Our Members

Welcome to our “Members” page. There are three groups of members. First are founding and current members of the Penticton Writers and Publishers (PWAP) group. Second are our “Raise a Reader Honourary Members,” well-known authors who have volunteered to join PWAP in supporting Raise a Reader programs in South Okanagan schools. And third are “In Memory” members, whose writing and participation in PWAP still inspire us. Please scroll down the page to meet and learn more about each of our members.

Our founding and current PWAP members include: Co-Founder Yasin John-Thorpe; Retired Co-Founders Janelle Breese Biagioni, Lorraine Pattison, Penelope Ann Smith; and Active Members Chelsey Baron, Elizabeth Bartosinski, Gary Bazan, Chris Boyle, Lin Brian, Alan B. Campbell, Maxine Cumming, Carolae Donoghue, Florence Dyck, Ron Hepner, Norma Hill, David Korinetz, Sandy Latka, Alan E. Longworth, Minke Mazzocato, George (Herb) Moore, Lester Patrick, Gail Prior, Dawn Renaud, Jodie Renner, Roberta Robertson, Fay Rothlander, Tracy Seeger, Joseph Seiler, Dave Simpson, Klaus Sturze, Mahada Thomas, Richa S. Thorpe, and Janey Volden.

We’d love to have you join our group–and meet all these wonderful writers, as well as others not yet listed here. We meet the third Thursday of each month, September through June, from 7 to 9 pm at Leir House in Penticton. Besides our meetings, we are involved with Raise a Reader in our area, the BC Youth Writers Camp, writing contests, and much more–check out the other pages on our site. For more information, email us.

Raise a Reader Honourary Members include: Karen Autio, Rie Charles, k c dyer, Lee Edward Fodi, Ann Gregoire, Kallie George, James McCann, Darcy Nybo, Lorna Schultz-Nicholson, and Laura Thomas.

Our “In Memory” members include: Clement (Clem) Battye, Claire Festel, Margaret Ann (Mags) Hayes, Violet Smith, and Helen Wyatt.

Janelle Breese Biagioni, RPC, continues to write about and work with people who have suffered a loss. Visit www.janellebb.com for more information on programs or to contact her.

Lorraine Pattison is a 20-year veteran writer and researcher of both non-fiction and fiction. Currently, she is working on a comprehensive resource guide on cooking and nutrition for community kitchens.

Chelsey Baron’s first short stories were illustrated tales written for her two younger sisters. After attending her first creative writing class, instructed by Yasmin John-Thorpe and Penny Smith, Chelsey and her Dad joined PWAP. In 2006 and 2008 Chelsey entered the Young Okanagan Writers Contest and had works published in the contest anthology, Gems of the Okanagan. She attended the British Columbia Youth Writers Camp and her works appeared in Gems of British Columbia, the camp anthology in 2009 and 2010.

Chelsey recently graduated from the University of British Colombia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Her life’s goal is to combine her love of art and writing with her desire to make the world a better place through domestic and international humanitarian action.

Dr. James Morgan is a distinguished academic with a PhD in English Literature. In his role as Lead Writer at PaperHelp.org, he leads a team of expert writers, delivering meticulously researched and professionally crafted academic content, including essays, dissertations, and research papers. With his extensive expertise in literary analysis and scholarly writing, Dr. Morgan is dedicated to fostering academic excellence, supporting students worldwide in achieving superior results through high-quality writing services.

After many years of writing boring letters as an education coordinator, Elizabeth decided to try her hand at something longer and less boring; a couple novels The Enchanted Tower, and Aaron’s Bride under the penname Liz Michaels (and unpublishable poems and short stories) are the result.

When not at her computer searching for the right words, or watching the birds outside the window, or thinking up new stories, Elizabeth enjoys reading, or practicing Tai Chi, or having coffee with friends, or working in her garden in the (mostly) sunny Okanagan.

Born and educated in England, Chris Boyle spent his working life as a window-dresser, carpet salesman, and later, as an educator.

Happily married for over forty years he now resides in BC’s beautiful Okanagan Valley with his wife. He spends his time renovating, writing and enjoying his grandchildren. He has been writing since his early teens and was first published in his College magazine, Cresset, and lately in various Okanagan newspapers.

