Ascent Aspirations Magazine

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Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast
(and maybe more)
A workshop with Wendy Morton
on February 29 in Nanaimo
Click for Workshop Details

Making a Great Impression:
How to make your mark in the marketplace

Graphic Design for Small Business
A Hands-on Workshop

Would you like to create your own great marketing materials, but don't know where to start?
Are you ready to move your small business to the next level and make it look and feel like a BIG business?

In this hands-on workshop, you get to choose your own project, from a logo/image design, brochure/postcard/rack card, website design, ad series and more. Then you will work through the process from concept to design to finished artwork with a professional designer helping you all the way.

Here's what you will learn:
• the principles of good design
• how to start a project
• where to look for inspiration
• layout and design basics
• how to select content for best effect
• working with type and colour
• printing your own materials
• working with a print shop
... and so much more.

By the end of this workshop you will have the essential tools and basic design knowledge to complete future projects on your own.

Workshop length: 6 weeks
When: Wed. February 6 - Wed. March 12, 2008
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Bowen Park Complex Room #1
Cost: $183.75 includes GST

To make sure everyone gets the attention they need, class size is limited to 12 participants. Please reserve you spot now to avoid disappointment. To register or for more information, please call Sarah Clark at 729-2610 or Email

Prepayment is required
Make cheques payable to:
Sarah Clark Design
3350 Hickman Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 3Y1
Want to know more about your instructor?
Visit: Sarah Clark

'Traces of Emily Carr' February 8, 2008

"Charismatic, courageous, spirited work" – La Nazione Umbria, Italy
"… dance theatre that is generous, brave, and true" – Vancouver Sun
Life and work of Emily Carr illuminated in staggering multi-media performance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 3, 2008: Nanaimo, BC. Multi-media portrait illuminates the life and work of Emily Carr at Nanaimo’s Malaspina University-College Theatre February 8, 2008, 7:30 pm.
Created by Vancouver’s Mascall Dance Company and produced by Nanaimo’s Crimson Coast Dance Society, 'Traces of Emily Carr' is a staggering, audience-oriented performance based on the life, art, and writing of one of Canada’s most celebrated artists.
Performed to live original music by Veda Hille and Her Devoted Band, this multi-media exploration incorporates text, slides, and rigorous theatrical dance, woven with a narrative drawn from Carr’s journals and writings. 'Traces of Emily Carr' journeys through the recesses of Carr’s idiosyncratic life to present a humorous and poignant portrait that touches on universal themes that artists live and work with today; the piece spotlights the experience of those who struggle through life’s challenges to realise their most personal dreams.
'Traces of Emily Carr' is '...a thrilling piece of work about Emily Carr and art and living a human life which still manages to be more than the sum of its parts...a perfect example of what multi-media pieces can be and so rarely are... ' said Leslie Quilty of The Edinburg Dance Festival.
Since July 1999, 'Traces of Emily Carr' has been performed over 200 times across Canada and in Europe. The piece is a multidisciplinary collaboration between the following diverse and innovative talents: Jennifer Mascall, Veda Hille, Penelope Stella, Mark Diamond, Bill Pechet, Stephanie Robb, Olivia Thorvaldson, Marthe Leonard, and Nancy Bryant.
'Traces of Emily Carr' has received critical acclaim and warm response from diverse audiences. Additionally, it has been produced for film by director Dave Rimmer with choreographer Jennifer Mascall. Veda Hille’s original score, Here is A Picture: Songs For Emily Carr, was commissioned by Mascall Dance and is available on CD.
Join us to discover 'Traces of Emily Carr' at Malaspina University-College Theatre, 900 5th St., Nanaimo, Parking Lot 5D or 5C. Tickets are $20 general, $18 Seniors / Students, $16 CCDS Members, and are available at Crimson Coast office (10 B - 150 Commercial Street, Monday - Friday, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm) or website, Falconer Books, or at the door as available. For more information on Mascall Dance Company please visit www.mascalldance.ca. To learn more about Veda Hille see www.vedahille.com/.
'Workshops for Artists of all disciplines and The General Public' will precede 'Traces of Emily Carr'. Learn more about these workshops at www.crimsoncoastdance.org: 'Body Mind Centering and Voice', 11 am to 2, 'Body Mind Centering and the Creative Process/ The Making of Traces of Emily Carr', 3 to 5 pm, Sunday, Feb 3 with Jennifer Mascall at Soul Sister Studios, 210 4th St.; 'Music Composition for Dance with Veda Hille', Saturday, Feb 9, location TBA. Registration closes January 31, 2008.
The 'Traces of Emily Carr' Nanaimo production was made possible thanks to the support of Made In BC, Coast Bastion Hotel, Nisa, Blue Coyote Design, Kwik Kopy, Heritage Canada, BC Arts Council, City of Nanaimo.
For more information call 716.3230 or go to: www.crimsoncoastdance.org

