APPEARANCES 2023:
May 18-21, 2023 Word on the Lake Writers’ Festival Just attending, not presenting, so come say hi if you see me! I will have some books in the trunk of Sheila the Bug if you’re looking for anything!
August 4-6, 2023 When Words Collide Writers’ Conference presenting workshops and panels, plus representing Lintusen Press.
- Workshops: Prompt Poetry, Meet Lintusen Press
- Panel: Collaborative Publishing (with Chris Humphreys and Mark Lefebvre)
- Pitch sessions: accepting pitches on behalf of Lintusen Press.
April 15, 2023 1-3 pm Online launch of Lintusen Press’s New Spaces sci fi short story anthology on the Lintusen Press Facebook page. CANCELLED DUE TO ILLNESS
APPEARANCES 2022:
Magazine Launch for Pulp Literature #36 on Youtube! November 19, 2022 at 1pm BC time. I’m scheduled for 2:30
APPEARANCES 2021:
Book Launch for The Drabble Advent Calendar at Salmon Arm branch Okanagan Regional Library Nov 20, 2021 1:30-2:30 with co-authors Chris McMahen and James Bowlby
When Words Collide: ON-LINE EDITION! August 13-15, 2021 Participation is free and all workshops are online and to be recorded for Youtube. Click on WhenWordsCollide.org to access the schedule of presentations. So many free workshops! Shawn’s on a panel about collaboration Friday, has her Prompt Poetry workshop on Saturday, and a Planning for Pantsers workshop on Sunday. (See the For Writers section for some of the Planning tools)
APPEARANCES 2020:
Thurs, Sept 17, 2020 6:30 p.m. Plotting, Pantsing, and Poetry Zoom workshop hosted by Thompson Nicola Library
When Words Collide: ON-LINE EDITION! August 14-16, 2020 Participation is free and all workshops are online and to be recorded for Youtube. No need to register! Click on WhenWordsCollide.org to access the schedule of presentations. So many free workshops! Shawn’s Prompt Poetry is Friday. She’s on the Poetry Panel on Sunday, as well.
APPEARANCES 2019:
Surrey, BC: Oct 26, 2019 SiWC Author Signing Sheraton Guildford, Fraser Room from 5 to 7 pm. Join me and notable authors like Diana Gabaldon, Anne Perry, Chuck Wendig, Susanna Kearsley, k.c. dyer, Eileen Cook, Owen Laukkanen, Michael Slade, and many more!
Calgary: August 9, 2019 50 minute hands on Prompt Poetry workshop at When Word’s Collide. Hope to see you there!
WWC 2019- Prompt Poetry workshop in the cafe atrium Photo: Tim Reynolds
APPEARANCES 2018:
MURDERING MR. EDWARDS BOOK LAUNCH & TOUR!
2018 Workshop summaries:
Sun. May 13, 2018 8:15-9:15 a.m. @ Salmon Arm campus of Okanagan College Student Lounge. (In conjunction with Word on the Lake Writers’ Festival).
Sat. May 26, 2018 11 a.m. Armstrong branch Okanagan Regional Library
Sat. June 2, 2018 10:30 a.m. Vernon branch Okanagan Regional Library. (Workshop: Getting that book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page)
Sat. June 9, 2018 1 p.m. Bookingham Palace Bookstore, Salmon Arm.
Sat. June 23, 2018 1 p.m. Okanagan Mission branch, Okanagan Regional Library
Wed. July 4, 2018 Kamloops Library, 2-4:00pm. (Workshop: Finding inspiration and voice: a workshop for novelists and poets)
Wed. July 4, 2018 North Kamloops Library, 5:30-7:30pm. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page)
Tues. July 10, 2018 2 p.m. Westbank branch, Okanagan Regional Library (Workshop: Finding inspiration and voice: a workshop for novelists and poets)
Wed. July 11, 2018 10 a.m. Osoyoos branch, Okanagan Regional Library
Thurs. July 12, 2018 noon Osoyoos Rotary Club
Thurs. July 12, 2018 6:30 p.m. Kelowna branch, Okanagan Regional Library (Workshop: Getting that book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page)
August 10-12, 2018 WHEN WORDS COLLIDE Writers’ Conference Calgary, AB. I’ll be there all weekend attending events at the conference, but the following are scheduled:
- Fri Aug 10 8 p.m- presenting hands on workshop “Prompt poetry”
- Fri Aug 10 9 p.m- Coffin Hop’s Noir at the Bar. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
- Sat Aug 11 11 a.m- panelist “Making a Living in YA Lit”
- Sat Aug 11 1 p.m- moderating panel “Young Adult mystery”
- Sat Aug 11 8-10 p.m- author autograph session. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
- Sun Aug 12 3-4 p.m.- Coffin Hop authors reading
Wed. Aug 15, 2018 7:00-8:30 pm Owl’s Nest Books, Calgary, AB with goodies from Coffin Hop See info here.
Sat. Sept 15, 2018 Chase branch, Thompson Nicola Regional library 1-3 p.m. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page).
Sat. Sept 22, 2018 Salmon Arm branch, Okanagan Regional Library. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page). RESCHEDULED to November due to injury.
Oct 18-21, 2018 Surrey International Writers’ Conference. Surrey, BC. CANCELLED due to injury 😦
Sat. Nov 3, 2018. 1-3 p.m. Armstrong branch, Okanagan Regional Library. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page).
Sat. Nov 10 2018. 1-3 p.m. Salmon Arm branch, Okanagan Regional Library. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page). CANCELLED due to injury.
