April 2017 BCATW Buzz

President’s Message

As the sun finally pokes out after our record-breaking rainfall, I’m sure all our travelers are busy making plans for spring and summer adventures. If you haven’t yet renewed your membership, don’t forget as it gives you a reduction on your fee for the symposium (more information below) and gets you that extremely valuable BCATW membership card that opens doors around the world.

In the news, I’m also very happy to announce that past-president Ruth Kozak has agreed to direct the mentorship program I announced in the March Buzz. Her extensive experience in training writers is a perfect fit for the position and we’re lucky to have her on board. We are currently working on setting up the structure and guidelines and should have it in place by the time our symposium comes around.

For that to happen though, we need people who would be willing to volunteer some time in guiding writers in various types of writing as well as how to create a travel story pitch and how to locate travel media contact information. If you would like learn more about this program and possibly participate, either as a mentor or mentee, please contact Ruth at ruthaki1@nullshaw.ca.

That’s all for now. Go and enjoy the sun and I look forward to seeing you all at the BCATW symposium April 30.

-Baila Lazarus, BCATW President

BCATW 2017 Symposium

Have you registered for the BCATW 2017 Travel Writing Symposium yet?

Katherine Brodsky

This year, our Symposium will run on Sunday, April 30 at the Firefighters Banquet Hall and will be featuring the theme “Luxury Travel – Writing in Style”. 

The Symposium Committee and BCATW Board are working hard to make sure we bring the best names in travel media for this year’s event.

This past week we were delighted to announce our Keynote Speaker: Katherine Brodsky.

Katherine is a freelance writer who has an obsession with travel. She has written for publications such as AFAR, DreamScapes Magazine, Montecristo Magazine, TraveLife, Travel Intelligence, and Viator — covering endless destinations. She has also extensively on entertainment, lifestyle, and tech, besides interviewing a diverse range of intriguing personalities, including Oscar, Emmy, Tony, Pulitzer, and Nobel prize winners. I confess that I was amazed by her accomplishments and look forward to hearing her speak.

This year’s program will include one of the most applauded feature of last year’s symposium: the editor pitch sessions. Stay tuned as Editors will be announced in the coming days.

And don’t forget to participate in our Twitter and Photo Contests. You will increase your chances of winning a cool prize during the event, besides supporting our organization by promoting the event. 

Please review the BCATW 2017 Symposium Page for new updates.

We would like to extend our thank you’s to the Industry Sponsors already confirmed for the year: Cedar Creek Estate Winery, Bestway Tours & Safaris, Destinos, Salt Spring Island, and Bard on the Beach.

If you have time and good ideas to share and would like to volunteer at the event, let us know as well. All day volunteers will receive free admission to the symposium. Contact us about volunteering.

You can still register with the early-bird discounts, as we have extended the deadline until April 7^th. So, what are you waiting for? Come and join us in this much-anticipated event. We look forward to seeing you all on April 30^th. 

– Fabiano Maciel, Symposium Committee Chair

New Member Spotlight: Chris Brauer

Chris Brauer lives in Creston, British Columbia, where he splits his time between writing and teaching.

He has recently completed a travel memoir about living in the Sultanate of Oman, and is currently working on a book about his travels in Ireland. He is also working on his first collection of poetry.

He enjoys traveling, eating out, and wearing wool sweaters.  His work has appeared in the pages of Ireland of the Welcomes and Celtic Life International.

He writes with a Visconti fountain pen.

Media Member News

Brian K. Smith’s new year has started off very busy! He has had two articles published and have many more in the works. February 17, 2017 – my article on Puerto Escondido and Vivo Resorts published in North Shore News Oaxaca’s Puerto Escondido retains its traditional charms March 2, 2017 – Sea to Sky Vacation Adventure was published on page 38 in What’s Brewing Spring 2017. Also, the cover photo was part of his assignment for the magazine.

