Friday, October 26, 2007

Thumbscrews Book Launch tomorrow

October 26, 2007
Thumbscrews Book Launch
Come help us launch Thumbscrews by Natalie Zina Walschots

Pages Books in Kensington, 1135 Kensington Road NW
October 26th at 7:30pm
Free and Open to the Public!

Thumbscrews is a poetic engagement with the aesthetics of sadomasochism and consensual pain. It employs the techniques of mannerist poetry to constrain language as ropes, cuffs, or shackles might be used to constrain the body. Each poem can be taken as a miniature sadomasochistic encounter where language is tied up, beaten, and twisted into submission. This book abuses language; language begs for it. Check http://www.albertamagazines.com/news_and_events/
for more details.
Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

How to Pitch Panel tonight

Read Alberta Magazines Month (RAMM) is winding down, so be sure to attend tonight's "How to Pitch" panel at Pages in Kensington, 1135 Kensington Road NW, Calgary starting at 7:30pm. There will be some nibbles, but that's not the only reason you should come...

If you're an aspiring writer, looking to actually make an income from your art, you'll want to learn the basics (as in how to write a focused pitch that actually gets noticed by editors). Three prominent Alberta editors will be doling out the wisdom for FREE, so there's really no reason not to attend. Unless of course, you like writing in obscurity....your call.

Presented in partnership with the Writers Guild of Alberta

PANELISTS:
- Jennifer Hamilton, Managing Editor, Avenue Calgary
- Andrew Mah, Editor, WHERE Calgary
- Peter Norman, Editor, Alberta Views

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Edmonton antics and Calgary pics

So...the AMPA team just got back to Calgary from Edmonton, and boy was it a hoot. No literally. We got so many hoots from our Flippin' Sweet t-shirts that we were both flattered and a little creeped out at the amount of chest-ogling that occurred (I guess that's what happens when your slogan is smack across the chest area).

Nevertheless, it was a 'magical' time with many highlights, among them:

- a magazine display with free samples at the Edmonton Public Library that got absolutely devoured (in a good way of course)
- hearing journalist and Legacy writer Paula Simons read at Audrey's books
- Maria Dunn performing a set of gorgeous songs at Audrey's books (some of which are still stuck in my head...)
- having a rockstar editorial panel at Grant MacEwan college
- educating the public and hearing "I had no idea there were so many magazines in Alberta"
- dinner at Mikado (mmm..sea urchin)
- Edmonton's extremely easy to navigate thanks to the grid system

Amongst the lowlights:

- dinner at Glenn's Restaurant in Red Deer's gasoline alley (this was really the only low point of the trip)


And here are some photos from our Read Alberta Magazines Month launch at Art Central.


Spoonfed Soups doling out tasty hot goodness (from Avenue magazine)


Potter Greg McRitchie making it look easy (from AirdrieLIFE magazine)


The Lonely Hunters performing some charming tunes (from filling Station magazine)


Reader Felicia Pacentrilli (from Freefall magazine)


Lemon tarts from a Ladybug bakery


Global Television's Gord Gillies right before the event

Thursday, October 11, 2007

AMPA at WordFest

You might think oooh, magazines, glamorous. But a quick glance at our office space below can assure you that there is plenty of grunt work and moving of heavy magazines. (gym pass? who needs one? just work in magazines)

WordFest is October 9-14, and there's a display of FREE Alberta magazine samples, courtesy of the over 50 magazine publishers in Alberta, outside the Vertigo theatre in Calgary tower. Pick a few up. Read and enjoy them. Then enter our Snap, Subscribe & Win! contest to win a trip to Jasper or Banff (thanks to Travel Alberta).

boxed in AMPA