There has been lots of action on the Words Alive front. If you aren't checking that website (Words Alive) on a regular basis, you are missing out on a lot of information!
In addition to announcing the headlining authors (Robert J. Sawyer, Sandra Birdsell and Corey Redekop), the newly-posted schedule reveals the workshops, seminars and panel discussions that will be taking place on Nov. 10. Some of these include the launch of local author Nathan Town's latest book, a poetry-writing workshop with Laurie Block, details on the after-parties and much. much more.
If you are a writer looking to hone your craft, the Super Series may be what you are looking for. This all-day workshop will include a fiction-writing component led by Armin Wiebe (novelist and Red River College creative writing instructor) and a "blue pencil session" with author Anita Daher.
For more information on any of these activities, contact the Brandon Book Festival Association at wordsalivefestival@gmail.com or by calling (204) 728-2665
I hope to see you all there!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Press Release
Inaugural book festival brings words to life
26 September 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BRANDON — Downtown Brandon will teem with life as the first-ever Words Alive book festival takes place in early November. The festival brings together readers, writers, publishers and book lovers of all types for a three-day event that celebrates all aspects of the written word.
"Brandon's never seen a literary event of this magnitude," said T. Keith Edmunds, president of the Brandon Book Festival Association, which is putting on the festival. "Along with appearances by several notable authors, we've got a full schedule planned of workshops and forums that will appeal to everyone."
Words Alive begins Thursday, November 8, 2007, continues on Friday, November 9, 2007, and culminates with a full schedule of activities on Saturday, November 10.
Festival attendees have three streams of seminars to choose from on Saturday, either "Reading," "Writing" or "Publishing." Topics range from blogging and other forms of self-publishing to writing comic strips, poetry or plays. There will also be author readings all day long.
"One of the most exciting things is that Words Alive has already started," Edmunds said. "We've got a short story contest underway right now -- and winners will be published in the Brandon Sun and in the Words Alive program."
Entries in the short story contest must be submitted by October 26 and should be approximately 2,000 words long. Entry forms with more details are printed regularly in the Brandon Sun.
"That's an extremely short story," Edmunds said, "so we're looking for a tale that really grips the reader. Previous contests in Westman have produced lots of truly excellent writing, so we're sure picking a winner will be tough."
Reading may suit some more than writing, and so Words Alive has invited numerous guests to whet the book lover's appetite.
"Starting immediately, we're launching a region-wide book club." Edmunds said.
In a concept that builds on successful trials in other cities, readers in Brandon and Westman are invited to read "Shelf Monkey," by Corey Redekop.
"It's a made-in-Manitoba novel," Edmunds said. "It's a book about books that's a fun read, but also full of discussion material."
Several local book clubs have already picked up "Shelf Monkey," but the more people reading it, the more spontaneous discussions will erupt.
"Imagine spotting someone in a coffeeshop, and they're reading the same book you are," Edmunds said. "That's the kind of atmosphere we're going to create — let's get everyone on the same page."
Words Alive will close on Saturday with a "Shelf Monkey" discussion group led by the author himself, Thompson's Corey Redekop.
The Brandon Book Festival Association will reveal very soon some of the major authors who will come to Words Alive to give readings. Announcements will be made as details are confirmed.
Tickets can be purchased starting Oct. 1 at Pennywise Books, 1031 Rosser Ave.
The Words Alive website is at www.wordsalivefestival.ca.
-30-
For more information:
T. Keith Edmunds
President, Brandon Book Festival Association
204-728-2665
wordsalivefestival@gmail.com
26 September 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BRANDON — Downtown Brandon will teem with life as the first-ever Words Alive book festival takes place in early November. The festival brings together readers, writers, publishers and book lovers of all types for a three-day event that celebrates all aspects of the written word.
"Brandon's never seen a literary event of this magnitude," said T. Keith Edmunds, president of the Brandon Book Festival Association, which is putting on the festival. "Along with appearances by several notable authors, we've got a full schedule planned of workshops and forums that will appeal to everyone."
Words Alive begins Thursday, November 8, 2007, continues on Friday, November 9, 2007, and culminates with a full schedule of activities on Saturday, November 10.
Festival attendees have three streams of seminars to choose from on Saturday, either "Reading," "Writing" or "Publishing." Topics range from blogging and other forms of self-publishing to writing comic strips, poetry or plays. There will also be author readings all day long.
"One of the most exciting things is that Words Alive has already started," Edmunds said. "We've got a short story contest underway right now -- and winners will be published in the Brandon Sun and in the Words Alive program."