Praise for Shawn’s presentations:
Vernon: “I attended your workshop last spring. I just wanted to tell you I’m published now, but I wouldn’t be if I hadn’t been to your workshop. Thank you!” (That one gave me goosebumps! Congratulations, Mike!)
Kamloops: “Our participants had fun! Can we book you for another event in the fall?”
Osoyoos: “Very entertaining and interesting. Really enjoyed it.”
Osoyoos: “Very personable. Enjoyed the talk.”
Kelowna: “Wonderful seminar.” (Jonas Saul, author)
Kamloops: “Andrea and I were very pleased to be able to attend both of your workshops. You did a wonderful job presenting at both and we found them to be very beneficial, helpful and engaging. Thanks for coming to Kamloops and hope to see more of you in the future. Andrea has been working on her stories ever since. You have inspired us both as we continue putting pen to paper.” (J. Miller)
West Kelowna: “I believe I can do it! Thanks, Shawn!”
Osoyoos: “What an enervating speaker she was! We should have her back!”
Chase: “This has been fantastic. Would you come back once a month?”
Happy participants in my Prompt Poetry workshop at When Words Collide Writers’ Conference Calgary, AB. August 2018
Presenting “How to Get the Book You’ve Always Wanted to Writer Out of your Head and Onto the Page” in Kelowna.
Shawn and some of the participants of the Vernon workshop “How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page.”
Mission branch ORL 2018-06-23
Some of the attendees at the author visit to Mission branch of ORL 2018-06-23
SHORT LISTED!
- Okanagan Short Story Contest January 2022
- Okanagan Short Story Contest January 2020
- Surrey International Writers’ Conference Storyteller’s Award 2018
- Surrey International Writers’ Conference Storyteller’s Award 2016
- Surrey International Writers’ Conference Storyteller’s Award 2015
- Okanagan Short Story Contest January 2015
- Surrey International Writers’ Conference Writing Contest 2014- category: writing for children
AWARDED!
- 2nd prize Askew’s Word on the Lake Writing Contest May 2021
- 2nd prize Word on the Lake Writing Contest May 2015
NOMINATED!
- Murdering Mr. Edwards novella category Arthur Ellis Crimewriting Award 2019
- Grace Awakening Dreams and Power novel category Whistler Independent Book Awards 2016
APPEARANCES 2017 & EARLIER:
August 12, 2017 When Words Collide Writers’ Conference. Calgary, AB. Presenting workshop Forging The Inner Spaces: Using poetry to release the message your subconscious is hiding from you. We will play with prompts and produce at least one poem during our time together. Do your novel characters need poetry to help them explore their inner lives? Come explore.
July 6-9, 2017 Honeymoon Bay Poetry Retreat with Patrick Lane.
March 1, 2017 Salmon Arm Brownies poetry workshop.
November 25th-December 11th, 2016 Shawn is the Bird Woman (among other roles) in Shuswap Theatre’s production of MARY POPPINS
August 8-12, 2016 UBC Okanagan Summer Institute in Education Adjunct professor team: Desiree Marshall-Peer & Shawn Bird. Inspiring What Can Be. Opening Space for Conversation. Exploring the opportunities embedded within the BCEd Plan and investigating the possibilities offered by the new curriculum, this course examines teaching and learning outside the confines of a traditional intermediate or secondary school experience. Participants will consider their current pedagogical and assessment realities and will be challenged to imagine alternate visions that are supported in literature, policy changes and innovative practice. Current innovations within Interior BC will be discussed and examined. Students will delve into multiple methods of demonstrating learning and promoting competency-based mastery.
September 2016-June 2017 Performing daily! Edifying young minds at Eagle River Secondary, Sicamous, BC.
August 14-16, 2015 When Words Collide Writing Conference in Calgary. This event sold out in June, but there is a book signing open to the public and I will be there.
Saturday, April 18, 2015 workshop on e-publishing sponsored by Shuswap Association of Writers. Piccadilly Mall Board Room 10-noon. $30 SAW members $35 public. Contact Shirley Dekelver- dekelver(at)cablelan(dot)net to pre-register.
Saturday, February 15, 2014 author visit at Sicamous branch of Okanagan Regional Library. 1-3:00 p.m.
Friday, March 28th, 2014 6:30 pm Author reading at SAW Coffee House, Choices restaurant Salmon Arm.
July 31, 2014 Bastion Reading Group. The group’s been reading Grace Awakening, so Shawn is coming to answer questions about writing, etc.
August 8-9, 2014 When Words Collide, Calgary, AB Shawn is presenting 2 workshops and participating in 6 panels.
August 10-16th, 2014 Writers’ Cultural Retreat in Dalhousie, New Brunswick Canada with Patricia Donahue and Shawn L. Bird. Click for details. This event has been cancelled.
Vernon Writers’ Festival, Vernon, BC on April 11-14, 2013
Shawn presented on social media and building an author platform. Participants learned about how authors are using Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Goodreads, and blogs and were provided with some frameworks to determine their own goals.
Word on the Lake Festival, Salmon Arm BC on May 27, 2012
“The ePub Buzz: What is happening and Why you should know.” The growth of e-books is creating a time of tremendous change in publishing. How does this Impact you, and how can you take advantage of these changes? Whether you can tell an e-book from a calculator, come learn about what the e-book revolution means for readers and for writers. Bring your enquiring mind.
.
Suggested topics:
Blogging
Intro to Social Media
E-publishing
Finding the beginning
Idea generating
Self-Editing
Grabbing action
Dialogue dilemmas
The big picture
Crushing the inner critic
Wrapping up
Or we can discuss something specific to your needs.