His first collection of poetry, Words I Never Wrote and Other Poems 1960–2008, was published in 2009. He continues to work on a couple of ideas for novels and various short stories.

Words have always been important to Lin Brian. Poems have been published in a Kwantlen College Newsletter and in The Vagina Monologues Program. Mission Mental Health asked her to write on “Joy” for their 2002 Summer Newsletter, and “Joy” was included in PWAP’s October 2013 Newsletter.

Mission Mental Health also hired her to make personalized Christmas Cards. Over the years, she has found she has a talent for writing for other people, and after doing a number of “free” poems, got paid for writing a love poem for a Chevron employee. Once Lin sits with someone and finds out about the person they want to write to, an idea takes hold and the words seem to flow.

Lin has been told for years that she needs to publish. “Out of Darkness, Into the Light” is a work in progress.

For as long as Carolae can remember, she has been intrigued by the written word and fascinated by the richness of the English language. It has an allure for her, like nothing else. From a very young age, Carolae expressed herself through poetry, prose or theatrical tongue.

Currently, she has completed eighty-five percent of her first novel based on the true story of a deviant and alcoholic father. The story spans over one hundred years and the geographic location and names have been changed in order to protect the identity of those involved. She has enjoyed the lengthy research essential to make the story read and feel as authentic as possible.

Carolae joined PWAP to learn more and to experience how other writers conduct their writing lives.

Florence Dyck grew up in Manitoba, where she taught for a few years before returning to university in 1988 to finish her education degree. After raising five children in southern Manitoba, Florence, and her husband Ron, moved to Penticton, BC. Here she resumed her teaching career.

Florence retired in 2008. She self-published a family history book about her great-grandmother, Aganetha’s Story, in June 2013. She had successful sales of the first edition in southern Manitoba where many of her extended family still live. She is now marketing the second edition. Florence has also written stories around the birth of their adopted daughter and other family related stories.

Florence and her husband enjoy visiting all their children and grandchildren from BC, Alberta, Oregon and California. Since retiring, Florence has visited countries in Europe, South America, Asia and Africa.

Norma operates a tutoring, editing, and writing business, Pen and Paper Mama Services, and is also involved as a volunteer with various organizations in which she uses her writing skills. Norma has been published in magazines, newsletters, and anthologies, has written for radio, and has created a variety of blogs and websites. She has taught writing skills as a teacher in BC schools, continues to teach writing as a professional tutor and editor, and presents workshops for both children and adults. You can learn more at Norma’s website, penandpapermama.com.

David Korinetz joined Pen Writers after attending the 2003 PWAP Writer’s Conference. His first publication appears in the 2004 PWAP anthology, To Hope and Beyond, and his science fiction story, The Magic Of Mars, was published in 2005 by Tall Tales Press.

In 2007 he self-published his first Fantasy novel, FireDrakes: Chronicles of the Daemon Knights. His next two novels were Sorceress (2009) and Halfling (2011). In 2009 David started his distribution company for Canadian authors, Red Tuque Books (www.redtuquebooks.ca).

He is currently working on his fourth novel, Warlock.

Alan E. Longworths’s interest in writing began at age seven, when his teacher praised a five-page composition on his summer adventures. During his working years, he gained insight into many different levels of society ranging from Vancouver’s sleazy east side, to corporate boardrooms. He continued to write on a small scale, becoming the West Coast correspondent for his national company’s quarterly magazine. Alan won three awards for his contributions, plus an award for his adult fiction. Upon his early retirement, Alan began to write seriously, encouraged by the Penticton Writers and Publishers group.

Alan writes several genres of poetry and has been published in three countries. He performs his cowboy poetry at cowboy poetry festivals. Alan’s books are available at Hooked on Books in Penticton, or from the author at (250) 497-6499 or email: [email protected].

Since joining the Penticton Writers and Publishers (PWAP) group, Minke has managed to produce several short pieces in response to PWAP’s monthly writing challenges. Encouraged by feedback from PWAP members, she now manages to write for a period of time every day and remain committed to developing her craft.