Entries in the short story contest must be submitted by October 26 and should be approximately 2,000 words long. Entry forms with more details are printed regularly in the Brandon Sun.
"That's an extremely short story," Edmunds said, "so we're looking for a tale that really grips the reader. Previous contests in Westman have produced lots of truly excellent writing, so we're sure picking a winner will be tough."
Reading may suit some more than writing, and so Words Alive has invited numerous guests to whet the book lover's appetite.
"Starting immediately, we're launching a region-wide book club." Edmunds said.
In a concept that builds on successful trials in other cities, readers in Brandon and Westman are invited to read "Shelf Monkey," by Corey Redekop.
"It's a made-in-Manitoba novel," Edmunds said. "It's a book about books that's a fun read, but also full of discussion material."
Several local book clubs have already picked up "Shelf Monkey," but the more people reading it, the more spontaneous discussions will erupt.
"Imagine spotting someone in a coffeeshop, and they're reading the same book you are," Edmunds said. "That's the kind of atmosphere we're going to create — let's get everyone on the same page."
Words Alive will close on Saturday with a "Shelf Monkey" discussion group led by the author himself, Thompson's Corey Redekop.
The Brandon Book Festival Association will reveal very soon some of the major authors who will come to Words Alive to give readings. Announcements will be made as details are confirmed.
Tickets can be purchased starting Oct. 1 at Pennywise Books, 1031 Rosser Ave.
The Words Alive website is at www.wordsalivefestival.ca.
-30-
For more information:
T. Keith Edmunds
President, Brandon Book Festival Association
204-728-2665
wordsalivefestival@gmail.com
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Deadwood III
Paul Wood, the editor of the entertainment weekly "Deadwood," will be in the store Saturday, Sept. 29 from 2 to 4 pm to sign copies of Deadwood 3: "Life & Times." This collection of humour and heart-warming stories will ensure that have not missed a copy of any of the recent issues of Deadwood.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Store Closed Sept. 1 Due to Insanity
Pennywise Books will be closed on Saturday, Sept. 1. That means we will be closed for the entire long weekend.
No, that doesn't mean I'm going away on some lovely vacation. It means that I have lost my mind. More specifically, I have entered the 3 Day Novel Writing Contest which is exactly what it sounds like.
I will be holing myself up in the store for 72 hours in an attempt to write a complete novel - start to finish. Just the idea is making me tired.
For more information on the event, check out the 3 Day Novel Contest website. I'll post about my own personal experience after the fact.
Wish me luck...
No, that doesn't mean I'm going away on some lovely vacation. It means that I have lost my mind. More specifically, I have entered the 3 Day Novel Writing Contest which is exactly what it sounds like.
I will be holing myself up in the store for 72 hours in an attempt to write a complete novel - start to finish. Just the idea is making me tired.
For more information on the event, check out the 3 Day Novel Contest website. I'll post about my own personal experience after the fact.
Wish me luck...
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
High Canadian Dollar = SAVINGS!
The high Canadian dollar continues to have an impact on the economy. The other day I was listening to a program on CBC talking about this issue (very similar in content to the information in this article: http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2007/08/06/flaherty-apec.html) and I began to get curious, so I did a little research on my own.
As I write this, the Canadian - US exchange rate is 1.07467 (that's about $1.08 Canadian for every US dollar, just to be clear). Now, on the back of an average mass market paperback, the US price is $7.99 while the Canadian price is $10.99. By my calculations, that works out to a differential of 1.3755.
Why the big difference? You've got me.
Therefore, to make things a little more reasonable, we are announcing that all mass market paperbacks in stock are now 20% off the cover price. Now, that $10.99 novel is only $8.79. It's not perfect, but it helps you take advantage of the high Canadian dollar.
To make this even more worthwhile we are continuing to bulk up this sale stock - new releases and backlist titles alike. Contact us with any questions.
I hope to see you all soon!
As I write this, the Canadian - US exchange rate is 1.07467 (that's about $1.08 Canadian for every US dollar, just to be clear). Now, on the back of an average mass market paperback, the US price is $7.99 while the Canadian price is $10.99. By my calculations, that works out to a differential of 1.3755.
Why the big difference? You've got me.
Therefore, to make things a little more reasonable, we are announcing that all mass market paperbacks in stock are now 20% off the cover price. Now, that $10.99 novel is only $8.79. It's not perfect, but it helps you take advantage of the high Canadian dollar.
To make this even more worthwhile we are continuing to bulk up this sale stock - new releases and backlist titles alike. Contact us with any questions.
I hope to see you all soon!
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