craft | Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers

Wordsmith’s Collective Thursday – A Holiday Book Themed Project and Writing Time

December 23, 2021
mandyevebarnett

I found a holiday project to do in the week between Christmas and New Year. A small model of a library (although the label says Sam’s Study). I, of course, opened it when it arrived with excitement, but this was short lived when I realized each component – shelves, cabinets, etc. – were not separated, but all mixed together! So my first job was to find the pieces for each item and put them together. The other ‘surprise’ was how fiddly this is going to be! Oh my goodness – frustration beckons, I do believe. Maybe it will not be the relaxing little craft project after all. Time will tell.

I have not planned a word count for the holiday’s, but will utilize some time to continuing writing the second book in my detective trilogy, The Tainted Search. I have over 50,000 words from NaNoWriMo already so another twenty or so is achievable without full time work getting in the way.

What are your writing plans for the holiday?

Upcoming Writing Events- Add Yours for your Location…

August 21, 2017
mandyevebarnett

events

This week I will be preparing for an author reading on Saturday. With the theme ‘Back to School’ I will probably read from my children’s chapter book, Ockleberries to the Rescue. As each chapter revolves around a particular animal, I will more than likely choose one chapter that has a fall/autumn related theme.

Ockleberries_book cover

http://www.dreamwritepublishing.ca/products/ockleberries-rescue

What events have you got coming up?

Are you attending any events this week in your area?

Other events:

AUG 22 12:00 – 16:00

Fantasy and Horror Book Signing

Konn Lavery – Horror Author

Chapters Strathcona
10504 82 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6E 2A4

Konn will actually be attending our Words in the Park event on 30th September, so if you miss this opportunity, you can find him there!

Spark Gallery, 2257 Premier Way, #116, Sherwood Park. T8H 2M8 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Free admission.

picnic

Public Art Picnic – Borden Park
24 August at 17:30–20:00

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Borden-Park/216893458341432

Author Reading

Social Grounds Coffeehouse, 975 Broadmoor Blvd #36, Sherwood Park, AB T8A 5W9

2:00 – 4:00 pm – Everyone welcome. I will be reading at this event.

back to school

Please feel free to add your own events in the comments, regardless of the location.

Upcoming Writing Events- Add Yours for your Location…

August 14, 2017
mandyevebarnett

With no immediate events to attend I am busy planning for a couple. The first is a submission for a competition and the other an author reading on 26th August.

Free time is always at a premium for me on the whole so I’m enjoying this relative freedom. One part of my submission is the dreaded synopsis so I am sharing a previous post on the subject.

http://www.marissameyer.com/blogtype/6-steps-for-writing-a-book-synopsis/

I will endeavor to make this local event.

AUGUST 19 10.30 am – 3 pm Festival Place, Sherwood Park.

Artisan Market at Chautauqua

Check out all kinds of beautiful hand crafted goods made by local artists and artisans at the Chautauqua Tent Artisan Market! There will be demonstrations at some booths so you can see how the artist works and chat with them about their process. While you’re there you can stop by our free drop-in workshop to make your own mini work of art and create a button to celebrate Canadian art.

Other Events:

The Writers at Woody Point Festival in Bonne Bay, NL, runs August 15-20, with authors including Eva Crocker, Dennis Lee, Lawrence Hill, Linden McIntyre, Lisa Moore, Kathleen Winter.

And The Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts returns August 17-20 to Sechelt, BC, for its 35th year, its amazing lineup including Donna Morrissey, Iain Reid, Janie Chang, Kamal Al-Solaylee, Bev Sellars, Zoe Whittall, Charlotte Gray, and more.

Do you have local events you would like to share?

Upcoming Writing Events- Add Yours for your Location…

August 7, 2017
mandyevebarnett

events

It is Board meeting week for me this week, Tuesday is the Writers Foundation meeting and then Wednesday is the Arts & Culture Council meeting. We have a lot to plan and organize for our annual Words in the Park and Culture Day events. Again we are co-hosting our events as part of Alberta Culture Days. It is a special year not only for Canada 150 but the Writers Foundation and Albert Culture Days 10th anniversaries.

We have a new larger venue this year – Spark Gallery, which is the home of the world renowned Canadian artist Glen Roland. It is exciting to have such a beautiful space to display, interact and engage.

With numerous authors and artisans, dance and music performances, children’s activities and a food truck it’s an event for the whole family.

What are your plans this week?

When-Words-Collide-Logo_medium
A few tickets are still left for the very popular When Words Collide in Calgary, AB, August 11-13, with Will Ferguson, C.C. Humphreys, Guy Gavri

winter Winterset in Summer – Literary Festival

http://www.wintersetinsummer.ca
The Winterset in Summer Literary Festival in Eastport, NL, takes place August 10-13, with Anakana Schofield, Esi Edugyan, Elisabeth de Mariaffi, and so many more great authors.

What events are in your area? Why not share?

Creative Catharsis…

December 5, 2013
mandyevebarnett

Catharsis – definition: a feeling of release, purification, or purgation of the emotions (often through art)

I would love to hear from you all regarding your thoughts on how your ‘art’ effects your emotions or visa versa.

In my own experience, I have always been creative and have embraced numerous art forms in my life. Drawing and painting were my initial loves, which gradually progressed into sculpture and then a combination of the two. I dappled in knitting, crochet, sewing, oil paints, charcoal and pencil drawings (some which were entered by my art teacher for an exam I have not thought possible), pottery and a few more ‘art and craft’ hobbies.

Writing, apart from a few stories for my children, was not something I considered at all. The reason? I have no idea to be truthful. I happened across a writing group once I emigrated to Canada and thought I could try it out among other offered groups and crafts.

As the saying goes I went from strength to strength after a couple of meetings and became ‘hooked’.

As a free flow writer my subconscious is the main source for the component of my stories. I have found that when I write I feel calm and happy. A day or so without writing finds me irritable and unhappy. That is the extent of my obsession and love of the craft.

This graph is fascinating and I will be studying it in detail later. There is a reason we have ‘body’ issues beyond the obvious after all.

I wish you joy in your writing as we head towards 2014 and another year of words, projects, manuscripts and fellowship.

What are your writing plans for 2014?