Congratulations to the winners and finalists for John Kenneth Galbraith Literary Award; plus Kira Vermond nominated for Silver Birch Award and offering a writing class for kids

Barbara Baker at the Fall Colours retreat

Congratulations to Barbara Baker of Calgary for winning the John Kenneth Galbraith Literary Award for 2016 and the $2,000 prize that comes with it.

I had the pleasure of meeting Barbara (and reading some of her writing) in September when she attended my Fall Colours Writing Retreat at Arowhon Pines Resort in Algonquin Park.

Congratulations also to the runners-up: Peggy Bracken (who’s a regular at my classes in Georgetown) and Laurie Flynn, author of the YA novel Firsts, and who’s been a regular at my workshops in London, Ontario.

Congratulations also to all the semi-finalists and particularly to the ones I’ve met: Mary Steer, who’s a regular at my Wednesday afternoon class in Burlington, Alyssa Foulkes, who I’ve met at my workshops in Guelph, and Denise Noddin who’s been to my workshops in various locales in Southwest Ontario. 

And congratulations to the semi-finalists I don’t think I’ve met (and my apologies if we have met and I’ve forgotten): Susan Burdett of Dutton, Ontario, Ken McBeath of Courteny, British Columbia, and Anya Prohaszka of Belmont, Ontario. I hope our paths will cross soon. ~ Brian

For information about the John Kenneth Galbraith Literary Award, see here.

Hi, Brian.

Great news to share: My latest book, Half-Truths and Brazen Lies, has been nominated for a Silver Birch Award this year for the fabulous Forest of Reading program!  

Even better news? I’m teaching a kids’ writing class at The Bookshelf in Guelph starting this weekend (running 4 weeks) and I have three spots left. It’s for kids in grades 5-7. If you know of any children who love to write and are in those grades, feel free to get the word out. You’re welcome to pass along this message to parents who you think might be interested too. 

If your children are already signed up, I’m looking forward to seeing them on Saturday! (Just come up the stairs and head down the hall to the back. We’ll be at the big harvest table there.)

For more information see here.

Kira Vermond

www.kiravermondkids.com

See Brian’s schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Newmarket, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, St. John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.