Flashbacks
The Interior Authors Group started about 2005. We don’t have records of meetings in the earlier years, but here are some going back into 2018.
The next Interior Authors Group meeting will take place via Zoom on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 6:30 PM. Here’s the topic and some information about the presenter.
What is copyright? It sounds like a simple question, but it is important to know the basics.
Den Valdron
Den is a lawyer who is also an author. He doesn’t specialize in copyright law, but wants authors to be aware of their rights so they go into contracts with a better idea of what they’re giving up and getting. He lives in Winnipeg and has presented at many writing conferences on different subjects. His most recent presentation was on Artificial Intelligence and Ethics.
At the next meeting, 6:30 PM February 21, Stacey Kondla of The Rights Factory will do a presentation on literary agents. To inquire about participating in this meeting, email sagecat@shaw.ca .Following is information about the presentation and presenter.
Literary Agents: What they do, why you might want one, and how to get one
This session will be a quick primer on what literary agents do, why one might be able to help you, and how you can go about finding one that might be right for you. There will be a Q&A at the end of the session.
Stacey Kondla
A life-long bibliophile, Stacey’s experience includes working as a Field Representative for Scholastic Book Fairs, managing at Chapters/Indigo stores, freelance editing, and serving on the organizing committee of When Words Collide (A Festival for Readers and Writers). She joined The Rights Factory in 2018 and represents fiction and nonfiction authors across age categories and across genres. Stacey is drawn to strong narrative voices, innovative storytelling, feeling all the feels, laughing all the laughs, and also the dark and the weird.
I am looking for commercial work across genres and age categories, fiction and nonfiction, but am not looking for: Erotica, Self-help, Inspirational, Politics, Trauma Memoirs, or Picture Books.
Stacey Kondla (she/her)
Literary Agent
The Rights Factory
*****Check out my Linktree of published client books here
First three IAG meetings of 2024–January 17, February 21, and March 20–will take place via Zoom. For the next meeting, January 17, attendees are invited to bring some of their own writing–500 words of prose or two poems–to read to other attendees as time permits. Attendees will be encouraged to offer constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement. For more info, please email elmams2@outlook.com .
We had a good IAG meeting and Annual General Meeting October 18, 2023. Coco Aders-Weremczuk gave an informative and entertaining workshop on Show DON’T Tell. Next meeting is Wednesday, November 15 at 6:30 in the community centre on Cottonwood in North Kamloops. Elma Schemenauer will give a workshop on Show AND Tell. As writers, we can’t show everything. If we did, our books would be 3000 pages long. When to show and when to tell—that is the question.
We’re delighted that IAG member Coco Aders-Weremczuk will do a workshop at the meeting Wednesday October 18, 2023 at 6:30 pm in the North Shore Community Centre on Cottonwood in North Kamloops. Here’s Coco’s description of the presentation.
Anton Chekhov said, “Don’t tell me the moon is shining. Show me the glint of light on broken glass.” Come to the meeting and learn how to Show Not Tell to make your writing more riveting.
All are welcome. Please bring writing materials.
Our Annual General Meeting will follow the workshop.
Our next meeting is Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 6:30 PM in the community centre at 730 Cottonwood Avenue in North Kamloops. Blazej Szpakowicz, Director of Training & Development for the Editors Association of Canada, will give a presentation on working with an editor. We’re fortunate to have Blazej living right here in Kamloops. He’s our group’s vice president.
| ARE YOU NEW TO THE IAG OR THINKING OF RETURNING AFTER A LONG TIME? IF SO, THE FOLLOWING NOTE IS FOR YOU. Come and try us on for size and see if we’re a good fit. The first two meetings you attend are free of charge. You can join during the meeting if you want, or when you come for that third meeting. It doesn’t matter. We’re happy to have you! Memberships include: -attendance at all meetings throughout the year and the socials we do in July and December -the opportunity for members to have their published book(s) available for sale at IAG’s Booth at the Kamloops Farmers Market -being added to our newsletter list, which we are happy to say is done by the master sleuth Elma Schemenauer, who scours the internet for great articles about anything and everything writing and publishing related |
The following message is from our treasurer, Magnus Balle.
Please be advised, that after many years of unchanged membership dues (2015 was the last increase) we now find it necessary to increase our annual dues and the new rates are as follows:
Single $45
Family $65
Please bring a cheque, made out to Interior Authors Group, or exact change in cash to the meeting. September 30 is our year-end, so dues are due then. They must be paid in order to vote at the AGM (Annual General Meeting) on October 18.