Coming from a college and university background with concentrations in Visual Art, English, Literacy and Education, Minke has long had a passion for studying fine literature and the joys of creative writing. Genres she’d like to continue exploring are the personal essay as literature, poetry, drama and short story.

Currently, Minke is discovering the art and craft of memoir writing. In response to PWAP’s summer writing challenge, she plans to work out a creative approach she can live with, sketch out some structural points and set some writing goals.

“It’s great to be writing in earnest again.”

After a 17 year stint in Japan teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) and managing an online Japanese travel website, Lester returned to Canada in 2007. Since his return, Lester is trying to re-plant his roots in his native Okanagan soil. Part of this re-planting involves Lester’s long-time passion for writing.

Lester writes in two fields: Technical writing in the upstream oil and gas industry, and writing Christian-based short stories and novellas.

With the goal of self-publishing in mind, Lester is learning about e-book promoting, marketing and publishing. He also looks forward to networking and collaborating with fellow writers, authors and publishers.

Gail Prior’s early retirement from a career in social work opened the doors to hone her writing gift. Moving from the west coast of British Columbia to the Okanagan Valley, she began to write seriously and was encouraged by joining the group of Penticton Writers and Publishers, as well as the River Writers in Arizona.

Gail’s stories, poems and recipes have appeared in a variety of publications. She has published a book collection of her short stories resulting in THE CAP. She recently published a collection of family recipes – Prior’s Pantry. Always working on more short stories and poems for publication sometime, somewhere!

Gail divides her living and writing time between Oliver, BC, Little Bear Lake, SK, and “Snowbirds” in Arizona.

Gail’s credo: LIFE is all about how you handle Plan B.

Jodie Renner is a sought-after freelance fiction editor and award-winning author of two craft-of-writing guides: Fire up Your Fiction and Writing a Killer Thriller, with a third, Captivate Your Readers, out soon. She has also published two handy, clickable writers’ e-resources, Quick Clicks: Word Usage – Style and Usage Tips for Busy Writers and Editors, and Quick Clicks: Spelling List – Commonly Misspelled Words at Your Fingertips. Jodie presents at writers’ conferences across North America and also judges writers’ contests, including several times for Writer’s Digest contests. She is also a well-known blogger, and her craft-of-writing posts appear on various blogs, including her group blog, The Kill Zone.

Jodie is a former English and French teacher and school librarian, with a master’s degree. She has traveled extensively throughout North America, Europe and the Middle East, and continues to sneak away whenever she gets the chance. She now lives in Kelowna.

www.JodieRennerEditing.com, www.JodieRenner.com

In 1998, Roberta Robertson’s story was published in Supernatural Stories Around British Columbia. Later she became involved with PWAP at its creation as a non-profit society in 2007.

She has also been a longtime supporter, a PWAP member, and is the group’s charity treasurer. Roberta, a retired chef, is known as the “Lunch Lady” at the PWAP BC Youth Writers Camp as she manages the camp food services.

Tracy Seeger is new to Penticton Writers and Publishers. She hopes to finish and publish her first fiction novel in 2014.

Joseph Seiler has written the inside back page for a national magazine with distribution of over 100,000 for over seven years. He is mildly active on social networks, primarily Facebook (every weekday) and LinkedIn (usually twice a week). A compilation of the Facebook posts are carried by the local paper. He has been the newsletter editor for many volunteer organizations that he has belonged to.

Joseph enjoys journaling, as well. He has completed two books in the Mind, Body, Spirit genre and is a prolific creator of experiential trainings for adults, mostly to do with self development and business. He has been referred to as an inspiring teacher.

Klaus Sturze was born and raised in Europe, where he trained as a hotel administrator. His life experiences are far reaching from surviving WWII and escaping Communist territories, to migrating to Canada in 1960 with two dollars in his pocket and a heart full of hope and enthusiasm. His wife and daughter followed six months later.

