Whistler Debates presents: Self-Publish or Perish?

Whistler Debates presents: Self-publish or Perish?

Boutique, big box, or by yourself? High-powered agent or DIY? Paperback or paperless? With the publishing world in flux, this debate-format panel discussion will tackle how aspiring wordsmiths can produce the best product, reach the broadest audience, and ultimately, make enough coin to write another day.

Whistler Museum (4333 Main St.), Sunday October 20, 2pm-3:30pm, $10

***Tickets can be purchased directly from the Whistler Museum, or on the Whistler Reader’s & Writer’s Festival website.***

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Whistler is a writer’s town. You can find dozens of local names on book shelves around town, not to mention the dozens more who regularly contribute to local newspapers & magazines, and beyond. Over the last dozen years our local literary community has fostered, and in turn, been supporte d by the steady growth of the Whistler Reader’s & Writer’s Festival, happening later this month.

At last year’s festival the Whistler Museum launched our event series Whistler Debates, and we are excited to be celebrating the one-year anniversary of the popular program by once again partnering with the Writer’s Festival for what is now our 7th Whistler Debates event.

On October 20th we will be hosting  Self-Publish or Perish? Featuring an esteemed panel with wide-ranging experiences within the publishing industry, the event will examine the relative merits of the many options facing today’s aspiring writers looking to get their book in print. While the debate will cater most directly to aspiring authors, it will compel, inform, and entertain anyone who is curious about the current state of the rapidly shifting publishing landscape.

Representing the more conventional path of signing a book deal with an established publishing firm will be local author, editor, and renaissance man Dr. Leslie Anthony, and Karen Haughian, publisher with Winnipeg-based Signature Editions. Debating on behalf of self-publishing, e-publishing, and other non-conventional options are Vancouver (and formerly of Whistler) author/editor Janet Love Morrison, and local writer, publisher, and literary organizer Paula Shackleton.

Debater Profiles:

Leslie Anthony holds a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Toronto and is likely the only person on Earth to have published books on herpetology (the science of amphibians & reptiles) as well as skiing. He has won awards for both his poetry, and journalistic work in outdoor, action sport, and general-interest magazines such as Skier, Equinox, explore, and Powder, on whose masthead he’s appeared for twenty-one years. He lives in Whistler, British Columbia, where he most recently was named editor of the Mountain Life Annual publication.

Karen Haughian – While pursuing her master’s degree in English and teaching at Concordia, Karen Haughian decided to audit an undergrad publishing class — which resulted in the formation of a publishing company. Originally named Nuage Editions, the press began in 1986 as the very first desktop publisher in Quebec.  Since 1991 Karen has been the firm’s sole proprietor, subsequently relocating to Winnipeg and renamed as Signature Editions. Karen is committed to discovering and developing new Canadian writing of merit, regardless of genre, and the press publishes many first-book authors. These days Karen lives in Winnipeg with her husband, also a publisher (but the rivalry is generally friendly), and their teenaged son.

Janet Love Morrison was born in Toronto but raised in Greater Vancouver. Years spent travelling the world inspired her to document what she felt, what she saw and what she heard, leading her to write for Pique Newsmagazine, The Globe and Mail, and many other publications. She counts “Refugees, children, taxi drivers, fellow travellers, work colleagues, family, friends, Dhyan Vimal (founder of Friends to Mankind), and His Holiness the Dalai Lama” among her many teachers. She first started editing in 2004 for Masters’ World magazine in Malaysia, and since then has embraced a wide variety of editing assignments including websites, brochures, magazine articles, real estate advertisements and much more.

Paula Shackleton is a Canadian writer and publisher with a passion for literacy. She is the Founder and Executive Editor of www.bookbuffet.com, a literary website dedicated to avid readers and book groups; the Founder of Whistler Reads, a citywide reading program started in 2005; and the Founder of Literary Excursions, a destination travel entity incorporating lectures with cultural and gastronomic pursuits.  Paula is a Director on the VPLF Board and the co-chair of TOUCH.  Look for her book-art sculpture, Babble-On at TOUCH.

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About Whistler Debates: Whistlerites self-identify as informed, opinionated, and outspoken. We’re putting this assumption to the test. Inspired by the Doha Debates, our aim is to provide a forum for respectful, informed dialogue on wide-ranging topics of local or general interest. Debates occur year-round and generally coincide with ongoing festivals and events. All debates will feature a strong audience participation component, so come armed with an opinion, an open mind, and a desire to engage with some of the most pressing topics of our times.

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