Julie Burtinshaw

VPL South Hill Library Talk Today

Julie Burtinshaw — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:36:17 +0000

Thanks to the Writers’ Union of Canada for sponsoring my talk today at the VPL South Hill Library on Fraser Street. I will be talking to a grade 12 law class from John Oliver High School about myself, my writing and a couple of my books, including The Darkness Between the Stars and The Perfect Cut.

This is a great opportunity to talk to students about my life as a writer and to give them some personal insight into what drives me to write about teens and for teens. In this changing literary landscape, these chances to speak directly to kids are fewer and farther between so I am grateful to the Writers’ Union for this afternoon’s face-to-face with my readers. It will be fun

TWISTED POETS LITERARY SALON

Julie Burtinshaw — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 20:13:01 +0000

Thursday April 25th 2013
Pandora’s Collective Presents
James McCann and Eric Hamber Secondary Writers in the Making

Time: 7pm-9:30 pm (sign up for open mic from 7 to 7:30pm)
Location: The Cottage Bistro
4468 Main Street Vancouver, BC V5V 3R2
Hosts: Bonnie Nish and kc dyer
Suggested Donation: $5.00 at the door.

Share in an evening of literary surprises while wrapped in a warm and
encouraging environment. Connect, read and enjoy. In the spirit of
Vancouver all are welcome. Monthly: 2nd Wednesday and 4th Thursday. (We
take a break in August.)

No News is, Well, It’s No News. Deal With It

Julie Burtinshaw — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 02:33:22 +0000

One of the most difficult things about being a writer, at least for me, is the time between sending out a new manuscript and waiting for a response from an agent or a publisher. It’s always the same level of anxiety for me and the longer it takes to hear back, the more insecure I become. Of course, I worry that the manuscript that I thought was so polished and readable was actually riddled with errors and dead boring. Or maybe it’s really good, but it somehow didn’t make it to its destination. Instead it is lost somewhere in the cyber world. Of course I know this is not possible, as I did receive an email confirming it arrived safely, but none the less….

I know I could work on my next book. I know I should be working on that manuscript, but for some reason I just can’t. That’s not exactly true. I just won’t. Not for a little while at least. Not until I can’t stop myself. Not until my computer pulls at me like a magnet and begs that I tap out those first few words, the easy ones: “Chapter One”.

The good thing is that I’ve had enough experience to know that this will eventually happen. It’s close. The characters that have been dancing about in my imagination want me to show up at the page and give them a chance at a life of their own.

Everyday I resist the urge to call my agent. I don’t want to be a pest. She will call me. I just have to be patient.

But it’s so hard.

Maybe if I just forget all about it and begin that new book; the one that’s taking up so much space in my imagination. Okay, here goes.

Chapter One

Feels good.

Canadian Children’s Book Centre Writing Contest for Teens

Julie Burtinshaw — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:45:28 +0000

Book Week Writing Contest for Kids & Teens Grades 4 to 12

Deadline approaching: February 1, 2013!
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s annual *Book Week Writing Contest for Kids & Teens is now open. This national contest is a much anticipated part of TD Canadian Children’s Book Week.

Young writers are invited to send in a sample of their best writing. Judging is done by noted writers from across Canada and the winner from each grade will receive a $250 gift certificate for the bookstore of his or her choice.

Two honourable mentions from each grade category will also receive $50 gift certificates.

Deadline

All entries must be postmarked by February 1, 2013.* The winners will be announced during TD Canadian Children’s Book Week 2013.

Contest details and entry forms can be found here

Say No to Northern Gateway Pipeline – Protest Today

Julie Burtinshaw — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 20:13:13 +0000

The federal government’s Joint Review Panel of the Northern Gateway Pipeline is coming to Vancouver tomorrow, Monday January 14.

People from across British Columbia have formed an unbroken wall of opposition against this dangerous tarsands pipeline to protect our coast and climate. However, many believe the JRP could still rubber-stamp this project unless we keep up the pressure.

What are you doing at 5pm tomorrow? Over 1,400 people have already signed up on Facebook to join the protest,¹ and this will be a key moment to say “no!” to the Northern Gateway Pipeline. Can you join in?

When: Monday January 14th, 5:00 PM
Where: Victory Square at Cambie & Hastings Street, Vancouver
What: Noise demo, bring pots and pans if you can

The event is organized by Rising Tide.

Thanks for all you do.

With hope and respect,
Jamie on behalf of the Leadnow.ca team

[1] https://www.facebook.com/events/203420029795241/

UBC Creative Writing Locution Night – A Perfect Literary Evening

Julie Burtinshaw — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 06:28:59 +0000

This evening I participated in UBC’s MFA first locution of the year at the Cottage Bistro on Main Street.

Locution, if you are curious (as I was) is:

1. A particular word, phrase, or expression, especially one that is used by a particular person or group.

2. Style of speaking; phraseology.

(Free Online Dictionary)

Besides myself, three talented upcoming writers/poets read: Jen Neale, Esther McPhee, and Nadine Bachan. I’m always in awe of the talent that comes out of UBC’s creative writing program. I saw some of that talent and creativity tonight. It was a wonderful evening.

I had the opportunity to read from a book I’ve been working on for quite a while. I’m always a bit nervous when reading from a first or second draft, but I find that by hearing the words spoken aloud, I can better understand what works and what doesn’t. And to be offered the chance to do this in front of a room full of fellow writers was such a gift!

Thank you UBC for inviting me. And thank you for introducing me to a great little Bistro full of words and music.

The Suesstivus Holiday Twitter Challenge Today!