Poetry Gabriola Tanka and Haiku Writing Workshops

"Poetry Gabriola is happy to announce that folks who missed the Japanese poetry-writing workshops which were included in "Word and Brush" on November 25th, will have a chance to catch up with them now. Sonja Arntzen and Naomi Beth Wakan will be offering a two-hour workshop on tanka and haiku-writing on January 20th. Sonja is a professor of mediaeval Japanese literature, with a deep understanding of the tanka poetry form. Naomi is the author of the ALA selection Haiku-one breath poetry and well-known for her ability to introduce people to the writing of haiku. The fee for this double workshop is $25, and, as the size of the workshop has to be limited, it will be on a first payment, first acceptance basis. For information and registration, please call Naomi at 247-0014, or e-mail her at naomi@naomiwakan.com "

SEA SHANTY CONCERT
DOUBLE BILL !
FEATURING:
HANK CRAMER
DAVID LOVINE

Saturday Feb 23rd
BLACKDOG CAFÉ, LANTZVILLE
Reservations from 5:30 (concert starts at 7:30)
390-4541
TICKETS $10 (concert only)
Limited seating

What is a Sea Shanty?
(shân'tç) pl. chan·teys also chan·ties or shan·teys or shan·ties “a song sung by sailors to the rhythm of their movements while working”

Reviewer of Hank Cramer: “He made me laugh, he made me cry. And that’s what good music is all about” ~ Faith Petric, San Francisco

David LoVine is the foremost "shantyman" on the West Coast, a riveting performer who writes and sings work-songs about life aboard tall ships.

For more information please contact:

Dave Barta at Email or 250-802-0052

AVANTGARDETIMES

The inaugural issue of AVANTGARDETIMES, a cosmopolitan, sharp cutting edge quarterly dot commie-zine, is due to be weblished netoriously on March 1st, focusing on ILLUSIONS the Mirages of Hope. An avant-garden of Believabubble Quotations, Tip-Topical Illusions, Webiot Savant Geekgasms and I.Q. Muxup Whiz Quiz will complement original theme-related illusory poetry. Global in scope, mission and outlook, international PoeArtry contributors hail from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Thailand, U.K. and U.S.A.

The theme for the June issue is SigNature Signs of Nature. Weird and wired, diverse and perverse, genre submissions will be accepted through March 31st, c/o avantgardetimes@gmail.com; subject line: SigNature submission.

Passion To Paper - Course ID: ELDN 062
It’s being offered through Elder College, Malaspina University/College - Nanaimo, but you don’t have to be over 55 to take the course.

Have you ever wanted to write but weren't sure about what or where to begin? Learn to increase your awareness of what is around you and how to establish a journaling practice to record your observations. Various genres of writing will be explored, including poetry, the personal essay, and memoir. Be amazed at the insight you gain when you learn how to release the passion of your own authentic voice.

Week 1 Topic: Writing as Healing
The work of Louise DeSalvo, James Pennebaker and others will inspire our first class. Participants will have an opportunity to write in class (as they will every week).

Week 2 Topic: Journaling as a Spiritual Practice
Christina Baldwin, author of Life’s Companion and Alexandra Johnson, author of Leaving a Trace, will be the inspiration for our look at a daily journaling practice. Mary Ann Moore will also share her own writing on the subject of a journaling practice called “Your Own Tea House Practice”.

Week 3 Topic: Wake Up to What’s Around You
We’ll have a look at poetry as an awareness practice. Natalie Goldberg’s essay “How Poetry Saved My Life” and the poems of Pablo Neruda and others will inspire our poem making practice.

Week 4 Topic: Stories from Life
Your Life as Story by Tristine Rainer as well as There is a Season, a memoir by Patrick Lane, will encourage our own stories from life in this class about the art and craft of memoir.

