3rd Annual Open Mic Night

The 3rd Annual Open Mic Night took place on Tuesday, April 23rd at the Orangeville Public Library. We maxed out at 15 participants again and had a good crowd.

Dufferin County's Poet Laureate Harry Posner hosted and shared some of his poetry.

Linda Rebhan read some of her poetry

Emma Pink works at Mochaberry, a local coffee shop. "Words have the power to change lives," she said as she spoke on the coffee and words connection.

Clare McCarthy read from his latest work, "Growing Old Isn't For Wimps", a reflection on aging.

M.J. Moores read from her steampunk novel "Shadow Phoenix".

A rapt audience.

Marilyn Kleiber read from "The Healers", the second book in a series of myth/fantasy novels written under the name J.M. Tibbott. The first book is called "The Arrival". Book 3 of a possible 7 books is currently in the works.

Matt Griffin was his usual peculiar but very entertaining self. His impersonations of Jimmy Stewart and Kermit the Frog were on point.

Winston Utenbogaart read from his book of poetry "Leaves O'er Weathered Stones". We heard "From My Heartfelt Store", "By The Table Lamp" and "Dusky Evenings".

Eight-time published author of cozy mysteries, Diane Bator read from the first of her new series of Glitter Bay Mysteries, "All That Sparkles".

Dancer, choreographer, director and writer, Roland Kirouac entertained us with details of his memoir "Message From a Fool".

Andrew Welch read from his first book "The Value Crisis - from dollars to democracy, why numbers are ruining our world". He shared with us Chapter 8 - Numbering Our Days.

Healer, author and motorcycle enthusiast, Liz Jansen read from her memoir, a collection of stories, "Women, Motorcycles and the Road to Empowerment".

Jenn Crole read the poem "Current", inspired by the beauty in all things.

David Mcguinn shared his poetry on meditation and nature.

Judy Zarowny read three poems on the topic of relationships. "The Argument", "Fix Me", and "Forfeit".

Our talented group of writers!

See you next year!

Author Linwood Barclay

Author Linwood Barclay attended a Headwaters Arts Festival event on Friday, September 30, 2011. He sat on a panel of four authors at the Armchairs, Authors & Art event.
 

Barclay, formerly a humour columnist for the Toronto Star, read from his ninth novel, “The Accident”. He is a winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for Crime Fiction. Of Barclay’s novel “Never Look Away” Stephen King called it “the best thriller I’ve read in five years. I literally couldn’t put it down”.

 

“The Accident” is a mesmerizing thriller packed with unexpected twists and superb characters. When Glen Garber’s wife Sheila does not return home from a night school business course, Glen learns she and two others have been killed in a car accident. The police claim Sheila was responsible. Believing this to be impossible, Glen begins his own investigation into the accident where he uncovers layers of lawlessness beneath the placid surface of their suburb, secret after dangerous secret behind the closed doors.

 

Barclay read the prologue from “The Accident” at the Orangeville author event which was touched with mystery and humour. Then he responded to questions.

 

Author Trevor Cole commented that Barclay’s story is a wonderful mixture of horror and comedy and that he could write for television. Barclay said humour comes naturally out of life’s situations. In writing the stories he does picture the scenes in his head unfolding as if in a movie but prefers to write books because the author loses control over a script during production.

 

When asked why he turned from writing humour to writing horror, Barclay’s response was, “It was a career strategy. Humour wasn’t selling.”

 

Barclay is under contract until 2014 to write a book a year. He was asked how he is able to put out a book a year. He admitted that he had 2 weeks to come up with the outline for his next book and had no ideas yet. He does not know his story’s middle or end. His writing style consists of starting with a hook and continues from there. He can write a book in two months.

 

During a discussion about writing bad books the authors agreed that you need to be excited about the story you are writing, and to give yourself permission to give up on a book or story that isn’t working. You need to be driven to finish. Writing bad books is a learning experience.

 

One woman commented that he had women so well pegged that he almost pissed her off. To that Barclay said he is familiar with women from his wife and adult daughter. They have their vices. In “The Accident” the women in the story are on an adventure to find knock off purses. Guys are the same but about different things like cars or sports. “Knock off bags,” he said, “are like porn for women.”

 

When asked about how much he relies on the input of his agent and editor, Barclay said he appreciates the value of the editor and agent. You get too close to your work; you can’t see what’s wrong; you can’t see what’s good. “I value my agent. She told me that 70% of readers are women so don’t piss them off or they won’t read your books again.”

 

After the question and answer session the authors sat in the lobby signing books and speaking with the guests. I enjoyed meeting and speaking with Linwood Barclay whose column I had read for 15 years before he retired to write books full-time. He is very funny, charming, and tells great stories.

 

Barclay’s previous novels are “Bad Move”, “Bad Guys”, “Lone Wolf”, “Stone Rain”, “No Time for Goodbye”, “Too Close to Home”, “Fear the Worst” and “Never Look Away”. He also wrote a memoir entitled “Last Resort”. I have read “No Time for Goodbye” and look forward to reading “The Accident” and “Never Look Away”, the two books I purchased at the 7^th Annual Armchairs, Authors and Art event.

Though Linwood Barclay is a Canadian author, he is renowned worldwide.