Another way to pay is to send a cheque or money order to:
Magnus Balle, 31-650 Harrington Rd., Kamloops, BC, V2B 6T7
The next Interior Authors Group meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at 6:30 PM in the community centre on Cottonwood in North Kamloops. The business part of the meeting will include several interesting announcements and topics for discussion. For the program part of the June meeting, you’re invited to tell other attendees what writing you’re currently working on or comtemplating. Also if you wish, bring up to 800 words of your own writing. As time permits, you’ll have an opportunity to read it aloud for comments and suggestions by other attendees. Please bring writing materials. Thank you.
The May 17, 2023 Interior Authors Group meeting will happen at 6:30 PM in the community centre on Cottonwood in North Kamloops. Author Eleanor Deckert will do a presentation on writing memoir. She has given many workshops on the topic, and is the author of several autobiographical books.
Next IAG meeting will be Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 6:30 PM in the Community Centre on Cottonwood in North Kamloops. Gail Bloom and Terry Roth will do a presentation–“Marketing Your Books and Making the Sale: practical ways to draw attention to your table, engage the customer, and close the sale.” The presentation will include a video. Come with any ideas you may want to contribute.
The next IAG meeting will be Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 6:30 PM in the Kamloops North Shore Community Centre on Cottonwood. Topic is book blurbs. A blurb is a short prose piece that can be used in a query letter to interest a possible agent or publisher. Whether a book is traditionally published or self published, a blurb is also used to entice prospective readers. It’s put on the outside back cover, used on online booksellers’ sites, etc. A blurb is often less than 150 words, but it’s astonishingly difficult to write. Come to the meeting equipped with a pen or pencil, some paper, and your thinking toque. To get us started thinking about blurbs, following are two blurbs written about two famous books. Guess which books.
BLURB 1
At a glittering society party in St. Petersburg in 1805, conversations are dominated by the prospect of war. Terror swiftly engulfs the country as Napoleon’s army marches on Russia, and the lives of three young people are changed forever. The stories of quixotic Pierre, cynical Andrey, and impetuous Natasha interweave with a huge cast, from aristocrats and peasants, to soldiers and Napoleon himself.
BLURB 2
Gravely concerned about our current grammatical state, the author boldly defends proper punctuation. She proclaims, in her delightfully urbane, witty, and very English way, that it is time to look at our commas and semicolons and see them as the wonderful and necessary things they are. Using examples from literature, history, neighborhood signage, and her own imagination, she shows how meaning is shaped by commas and apostrophes, and the hilarious consequences of punctuation gone awry.
Next IAG meeting will be Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 6:30 PM in the Kamloops North Shore Community Centre on Cottonwood. Member Terry Roth will do a presentation on website he has found particularly useful. Then we will be invited to participate in an activity on interviewing and being interviewed. These are useful skills for writers. For example, they can help us do research for our writing. They can also help us promote our books once they are published. Please bring a pen or pencil.
Our next Interior Authors Group meeting will be Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 6:30 PM in the Kamloops North Shore Community Centre on Cottonwood. If you wish, please bring some of your own writing for written feedback and critiquing from other attendees. You may bring up to three pieces of writing, each one page or less long. [No need to bring multiple copies. One copy of each is sufficient.] Also bring a pen or pencil. Happy 2023. May it be a good writing year for all of us.
Our next Interior Authors Group meeting will be Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 6:30 PM in the Kamloops North Shore Community Centre on Cottonwood. The presentation will be by member Terry Roth: “Show, don’t tell: adding colour to your characters.” Please bring a pen or pencil.
We had a good meeting last Wednesday, October 19, 2022. The same board members from our last fiscal year will go forward into the next one. We enjoyed hearing Terry, Eileen, and Barbara read some of their writing. Next meeting is Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 6:30 PM in the Kamloops North Shore Community Centre on Cottonwood.
Autumn is in the air, and it’s time for another Interior Authors Group meeting. Wednesday September 21 at 6:30 PM in the Kamloops North Shore Community Centre on Cottonwood. A special guest will tell us about a novel contest. As time permits, there will also be an opportunity for attendees to tell us what they’ve been up to during the summer. Note from our Treasurer, Magnus Balle: Please remember to bring your annual membership dues for 2022 – 23 to this meeting; a cheque made out to Interior Authors Group or correct amount in cash; Single $35 or Family $50.
At our next IAG meeting, Wednesday June 15, 2022, member Corea Ladner will lead us in some fun writing exercises. Please bring a pen and paper. [Electronic devices won’t work for some of the exercises.] Meeting is in the North Shore Community Centre, Kamloops, at 6:30 PM. Hope to see you there.