APPEARANCES 2021:
Book Launch for The Drabble Advent Calendar at Salmon Arm branch Okanagan Regional Library Nov 20, 2021 1:30-2:30 with co-authors Chris McMahen and James Bowlby
When Words Collide: ON-LINE EDITION! August 13-15, 2021 Participation is free and all workshops are online and to be recorded for Youtube. Click on WhenWordsCollide.org to access the schedule of presentations. So many free workshops! Shawn’s on a panel about collaboration Friday, has her Prompt Poetry workshop on Saturday, and a Planning for Pantsers workshop on Sunday. (See the For Writers section for some of the Planning tools)
APPEARANCES 2020:
Thurs, Sept 17, 2020 6:30 p.m. Plotting, Pantsing, and Poetry Zoom workshop hosted by Thompson Nicola Library
When Words Collide: ON-LINE EDITION! August 14-16, 2020 Participation is free and all workshops are online and to be recorded for Youtube. No need to register! Click on WhenWordsCollide.org to access the schedule of presentations. So many free workshops! Shawn’s Prompt Poetry is Friday. She’s on the Poetry Panel on Sunday, as well.
APPEARANCES 2019:
Surrey, BC: Oct 26, 2019 SiWC Author Signing Sheraton Guildford, Fraser Room from 5 to 7 pm. Join me and notable authors like Diana Gabaldon, Anne Perry, Chuck Wendig, Susanna Kearsley, k.c. dyer, Eileen Cook, Owen Laukkanen, Michael Slade, and many more!
Calgary: August 9, 2019 50 minute hands on Prompt Poetry workshop at When Word’s Collide. Hope to see you there!
WWC 2019- Prompt Poetry workshop in the cafe atrium Photo: Tim Reynolds
APPEARANCES 2018:
MURDERING MR. EDWARDS BOOK LAUNCH & TOUR!
2018 Workshop summaries:
Sun. May 13, 2018 8:15-9:15 a.m. @ Salmon Arm campus of Okanagan College Student Lounge. (In conjunction with Word on the Lake Writers’ Festival).
Sat. May 26, 2018 11 a.m. Armstrong branch Okanagan Regional Library
Sat. June 2, 2018 10:30 a.m. Vernon branch Okanagan Regional Library. (Workshop: Getting that book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page)
Sat. June 9, 2018 1 p.m. Bookingham Palace Bookstore, Salmon Arm.
Sat. June 23, 2018 1 p.m. Okanagan Mission branch, Okanagan Regional Library
Wed. July 4, 2018 Kamloops Library, 2-4:00pm. (Workshop: Finding inspiration and voice: a workshop for novelists and poets)
Wed. July 4, 2018 North Kamloops Library, 5:30-7:30pm. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page)
Tues. July 10, 2018 2 p.m. Westbank branch, Okanagan Regional Library (Workshop: Finding inspiration and voice: a workshop for novelists and poets)
Wed. July 11, 2018 10 a.m. Osoyoos branch, Okanagan Regional Library
Thurs. July 12, 2018 noon Osoyoos Rotary Club
Thurs. July 12, 2018 6:30 p.m. Kelowna branch, Okanagan Regional Library (Workshop: Getting that book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page)
August 10-12, 2018 WHEN WORDS COLLIDE Writers’ Conference Calgary, AB. I’ll be there all weekend attending events at the conference, but the following are scheduled:
- Fri Aug 10 8 p.m- presenting hands on workshop “Prompt poetry”
- Fri Aug 10 9 p.m- Coffin Hop’s Noir at the Bar. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
- Sat Aug 11 11 a.m- panelist “Making a Living in YA Lit”
- Sat Aug 11 1 p.m- moderating panel “Young Adult mystery”
- Sat Aug 11 8-10 p.m- author autograph session. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
- Sun Aug 12 3-4 p.m.- Coffin Hop authors reading
Wed. Aug 15, 2018 7:00-8:30 pm Owl’s Nest Books, Calgary, AB with goodies from Coffin Hop See info here.
Sat. Sept 15, 2018 Chase branch, Thompson Nicola Regional library 1-3 p.m. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page).
Sat. Sept 22, 2018 Salmon Arm branch, Okanagan Regional Library. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page). RESCHEDULED to November due to injury.
Oct 18-21, 2018 Surrey International Writers’ Conference. Surrey, BC. CANCELLED due to injury 😦
Sat. Nov 3, 2018. 1-3 p.m. Armstrong branch, Okanagan Regional Library. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page).
Sat. Nov 10 2018. 1-3 p.m. Salmon Arm branch, Okanagan Regional Library. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page). CANCELLED due to injury.
Praise for Shawn’s presentations:
Vernon: “I attended your workshop last spring. I just wanted to tell you I’m published now, but I wouldn’t be if I hadn’t been to your workshop. Thank you!” (That one gave me goosebumps! Congratulations, Mike!)
Kamloops: “Our participants had fun! Can we book you for another event in the fall?”
Osoyoos: “Very entertaining and interesting. Really enjoyed it.”
Osoyoos: “Very personable. Enjoyed the talk.”
Kelowna: “Wonderful seminar.” (Jonas Saul, author)
Kamloops: “Andrea and I were very pleased to be able to attend both of your workshops. You did a wonderful job presenting at both and we found them to be very beneficial, helpful and engaging. Thanks for coming to Kamloops and hope to see more of you in the future. Andrea has been working on her stories ever since. You have inspired us both as we continue putting pen to paper.” (J. Miller)
West Kelowna: “I believe I can do it! Thanks, Shawn!”
