Tag Archive for reading

Alison Lohans launches “Crossings” at When Words Collide (Book Launch)

August 7, 2012 Books, Creative writing, Uncategorized, Writing No comments
Alison Lohans (by Shelley Banks)

Alison Lohans (by Shelley Banks)

This is going to be an exciting weekend at When Words Collide, the second annual Calgary Science Fiction Conference. One highlight will be the launch of Crossings, a new book by Alison Lohans.

Crossings is Book Two of the Passage Through Time series (Bundoran Press), carrying on the tale of 16-year-old Katie and her very special baby, Tyler. In Collapse of the Veil, Katie and Tyler fall through the branches of a willow into the future.

They discover a desolate time, without technology or the comforts of home. But the people welcome Tyler and his psychic abilities as their long-awaited savior — from an environmental disaster that begins now, in Katie’s time. In our time. Along with Katie’s friend Lorne, and a young Seer from the future named Iannik, Katie and Tyler must try to save our future, and our present.

One world, two very different times, three misfit teens and a baby. Alison Lohans’ spare and certain prose transports us into their journey, pitting love and hope against the coming apocalypse.

Crossings - Alison Lohans

Crossings – Alison Lohans

And writing stories that involve the reader that deeply is her specialty. Alison grew up in Reedley, California, but she’s lived in Regina since 1976. I don’t often write reviews for writers I know, but I make an exception for Alison. After having more than 22 of her books published, as well as short fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, Alison’s biography still refers to her as a “determined writer.”

She has been the Writer-in-Residence at the Regina Public Library, and has taught several writing classes and workshops locally. I’m happy to say I’ve taken her children’s writing class twice, and I’m one of many local writers “making good” who call Alison a mentor and a colleague.

She’s also given hundreds of workshops and readings across the country. An Alison Lohans reading is well worth attending, as conference participants will discover in Calgary. Have you heard Alison, or read any of her books? What are you looking forward to at  When Words Collide this year? Please leave a comment and let’s share ideas.

Inspiring Views on Family Literacy in San Diego

April 1, 2012 Blogging, Travel, Uncategorized, Writing 8 comments
Balcony view, San Diego 2012

View from balcony, San Diego 2012 (M E Powell)

The view from my balcony suite at the Sheraton Marina in San Diego wasn’t the only inspiration in my life last week. I had a chance to participate in the 21st annual National Conference on Family Literacy (NCFL) in San Diego, CA.

I have to wonder why San Diego wasn’t on my bucket list before this. Temperate weather is just one of the things this city of over a million people – the eighth largest city in the USA – can boast about. It’s also surprisingly clean.

San Diego skyline

San Diego skyline 2012 (M E Powell)

As I walked along Harbor Island Drive, the area near the airport at San Diego Bay felt safe, especially with the naval base on the opposite shore.

Diving pelican, San Diego, 2012

Diving pelican, San Diego, 2012 (M E Powell)

The big brown pelicans dove into the Bay nearby, with no fear of human intervention.

And the views of the San Diego Skyline, and the Coronado Bridge, just added to my appreciation of the area.

Coronado Bridge, San Diego

Coronado Bridge, San Diego (M E Powell)

I felt lucky to have a chance to see these views in March, and equally lucky to be attending a major conference of literacy advocates, offering training and networking opportunities. I attended two of the 10 full-day or half-day pre-conference workshops that kicked-off the event.

The following three days offered many opportunities for some 1200 participants, by unofficial count. We had a choice of at least 10 concurrent sessions in each of four time slots during the day, as well as another round of concurrent sessions on the final day. That’s well over 50 workshop sessions to choose from.

Instead of or as well as concurrent sessions, participants could choose to attend featured sessions twice a day. As well as all this, exhibitors provided a trade show of cutting-edge information and tools. And a poster session on the second afternoon brought  30 special literacy projects and activities to our attention, from across the country.

During the banquet and luncheon events, we heard from guest speakers ranging from experts with sage advice to learners with heartening stories to share. And a special session finished the final afternoon of the conference.

Here’s a quick sampling of the views I heard:

- Families need to be engaged with their children “from cradle to career,” says family literacy advocate and author Karen Mapp.

- Expectations matter, says youth advocate, Rhodes scholar, and author Wes Moore. Education matters, because of who you’re learning from and who you’re learning with.

- Literacy isn’t just a goal for “them” – for “those families” we may think of as “needing help” – but rather, it’s a tool for everyone, say workshop leaders Kimberly Scott and Margaret Doughty of Literacy Powerline. Literacy should be a priority, because it’s the key to effective business, government, advocacy, and all manner of work in our communities. Engaging the whole community in literacy is our best method of building effective coalitions, to improve the quality of life for us all.

And that’s barely scratching the surface of my notes and memories from the San Diego NCFL conference. If you’ve attended the NCFL conference, this year or another year, what views did you see and hear? Please leave a comment, and let’s share ideas.

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