Week 5 Topic: Embodying Your Authentic Voice
What is usually a sedentary practice, will become a practice involving movement and breath. Laraine Herring’s book, Writing Begins with the Breath, as well as Mary Ann Moore’s work, Writing Home, will inspire the writing practice.

Week 6 Topic: Writing to Change the World
Mary Pipher’s Writing to Change the World will remind writers that we all have something unique to share. We’ll reflect back at the various ways that can be done and add a few more. We’ll also have a discussion on, where do we go from here?

Suggested supplies: a notebook and pen
Other information: Previous writing experience is not required.

Biography
Mary Ann Moore is a poet, writer and creativity facilitator who lives in Nanaimo. In the ten years she has been offering writing circles, one to one mentoring and teaching creative writing classes, Mary Ann has found it an honour to give people a voice, where they awaken to their full potential. Her poetry, fiction, book reviews and personal essays have appeared in a variety of publications in Canada and in the U.S. Learn more about Mary Ann’s work at Mary Ann Moore Site
Mary Ann Moore
The Flying Mermaids Studio
www.maryannmoore.ca
250-729-2630

Nanaimo Screenwriters Gathering
The Nanaimo Screenwriters Gathering (NSG) is a group devoted to writers for film and TV. There are two components to the group - monthly gatherings and our website.

Gatherings
We meet every third Monday of the month at 7 p.m., Starbucks in Chapters, across from Woodgrove Centre. We discuss screenwriting and share our scripts for feedback. Every meeting has a focus some of our more frequent themes include: Ten Page Read, Logline and Synopsis Session, and Favorite Screenplays. Anyone interested in screenwriting is welcome to attend. No membership fees.

NSG Online
Our website has information about the monthly gatherings, local news related to film and writing, members pages, book reviews, and more.

Newsletter
Our monthly newsletter is filled with info about websites, contests, and local events, as well as details on the next gathering.

For more information -
Contact: Melissa Walker
Ph. (250) 729-2673
Email
NSG Online

StoryTelling Evenings

Come to Coyote's Cafe, 1045 Terminal Avenue, Nanaimo, first Friday of the month from 7:30-9:30pm. Tickets are only $5.00 and almost sold out. What a great collection of tellers and performers. Come and join us. Please call Coyote's at 753-1054.

Running Down the Wind

Running Down the Wind Cover

Running Down the Wind, David Fraser's second collection of poetry is now available.

Press Release

Native Women in the Arts

Web Site

The Imperfectionist's Monthly (a new magazine out of Gabriola Island)

The first edition went to print this morning featuring Naomi Wakan, a Gabriola Poet, Hilary Peach, and Andreas Kahre. Submissions wanted.
Email
or mail in hard copy to:Editor T.I.M.,1970 Murray Rd,Gabriola, BC,V0R1X7
Dinah D(editor at large)

Web Site
Music

WordStorm On Fire

Open Mike Winners

WordStorm is an on-going reading series that focuses on the spoken word whether it is in the form of poetry, short fiction, storytelling, improv, music and song. WordStorm is both a reading series and a fun and excitingly competitive spoken word competition. The readings will always be a mix of genres, and the sign-up for WordStorm will be in two categories, poetry and prose. The key elements will be quality writing and entertainment. The judges will be chosen from the audience for each WordStorm and audience participation is encouraged. Sign up for WordStorm is between 6:30 and 7:00. Admission is $3.00 at the door. The money collected goes entirely to prize winners each night and towards our minimal operating expenses. The Bombay Lounge has a capacity of 50 people, so don't be disappointed, reserve ahead through the paypal link or take your chances at the door. All reservations must be picked up before 6:30 or they become void and spaces will be given out on a first come first served basis. The next event is January 31st

Reservations

Fourth Annual International Dance With Words Poetry Contest Announced

Judges'Poetry in this Issue - Josie Mixon's Important Essay on Why Poetry Matters.
CLICK LINK FOR DETAILS:Contest Palabras Press
KINDLY SHARE THE CONTEST AND EZINE LINKS WITH ALL POETS AND POETRY SUPPORTERS AND POETRY LOVERS YOU KNOW!
Dance-With-Words
"To dance with words,is to be nourished" - Margot Van Sluytman

Looking for Another Venue to Read Your Poetry?