Osoyoos: “What an enervating speaker she was! We should have her back!”
Chase: “This has been fantastic. Would you come back once a month?”
Happy participants in my Prompt Poetry workshop at When Words Collide Writers’ Conference Calgary, AB. August 2018
Presenting “How to Get the Book You’ve Always Wanted to Writer Out of your Head and Onto the Page” in Kelowna.
Shawn and some of the participants of the Vernon workshop “How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page.”
Mission branch ORL 2018-06-23
Some of the attendees at the author visit to Mission branch of ORL 2018-06-23
SHORT LISTED!
- Okanagan Short Story Contest January 2022
- Okanagan Short Story Contest January 2020
- Surrey International Writers’ Conference Storyteller’s Award 2018
- Surrey International Writers’ Conference Storyteller’s Award 2016
- Surrey International Writers’ Conference Storyteller’s Award 2015
- Okanagan Short Story Contest January 2015
- Surrey International Writers’ Conference Writing Contest 2014- category: writing for children
AWARDED!
- 2nd prize Askew’s Word on the Lake Writing Contest May 2021
- 2nd prize Word on the Lake Writing Contest May 2015
NOMINATED!
- Murdering Mr. Edwards novella category Arthur Ellis Crimewriting Award 2019
- Grace Awakening Dreams and Power novel category Whistler Independent Book Awards 2016
APPEARANCES 2017 & EARLIER:
August 12, 2017 When Words Collide Writers’ Conference. Calgary, AB. Presenting workshop Forging The Inner Spaces: Using poetry to release the message your subconscious is hiding from you. We will play with prompts and produce at least one poem during our time together. Do your novel characters need poetry to help them explore their inner lives? Come explore.
July 6-9, 2017 Honeymoon Bay Poetry Retreat with Patrick Lane.
March 1, 2017 Salmon Arm Brownies poetry workshop.
November 25th-December 11th, 2016 Shawn is the Bird Woman (among other roles) in Shuswap Theatre’s production of MARY POPPINS
August 8-12, 2016 UBC Okanagan Summer Institute in Education Adjunct professor team: Desiree Marshall-Peer & Shawn Bird. Inspiring What Can Be. Opening Space for Conversation. Exploring the opportunities embedded within the BCEd Plan and investigating the possibilities offered by the new curriculum, this course examines teaching and learning outside the confines of a traditional intermediate or secondary school experience. Participants will consider their current pedagogical and assessment realities and will be challenged to imagine alternate visions that are supported in literature, policy changes and innovative practice. Current innovations within Interior BC will be discussed and examined. Students will delve into multiple methods of demonstrating learning and promoting competency-based mastery.
September 2016-June 2017 Performing daily! Edifying young minds at Eagle River Secondary, Sicamous, BC.
August 14-16, 2015 When Words Collide Writing Conference in Calgary. This event sold out in June, but there is a book signing open to the public and I will be there.
Saturday, April 18, 2015 workshop on e-publishing sponsored by Shuswap Association of Writers. Piccadilly Mall Board Room 10-noon. $30 SAW members $35 public. Contact Shirley Dekelver- dekelver(at)cablelan(dot)net to pre-register.
Saturday, February 15, 2014 author visit at Sicamous branch of Okanagan Regional Library. 1-3:00 p.m.
Friday, March 28th, 2014 6:30 pm Author reading at SAW Coffee House, Choices restaurant Salmon Arm.
July 31, 2014 Bastion Reading Group. The group’s been reading Grace Awakening, so Shawn is coming to answer questions about writing, etc.
August 8-9, 2014 When Words Collide, Calgary, AB Shawn is presenting 2 workshops and participating in 6 panels.
August 10-16th, 2014 Writers’ Cultural Retreat in Dalhousie, New Brunswick Canada with Patricia Donahue and Shawn L. Bird. Click for details. This event has been cancelled.
Vernon Writers’ Festival, Vernon, BC on April 11-14, 2013
Shawn presented on social media and building an author platform. Participants learned about how authors are using Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Goodreads, and blogs and were provided with some frameworks to determine their own goals.
Word on the Lake Festival, Salmon Arm BC on May 27, 2012
“The ePub Buzz: What is happening and Why you should know.” The growth of e-books is creating a time of tremendous change in publishing. How does this Impact you, and how can you take advantage of these changes? Whether you can tell an e-book from a calculator, come learn about what the e-book revolution means for readers and for writers. Bring your enquiring mind.
.
Suggested topics:
Blogging
Intro to Social Media
E-publishing
Finding the beginning
Idea generating
Self-Editing
Grabbing action
Dialogue dilemmas
The big picture
Crushing the inner critic
Wrapping up
Or we can discuss something specific to your needs.