Julie Burtinshaw — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:36:53 +0000

Check out the Canada Writes Website and have some fun in this Twitter Challenge. You can find all of the information at the above website. I am so swamped with writing and Christmas, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to participate, but I’m going to try my best. I could use a little fun today.

Canada Writes! Creative Nonfiction Competion

Julie Burtinshaw — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 22:20:51 +0000

Nonfiction Prize

The competition opens December 1, 2012.Deadline to submit: February 1, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. ET

This prize is awarded once a year to the best original, unpublished, work of Creative Nonfiction that is submitted to the competition. All Canadians can participate.

The Creative Nonfiction Prize includes memoir, biography, humour writing, essay (including personal essay), travel writing, and feature articles. While the events must be real and the facts true, creative nonfiction conveys your message through the use of literary techniques such as characterization, plot, setting, dialogue, narrative, and personal reflection. In works of creative nonfiction, the writer’s voice and opinion are evident. The work should be accessible to a general reading audience (i.e., not written for a specialized or academic audience).

The competition is blind. A jury composed of well-known and respected Canadian authors will select a 1st place winner and 4 runners-up.

The First Prize winner will receive $6,000, courtesy of the Canada Council for the Arts, and will have his/her story published in Air Canada’s enRoute magazine and on the Canada Writes website. He or she will also be awarded a two-week residency at The Banff Centre’s Leighton Artists’ Colony (details about the residency here), and will receive exposure on CBC Radio.

The 4 runners-up will each receive $1,000, courtesy of the Canada Council for the Arts, and their stories will be published on the Canada Writes website.

Submissions to the Creative Nonfiction prize must be between 1,200 and 1,500 words.

A fee of $25.00 (taxes included) for administration purposes is required for each entry.

For more information visit the CBC Webpage for the Creative Nonfiction Prize

there is no why, only is

Julie Burtinshaw — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 23:12:00 +0000

there is no why, only is.

Gun Violence and Mass Murder: The Terrible Aftermath

Julie Burtinshaw — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 20:45:43 +0000

The news out of the United States this week about the latest massacre in a small town called Newport, Connecticut brought back a flood of memories for me.

Just after the killings in an American high school in 1999, (Columbine) I wrote this piece for the Globe and Mail newspaper. Since then, gun violence in the States has reached unacceptable levels. I care becasue they are our neighbours. I care because each time someone is gunned down, a family is destroyed. I care because I know that it doesn’t have to be this way.

Julie

May 10 1999, Globe and Mail

What Happens After the Media Leaves Town?

Violent death draws the media to the crime scene like vultures to a carcass, but what happens when the story dies and the media move on to the next big tragedy? There are two dates that haunt my family, now and forever: June 17 and December 3. The former is the day that in 1954 my brother Eddie was born. The latter is the day in 1974 when he was gunned down in cold blood, aged 20 by a 13-year-old boy, just because he happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

That date burns in our family’s collective memory, even though 38 years have gone by since Eddie was left to die on the floor in the Christmas tree-trimming department at a downtown Vancouver store.

Eddie was working nights as a maintenance man at Woodward’s department store. The boy had broken into the store, and it’s believed Eddie surprise him stealing ammunition. My brother was shot seven times with a 22-calibre rifle. His body wasn’t discovered until the morning. The boy was caught the next day and charged with what was then called juvenile delinquency.

In 2013, my brother would have turned 58. I struggle to imagine what he would be like now. Would he have children of his own? He was so young when he died. Young enough to dream big dreams about his future, but a young teen took away those dreams before he could realize them.

The local media were there on that terrible day only weeks before Christmas in 1974. A picture of his half-exposed body was splashed over the front page of the Vancouver Sun. Reporters talked about his education at St. George’s private school for boys, about his heart-broken parents and two loving sisters, 14 and 16 at the time.

My parents hid the newspapers from us in a futile attempt to protect us from seeing what no human being should ever have to see, especially two teenage girls whose family had just been violently reduced by one.

I think the story ran for a week or two in the papers across Canada. For us the story is still being written. My mother walks with the memory of my brother hovering beside her. Framed photos of a hopeful young man just into his twenties decorate her living space. A mother does not forget. Ever. Not even for a second. My children, his niece and nephew do not have an uncle. I wish they did. I wish I had more than a memory to offer them. Memories don’t help to celebrate birthdays, graduations, sports days, new babies or go for long walks on the beach.

So 38 years have passed since Eddie died – since the story died. The gore, the shock, the police cars, the detectives, the crank phone calls, the memorial service, the court case – all faded into the past. I used to be the middle child. Am I the oldest now? I don’t really know. My parents had three children. Do they still? Rebuilding a family identity after such a wrenching tragedy takes a lifetime or more.

Things happened because of Eddie’s death. Gun laws in Canada were changed so that a child could not walk into a store, pull a gun down from an unlocked rack, load it and shoot to kill. My mother fought for that. After she identified Eddie’s bullet-torn body, she decided that no parent should ever have to live with such horror. For our family everything changed.

Nothing will ever be the same again.

I have learned about loss and love and forgiveness. I know nothing is guaranteed and life is precious. I know not to read the headlines or look at the front page pictures, or watch American news for hours, because there is no truth or integrity in this kind of reporting. It is voyeurism pure and simple.

In the end, it does not matter whether it took one bullet or seven to extinguish my brother’s life. Do not be fooled by colour photos and live reporting. Remember, long after the terrible crime has been committed, after the cameras and reporters have rushed off to the next massacre, that is when the real story begins.

Ask anyone who has been blessed enough or cursed enough to know.