CAA Toronto : January’s Meeting

Writers’ Circle Well Received.

Members and guests alike felt the strong bond that sharing brings, at our January meeting Writers’ Circle. We delved into the world of boxing, felt the heartbreak of asbestos poisoning, relived excitement and pain of leaving home behind, and learned firsthand how the call of nature can lead to unexpected situations. We were also left in hanging in suspense, wondering who was doing what to whom, all the while hoping that the concluding instalments would soon be available. Those presenting work were also very appreciative of the variety of feedback they received. We were especially pleased that a number of guests were so delighted to be invited into our living room, as it were, and make themselves right at home with the easy and gentle discussion. Even if they were just trying us out, they left with a positive impression our branch. This meeting was a fine example of CAA’s motto in action. Many thanks to Sharon Crawford for moderating the event in her calm, proficient manner.

- from Jake Hogeterp, President, CAA Toronto Branch

Word on the Street in Toronto

Our annual presence at Word on the Street (WOTS) is perhaps the most significant and successful of our promotional efforts. We engaged with hundreds of curious visitors and scores of writers at every level of expertise from wannabe to seasoned pro. This year we were proud to hand out a full-colour, eye-catching flyer, designed by Steve Feek, which helped immensely in getting our “Writers Helping Writers” message across. The all-day gorgeous weather also contributed to the success of the day.

Photo Caption: Liisa Hyponnen, Imma and Patrick Argiro engaging WOTS 2011 visitors

A big thanks to Patrick and Imma Argiro and Sharon Crawford for helping out at the booth. A special thanks to Steve Feek and Liisa Hyponen for their efforts both behind the scenes and at the event. And to all the members of the executive, who have since the conclusion WOTS 2010 made sure that our planning for this year’s event stayed on the rails.

Jake Hogeterp
President, Canadian Authors Association, Toronto Branch

Upcoming Meeting – September 15, 2011

An Evening with the National President

Our guest speaker for the evening will be Matt Bin, National President of the Canadian Authors Association. Matt will update us on the many new initiatives the CAA is undertaking, as well as answer questions about the many benefits of CAA membership. Please join us for an evening of information, fellowship and networking.

Bio

Matthew Bin is a novelist, non-fiction writer and consultant. He is the CAA National President as well as acting Treasurer.

He is a founder and moderator of the Wordcount group on Reddit, an open forum where working writers can post their wordcounts and keep their forward momentum going, and a contributor to Authors at Work, a website set up by the Canadian Authors Association to help Canadian authors find places to write outside the home.

Matt’s books include On Guard For Thee: Canadian Peacekeeping Missions (2007) and L.M.F.: A Novel (2006).

• Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Place: Deer Park Library, 40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto. (how to get there.)
• Cost: CAA Members free; Non-members $10; Students (with student ID) $5.

 

Welcome to the CAA Toronto Branch Blog

Welcome to the Canadian Authors Association Toronto Branch’s
blog. It is our hope that over time you will come to find a wealth of
information here as it grows and develops. It will primarily keep you informed
of our branch’s activities, but we also hope it will become a storehouse of tips, helpful hints and the keen insights of our contributors. In addition, we hope to provide timely information on writing activities in the GTA: launches, workshops, writing groups and circles. Contributions and comments from branch members and the general public will be
welcome, though they will be moderated.

An Evening with the National President

The first CAA Toronto Branch Meeting of the season will take place on Thursday, September 15. Our guest speaker for the evening will be Matt Bin, National President of the Canadian Authors Association. Matt will update us on the many new initiatives the CAA is undertaking, as well as answer questions about the many benefits of CAA membership. Please join us for an evening of information, fellowship and networking at Deer Park Library, 40 St. Clair Avenue, East Toronto, ON  (just steps away from the St. Clair Subway stop).

Thanks for dropping by. We hope to see you at one of our meetings soon.

Jake Hogeterp
President
Canadian Authors Association
Toronto Branch