Conference Fees: By March 31st – $60 CANSCAIP Members or Friends /$80 non-members After March 30th – $80 CANSCAIP Members or Friends /$100 non-members Interested in becoming a CANSCAIP Member ($85) or Friend ($45)? Details and applications can be found here.
Portfolio and Manuscript Critique Event: Saturday 1:00 pm to 2:45 pm $75 (CANSCAIP Members or Friends ONLY) Only 5 portfolio slots left. Manuscript Critique slots are now full. You must be registered for the conference to participate in the Portfolio and Manuscript Critique Event. (This event is an option on the Conference Registration page) Portfolio Critique – Submit a maximum of 10 images in a single PDF and receive feedback during the conference from Sara Gillingham, Consulting Creative Director for Greystone Kids. Manuscript Critique – Submit your first thousand words and receive feedback during the conference from Heather Nickel (publisher at Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing) or Kathryn Lane (Associate Publisher at Dundurn Press). Manuscripts will be randomly assigned to each editor. Portfolios and manuscripts to be submitted by April 15th. (Submissions details provided upon registration)
Post-Conference Videos only All sessions except Kenneth Oppel’s opening interview, Critique Event, meetings, and Open Mic $40 CANSCAIP Members or Friends/$60 non-members Available on Conference Registration Page
CONFERENCE SPEAKERS(photos and bios here) Rhonda Donais (performer) Sara Gillingham (illustrator and Consulting Creative Director for Greystone Kids) Kathryn Lane (Associate Publisher at Dundurn Press) Heather Nickel (Publisher at Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing) Kenneth Oppel (author) Margriet Ruurs (author) Elaine Will (graphic novel illustrator) Mark Allard Will (graphic novelist)
If you didn’t make it to the Prairie Horizons 2019 conference in Saskatoon on May 24-26 and wish you could have seen it, or if you did go and were so inspired you would like to watch the sessions again, you can!
You can order recording of all of the sessions (except Kristine Scarrow’s Journaling session and Brenda Baker’s Performance presentation) for $40 by emailing canscaipsask@gmail.com
Here is what is included:
7:00 pm –Vision and Voice Panel (with Miriam Körner, David A. Robertson and Art Slade, moderated by Alice Kuipers): Each of these distinguished guests shares what vision and voice means to them in the changing landscape of creating books for children and young adults.
David A. Robertson Interview: David talks about two of his books: Monsters and When We Were Alone. He shares how these books began as ideas, the themes and topics he explores in them, and how and why to connect huge ideas with young readers.
I Wrote a Children’s Book. Now What? Tanya Trafford of Orca Book Publishers will offer an insider’s view of the journey of a manuscript, from acquisition through to publication.
Illustrator Panel (with Miriam Körner, Rolli, and Judy Swallow) Discover the process of illustration and how illustrations interact with text.
Rolli – author of the acclaimed middle grade novel Kabungo (Groundwood Books) and frequent contributor to Highlights, Ladybug and Spider – will take you on a whirlwind tour of the world of children’s literary magazines. He will provide a variety of tips, tricks, and insights to help put you on the path to magazine success.
Shelley Tanaka Interview: In a conversation with Alice Kuipers, Shelley will talk about how to figure out what to do with an idea in a changing market. She will answer questions and go in-depth sharing her unique perspective as editor at Groundwood Books.
Keynote address: YA, picture book and middle grade Governor General’s award-winning author David A. Robertson explains how each of us can use our Voice (the result of everything that has formed who we are) to communicate our Vision (the passion that drives us) to our readers, and in the process, change the world.
Discovery Panel (with Rolli, Judy Swallow, Shelley Tanaka, and Tanya Trafford, moderated by Kristine Scarrow): A chat about books and the working relationships between authors, editors and illustrators.
NOTE: Although the conference will be held at Queen’s House, all available rooms at Queen’s House have been booked. If you will need a place to stay in Saskatoon, here are some places you can try:
If you are staying somewhere other than Queen’s House, you can still eat your meals with the other conference attendees at Queen’s House. Register for the Conference + Meals on the registration site.