Try Sarnia, Ontario. We're not a large venue but if you're in the area feel free to drop by for SPOKEN WORD, an informal evening of poetry, humour, and storytelling scheduled for the last Friday of every month except December, July, and August. Share your work, read the work of your favourite writer, or just sit back and enjoy this open mic event. Meet southwestern Ontario members of The Ontario Poetry Society, Writers in Transition (WIT) and others. New writers are welcome. Start time is 8 p.m. in the Walter Petryschuk Turret Room of the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts; 127 Christina Street South; SARNIA, Ontario. Hosted by two writers/poets: TOPS interim vice-president Debbie Okun Hill and Lambton College English Professor Ryan Gibbs. No pre-registration. Admission is free. Everyone welcome. For further info, Email
or call The Lawrence House (519) 337-0507.

Atlas, a 400 Page Literary Magazine

Still looking for that perfect book to take to the beach? Atlas is a remarkable 400 page book-sized literary magazine published in India. The latest issue features Canadian writing, including works by Katherine Govier, Di Brandt, Nicole Brossard, David Bergen, Paulette Jiles, Jaspreet Singh, Kim Morrissey, Heather Spears, and British Columbia-based Fred Wah, John Barton, Susan Andrews Grace, Susan Ellenton, Meg Walker, Peggy Herring and many others. A limited number of copies are available for sale in Canada. Please contact Peggy Herring Email for ordering. Price is $25 plus shipping. See the Atlas website for more information about this new and exciting literary magazine: Web Site

Colorado Art Ranch

Colorado Art Ranch seeking contemporary artists and writers for a one month residency in Durango Colorado. Six artists and writers will share a house with glorious views of the San Juan Mountains September 5 -October 5, 2007. Free housing and studio space. Residents provide their own food and travel. Applications and information are available at

Colorado Art Ranch

About Colorado Art Ranch

Colorado Art Ranch is a nonprofit nomadic program that travels to two Colorado towns each year, adopting themes that reflect the area's heritage, natural resources, topography and people. The program is composed of two parts: a one-month residency and a two-day Artposium (public arts symposium) .Colorado Art Ranch encourages emerging, as well as established, artists and writers to apply. Residencies are located in donated or rented space in selected towns of rural Colorado. Two beliefs guide the management of Colorado Art Ranch: (1) art can change lives and improve the world and (2) an appreciation and respect for the natural world is critical for a sustainable society. For more information, visit

Information

Voices Israel Annual Anthology

The Voices Israel Group of Poets in English annually publishes an Anthology of poetry.

Voices Israel are currently accepting submissions for Volume 34 of the Voices Israel Annual Anthology that will appear towards the end of this year (2007). Anyone, anywhere, is welcome to submit a maximum of 4 poems to the Anthology. Poems must be in English but may be on any topic and in any style. Poems preferably should not exceed 40 lines and should be without tricky graphic effects.

Submissions

SEVEN STARS by Michaela Sefler

TO BE RELEASED SEVEN STARS , with Innercirclepublishing.

Inner Circle Publishing

Inspired by ancient Qabbala, Michaela attempts once more to enliven the reader, with esoteric poetry inspired by ancient writings .She attempts to convey a message of continuity and hope for survival of body and soul. She describes life and creation as supported and upheld by a creator,and inspires us to behold and believe, since understanding is a passage for success and accomplishement. Describing Novelty and innovation as being rooted in nature and creation, she relates man's plight as one with his surroundings and God

Canadian Federation of Poets Anthology: Call for Submissions
Submissions

Spiel

The poet Spiel is a tight-wired maverick painting naked word portraits of humankind, thin-layering its hirsute beastiness and, on rare occasion, revealing its humanity, in scores of independent press publications. His often iconoclastic poetry of conflict, his profoundly human short stories, his seductive spoken word recordings and his astute bits of visual art appear both online and on the printed page around the world. Learn more about Spiel at his website:
Web Site

Candlelight in Quintero

This pointer is directed at the website for Dos Madres Press where you will find information on a new publication by, David Petreman, Candlelight in Quintero. This is worth a look for anyone interested in Chile, its writers and the experiences of a visitor there. Or anyone who just enjoys chapbooks!
Dos Madres Press

Thirst

Patrick Carrington's chapbook Thirst, winner of Codhill Press’ 2006 Poetry Chapbook Prize, has been released.