Online launch of Lintusen Press’s New Spaces sci fi short story anthology on the Lintusen Press Facebook page. April 15, 2023 1-3pm. CANCELLED DUE TO ILLNESS
APPEARANCES 2022:
Magazine Launch for Pulp Literature #36 on Youtube! November 19, 2022 at 1pm BC time. I’m scheduled for 2:30
APPEARANCES 2021:
Book Launch for The Drabble Advent Calendar at Salmon Arm branch Okanagan Regional Library Nov 20, 2021 1:30-2:30 with co-authors Chris McMahen and James Bowlby
When Words Collide: ON-LINE EDITION! August 13-15, 2021 Participation is free and all workshops are online and to be recorded for Youtube. Click on WhenWordsCollide.org to access the schedule of presentations. So many free workshops! Shawn’s on a panel about collaboration Friday, has her Prompt Poetry workshop on Saturday, and a Planning for Pantsers workshop on Sunday. (See the For Writers section for some of the Planning tools)
APPEARANCES 2020:
Thurs, Sept 17, 2020 6:30 p.m. Plotting, Pantsing, and Poetry Zoom workshop hosted by Thompson Nicola Library
When Words Collide: ON-LINE EDITION! August 14-16, 2020 Participation is free and all workshops are online and to be recorded for Youtube. No need to register! Click on WhenWordsCollide.org to access the schedule of presentations. So many free workshops! Shawn’s Prompt Poetry is Friday. She’s on the Poetry Panel on Sunday, as well.
APPEARANCES 2019:
Surrey, BC: Oct 26, 2019 SiWC Author Signing Sheraton Guildford, Fraser Room from 5 to 7 pm. Join me and notable authors like Diana Gabaldon, Anne Perry, Chuck Wendig, Susanna Kearsley, k.c. dyer, Eileen Cook, Owen Laukkanen, Michael Slade, and many more!
Calgary: August 9, 2019 50 minute hands on Prompt Poetry workshop at When Word’s Collide. Hope to see you there!
WWC 2019- Prompt Poetry workshop in the cafe atrium Photo: Tim Reynolds
APPEARANCES 2018:
MURDERING MR. EDWARDS BOOK LAUNCH & TOUR!
2018 Workshop summaries:
Sun. May 13, 2018 8:15-9:15 a.m. @ Salmon Arm campus of Okanagan College Student Lounge. (In conjunction with Word on the Lake Writers’ Festival).
Sat. May 26, 2018 11 a.m. Armstrong branch Okanagan Regional Library
Sat. June 2, 2018 10:30 a.m. Vernon branch Okanagan Regional Library. (Workshop: Getting that book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page)
Sat. June 9, 2018 1 p.m. Bookingham Palace Bookstore, Salmon Arm.
Sat. June 23, 2018 1 p.m. Okanagan Mission branch, Okanagan Regional Library
Wed. July 4, 2018 Kamloops Library, 2-4:00pm. (Workshop: Finding inspiration and voice: a workshop for novelists and poets)
Wed. July 4, 2018 North Kamloops Library, 5:30-7:30pm. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page)
Tues. July 10, 2018 2 p.m. Westbank branch, Okanagan Regional Library (Workshop: Finding inspiration and voice: a workshop for novelists and poets)
Wed. July 11, 2018 10 a.m. Osoyoos branch, Okanagan Regional Library
Thurs. July 12, 2018 noon Osoyoos Rotary Club
Thurs. July 12, 2018 6:30 p.m. Kelowna branch, Okanagan Regional Library (Workshop: Getting that book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page)
August 10-12, 2018 WHEN WORDS COLLIDE Writers’ Conference Calgary, AB. I’ll be there all weekend attending events at the conference, but the following are scheduled:
- Fri Aug 10 8 p.m- presenting hands on workshop “Prompt poetry”
- Fri Aug 10 9 p.m- Coffin Hop’s Noir at the Bar. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
- Sat Aug 11 11 a.m- panelist “Making a Living in YA Lit”
- Sat Aug 11 1 p.m- moderating panel “Young Adult mystery”
- Sat Aug 11 8-10 p.m- author autograph session. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
- Sun Aug 12 3-4 p.m.- Coffin Hop authors reading
Wed. Aug 15, 2018 7:00-8:30 pm Owl’s Nest Books, Calgary, AB with goodies from Coffin Hop See info here.
Sat. Sept 15, 2018 Chase branch, Thompson Nicola Regional library 1-3 p.m. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page).
Sat. Sept 22, 2018 Salmon Arm branch, Okanagan Regional Library. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page). RESCHEDULED to November due to injury.
Oct 18-21, 2018 Surrey International Writers’ Conference. Surrey, BC. CANCELLED due to injury 😦
Sat. Nov 3, 2018. 1-3 p.m. Armstrong branch, Okanagan Regional Library. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page).
Sat. Nov 10 2018. 1-3 p.m. Salmon Arm branch, Okanagan Regional Library. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page). CANCELLED due to injury.
Praise for Shawn’s presentations:
Vernon: “I attended your workshop last spring. I just wanted to tell you I’m published now, but I wouldn’t be if I hadn’t been to your workshop. Thank you!” (That one gave me goosebumps! Congratulations, Mike!)
Kamloops: “Our participants had fun! Can we book you for another event in the fall?”
Osoyoos: “Very entertaining and interesting. Really enjoyed it.”
Osoyoos: “Very personable. Enjoyed the talk.”
Kelowna: “Wonderful seminar.” (Jonas Saul, author)
Kamloops: “Andrea and I were very pleased to be able to attend both of your workshops. You did a wonderful job presenting at both and we found them to be very beneficial, helpful and engaging. Thanks for coming to Kamloops and hope to see more of you in the future. Andrea has been working on her stories ever since. You have inspired us both as we continue putting pen to paper.” (J. Miller)
West Kelowna: “I believe I can do it! Thanks, Shawn!”
Osoyoos: “What an enervating speaker she was! We should have her back!”
Chase: “This has been fantastic. Would you come back once a month?”
Happy participants in my Prompt Poetry workshop at When Words Collide Writers’ Conference Calgary, AB. August 2018
Presenting “How to Get the Book You’ve Always Wanted to Writer Out of your Head and Onto the Page” in Kelowna.