Conference Prices:
Three Day Pass:Conference + Meals (Fri. supper – Sat. breakfast, lunch supper – Sun. breakfast) By March 30th$120 CANSCAIP Members or Friends /$150 non-members After March 30th $145 CANSCAIP Members or Friends /$175 non-members
Three Day Pass:Conference only By March 30th$60 CANSCAIP Members or Friends /$80 non-members After March 30th $80 CANSCAIP Members or Friends /$100 non-members
Friday only:Supper and Conference By March 30th$25 CANSCAIP Members or Friends /$30 non-members After March 30th $30 CANSCAIP Members or Friends /$40 non-members
Saturday only:Conference and Meals (breakfast, lunch and supper) By March 30th$75 CANSCAIP Members or Friends /$90 non-members After March 30th $85 CANSCAIP Members or Friends /$100 non-members
Saturday only:Conference only By March 30th$40 CANSCAIP Members or Friends /$55 non-members After March 30th $50 CANSCAIP Members or Friends /$70 non-members
Sunday only: Conference only By March 30th$15 CANSCAIP Members or Friends /$20 non-members After March 30th $20 CANSCAIP Members or Friends /$25 non-members
First Thousand Words Editorial Event: Saturday 1:00 pm to 2:45 pm Only 14 slots available $75 CANSCAIP Members or Friends/$85 non-members Manuscripts to be submitted by May 10th. (Submissions details provided upon registration.) EDITORIAL EVENT REGISTRATION PAGE
Post-Conference Videos only $40 CANSCAIP Members or Friends/$60 non-members VIDEO REGISTRATION PAGE
Interested in becoming a CANSCAIP Member ($85) or Friend ($45)? Details and applications can be found here.
Book Table: Attendees are invited to bring their books to sell at the book table. Please list titles and prices on an envelope, and sign up for a supervision shift at registration.
SCHEDULE: Friday 4:00 pm – Arrival and settling in to Queen’s House 4:30 pm – Registration in conference room 5:30 pm – Supper 6:45 pm – Greeting and Opening Remarks 7:00 pm –Vision and Voice Panel (with Miriam Körner, David A. Robertson and Art Slade, moderated by Alice Kuipers): Each of these distinguished guests will share what vision and voice means to them in the changing landscape of creating books for children and young adults. 9:00 pm – Socializing
QUESTION BOX OPEN: At the back of the room, a box will be wating for you to pop your questions for David Robertson and for Shelley Tanaka. These questions will be considered and may be used in the interviews.
Saturday 8:00 am –Breakfast 8:45 am –Journaling with Kristine Scarrow: This is an opportunity for a workshop with talented, award-winning local author Krisine Scarrow. Participants will be invited to dig deeply and expand their practice with a guided writing experience and discussion. 9:45 am – Break 10:00 am –David A. Robertson Interview: David will talk about two of his books: Monsters and When We Were Alone. He’ll share how these books began as ideas, the themes and topics he explores in them (anxiety, the legacy of colonization, the history of residential schools) and how to connect these huge ideas with young readers. From this, attendees will be invited to deepen their ambition when it comes to their own creative practice–taking on bigger issues and learning how to share these ideas with children and young adults. 11:00 am –I Wrote a Children’s Book. Now What? Tanya Trafford will offer an insider’s view of the journey of a manuscript, from acquisition through to publication. 12:00 pm – Lunch 1:00 pm –First Thousand Words Editorial Event (with Shelley Tanaka and Tanya Trafford): For an additional fee, submit the first thousand words of your manuscript and up to two questions and you will get to meet with one of these editors for fifteen minutes and they will give you feedback so you can polish those pages and find out if you’re headed in the right direction. (You will not be getting written feedback.) Manuscripts to be submitted by May 10. (Only 14 slots available) 1:00 pm –Illustrator Panel (with Miriam Körner, Rolli, and Judy Swallow) moderated by Sharon Plumb Hamilton): Come and discover the process of illustration and how each of us can think about stories with visual language. Illustrators will also share how illustrations interact with text. (Throughout the weekend, the work of these illustrators will be showcased on the walls of the conference room to inspire and invite conversation and ideas.) 