There’s a self-publishing event taking place online right now. Free access to the seminars for a few days or you can pay for a membership: http://self-publishingschool.com/s/summit/
Category Archives: Events
Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival Seeking Poets
This year’s Barrie Jazz and Blues festival, which takes place from June 11 – 22, will feature poetry and spoken word readings. According to organizer Samantha Holland:
We are looking for volunteers to perform their poetry. The event is going to combine poetry / spoken word with Jazz accompaniment, but beyond that, we are open to what our artists bring to it and tailoring it from there. Mostly, we are using this event to showcase up-and-coming poets and spoken-word artists and let them explore their work in a new, exciting way while also serving as an outreach event for TBTB.Any one interested is free to contact me at samyholland@live.com
Check out the festival webpage or contact Samantha Holland for more info.
Word UP – Thursday April 9, 2015
Word Up takes place Thursday April 9, 2015 from 7 pm at Unity Market Cafe & Studios. The readers are the award-winning poet and short story writer, Dr. Shane Neilson, and local writer Mark Jacquemain.
MJ, aka Mark Jacquemain, is a graduate of the Creative Writing Master’s program at the University of New Brunswick. His short fiction has been published in QWERTY and Prism International and this year will appear in The Fiddlehead Summer Fiction issue and Oberon’s Coming Attractions, an anthology of top young writers.
More info to follow!
Don’t forget to bring your own work to share.
We’d love to see a few of you bring your music instruments and show us what you’ve got.
Writers’ Community of Simcoe County March Meeting
Usher in Spring with Wayson Choy
Wayson Choy
Wayson Choy speaks to the WCSC on his process and his life in a compelling and candid talk on Sunday, March 22. Following his talk, Wayson will lead a one-hour workshop. This event takes place from 11:30 to 1:00 p.m. at Down by the Bay, 121 Mississaga St. E., Orillia.
Writing Interactive Stories
Interested in writing and creating interactive fiction games? Local start-up One More Story Games allows writers to do just that. You can take part in a webinar to learn more. Here’s some info:
Hi all – Are you a writer, screenwriter or game designer? Check out One More Story Games – we’ve developed a platform for you to create or convert your stories into playable story games, like a book/video game hybrid. Published authors receive royalties on their work. We’ve got an upcoming webinar on Sunday – check it out! Better yet, share this with your wordy friends! Thanks! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1572017149704983/
Here’s their website: http://www.onemorestorygames.com/
Here’s the link to the webinar: OMSG Webinar on Google Plus
Toronto International Book Fair Nov. 13 – 16, 2014
From the Prez:
Dear BWC:The Toronto International Book Fair is running Thursday November 13 To Sunday, November 16, 2014 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.Cost is incredibly reasonable at $15 for all 3 days with an amazing lineup of authors. Workshops run around $45.Too many authors to list but they include: Kelly Armstrong, Margaret Atwood, Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpey Kid), Dave Pilkey (Captain Underpants), Andrew Pyper, Anne Rice and Peter Robinson.You can order tickets on line.I will bring the 4 page program with me tonight but check out the excellent website http://www.torontobookfair.ca.Evie
Visit the Book Fair website for more info and view the attached schedule below to see the events.
Dead Poets Night – Oct. 9, 2014
Unity Market Cafe & Studios plays host to a Dead Poets evening on Oct. 9, 2014 from 7 – 9 pm. Organized by Word UP, this free event offers anyone the chance to read the work of their favourite departed poets. Celebrate the Halloween season by sharing the words of the dead.
Unity Market Cafe & Studios is located at 25 Toronto Street, Barrie, Ontario L4N 1T8. Food and beverages are available for purchase.
Word UP! Culture Days Event – Friday September 26, 2014
On Friday September 26, 2014 Unity Market Cafe & Studious plays host to a Word UP! Event for Barrie’s Culture Days. The event starts at 7:30 pm and features author readings in the first half and an open mic in the second half. From Word Up’s Facebook page:
Four local authors will be reading their work.
Deepam Wadds’, whose short stories and poetry have appeared in various literary journals and anthologies.Esther Griffin teaches English Literature and Creative Writing at Georgian College in Barrie and works on the Poetry Editorial Board for PRISM International. Esther’s work has appeared in Geist Magazine’s Memories of Vancouver festival and The League of Canadian Poets’ 2013 celebration of National Poetry Month, as well as various anthologies.
Linda Laforge, science fiction author and visual artist will read from her novel.
PLUS! A surprise guest, to be announced!
Writers, authors, poets, spoken word performers, rappers, comedians, motivational speakers and anyone who loves the magic of language is welcome to join.
New Reading Series – Word UP! June 19, 2014
Since the demise of the Society of the Spoken Word, a number of local writers and poets – including some BWC members – have gotten together and are organizing a new reading series called Word UP! The first event will be held on Thursday June 19, 2014 from 7-9 pm @ Unity Market Cafe & Studio, located at 25 Toronto Street, Barrie.
Here’s a list of the poets and authors taking part. If you’d like to share your work you can take part in the readings, bring copies of your work to sell, or both.
Here’s a list of the people reading so far:
Deepam Wadds is a therapist and short story writer from Orillia.
Linda Laforge is a Barrie artist and novelist and founder of Word Up.Jeremy Johnston is author of two chapbooks, a recent graduate of Laurentian in Barrie, and will be attending the University of Windsor’s MA program in September.
Aaron Reynolds is a Barrie author of short fiction and a contributing editor to PIE magazine. He’s also one of the organizers of Word Up.
Elizabeth Morley is a retired Anglican Church minister and is currently producing her first poetry chapbook.
Shane Dennis is a leader in non-profit social projects in Barrie, a musician, and a performance poet. He is also the owner of Unity Cafe.
James Tanner teaches at Georgian College and is a short story writer and a hockey blogger who has published in Sports Illustrated.
James Gray is a recent graduate of the Laurentian Barrie program and is a science fiction/fantasy writer who has studied his craft in England with major fantasy authors.
Glenn Weatherall is a familiar face on both the Barrie literary scene and at the Barrie farmer’s market. He is a farmer and inventor.
Damian Lopes is author of numerous books of poetry from Coach House Press and is currently completing a novel.
Bruce Meyer, the MC for the evening, is the Poet Laureate of the City of Barrie and author of 40 published books.
For more info, visit the Word UP! Facebook Page. Word UP!
L3 Writers’ Conference 2014
To all members and guests,
Barrie North Collegiate is hosting the 7th Annual L3 Writers’ Conference at their school Thursday May 1, 2014 at 7pm. Tickets are only available for purchase at the door. The cost is $20 for adults and $10 for students.
Authors will bring books for purchase and signing.
Workshops are available for high school students during the day.
From the L3 Writers’ website:
Barrie North Collegiate’s iDeology program & the 7th Annual “L3: Writers’ Conference” once again welcomes some of Canada’s finest authors, poets, novelists, journalists and activists to Barrie.
By day, L3 is Ontario’s largest high school literary event.
By night, L3 is Barrie’s largest authors’ celebration. L3 has put Barrie on the ‘literary festival map!’
L3 2014 promises to be another exciting and meaningful celebration of Canadian writers, journalists and activists.
ROBERT J. SAWYER ERIC WALTERS
MARINA NEMAT PRISCILA UPPAL
RH JAMES BARTLEMAN TOM EARLE
GORD “Trixterboy” BRUYERE DALE PATTERSON
PENGUIN BOOKS CANADA CHRISTINE MISCIONE
For more information, please visit l3writers.ca.
Barrie Writers' Club 