Shawn and some of the participants of the Vernon workshop “How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page.”
Mission branch ORL 2018-06-23
Some of the attendees at the author visit to Mission branch of ORL 2018-06-23
SHORT LISTED!
- Okanagan Short Story Contest January 2022
- Okanagan Short Story Contest January 2020
- Surrey International Writers’ Conference Storyteller’s Award 2018
- Surrey International Writers’ Conference Storyteller’s Award 2016
- Surrey International Writers’ Conference Storyteller’s Award 2015
- Okanagan Short Story Contest January 2015
- Surrey International Writers’ Conference Writing Contest 2014- category: writing for children
AWARDED!
- 2nd prize Askew’s Word on the Lake Writing Contest May 2021
- 2nd prize Word on the Lake Writing Contest May 2015
NOMINATED!
- Murdering Mr. Edwards novella category Arthur Ellis Crimewriting Award 2019
- Grace Awakening Dreams and Power novel category Whistler Independent Book Awards 2016
APPEARANCES 2017 & EARLIER:
August 12, 2017 When Words Collide Writers’ Conference. Calgary, AB. Presenting workshop Forging The Inner Spaces: Using poetry to release the message your subconscious is hiding from you. We will play with prompts and produce at least one poem during our time together. Do your novel characters need poetry to help them explore their inner lives? Come explore.
July 6-9, 2017 Honeymoon Bay Poetry Retreat with Patrick Lane.
March 1, 2017 Salmon Arm Brownies poetry workshop.
November 25th-December 11th, 2016 Shawn is the Bird Woman (among other roles) in Shuswap Theatre’s production of MARY POPPINS
August 8-12, 2016 UBC Okanagan Summer Institute in Education Adjunct professor team: Desiree Marshall-Peer & Shawn Bird. Inspiring What Can Be. Opening Space for Conversation. Exploring the opportunities embedded within the BCEd Plan and investigating the possibilities offered by the new curriculum, this course examines teaching and learning outside the confines of a traditional intermediate or secondary school experience. Participants will consider their current pedagogical and assessment realities and will be challenged to imagine alternate visions that are supported in literature, policy changes and innovative practice. Current innovations within Interior BC will be discussed and examined. Students will delve into multiple methods of demonstrating learning and promoting competency-based mastery.
September 2016-June 2017 Performing daily! Edifying young minds at Eagle River Secondary, Sicamous, BC.
August 14-16, 2015 When Words Collide Writing Conference in Calgary. This event sold out in June, but there is a book signing open to the public and I will be there.
Saturday, April 18, 2015 workshop on e-publishing sponsored by Shuswap Association of Writers. Piccadilly Mall Board Room 10-noon. $30 SAW members $35 public. Contact Shirley Dekelver- dekelver(at)cablelan(dot)net to pre-register.
Saturday, February 15, 2014 author visit at Sicamous branch of Okanagan Regional Library. 1-3:00 p.m.
Friday, March 28th, 2014 6:30 pm Author reading at SAW Coffee House, Choices restaurant Salmon Arm.
July 31, 2014 Bastion Reading Group. The group’s been reading Grace Awakening, so Shawn is coming to answer questions about writing, etc.
August 8-9, 2014 When Words Collide, Calgary, AB Shawn is presenting 2 workshops and participating in 6 panels.
August 10-16th, 2014 Writers’ Cultural Retreat in Dalhousie, New Brunswick Canada with Patricia Donahue and Shawn L. Bird. Click for details. This event has been cancelled.
Vernon Writers’ Festival, Vernon, BC on April 11-14, 2013
Shawn presented on social media and building an author platform. Participants learned about how authors are using Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Goodreads, and blogs and were provided with some frameworks to determine their own goals.
Word on the Lake Festival, Salmon Arm BC on May 27, 2012
“The ePub Buzz: What is happening and Why you should know.” The growth of e-books is creating a time of tremendous change in publishing. How does this Impact you, and how can you take advantage of these changes? Whether you can tell an e-book from a calculator, come learn about what the e-book revolution means for readers and for writers. Bring your enquiring mind.
.
Suggested topics:
Blogging
Intro to Social Media
E-publishing
Finding the beginning
Idea generating
Self-Editing
Grabbing action
Dialogue dilemmas
The big picture
Crushing the inner critic
Wrapping up
Or we can discuss something specific to your needs.
APPEARANCES 2021:
Book Launch for The Drabble Advent Calendar at Salmon Arm branch Okanagan Regional Library Nov 20, 2021 1:30-2:30 with co-authors Chris McMahen and James Bowlby
When Words Collide: ON-LINE EDITION! August 13-15, 2021 Participation is free and all workshops are online and to be recorded for Youtube. Click on WhenWordsCollide.org to access the schedule of presentations. So many free workshops! Shawn’s on a panel about collaboration Friday, has her Prompt Poetry workshop on Saturday, and a Planning for Pantsers workshop on Sunday. (See the For Writers section for some of the Planning tools)
APPEARANCES 2020:
Thurs, Sept 17, 2020 6:30 p.m. Plotting, Pantsing, and Poetry Zoom workshop hosted by Thompson Nicola Library
When Words Collide: ON-LINE EDITION! August 14-16, 2020 Participation is free and all workshops are online and to be recorded for Youtube. No need to register! Click on WhenWordsCollide.org to access the schedule of presentations. So many free workshops! Shawn’s Prompt Poetry is Friday. She’s on the Poetry Panel on Sunday, as well.