2:30 pm – Break 2:45 pm –Rolli – author of the acclaimed middle grade novel Kabungo (Groundwood Books) and frequent contributor to Highlights, Ladybug and Spider – will take you on a whirlwind tour of the world of children’s literary magazines. In addition to surveying the top markets in Canada, the US and Europe, Rolli will provide a variety of tips, tricks, and insights to help put you on the path to magazine success. Three random attendees will receive beautiful mystery gifts! 3:45 pm –Authentic, Spontaneous Performances: How to Fake It Till You Make It with award-winning writer, performer and performance coach, Brenda Baker. Learn the art of sharing your vision and voice with an audience in this incredible opportunity to hear from one of the best! 5:30 pm – Supper 6:30 pm –Shelley Tanaka Interview: Shelley will talk about how to figure out what to do with an idea in a changing market. She will answer questions and go in-depth sharing her unique perspective. 8:00 pm –Keynote address: Author talk with YA, picture book and middle grade Governor General’s award-winning author David A. Robertson to explore his writing practice, working with an illustrator and the way the publishing industry works. He will explore especially the need for vision and voice in a writing practice. 9:30 pm – Socializing
Sunday 7:00 am – Writing Practice: A time for quiet writing together in the conference room with prompts collected during the conference. This is self-directed. 8:00 am – Breakfast 9:30 am –Coffee and Discovery Panel (with Rolli, Judy Swallow, Shelley Tanaka, and Tanya Trafford, moderated by Kristine Scarrow): A chat about books and the working relationships between authors, editors and illustrators. Come with questions! 10:45 am – Conference wrap-up and new conference committee for Prairie Horizons 2021. 11:00 am – Biennial General Meeting for CANSCAIP Sask Horizons, including election of officers.
Thank you to the following organizations who helped fund this conference:
Getting together once every two years just isn’t enough! So CANSCAIP Sask Horizons is holding a mini-conference this year: GROWING STORIES, GROWING MINDS: CREATING FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES
WHEN: Saturday, May 26th, 2018, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Queen’s House (601 Taylor St. W., Saskatoon)
COST (includes lunch and snack breaks): $50 for CANSCAIP Members and Friends, $60 for non-members
Can’t make it but really want to check it out? You can register to receive post-conference video links for $20 (CANSCAIP Members or Friends) or $30 (non-members).
SPEAKERS: Vikki VanSickle (author and Marketing & Publicity Manager for Young Readers at Penguin Random House Canada), Danica Lorer (storyteller), Alice Kuipers (author).
Registration is now closed, but if you would like to order the recordings of the three sessions, email us at CANSCAIP@gmail.com. Cost for all three sessions is $20 for CANSCAIP Friends and Members, and $30 for non-members.
If you would like to come a day early and/or stay a day late at Queen’s House, you can contact Pauline at 306-242-1925 for reservations. ($60/night for a single room, $15/supper, $9/breakfast, $13/lunch)
Thank you to the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild for sponsoring part of this conference with a Writing Group Grant.
9:15-10:45a.m. Conference Kick-off Presentation: “A Cheat Code for Conflict”
Playwright and author Marty Chan draws from his theatre background to share a technique for crafting dramatic scenes in fiction. Whether you’re a pantser or a plotter, his cheat code for writing will help you organize a story that will keep readers turning the page until the end.
Marie Powell, Kristine Scarrow and Michael Bradford discuss the challenges of marketing one book while editing another. Marie and Michael have a second book in a series accepted, while Kristine has a second (and third!) stand-alone book coming out. There will be an audience question period.
