Vancouver Writers

NOVEMBER VANCOUVER WRITERS’ MIXER LOOKS AT THE VALUE OF CRITIQUE GROUPS

How to form or become a member of an exceptional critique group will be the topic of the November 1st Vancouver Writers Mixer at Cover to Cover Books, 1817 Main Street in Vancouver, WA (www.covertocoverbooks.net). The free event runs from 5:00–6:30 p.m.

Vancouver area poets Diane Cammer, Eileen Elliott, Christopher Luna, Jim Martin, and Toni Partington will discuss organizing and sustaining critique groups, the “etiquette” of critiquing, and how the impressions and comments of others have contributed to their work.

Diane M. Cammer has taught poetry workshops through the Fort Vancouver Library and recently completed her first novel, Keystone. After extensive research on critiquing concepts, she formed two critique groups, one involved with critiquing novels and other focusing on poetry. A transplanted New Yorker, she loves hiking and living in the Northwest with her husband and three daughters.

Eileen Elliott, a psychologist and mixed-media artist, has been writing narrative and lyrical verse for about eight years. Her Midwest roots appear frequently in her work which has been expanding into performance pieces.

Christopher Luna is a poet, editor, journalist, and teacher. His latest chapbook, Ghost Town, USA, contains poetry and reportage inspired by his life in Vancouver.

Jim Martin, a retired biologist and teacher, is rediscovering the excitement, turmoil, and infinite joy of reading and writing poetry. His critique group has helped him extract himself from the chains of punctuation and allowed him to think of his words as choreographed thought. He enjoys spending time with family, a huge remodeling project, and photography.

Toni Partington works as a grant writer and life/career coach in Vancouver. Her poetry will appear in VoiceCatcher 2008 and she has contributed to the NW Women’s Journal and the anthology Selected Poems of the River Poets’ Society. Toni was recognized for her poem “Sayuri Memories” at the Oregon State Poet’s Association 2007 Spring Awards. She is working on a book of poetry titled For the Love of Agnes to be released later this year.