APPEARANCES 2019:
Surrey, BC: Oct 26, 2019 SiWC Author Signing Sheraton Guildford, Fraser Room from 5 to 7 pm. Join me and notable authors like Diana Gabaldon, Anne Perry, Chuck Wendig, Susanna Kearsley, k.c. dyer, Eileen Cook, Owen Laukkanen, Michael Slade, and many more!
Calgary: August 9, 2019 50 minute hands on Prompt Poetry workshop at When Word’s Collide. Hope to see you there!
WWC 2019- Prompt Poetry workshop in the cafe atrium Photo: Tim Reynolds
APPEARANCES 2018:
MURDERING MR. EDWARDS BOOK LAUNCH & TOUR!
2018 Workshop summaries:
Sun. May 13, 2018 8:15-9:15 a.m. @ Salmon Arm campus of Okanagan College Student Lounge. (In conjunction with Word on the Lake Writers’ Festival).
Sat. May 26, 2018 11 a.m. Armstrong branch Okanagan Regional Library
Sat. June 2, 2018 10:30 a.m. Vernon branch Okanagan Regional Library. (Workshop: Getting that book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page)
Sat. June 9, 2018 1 p.m. Bookingham Palace Bookstore, Salmon Arm.
Sat. June 23, 2018 1 p.m. Okanagan Mission branch, Okanagan Regional Library
Wed. July 4, 2018 Kamloops Library, 2-4:00pm. (Workshop: Finding inspiration and voice: a workshop for novelists and poets)
Wed. July 4, 2018 North Kamloops Library, 5:30-7:30pm. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page)
Tues. July 10, 2018 2 p.m. Westbank branch, Okanagan Regional Library (Workshop: Finding inspiration and voice: a workshop for novelists and poets)
Wed. July 11, 2018 10 a.m. Osoyoos branch, Okanagan Regional Library
Thurs. July 12, 2018 noon Osoyoos Rotary Club
Thurs. July 12, 2018 6:30 p.m. Kelowna branch, Okanagan Regional Library (Workshop: Getting that book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page)
August 10-12, 2018 WHEN WORDS COLLIDE Writers’ Conference Calgary, AB. I’ll be there all weekend attending events at the conference, but the following are scheduled:
- Fri Aug 10 8 p.m- presenting hands on workshop “Prompt poetry”
- Fri Aug 10 9 p.m- Coffin Hop’s Noir at the Bar. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
- Sat Aug 11 11 a.m- panelist “Making a Living in YA Lit”
- Sat Aug 11 1 p.m- moderating panel “Young Adult mystery”
- Sat Aug 11 8-10 p.m- author autograph session. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
- Sun Aug 12 3-4 p.m.- Coffin Hop authors reading
Wed. Aug 15, 2018 7:00-8:30 pm Owl’s Nest Books, Calgary, AB with goodies from Coffin Hop See info here.
Sat. Sept 15, 2018 Chase branch, Thompson Nicola Regional library 1-3 p.m. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page).
Sat. Sept 22, 2018 Salmon Arm branch, Okanagan Regional Library. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page). RESCHEDULED to November due to injury.
Oct 18-21, 2018 Surrey International Writers’ Conference. Surrey, BC. CANCELLED due to injury 😦
Sat. Nov 3, 2018. 1-3 p.m. Armstrong branch, Okanagan Regional Library. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page).
Sat. Nov 10 2018. 1-3 p.m. Salmon Arm branch, Okanagan Regional Library. (Workshop: How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page). CANCELLED due to injury.
Praise for Shawn’s presentations:
Vernon: “I attended your workshop last spring. I just wanted to tell you I’m published now, but I wouldn’t be if I hadn’t been to your workshop. Thank you!” (That one gave me goosebumps! Congratulations, Mike!)
Kamloops: “Our participants had fun! Can we book you for another event in the fall?”
Osoyoos: “Very entertaining and interesting. Really enjoyed it.”
Osoyoos: “Very personable. Enjoyed the talk.”
Kelowna: “Wonderful seminar.” (Jonas Saul, author)
Kamloops: “Andrea and I were very pleased to be able to attend both of your workshops. You did a wonderful job presenting at both and we found them to be very beneficial, helpful and engaging. Thanks for coming to Kamloops and hope to see more of you in the future. Andrea has been working on her stories ever since. You have inspired us both as we continue putting pen to paper.” (J. Miller)
West Kelowna: “I believe I can do it! Thanks, Shawn!”
Osoyoos: “What an enervating speaker she was! We should have her back!”
Chase: “This has been fantastic. Would you come back once a month?”
Happy participants in my Prompt Poetry workshop at When Words Collide Writers’ Conference Calgary, AB. August 2018
Presenting “How to Get the Book You’ve Always Wanted to Writer Out of your Head and Onto the Page” in Kelowna.
Shawn and some of the participants of the Vernon workshop “How to get the book you’ve always wanted to write out of your head and onto the page.”
Mission branch ORL 2018-06-23
Some of the attendees at the author visit to Mission branch of ORL 2018-06-23
SHORT LISTED!
- Okanagan Short Story Contest January 2022
- Okanagan Short Story Contest January 2020
- Surrey International Writers’ Conference Storyteller’s Award 2018
- Surrey International Writers’ Conference Storyteller’s Award 2016
- Surrey International Writers’ Conference Storyteller’s Award 2015
- Okanagan Short Story Contest January 2015
- Surrey International Writers’ Conference Writing Contest 2014- category: writing for children
AWARDED!