1:15-2:15 p.m. Presentation: “Illustrating Metis Culture in Children’s Books”
Write and illustrator Leah Marie Dorion discusses the process of illustrating and representing Metis culture in children’s books.
2:45-3:45 p.m. Publishing Panel: “What in the World Do They Want?”
Find out about the current challenges and trends in publishing.
4:00- 5:00 p.m. Fantasy Foundations Presentation: “Out of This World”
Fantasy worlds fascinate our imagination. From landscapes to technologies, these worlds seem so complete we could almost catch the next shuttle there! Have you ever tried to create a fantasy world? What kind of beings live there, and how do they relate to each other and their environment? Join author Marie Powell to explore fantasy world building.
7:00 -8:00 p.m. Keynote: “How to Succeed at Writing, One Yes at a Time”
Marty Chan recounts the highlights of the journey that led him to a successful career as a creative artist. He unveils the highs and lows of being a freelance writer as well as the strategies he developed to survive and thrive in the ever-changing marketplace of publishing.
Marty Chan writes plays for adults and books for kids. His hit play Mom, Dad, I’m Living with a White Girl has been produced across Canada and received an Off Broadway production in New York. His thriller, The Bone House, captivated audiences in Edmonton, Toronto and Edinburgh. Marty’s novels for kids inspire and entertain reluctant readers. The Mystery of the Graffiti Ghoul won the 2007 Diamond Willow Award and was selected for the Edmonton Public Library’s inaugural Kids Read Edmonton campaign. He was a regular humour contributor to CBC Radio and the Edmonton Journal, and you can watch him on CTV 2’s Alberta Primetime news, where he appears regularly as a panelist. Marty continues to work and write in Edmonton, where he lives with his wife Michelle and their two cats. Find him at http://martychan.com.
Leah Marie Dorion
Leah Marie Dorion
Leah Marie Dorion is a self-taught Métis interdisciplinary artist and writer from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, with cultural roots to the historic Métis community of Cumberland House. She is a respected children’s book writer/illustrator and several of her books have been nominated for various awards for their art and cultural content. For more information visit www.leahdorion.ca.
Marie Powell
Marie Powell
Marie Powell is the author of the young adult fantasy novels Hawk (Five Rivers) and Hawk and Crown (coming soon), as well as 38 other published children’s books. Marie’s award-winning short stories are published in such literary magazines as subTerrain and Room. Recently she has been the fiction and nonfiction editor for SWG’s literary magazine Spring, and also editor of Windscript. Find Marie at mariepowell.ca.
Kristine Scarrow
Kristine Scarrow
Kristine Scarrow is the author of the young adult novels Throwaway Girl (Dundurn Press, 2014), If This Is Home (Dundurn Press, 2017) and The 11th Hour (Dundurn Press, 2018).
Kristine has published articles for Fine Lifestyles, Dogs in Canada, Boomer Generation, Lake Country, Alert, Eagle Feather News, Edmonton’s Child, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon Newsletter. Kristine was editor-in-chief to the former publications Boomer Generation and Lake Country and has also been an editor for Hear My Heart Books. Kristine is the writer-in-residence at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon, as part of the Healing Arts Program. She is a certified instructor of Journal to the Self, and is currently in the process of becoming a certified journal facilitator from the Center for Journal Therapy in Colorado. Kristine lives in Saskatchewan and is thrilled to be fulfilling her lifelong dream of writing. You can find her at http://www.kristinescarrow.com.
Michael Bradford
Michael Bradford
Michael Bradford was born in 1975 in St. Albert, Alberta. He has worked as a grass cutter, waiter, pizza-delivery boy, literacy teacher, elementary-school vice-principal and published poet. Button Hill, his first novel, was nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize. He lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with his wife and two teen children (his first readers and limitless source of inspiration), as well as three lazy dogs and an extremely fat cat. Find Michael at http://michaelbradford.ca.
CANSCAIP Sask 