Next Interior Authors Group meeting is Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at 6:30 PM in the North Shore Community Centre on Cottonwood in Kamloops. Dana Ramstedt, Alex McGilvery, and Elma Schemenauer will give a presentation on copyright. Bring your questions. You will have an opportunity to ask them and join in a discussion of this important topic.
Thankfully the IAG was able to hold a meeting March 16, 2022. Several members read from their works in progress, or published works. The group discussed the readings and gave useful feedback.
Because of Covid concerns, we won’t have an in-person meeting February 16, 2022. We’ll meet online instead. Maybe things will be different in March.
We had a great Christmas social December 8, 2021. Sadly, because of Covid concerns, we won’t have an in-person meeting January 19, 2022. We’ll meet online instead. Maybe things will be different in February.
Next Interior Authors Group meeting is November 17, 2021 at 6:30 PM in the North Kamloops Community Centre on Cottonwood. Bring writing materials—we’ll do some writing. We’ll plan this year’s Christmas social. And Elma Schemenauer will speak on RESEARCH FOR WRITING FICTION & NON-FICTION.
Next meeting is Wednesday October 20, 2021 at 6:30 in the North Shore Community Centre on Cottonwood, Kamloops. Hope to see you there.
Covid considerations haven’t dampened our enthusiasm. We’re been meeting via Zoom & in McDonald Park. Next meeting is Wednesday September 15 at 6:30 in the North Shore Community Centre, Kamloops. Hope to see you there.
Sadly the January 14, 2021 IAG meeting has been cancelled because of Covid regulations. Hopefully we can have another before too long. In the meantime, let’s keep those quills, pens, & keyboards going.
We had lovely plans for a Christmas social Dec 10, 2020. Big thanks to all who volunteered to lead, entertain, and inspire us. Unfortunately because of Covid concerns, the board has decided to cancel the event. All the best for Christmas and the New Year. Thankfully we can still be in touch online.
December 2020
Next IAG meeting will be Thursday December 10 at 6:30 PM in the Oak Room of the North Shore Community Centre, Kamloops. This will be our Christmas social. Because of Covid, masks & social distancing are required. We’ve enjoyed a festive meal together in the past, but there won’t be one this year, unfortunately. If you plan to come, please e-mail elmams (at symbol) shaw.ca before November 30. Thank you.
November 2020
Next IAG meeting will be Thursday November 12 in the Oak Room of the North Shore Community Centre, Kamloops. Very successful picture book author Jeff Bloom will speak about writing picture books. Please wear masks whenever possible and socially distance.
October 2020
Next IAG meeting will be THURSDAY October 8 in the OAK room of the North Shore Community Centre on Cottonwood in North Kamloops. We had been meeting on Wednesdays, but Wednesdays are currently unavailable. The Oak room is bigger than the Games room. It will allow for social distancing. Masks also recommended. Looking forward to seeing you.
August 2020
Thanks to Covid-19, we don’t know when the next Interior Authors Group meeting will happen. We hope it won’t be too long before we can get together again. A notice will be posted here.
CANCELLED: APRIL 8, 2020 MEETING
We were looking forward to Alex McGilvery leading a panel about tropes at the April 8 IAG meeting. Sadly, the meeting is canceled because of VIRUS concerns. Hoping & praying we’ll be able to have meetings again before too horribly long. Stay safe, everyone.
MEETINGS ON MARCH 11 AND APRIL 8, 2020
Next IAG meeting is Wednesday March 11 at 6:30 PM, North Shore Community Centre on Cottonwood Ave, North Kamloops. Leo Tolstoy [also known as Clyde B. Forrest] will speak on writing, activism, & poverty.
The April meeting will be Wednesday APRIL 8 [NOT April 15 as previously indicated], same time & place.
NEXT MEETING FEBRUARY 12, 2020
Next Interior Authors Group meeting is Wednesday February 12 at 6:30 PM in the North Shore Community Centre on Cottonwood in Kamloops. Elma Schemenauer will speak on the topic INSIDE THE BOOK BUSINESS, based on her many years in Toronto working for Canadian and international publishers as an editor, author, and consultant.
Self-published, Eleanor Deckert, determined to write her memoir when she was 8 years old. Noticing details, remembering sequences, listening to her parents making decisions, aware of her own motivations, sensing the turning points in her life, she wasn’t sure how to begin.
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Next IAG meeting is Wednesday November 13, 2019 at 6:30 PM in the North Shore Community Centre on Cottonwood in North Kamloops. Alex McGilvery is our new president, replacing Shirley Dodding. Thanks and best wishes to both.
