinson (Blood Sports) will discuss the immigrant experience. Abetted by journalists Martin Levin (Globe and Mail) and Sheryl MacKay (CBC Radio), and HarperCollins editor Phyllis Bruce, we'll tackle the tension that exists between our national identity and our international interests and experiences. It won't be the same without you, though; tickets ($75, including all five books) are at www.ccsp.sfu.ca/pubworks/.

Speaking of five, we've also initiated a program of Georgia Straight picks for what to read in the dog days. Watch for the Five Picks of Summer coming in the Summer Books issue, July 6. Fiction, nonfiction, pictures, poetry—it's an eclectic mix.

For those who like to do more than watch and question, a daunting array of summer writing courses follows to satisfy your inner muse. These are just some of the highlights. Don't forget to check out the Federation of BC Writers Web site (www.bcwriters.com/) too. Happy letter crunching.

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