I had the absolute pleasure of attending the Writer’s Guild of Alberta Gala & Literary Awards 2007 Saturday night… What a treat. Dymphny Dronyk, writer & president of WGA used her charm and passion for the Peace Country to convince her team of people that the conference should be in Grande Prairie this year! And then she pulled it off with total style! Some great awards presented to some talented writers…
Also, there was an OUTSTANDING keynote (and slideshow) by Wade Davis - an explorer in residence at the National Geographic society. 
(photo by Mark Thiessen) David Suzuki described him as “scientist, scholar, poet and passionate defender for all of life’s diversity” and by ABC 20/20 as a real-life Indiana Jones. I have a really hard time sitting still for anything… But he was beyond mesmerizing. And I’ll be thinking about his talk for a long, long time. If you ever get a chance to hear him, don’t miss it.
On a whole different note, a bit of the OTHER side of cultural “stuff”…
- I am not alone when I say that the new ipod nano commercial makes me stop WHATEVER I am doing and go to watch & listen. 1234 by Canadian Feist is amazing. Her voice and sound is so unique - go check her out on myspace. And download her! OMG. The power of marketing is mind-boggling…
- CNN has a fun article on red lips! Just in time for the whirlwind season - go look.
- My friend, writing partner (our sassy nonfiction teen series) & Feng Shui/organizing guru Kelly Talbot couldn’t stop talking about the fabulousness of a book she just read: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.
… so…. go dance around to 1234 in your vibrant red lips & when you need a break, put your feet up for a brilliant read.
Juciy Writer Site: Go look at the Writer’s Guild of Alberta site. Great resources. And if you call their office, you’ll have the pleasure to speak to a “Kelsey” - I got to sit beside her for dinner. She’s my friend’s neice… and she’s smart, funny, and can pull off a glam-shine-green dress like crazy!
Your evening at WGA Gala Dinner sounds wonderful. The speaker you enjoyed so much-Wade Davis reminded me of a character in your book “West Wind North Chatter”.Jack Blaine in your book travelled the world taking photos. Reading page 94 of West Wind North Chatter - the e-mail to Jack Blain from Emily Reeves was so beautiful.I was so sure Jack and Emily would end up together in the book and you would write another book about them travelling the world together (and of coarse drinking lots of coffee in exotic places)
October 2nd, 2007 at 11:59 pmLoved your book!