Toronto (GTA area) Writers - WCDR breakfast meetings

WHEN: the second Saturday of every month except August
TIME: 8:30 to 11:00 am
WHERE: J.P. Fitzpatrick & Son
75 Consumers Rd. (at Sunray St.), Whitby, ON
WHO: Everyone is welcome!
COST: $15 members; $20 guests (ask us about becoming a member and save!)
HOW: To confirm your space, please leave a message at 905-686-0211 or by email at [email protected], by the latest Wednesday noon prior to the breakfast. (If you’re on our “regrets only” list, please make sure to let us know if you can’t make it.)
Members who always attend the breakfast can request to be added to the REGRETS ONLY LIST. These members will inform us when they are UNABLE to attend the monthly breakfast meeting.

We look forward to seeing you there!
Deb Rankine, Breakfast Coordinator

WHEN: the second Saturday of every month except August TIME: 8:30 to 11:00 am WHERE: J.P. Fitzpatrick & Son
75 Consumers Rd. (at Sunray St.), Whitby, ON WHO: Everyone is welcome! COST: $15 members; $20 guests (ask us about becoming a member and save!) HOW: To confirm your space, please leave a message at 905-686-0211 or by email at [email protected], by the latest Wednesday noon prior to the breakfast. (If you’re on our “regrets only” list, please make sure to let us know if you can’t make it.)
Members who always attend the breakfast can request to be added to the REGRETS ONLY LIST. These members will inform us when they are UNABLE to attend the monthly breakfast meeting.
NEXT MEETING: SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14th, 2009
See WCDR Site: BREAKFAST


Wendy A. Lewis, an award-winning author from Uxbridge, Ontario, writes a wide variety books and stories for children and young adults. Wendy studied English Literature at the University of Toronto and worked in sales, marketing and public relations before becoming a full-time author and mom. Her recent books include Freefall, Cheetah, and Lacrosse Warrior: The Life of Mohawk Lacrosse Champion Gaylord Powless. Her biography, Fire on the Water: The Red-Hot Career of Rowing Superstar Ned Hanlan, is nominated for the 2009 Red Maple Non-Fiction Award. Wendy teaches a course in Writing Children’s Literature at Durham College. For more information, visit www.wendyalewis.com

At the WCDR’s February 14 breakfast meeting, Wendy will talk about her recent books: Freefall, which was on a twelve year journey to publication, and Lacrosse Warrior, which was conceived, researched, written and published in just a few months. Wendy will share tips about what children’s book publishers are looking for, and how to write for a demanding – but very rewarding audience — kids!

That would be great, StoneTable. I'm definitely going to this one. I've been working on a middle grade novel and really want to hear what this speaker has to say. It says your in Illinois? Are you going to be in in the Toronto area during this time?

lol. It's to show support to our Australian friends who are experiencing the fire tragedies.


For the meetings, it's important to remember to book by the Thursday prior to the meeting. They need to know numbers for the restaurant food planning.

Did you see my post in the announcements forum? ROBERT J SAWYER will be speaking at the March brekkie on Saturday March 14th.

If you do happen to make it down before July, you might be able to meet some of the Muskoka Novel Marathoners.

The guest speaker for April's breakfast meeting is NICHOLAS BOOTHMAN

The above link will give you a full bio on Boothman.

Nicholas Boothman, who penned the best-selling book How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less, is slated to speak at the February 14 breakfast meeting of the Writers’ Circle of Durham Region (WCDR.) The former advertising and fashion photographer got his start a decade ago with a shorter, self-published version of his runaway networking how-to hit. He parlayed it into a book deal with a New York agent that yielded two follow-up books and an enviable speaking career.

The New York Times calls him “one of the leading experts in face-to-face communication in the world” and “Dale Carnegie for a rushed era.” Good Morning America says, “His book is my bible.”

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WHEN: Saturday April 11, 2009
TIME: 8:30 to 11:00 am
WHERE: J.P. Fitzpatrick & Son - 75 Consumers Rd. (at Sunray St.), Whitby, ON
WHO: Everyone is welcome!
COST: $15 members; $20 guests (ask us about becoming a member and save!)

HERE IS A LINK TO THE BREAKFAST MEETING PAGE WHERE YOU WILL FIND ALL THE INFO YOU NEED, INCLUDING DIRECTIONS AND PAYMENT OPTIONS.

May 2009 WCDR BREAKFAST MEETING

The next WCDR Breakfast Meeting is fast approaching. It's going to be a great one for poets! Jeramy Dodds, one of this year's nominees for Canada's Griffin Prize for Poetry, will be the guest speaker.

Jeramy Dodds lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick. He is the winner of the 2006 Bronwen Wallace Memorial Award, the 2007 CBC Literary Award in poetry, and has been shortlisted for the 2009 Griffin Poetry Prize. He works as a creative writing instructor at the University of New Brunswick. His first collection, Crabwise to the Hounds , came out with Coach House Books in 2008.

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WCDR Link to Dodd's May Breakfast Speaker engagement

LINK TO EXPLANATION OF BREAKFAST MEETINGS, COMPLETE WITH ONLINE PAYPAL PAYMENT OPTION


WHEN: Saturday May 9th, 2009
TIME: 8:30 to 11:00 am
WHERE: J.P. Fitzpatrick & Son - 75 Consumers Rd. (at Sunray St.), Whitby, ON
WHO: Everyone is welcome!
COST: $15 members; $20 guests (ask us about becoming a member and save!)

Whitby is only about 20 minutes east of Downtown Toronto. Everybody is welcome. There are great networking opportunities. I guarantee you will have a great time! Hope to see you there.