In 1975 he moved his family to the Okanagan where he still resides. After retiring from professional life, Klaus turned to writing. His first novel was A Father’s Last Letter, a modern love story. Next, he finished his memoir, From War to Peace, which received a glowing critique by Allan Twigg, editor of BC BOOK WORLD magazine. Three more novels followed, The Orphan, The Orphan Now A Man, and Missions of A Secret Agent; and, most recently, The Baron and the Assassins, and The Baron and the Kropp Affair. Klaus’s novels are available on Amazon Kindle as well as in hardcopy from the author.

Email him at: [email protected]

Mahada Thomas recently transplanted herself here in Penticton, from Tofino BC. She has written all her life, but it was in Tofino she received her first real lessons in writing. She wrote a “health and spirituality” column for a local magazine, then continued over the years to share articles in Tofino Time.

Mahada writes what she writes . . . Her interests include: non-fiction, children’s fiction, mind-body-spirit genre, and spontaneous spiritual prose. She is currently working on a Spirit Card project, and has many books yet to be woven together. She aspires to become a published author and enjoys learning from the experienced writers at PWAP.

Janey Volden grew up in Kenya, East Africa. Her love of travel, especially into the remote area of Northern Kenya, gave her the inspiration to write Gabbra’s Song, a young adult novel published in December 2006. Gabbra’s Song is endorsed by Raise-A-Reader in the South Okanagan.

Volden won contest awards for both young adult and children’s writing at the Penticton Writer’s conference in 2003 and 2004. She resides with her husband Bruce in Okanagan Falls, BC. They have two sons, Oliver and Casey.

Articles include: “Discovering One of Mexico’s Best Kept Secrets: Melaque, Mexico” by Janey Volden and “Janey Volden: Remembering the people and adventures of Kenya” by Liz Burnett, editor of Okanagan Artworks Magazine.

Email: [email protected]
Web: www.janeyvolden.com
Tel: (250) 497-8885

The Raise a Reader Program in the South Okanagan is the only one of its kind in all of Canada. The unique program invites authors and their books into classrooms and schools, where the authors make a presentation on the importance of reading and writing. At the end of the author’s presentation, the RAR program gifts a copy of the author’s book to every student in the class or school.

The program hosts: Books for Treats on Halloween evening – Baby Books for newborns – Penticton Vees Hockey team Read to Succeed – Peach Festival Kiddie Parade – Literacy Day in January – all events gift books to children, birth to grade 12.

The Program has been ongoing since September 2007 and is presented by volunteers from the Penticton Writers and Publishers non-profit and the Penticton Herald Newspapers.

Michelle Barker was born in Vancouver, BC, and has lived in Israel, France and Quebec before settling in Penticton. A recent graduate of UBC’s MFA program in creative writing, Michelle has published poetry, short fiction and non-fiction in literary journals, newspapers and magazines. Her work in non-fiction has won a gold National Magazine Award, and her short fiction has been nominated for the Journey Prize. Her first novel, a young adult fantasy called The Beggar King, was published in 2013 by Thistledown Press. A chapbook, Old Growth, Clear-Cut: Poems of Haida Gwaii, came out with Leaf Press (2012). Her newest, a picture book of historical fiction for children called A Year of Borrowed Men, will be released in November 2015 (Pajama Press).

Michelle has worked privately for many years as an editor and mentor, and teaches creative writing workshops. Please visit her at www.michellebarker.ca

Rie Charles was born in the Okanagan Valley and has recently returned. She spent much of the in between time in other parts of Canada and the world. In these years she became fascinated by people, their underlying similarities and their intriguing differences. Rie has a B.A. in Anthropology and a Masters in Social Work, plays the harp, practices yoga, sings, read, bikes and walks, gardens, and of course writes every moment she can. In 2005 she graduated from the Institute of Children’s Literature.

http://riecharles.com/

Lee Edward Fodi, the “Wizard of Words,” has been writing and illustrating stories about magic, monsters, and mystery for as long as he can remember. Growing up on a farm, Lee was often in trouble for his constant daydreaming while he was supposed to be doing chores. Lee went on to pursue his love of art, mythology, and storytelling.

He is the author and illustrator of The Chronicles of Kendra Kandlestar. He has also illustrated several picture books for other authors.

