Edward Willett Named Regina Public Library Writer-In-Residence

From the press release:

SF/FANTASY AUTHOR EDWARD WILLETT NAMED WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE

Aurora Award-winning science fiction and fantasy author Edward Willett has been named writer-in-residence at the Regina Public Library, Regina, Saskatchewan, for a nine-month period beginning September 1 and continuing through May 2012.

Willett is the 24^th writer-in-residence since the Regina Public Library became the first public library in Canada to offer such a program, back in 1978.

The paid position will allow Willett to spend 70 percent of his time on his own writing projects and 30 percent on his writer-in-residence duties, which include meeting with local writers and conducting workshops and readings at the library and in schools.

Willett’s science fiction and fantasy novels include Marseguro, winner of the Aurora Award for Best Long-Form Work in English in 2009, and its sequel, Terra Insegura, both published by DAW Books. His latest novel is Song of the Sword, a YA fantasy, the first installment of the five-book Shards of Excalibur series, published by Lobster Press in Montreal.

Willett’s first adult fantasy novel, Magebane, will be published by DAW this fall under the pen name Lee Arthur Chane. The second book in the Shards of Excalibur series, Twist of the Blade, will also appear this fall.

Willett is also the author of numerous non-fiction books for both adults and children, covering topics as diverse as the Iran-Iraq war, the mutiny on the Bounty, and the lives of Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Johnny Cash. Among his children’s books are biographies of J.R.R. Tolkien and Orson Scott Card, published by Enslow Publishers.

 Congratulations Mr. Willett.  You can read the interview I did with him a few years back when Terra Insegura came out here.

Karl Schroeder, Writer-in-Residence

For those of you in Toronto who'd like to meet Karl Schroeder, get one-on-one help with a manuscript (based on 5000 words), or attend a workshop on writing, here's your chance! And here's his third post, Which kind of writer are you - part 1.

From the Toronto Public Library's website explaining the details of the program:


Writer-in-Residence Karl Schroeder
February 1 - May 31, 2010

Submit your manuscript for an opportunity to have a one-on-one evaluation with Karl Schroeder, attend the writer-in-residence readings and workshops, or read Karl's blog.

Karl Schroeder's first science fiction novel Ventus was declared a New York Times Notable book in 2001, and his second novel, Permanence, won the 2003 Aurora Award for best Canadian Science Fiction Novel. Karl is best known for the Virga series: Sun of Suns, Queen of Candesce, Pirate Sun, The Sunless Countries, and Ashes of Candesce.

Karl has taught courses on writing science fiction at both the University of Toronto and George Brown College. Together with co-author Cory Doctorow, he wrote The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Science Fiction, practical marketing advice for aspiring authors.

Manuscript Submissions

• Manuscripts should be sent via email to Karl Schroeder, writer in residence at the Merril Collection.
• All manuscripts should include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address.
• Manuscripts should be 5,000 words in length. Karl will read only the first 5,000 words of longer submissions and base his comments on that word length.
• After your manuscript has been read, the Merril Collection staff will contact you and book an appointment for you to discuss your writing with Karl.
• Karl will need 1 –2 weeks lead time in order to read submissions before an appointment is booked.
• The library reserves the right to limit the number of manuscripts accepted.
• Toronto Public Library is not responsible for returning manuscripts. Please submit a COPY of your work.

Karl Schroeder's Library Blog

Karl is blogging for the library. Read the blog and get great tips on writing science fiction.

Related Events

Meet the Author
There will be a Meet the Author Tea at the Toronto Reference Library.
Monday, February 1, 1:30-4 pm
Toronto Reference Library
Beeton East Auditorium

Readings
Karl Schroeder reads from his forthcoming science fiction novel Ashes of Candesce, fifth in the Virga series, and answers questions about writing and researching science fiction.
Saturday, February 6, 7-8:15 pm
Toronto Reference Library
Beeton Auditorium

Science Fiction and Foresight: Is it true that science fiction is about predicting the future? Karl Schroeder discusses when science fiction and foresight are the same and when they are different.
Saturday, March 6, 7-8:15 pm
Toronto Reference Library
Beeton Auditorium

Live Online Chat
Chat online with Karl Schroeder - a Book Buzz event.
Wednesday, March 24, 7-8 pm

Workshops

Integrating Idea and Story
Everyone has ideas for a story, but very few people actually get a story completely written. This workshop will assist aspiring science fiction writers by clarifying the process of developing the story from the idea.
Thursday, March 25, 5:30–8:15 pm
Lillian H. Smith Branch
Lower Level

Short Story Structure and Plot
Attendees will learn how to identify and correct story weaknesses and sharpen their writing skills, while writing short science fiction and fantasy stories.
Thursday, April 15, 5:30-8:15 pm
Lillian H. Smith Branch
Lower Level

Wrangling Your Novel Into Shape
This workshop deals with the process of creating science fiction, how writers can identify and correct their mistakes, when to rewrite and when to stop.
Thursday, May 20, 5:30–8:15 pm
Lillian H. Smith Branch
Lower Level