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Writer’s group bringing Andreas Schroeder to town

Weekend workshop Aug.

Weekend workshop Aug. 16-18 supports emerging and continuing writers

The Whistler Writer’s Group, also referred to as Stella’s Vicious Circle, presents speaker and author Andreas Schroeder, current holder of the Maclean-Hunter Chair in Creative Non-Fiction at UBC, for an intensive writing workshop, Aug. 16-18.

The workshop includes studies for writers, and readings for listeners.

"We were all keen to take a workshop," says Rebecca Wood Barrett, a film screenwriter who is currently working on her second draft for a project supported by B.C. Film.

Designed for "intermediate writers of fiction and non-fiction," the workshop allows writers to submit their own project (up to 4,000 words) for discussion and critique. Non-Whistler residents are also encouraged to apply, with a limited number of billet rooms available during the weekend.

The goal of the workshop is to "foster creative inspiration." The workshop will be held in a private residence in Whistler.

In addition to the workshop, members of the public are invited to attend two lectures by Schroeder, on Friday evening and Sunday morning.

On Saturday evening Schroeder, together with the workshop participants, will present their work in a public reading.

The venue for the public lectures has yet to be confirmed.

Schroeder, who has been writing full time since 1971, is the recipient of numerous awards, including Best Investigative Journalist from the Canadian Association of Journalists (1991). He was on the shortlist of nominations for the Governor General’s Literary Awards in 1976 for Shaking it Rough. He is currently heard on CBC radio’s Basic Black. The radio series features three collections by Schroeder that feature outrageous scams and hoaxes, one of his specialties in terms of subject matter. Schroeder has written 17 books, including Dustship Glory (shortlisted for the Seal First Novel Award in 1984) and The Late Man. His work has appeared in numerous magazines since his writing career began.

His book, Cheats, Charlatans, and Chicanery (McClelland & Stewart, 1997, the follow-up to Scams, Scandals, and Skulduggery: A Selection of the World’s Most Outrageous Frauds), was described by Rambles arts magazine as a book that "spotlights the fiendish cleverness of the human mind." He continues to round out characters in mediums that include radio drama, translations, non-fiction, and poetry.

Stella Harvey, currently working out of town, spearheaded the presentation along with host and local writer Stephen Vogler, who was invited to attend the B.C. Festival of the Arts held in Surrey last weekend.

Harvey had previously attended a workshop with Schroeder on Vancouver Island, where the seed for the workshop idea was born.

The Whistler Writer’s group meets bi-monthly or monthly at various venues in and around Whistler. Anybody can present works of short fiction, poetry, or non-fiction at the open mic presentations.

"We welcome any writers or would-be writers – the group is very casual, and we’re always keen to hear new material," says Barrett.

The full workshop fee is $140, due by July 2, 2002. Individual lecture tickets are $15 per person.

For more information about the workshop or the Whistler Writer’s Circle please e-mail Stella Harvey at stella25@telus.net or Stephen Vogler at svogler@direct.ca.