While it is not a travel piece per se, Karoline Cullen’s recent article on photographing gymnastics appeared in the Spring 2017 issue of “Canadian Camera” published by CAPA, the Canadian Association for Photographic Art.

Telegraph Cove bear. Photo by Joan Boxall

Joan Boxall’s ‘Telegraph Cove Calling’ is in April’s edition of ‘BC Inspired Senior Living.’ Answer the call to Telegraph Cove, the place, and some of its driving-force seniors who provide grizzly bear and whale watching experiences.  

Ruth Kozak teaching a class on travel writing. Photo by Mari Kane

Ruth Kozak will be instructing a Travel Writing Workshop for 5 weeks, running from April 6 to May 4 at El Santos Restaurant (back room, where we had the symposium after party last year) 680 Columbia Street, New Westminster. Cost: $50. This course will cover everything including how to create a saleable story from your blog writing, various types of travel articles, researching, marketing etc. Contact Ruth at 604-254-9711  or email: wynnbexton2@nullgmail.com

Ruth is an established travel journalist with many years of experience. Her ATHENS AND BEYOND ebook published by Hunter Publishing US is available on Kindle. She is also the author of a two-volume published historical novel SHADOW OF THE LION. She has been conducting travel writing workshops since 1993. 

Cascade Gorge. Photo by John Thomson

March was a busy month for John Thomson. First, a story on BC’s Boundary region, At the Edge of America, for The Great Canadian Bucket List, and then a how-to backgrounder for Great Escape Publishing, a travel writing blog that comes out of Florida. John says they misspelled his name, but they paid in American dollars so the 30 percent exchange rate took some of the burn away. And finally, a cover story on an upcoming citywide event for the Alberta publication Galleries West.

John says he got two leads from a website called Media Kitty. “It puts writers in touch with events like FAM’s and promoters in touch with writers. It’s also a good place to post your upcoming trip and ask for a commission before you hit the road. Check it out. It’s free.”

Soup line at Vancouver Soup. Photo by Mari Kane

Upcoming Meetups

BC Travel Writers

Do you have a book idea or completed manuscript to sell to a publisher? Is it supported by a well-organized proposal? If not, come out for this hands-on, interactive proposal writing workshop. You’ll complete the bones of your proposal, which includes your:

-marketing strategy
-author platform
-promotional plan
-bio
-outline
-complementary/competing books section

Plus, you’ll receive group feedback on your book title. Bring pens, paper or laptops for working on your proposal.

Taylore Daniel is a graduate of UBC’s Creative Writing program, and the author of the upcoming book “Travel and Retire Abroad.”

She is also re-releasing “Spain to Egypt: A Grand Tour around the Mediterranean.” This book was based on her solo travels through North Africa, Southern Europe and the Middle East visiting ancient ruins and historic monuments.

A few space are left so please RSVP now!

WordPress Workshop

WooCommerce is an open source e-commerce plugin designed for small to large-sized online merchants using WordPress. Since it’s launch in 2011, WooCommerce has become the most popular eCommerce platform on the web and is an excellent way to sell digital books on your site.

Giving us a tour of WooCommerce functionality is Curtis McHale, a freelance WordPress developer who has worked and spoken extensively about the plugin.

Curtis has been building WordPress sites since 2007, and he started his freelance business a bit more than 6 years ago. His background includes full-stack marketing, including email campaigns, SEO, analytics, and the like.

Curtis is also business coach, helping people move to business on their own. He is very intentional about his work and emphasizes focus, whether he’s coding or biking.

RSVP now!

From the Communications Director

As you may have gathered, I am stepping down from my position as the BCATW Communications Director. When I built this site, organized the email lists, and starting organizing the BCTW Meetups, I had more time and energy than I have now. I will continue to be active in BCATW in some capacity, but I hope to see an energetic member take over, and I will do all I can to help them. If you would like to be the BCATW Media Maven, please email info@nullbcatw.org.

Cheers!
– Mari Kane