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Here, courtesy of President Shirley Dodding, is the agenda for the IAG meeting Wednesday October 9, 2019 at 6:30 PM in the North Shore Community Centre on Cottonwood. Hope to see you there.
OCTOBER 09TH 2019 INTERIOR AUTHORS GROUP GENERAL MEETING:
6:30 EACH ATTENDEE TO BRING ONE OR TWO PASSAGES (UP TO 300 WORDS EACH) FOR EDITING.
PLEASE CLIP YOUR WRITING PIECE(S) ONTO A CLIPBOARD AT THE FRONT.
6:35 BLAZEJ OUR VICE PRESIDENT: WRITER’S FEST UPDATE: 20 MINUTES
6:55 ALL ATTENDEES TO ENJOY EDITING THE WONDERFUL WRITINGS OF FELLOW ATTENDEES.
THIS NEXT HALF HOUR DEVOTED TO EDITING, WRITING AND SHARING.
7:30 ****************************BREAKTIME**********************************
MEMBERSHIP FEES FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR MAY BE PAID AT THIS TIME TO OUR TREASURER
SANDRA: $35.00 REGULAR, $50.00 FAMILY, $25.00 STUDENT.
7:45 CALL TO ORDER:________
DENNIS DITTY: _________
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: JEFF BLOOM – SECRETARY
TREASURER’S REPORT: SANDRA HYSLOP
OLD BUSINESS:
UPDATE ON ANTHOLOGY COMMITTEE AND SUBMISSIONS: DANA AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS
NEW BUSINESS:
FARMER’S MARKET AND CRAFT MARKET ( SAHALI ) UPDATE: ELMA/ALEX
VOTING FOR NEW POSITIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE. SOME MAY REMAIN IN THEIR POSITIONS.
JEFF TO CHAIR THE VOTING PROCESS: NOMINATIONS WILL BE TAKEN.
MEETING ADJOURNED @ ______
NEXT MEETING: NOVEMBER 13TH
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We enjoyed Andrew Chesham‘s presentation on marketing & mentoring. At our next meeting, April 10, 2019, IAG member Eileen Bell will speak about writing fairy-tales. We’ll also do some critiquing. You’re invited to bring up to 2 pieces of writing, each 300 words or less. At the top of each, write your name & the type of writing it is, e.g. beginning of a story, description of a book.
We enjoyed Cheryl Bezuidenhout‘s informative presentation about graphic design at our meeting on February 13. Thanks, Cheryl. At our next meeting, Andrew Chesham of Simon Fraser University will speak about marketing and mentoring. The meeting is Wednesday March 20 at 6:30 PM in the North Shore Community Centre on Cottonwood Avenue. (Note it’s the THIRD Wednesday of the month, this time only.)
Next meeting TOMORROW evening, Feb 13 at 6:30 pm. Cheryl B will speak to us about graphic design. If you have 300 words or less that you’d like us to critique, bring them along. We’ll do it if there’s time. If not, we’ll do it at another meeting.
We had a good Interior Authors Group meeting last night, January 9, 2019. Member Alex McGilvery spoke about self-publishing print books. Vice president Blazej Szpakowicz ably and wittily chaired the meeting because our president, Shirley Dodding, is currently in Cancun, Mexico 🙂 Next meeting is February 13 with member Cheryl Lawson Bezuidenhout speaking about graphic design. On March 20, NOT our usual second Wednesday of the month, Andrew Chesham of Simon Fraser University will speak mainly about marketing, and briefly about the mentoring process. [These topics were bandied about and voted on at the meeting last night.]
Wednesday January 9, 2019 Interior Authors Group Meeting, 6:30 PM. Willow Room at North Shore Community Centre on Cottonwood. Presentation on print books by Alex McGilvery & Stephanie Marks. Hope to see you there!
Wednesday October 10th, 2018 Interior Authors Group Meeting:
In the Games Room @ the North Shore Community Centre [Cottonwood]. Turn right in the lobby. 6:30 PM: Who Are We? Presentation of ourselves. Depending on the attendance
(numbers) tonight, we will be given two or three minutes to narrate our journey in
writing and/or becoming published. Please be prepared to briefly tell attendees about your writing and/or publishing journey–if you’d like to.
-North on Tranquille.
-Left on Poplar [just after Our Lady of Perpetual Help & before Northills Shopping Centre].
-Right on Willow.
-Left on Cottonwood & follow it to the North Shore Community Centre.
You can take the first driveway into the Centre & park at the front of the building. Or take the second driveway & park at the back. There’s one door at the front and two at the back [both back doors are labelled Entrance].
Interior Authors Group 