- 2nd prize Askew’s Word on the Lake Writing Contest May 2021
- 2nd prize Word on the Lake Writing Contest May 2015
NOMINATED!
- Murdering Mr. Edwards novella category Arthur Ellis Crimewriting Award 2019
- Grace Awakening Dreams and Power novel category Whistler Independent Book Awards 2016
APPEARANCES 2017 & EARLIER:
August 12, 2017 When Words Collide Writers’ Conference. Calgary, AB. Presenting workshop Forging The Inner Spaces: Using poetry to release the message your subconscious is hiding from you. We will play with prompts and produce at least one poem during our time together. Do your novel characters need poetry to help them explore their inner lives? Come explore.
July 6-9, 2017 Honeymoon Bay Poetry Retreat with Patrick Lane.
March 1, 2017 Salmon Arm Brownies poetry workshop.
November 25th-December 11th, 2016 Shawn is the Bird Woman (among other roles) in Shuswap Theatre’s production of MARY POPPINS
August 8-12, 2016 UBC Okanagan Summer Institute in Education Adjunct professor team: Desiree Marshall-Peer & Shawn Bird. Inspiring What Can Be. Opening Space for Conversation. Exploring the opportunities embedded within the BCEd Plan and investigating the possibilities offered by the new curriculum, this course examines teaching and learning outside the confines of a traditional intermediate or secondary school experience. Participants will consider their current pedagogical and assessment realities and will be challenged to imagine alternate visions that are supported in literature, policy changes and innovative practice. Current innovations within Interior BC will be discussed and examined. Students will delve into multiple methods of demonstrating learning and promoting competency-based mastery.
September 2016-June 2017 Performing daily! Edifying young minds at Eagle River Secondary, Sicamous, BC.
August 14-16, 2015 When Words Collide Writing Conference in Calgary. This event sold out in June, but there is a book signing open to the public and I will be there.
Saturday, April 18, 2015 workshop on e-publishing sponsored by Shuswap Association of Writers. Piccadilly Mall Board Room 10-noon. $30 SAW members $35 public. Contact Shirley Dekelver- dekelver(at)cablelan(dot)net to pre-register.
Saturday, February 15, 2014 author visit at Sicamous branch of Okanagan Regional Library. 1-3:00 p.m.
Friday, March 28th, 2014 6:30 pm Author reading at SAW Coffee House, Choices restaurant Salmon Arm.
July 31, 2014 Bastion Reading Group. The group’s been reading Grace Awakening, so Shawn is coming to answer questions about writing, etc.
August 8-9, 2014 When Words Collide, Calgary, AB Shawn is presenting 2 workshops and participating in 6 panels.
August 10-16th, 2014 Writers’ Cultural Retreat in Dalhousie, New Brunswick Canada with Patricia Donahue and Shawn L. Bird. Click for details. This event has been cancelled.
Vernon Writers’ Festival, Vernon, BC on April 11-14, 2013
Shawn presented on social media and building an author platform. Participants learned about how authors are using Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Goodreads, and blogs and were provided with some frameworks to determine their own goals.
Word on the Lake Festival, Salmon Arm BC on May 27, 2012
“The ePub Buzz: What is happening and Why you should know.” The growth of e-books is creating a time of tremendous change in publishing. How does this Impact you, and how can you take advantage of these changes? Whether you can tell an e-book from a calculator, come learn about what the e-book revolution means for readers and for writers. Bring your enquiring mind.
.
Suggested topics:
Blogging
Intro to Social Media
E-publishing
Finding the beginning
Idea generating
Self-Editing
Grabbing action
Dialogue dilemmas
The big picture
Crushing the inner critic
Wrapping up
Or we can discuss something specific to your needs.
Shawn L. Bird 
Hello again Shawn. This is DeBorah Ann. I wish I lived closer so I could attend your writing workshops, however I’m in New York. I was wondering if you would not mind taking a look at this horror story I’ve been working on forever. It is a work in progress and I’m constantly changing it whenever I have some free time. The story is an experiment that I let loose every so often. Let me know if there is a fee because I know you’re a busy woman and your time is valuable. Thank you.
http://dancingpalmtrees.wordpress.com/short-stories/leonora/
Hi DeBorah Ann. I gave a quick look at your link. I have to say that Gothic erotica isn’t quite my thing. However, I’ll treat this as a ‘blue pencil’ and I’ll ask you to consider a few questions. The answers aren’t important to me, so don’t feel you need to reply, but see if the pondering is a worthwhile exercise.
Your description is rich, but prone to cliche and wordiness, so consider some other vocabulary options. You might find rhymezone.com useful for finding synonyms. Watch redundancy though, e.g. languid and peaceful mean the same thing, pick one. Your long sentences are appropriate for some audiences, but avoid pages of it. One or two paragraphs will probably be about enough. Don’t forget to give the reader a break, and speed up the action with shorter sentences. Can you find places where actions can replace descriptions? Modern readers tend to prefer action. Can you think of ways to show what characters are thinking or feeling without telling the reader straight out?
Have someone else read your piece aloud to you. Pay attention to where they stumble or lose track.
Hope that is helpful. First 5 mins was free. ;-P
Shawn, Thank you so much. Your tips and pointers are very helpful. I knew I was going wrong in some instances but just did not know where. Your insight will enable me to craft a better story.
Grace, Peace, & Blessings,
DeBorah Ann
I, too, wish I lived closer to BC, Shawn, so I could attend your workshop. Thank you for following my blog. I’m so interested in yours, and will be back later to explore some more.