Articles By Heather Conn
Book launch and signing
Author: Heather Conn	• Discussion: No Comments
Want a signed copy of a fun story for kids? I'll be selling and signing copies of my new picture book Six Stinky Feet and a Sasquatch on Saturday, March 21 at the Chapters bookstore in Coquitlam, BC. Watch for me from 1 to 3 pm at the Chapters store in the Pinetree Village on Lougheed Highway.
Young Writers' Festival, Gibsons, Feb. 26
I'm one of five authors who will be doing a reading and presentation to kindergarten and grade one students at Gibsons Elementary School in Gibsons, BC on Wednesday, Feb. 26. I'll be sharing my new picture book Six Stinky Feet and a Sasquatch and talking about "Picture Books: Fact and Fiction." I look forward to hearing what the students have written. It should be a fun half-day.
Picture book launch Dec. 7: Six Stinky Feet and a Sasquatch
It was fun presenting my new picture book, Six Stinky Feet and a Sasquatch, to an audience of young and old Dec. 7 at Sechelt Public Library. Andy Johnson, storyteller for the shishalh Nation, shared a sasquatch song he composed and told a sasquatch story. I'm honoured to know that he plans to read my book to shishalh kids.
At the event, I wore a red hoodie with the sasquatch design by shishalh Nation member Candace Campo. She explained to me how cultural Indigenous tradition determines the shape of each eye of the creature's face. At the end of my fictional story, I include some cultural history and trivia regarding the sasquatch and a few URLs and book titles for those who want to find out more about this mysterious creature.
The hard-cover book, published by Peppermint Toast Publishing, features illustrations by talented Vancouver, BC animator Lillian Lai. The book is $18. Ten per cent of proceeds support pediatric palliative care in British Columbia.
Click here to see media photo and event coverage.
Click here to find out more and order a copy.
New hospice video to screen Oct. 5
(From left): Heather Blackwood and Rosemary Hoare, SCHS's first two volunteer coordinators with long-time volunteer Karen Falk
Want to know what hospice has done on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast for the past 30 years? Come to an Oct. 5 event in Sechelt and see the video that I wrote, produced, and directed called "Legacy of Love: 30 Years of Compassionate Care on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast, 1987 – 2017."
The seven-minute documentary includes two poignant stories and an overview, by decade, of the achievements of the Sunshine Coast Hospice Society (SCHS). You'll see historic pix and meet some of the founders of hospice plus board members, donors, a patient and more.
The video is part of a project commissioned to celebrate the 30th anniversary of SCHS.It will be screened at a special event to honour current and past hospice volunteers and donors. The event starts at 6:45 pm on Thursday, Oct. 5 at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre in Sechelt.
Besides making the video, shot and edited by Arthur Le and Jordan Williams, I researched and wrote a lot of original content for the 30th anniversary: a detailed chronology, and nine web features with interviews and photos that reveal key highlights of local hospice history.
Halfmoon Bay craftsman produces spectacular boat models for global clients
Brian Klassen, owner of Brian Klassen Models in Halfmoon Bay, BC
Tugboats with tiny propellers. Sailboats with miniature rigging. Two-foot ships yachts with teensy bar stools, sinks and other features.
I was fascinated to see the intricate, painstaking work of Brian Klassen, who custom-makes replicas of yachts and commercial ships for clients around the world. I visited his small shop in Halfmoon Bay, on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast, in February this year.
He had just finished his latest creation: an amazing scale model of a $50-million mega-yacht for a company in New Zealand. The wealthy owner of the 50-metre yacht under construction cried when he saw Brian's meticulously made replica.
Click this link (Scan) to read my article "Dream Vessels Made to Order," which appears in the spring 2017 issue of Sunshine Coast Life magazine.
Three literary nonfiction authors, including Heather Conn, to read March 30
Want to hear compelling personal stories and learn more about what literary nonfiction is?
Come out to Sechelt Public Library on Thursday, March 30 and hear three Sunshine Coast, BC authors, including Heather Conn, read from their book manuscripts.
Heather, Sheila Cameron, and Claire Finlayson will each present excerpts from their respective works-in-progress. Sheila will present heartwarming stories from Shine Bright: Live a Supernova Life. Heather will share a troubling but inspirational tale of healing and forgiveness from No Letter in Your Pocket: Twenty Years Healing a Family Secret. Claire will reveal her experiences in Ray's Planet about growing up with a brother who didn't know he was autistic.
Caitlin Hicks, the Sunshine Coast representative for the BC Federation of Writers, will be on hand to facilitate discussion. This free event will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Coffee and treats will be served.
Heather to teach screenwriting Feb/March in Powell River
I'll be teaching "Writing Short Documentaries" and helping students brainstorm a group documentary project from Feb. 27 to March 2 in Powell River. This is an annual appearance I make as an instructor at Powell River Digital Film School.
Every year, the content varies, depending on the wishes of school founder and director Tony Papa. Usually, I cover how to write both drama and documentaries. Most years, I include a workshop on Introduction to SoulCollage®.
I encourage students to share their deepest personal stories or sociocultural tales from their community that no one has documented. I love their willingness to jump in and learn new things and to explore storytelling with a compelling, authentic voice.
Job placement students gain insights with SoulCollage®
I enjoyed introducing SoulCollage® Jan. 27 to a group of job placement students at M. Magas and Associates, an employment agency in Sechelt, BC.
We did a guided visualization, identified their respective dream job, and discussed accountability, victimhood and what archetypal influences might resonate with them.
I appreciated their openness and willingness to share what symbols were meaningful to them.
Since this was one of their "fun Friday" events, I was advised to keep it "light and uplifting." I love that SoulCollage® is hands-on and fun but still a revealing form of self-discovery that creates connectedness and empowerment.
Havana weeks before Fidel died: Mafia history still looms
Author Heather Conn (centre) with friend Merrily Corder and Orlando in Santa Lucia, Cuba
Few people realize how much the Mafia shaped the economy of Havana for more than 30 years. While visiting Cuba's capital in October-November 2016, I relished the chance to learn more about the country's illegal past.
My December 9, 2016 travel feature Havana Travel article 2016 (Coast Reporter) reveals some tidbits of Havana's Mafia history, along with some shocking environmental realities.
Mentors in Violence Training held Dec. 6 in Sechelt, BC
I was delighted to receive one-day training in Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) on Dec. 6, 2016 in Sechelt, BC. Roughly a dozen of us attended, including local teachers and providers of an after-school teen drop-in program. The event's co-facilitators were Wayne Spychka, my boss as an SCCSS gender violence prevention worker, and Keely Halward, Wayne's boss. Both are experienced MVP mentors and employees in Together Against Violence at the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society (SCCSS).
In male-only and female-only groups, we did exercises that identify gender stereotypes and practised facilitating and observing scenarios portraying inappropriate sexual behaviour. The MVP process reinforces a stance of Be More Than a Bystander: if you witness anything sexually inappropriate occurring between others, doing nothing is not an option. It is important for youths to either notify an adult or authorities and/or intervene, if they can do this safely.
MVP Strategies was developed in the early 1990s in Boston, MA, based on a peer leadership model using trained student leaders. It strives to empower those who might otherwise be silent observers to situations of violence unfolding around them. The primary goals of MVP are to
Increase awareness of verbal/emotional/psychological and sexual abuse.
Challenges messages within a social setting about gender/sex/relationship violence.
Inspire leadership by empowering participants with options to effect change in social norms.
For more details read my MVP training Dec 2016 Coast Reporter.