Thirst Cover

Codhill Press

Lane Changes

Lane Changes Cover

David Lawrence's fifth book of poems, Lane Changes is being published by Four Way Books in November

Four Way Books Site

SLOW DANCING WITH A SLEEPWALKER

Mad Scroach a 23 year old Australian poet. He has recently completed a poetry manuscript SLOW DANCING WITH A SLEEPWALKER [515 pages / pdf file].

Site

Victoria School of Writing

New courses at the Victoria School of Writing.

Victoria School of Writing Blog

Doug Tanoury E-Book Poetry Chapbook Collections

Doug Tanoury's Site

Author Awarded the Noble (Not Nobel) Prize

Praised or maligned, the Nobel Prize for Literature is always news. It selects the best from the world and therefore misses much of value. Carolyn Howard-Johnson, “Back to Literature” columnist for MyShelf.com, closes the gap (only slightly) with her an annual “Noble Prize for Literature.”

Over the last years the Nobel committee has recognized authors for their literary expertise but there has also been a trend toward awarding the prize for, as Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Tim Rutten says, “an author’s particular relevance to the moral moment in which the world finds itself.”

Howard-Johnson’s prize therefore concentrates on books that address these same issues. Her lists have included well-known authors who explore discrimination in their writing like Toni Morrison and Ralph Ellison, but she tries to concentrate on authors who have not been posted to bestseller lists or won major awards. Some past winners are LA's Leora G. Krygier and Randall Sylvis. Fifteen books were named as the best releases in 2006. One of the winners announced in the January issue of Myshelf was:

Robert Eggleton for his e-book, Rarity from the Hollow (Fatcat Press). Nominated by Evelyn Somers, an Editor of The Missouri Review.

Mr. Eggleton is best known for his investigative reports about children’s programs. Today, he is a therapist at the Prestera Mental Health Center in Charleston, West Virginia. Rarity from the Hollow is his debut novel. Author proceeds are donated to a child abuse prevention program operated by Children’s Home Society of West Virginia (Dennis Sutton, Executive Director, can be reached by telephone at 304.346.6644).

To read an excerpt or to learn more about Rarity from the Hollow visit:

Fat Cat Press

Book reviews can be found at:

Baryon On-line

Missouri Review

To learn more about Howard-Johnson’s "Back to Literature" column or to see the complete listing of winning publications visit:

Back To Literature

The Ancient Heart Magazine Anthology 2006

The Ancient Heart Magazine Anthology 2006 in print features many poems that were published in last year's volume of Ancient Heart Magazine. This is a wonderful read highlighting stunning poems by authors such as Kevin Eberhardt, Christopher Barnes, Ray Hollingsworth and many others. As ever, the launch of the Anthology is a highlight of the year for Ancient Heart Magazine. This delightful poetry anthology is thoroughly recommended to all true poetry lovers. Available directly from http://www.lulu.com/content/562958 at £4,27/$7,75/E6,24

Lulu Site

Tongues of Fire

Solstice Cafe - 529 Pandora Ave at 7:30, $3.00. Evening starts with an Open mic followed by a feature performance by the Tongues of Fire poetry collective Love and Literature

Sparks Submissions

Sparks aims to skirt the precarious ledge of being both a companion piece to the Tongues of Fire shows, while also standing on its own as a quarterly literary collection.

Those interested in submitting for future issues of Sparks are invited to do so via email c/o: sparks.submissions@gmail.com . While we do not impose an arbitrary length limit to submissions, please bear in mind that longer pieces are sometimes difficult to select due to space constraints. Please note that submission does not equal publication, and publication is dependent on the editorial process based on the number of submissions and the criteria set forth by the editors of any given issue. Sparks is unable to pay contributors for their pieces, beyond a free copy of the given issue containing their work.

All profits from the sale of Sparks are reinvested into both the continued publication of Sparks and the Tongues of Fire series @ Solstice Café.

Tongues of Fire

My Space Tongues of Fire

Poets On Campus

Malaspina University-College, Mondays 6-8 pm, THE WRITINGCENTRE, 4th floor of the library, Building 305, 900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo

Web Site Events Search

Email Ev Nittel

Planet Earth Poetry

Planet Earth Poetry, at the Black Stilt, 1633 Hillside, at 7:30 pm every Friday

Canadian Federation of Poets

Web Page

Federation of BC Writers New Web Site