Lee does presentations and workshops for elementary-aged children, and has taught programs in several countries. He is also a co-founder of The Creative Writing for Children Society, in which children’s authors, illustrators and performers help kids publish their own books.

Lee has a degree in English Literature and a diploma in Fine Arts from UBC. He is a full-time author, illustrator and educator, and lives in Vancouver BC.

http://www.leefodi.com/

Kallie George is an author, editor, and speaker living in Vancouver BC, near the sea. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s teaching creative writing workshops.

Kallie has her Masters of Children’s Literature from UBC. She loves picture books, fairy tales, beautiful art and music, and baking cookies.
http://www.kalliegeorge.com/
www.magicalanimaladoptionagency.com

James McCann is a graduate of the school of life and believes that a good education comes foremost from experience. He has taken this philosophy into the classroom to teach creative writing techniques to countless students in schools, and to teachers to help them improve their classrooms.

He is a familiar face at local festivals and writer’s camps, having developed and led many workshops from elementary grades to teens. He is also an avid reader, having worked as a bookseller at many bookstores since the late 90s.

Currently, he is working as a writer in residence and library consultant at an elementary school in Vancouver.

www.jamesmccann.info

Darcy Nybo
Purveyor of Words that Work
cell: 250-869-5911
Owner – Always Write and Artistic Warrior
Regular contributor to: Okanagan Home, YLW Connection, SunCruiser,
Okanagan Life, Orchard and Vine, Sunbird & RV Traveller, Gonzo Online
Voted one of the Top 3 Okanagan Writers 2012 and 2014
websites alwayswrite.ca and artisticwarrior.com

Laura Thomas is married to her high school sweetheart, has three wondeful children, and an adorable English bulldog. Born and raised in England and Wales, she immigrated to Canada in her mid-twenties, and now lives in Kelowna, British Columbia, where her authoring dreams have become a reality.

Laura treasures the privilege of sharing her heart in the form of published novels, short stories, and Bible devotions. Laura’s strongest desire is to provide wholesome reading for children, challenging books for teens, and encouragement as well as entertainment for her adult readers.

http://laurathomasauthor.com/

The Penticton Writers and Publishers group has been meeting for over 20 years, and we have had some amazing writers who are no longer with us–however, their inspiration and influence are always with us.

PWAP member Claire Festel passed away on June 9, 2014. Besides being a freelance writer, author, blogger, public speaker, and adventurer, Claire was a wonderful part of our PWAP group, sharing in our group discussions, and being involved in our activities as her health allowed. She was also an inspiration in her writings, including her book, Remarkable Yukon Women, and her many inspiring blog posts and articles in which she shared her journey through cancer, and encouraged others who were facing similar journeys. She believed that attitude shapes how we experience life, and through struggles with three types of cancer, she lived that attitude, living each day fully. She wrote, “My life is not a matter of winning or losing a battle but of dealing with stressful life experiences gracefully. Living fully certainly brings fear, sorrow, pain and suffering but also with it comes connection, transformation and joy.”

Claire has been an integral part of the Penticton community, and also the Yukon where she and her husband, Ed, lived previously. In fact, Claire was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her contributions to the Yukon. Right to the end, Claire sent out wonderful encouragement to so many people via her blog clairefestel.com.

Long time associate member, Margaret Ann (Mags) Hayes, passed away on 25 February 2013 at the age of 83. Mags, author, journalist, and photographer, was born in Devonshire England, and was writing stories by the age of 12. A gypsy woman foretold that Mags would travel and have many children. Over the course of her life, Mags lived in England, Africa, and Canada, and mothered 5 children. Her life will live on in the seven books she published, the newspaper articles she wrote, and in various PWAP anthologies. Her brilliance as a photojournalist is an historical legacy for us all.

Long time associate member, Helen Wyatt, passed away suddenly on May 31, 2008. Helen not only wrote and published her book Firestorm 2003, she contributed to many of PWAP’s publications over the years. Most recently, were her stories and photos, which are featured in Penticton Celebrating a Century. She wrote articles and stories for local magazines and papers. Helen tenaciously attempted any writing challenges set before her. We will all miss her wit and her famous storytelling voice at our monthly meetings.

Keep writing Helen!