If interested in attending, please click the link above to see how to go about registering. You must register by the Thursday prior to the meeting...they need a head count. No walk-ins. You can pay at the door, but pre-registration is needed.

That would be very cool. I hope it eventually works out for you. Every month is great, really...

June WCDR Breakfast Meeting - Saturday, June 13th. (Just outside Toronto)

What’s new in the publishing business? How will the current economy influence the book world? How can writers maximize their success in the existing literary climate? The Writers’ Circle of Durham Region (WCDR) has invited a panel of experts to share the latest on book publishing and retailing in Canada at its June 13 breakfast meeting.

An array of industry professionals with different perspectives will reveal their insights into the state of independent book publishing. Panellists include Carolyn Forde, an agent with Westwood Creative Artists Ltd. in Toronto; Shelley Macbeth, owner of Blue Heron Books, a large independent book store in Uxbridge; and Nancy Frater, president of the Canadian Booksellers Association. Each panellist will speak for four to five minutes about their experiences and then participate in a moderated discussion, taking questions from the audience.

Directly after the breakfast meeting, Stone Circle Theatre’s playwright-in-residence Jessica Outram stages Scriptwriting Basics, a one-hour workshop for seasoned and novice playwrights. The workshop is an additional $10; sign up online at www.wcdr.org . Space is limited and registrations are accepted on a first come, first served bases.

Don’t forget WCDR’s“Jump the Queue” registration option!
Register and pay online at www.wcdr.org on/by noon June 11th (click on “breakfast meeting” from the left side menu on the homepage), skip the registration table, and go fetch yourself a robust cup of coffee, a mug of just-brewed tea, juice, and a stunning array of pre-breakfast fruits, freshly baked croissants and toasty bagels. Prepayment also affords a little one-on-one time with other members before the meeting commences.

Meetings run from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the J.P. Fitzpatrick & Son restaurant in the Whitby Entertainment Centrum at 75 Consumers Rd. west of Thickson Rd. S. The cost, which includes a hearty breakfast, is $15 for members; $20 for guests.

To attend the breakfast meeting and/or the workshop, please register online at www.wcdr.org, by phone message at 905-686-0211 or by e-mail at [email protected]no later than noon on Thursday, June 11th.

Jeramy Dodds--last month's breakfast speaker--is in Toronto tonight. They are announcing the winner of the Griffin Prize for Poetry tonight. My fingers are crossed for Dodds!

Griffin Prize

SEPTEMBER BREKKIE ANNOUNCED!

“Inside Harlequin Enterprises Limited”— Amy Jones
INDUSTRY PRO TO SPEAK ON PUBLISHING STRATEGY & BOOK PROMOTION


DURHAM REGION, AUGUST 25, 2009: Amy Jones,Product Manager of two key growth imprints at Harlequin Enterprises Limited (Harlequin Non-Fiction and Harlequin TEEN), will appear at the September 12th breakfast meeting of the Writers’ Circle of Durham Region (WCDR). As well as addressing issues specific to Harlequin—authors and imprints, businesses within the company, and what makes it different than other publishing houses—Ms. Jones will address the general issues of book development, marketing and the ingredients of a good author/publisher relationship.

Harlequin Enterprises Limited is the global leader in series romance and one of the world’s foremost publishers of women’s fiction, with titles issued worldwide in twenty-six languages and sold in 109 international markets. The company releases 120 titles monthly and publishes more than 1,300 authors from around the world.
The WCDR monthly breakfast meetings are where experienced and aspiring writers gather, learn and connect. Join us throughout the year to hear authors and industry speakers, to enjoy a special event, and to broaden your networking circle. Everyone is welcome.Meetings run from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the J.P. Fitzpatrick & Son restaurant in the Whitby Entertainment Centrum at 75 Consumers Rd. (west of Thickson Rd. S.). The cost, which includes an excellent and hearty breakfast, is $15 for members; $20 for guests. (Ask us how, by becoming a member, you can save!)

To attend, please register online at www.wcdr.org, by phone message at 905-686-0211 or by e-mail at [email protected] no later than noon on Thursday, September 10th.

Breakfast meeting this coming Saturday (May 8th)

Must register by Thursday!

Reserve today: http://wcdr.ca/wcdr/?page_id=7

($15 for WCDR/HHWEN members and $20 for guests) All are welcome...and will be made welcome.

WHEN: the second Saturday of every month except August TIME: 8:30 to 11:00 am WHERE: J.P. Fitzpatrick & Son
75 Consumers Rd. (at Sunray St.), Whitby, ON WHO: Everyone is welcome! COST: $15 members; $20 guests (ask us about becoming a member and save!) HOW: To confirm your space, please leave a message at 905-686-0211 or by email at [email protected], by the latest Thursday noon prior to the breakfast. (If you’re on our “regrets only” list, please make sure to let us know if you can’t make it.)
Members who always attend the breakfast can request to be added to the REGRETS ONLY LIST. These members will inform us when they are UNABLE to attend the monthly breakfast meeting.

GUEST SPEAKER - KATHERINE GOVIER Her novel Three Views of Crystal Water was a Globe and Mail Book of the Year in 2005; Creation was a New York Times Notable Book of 2003. She is the winner of Canada’s Marian Engle Award for a woman writer in mid-career (1997) and the Toronto Book Award (1992). She is the author of eight novels and three short story collections and the editor of two collections of travel essays. Visit her online at www.govier.com

They now have a video showcasing the breakfast...for those of you in the area considering attending:

http://wcdr.ca/wcdr/?p=4563