Ascent Aspirations Magazine Print Anthology Three - AguaTerra Contributors

Becky Alexander is a Cambridge, Ontario poet. She has been published in Pegasus, Country Woman, Tower, People’s Political Letter, Zygote, Canadian Writer’s Journal, The Amethyst Review, and many other journals. She has four poetry publications. Her work has won many awards and has been included in national and international anthologies. In 2000 she founded Craigleigh Press, which has published eight collections to date. Becky has edited books for fellow writers, and served as a literary judge for various groups. She was the 2002 recipient of the Bernice Adams Cultural Awards for the City of Cambridge, and won for best poem in the 2004 One Book, One Community writing contest for the Kitchener Waterloo Region, based on Jane Urquhart’s book, The Stone Carvers.

Merle Amodeo is a retired teacher who has spent ten years writing and rewriting a novel and has recently begun to write poetry. Poems appeared in the Liaison anthology published by the Haliburton Highlands Writers and Editors Network, 2006.

Bill Ashwell: A native of Cambridge, Bill Ashwell has been a member of the Cambridge Writers Collective since 1995 and a volunteer tutor with the Literacy Group of Waterloo Region since 1992. He is also an arts correspondent for a local radio station and a freelance writer. His poetry and prose have been published in the Cambridge Reporter, several editions of the Writers Undercover Anthologies (Vols. IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and X), and The Cambridge Wartime Scrapbook. In addition, he was Associate Anthology Coordinator for the Writers Undercover Anthologies Vols. VI and VII. In 2004 he won second place in the Poetry category of the Anthology’s Tenth Anniversary Issue for his poems “New Jerusalem Road”, and “Intifada”, and received an Honourable Mention in the Short Story category for his story “Portrait of Elvis Weeps Real Tears”. In 2001 Bill published Moments of Clarity, a collection of his poetry. He has participated in numerous public poetry readings, most recently The Voices of Spring, and In Autumn We Remember—both local celebrations of the spoken word, and at the 2004 Remembrance Day Service in Cambridge. Bill Ashwell is an avid photographer and a graduate of the journalism program at Conestoga College.

Beebe Barksdale-Bruner has an MFA in poetry from Queens University and a forth-coming book of poetry from Press 53 in 2007. She has a background in fine arts, a BFA in painting from UNC-Greensboro and work and awards in ceramics.

Marina Blokker is a new writer. After growing up in northern BC, she obtained a BA from UBC. She is currently taking writing classes and is a caregiver.

Eric Bonholtzer is an award-winning author whose work has appeared in numerous publications, and his short story collection, The Skeleton’s Closet, is now available at Amazon.com and Bn.com (Barnes and Noble). His poetry collection, Remnants & Shadows, is also available. A recent recipient of first place prizes in both the short story and poetry categories of the College Language Association (CLA) Creative Writing Contest/Margaret Walker Prizes for Creative Writing, Eric resides in the Los Angeles area. For more information visit www.ericbonholtzer.com

Howard Brown lives with his wife, Alice, in Falkland, BC. He has published two collections of poetry: Light Through the Cracks: poems light and Dark (2003) and This Is My Table (2005). He has had several poems published in Quills Canadian Poetry Magazine and was a finalist for the 2004 Ralph Gustafson Prize. A chapbook entitled In the 1950s and Other Disrespectful Pieces, was launched in October 2006.

April Bulmer has four books and a chapbook. She holds graduate degrees in creative writing, religious studies and theology. She is interested in women’s spirituality. She recently won first prize in the TOPS, “Second Time Around Contest.” April lives in Cambridge, Ontario with her puppy, Lichee.

Jean L. Burbidge has written articles, poetry, stories and feature columns published in Canadian Stories, Eco-Farm and Garden ( Winter 2000), Between Us, a Hamilton,Ontario Regional Cancer Centre publication, Canadian Writers’ Journal, The Future Looks Bright poetry anthology, Poetry Canada Magazine, and in local newsletters. She was a winner in the Inkspot.com Book Challenge and The Oakville Writers’ Poetry contest (2006), and has performed her poetry at the Burlington Art Centre celebrating the work of local artists, at local Open Mikes and at the Burlington Central Park Labyrinth events. Jean is a member of an editing team that produces the newsletter for the Burlington Branch of the Retired Women Teachers of Ontariio. Jean is a member of the Canadian Authors Association and the Canadian Federation of Poets. Find out more at www.JLBurbidge.com

Ian Burgham is an associate of the League of Canadian Poets. In 2004 he won the Queen’s University Well-Versed Poetry Prize. His poems have been published in a number of literary journals and magazines including the Literary Review of Canada, dANDelion, Queen’s Quarterly, Scottish Arts Journal and Harpweaver. Ian Burgham has had one poetry book published in the United Kingdom: Confession of Birds, (2003 chapbook). His first full collection of poems, The StoneSkippers, will be published in Australia and New Zealand by Sunline Press, Perth (Introduction by Newcastle Prize winning poet, Roland Leach) and, in the UK by MacLean Dubois Publishers in February, 2007 (Introduction by novelist and poet, Alexander McCall Smith). He is currently working on his third collection. Ian works as a volunteer to further the efforts of the Griffin Prize for Excellence in Poetry.

“Here’s a gifted new poet, madly dashing his love-torn heart against the poetic stones of the universe. Impetuous, inspired, wild, unadorned, unrepentant, desperate, occasionally eloquent – this is a voice you don’t want to miss” Di Brandt

“These poems mark the emergence of a mature and distinctive poetic voice. The language is sure and elegant; most importantly, it is infused with a quiet musicality which is a rare and remarkable gift. This is the work of one who has an ear for the possibilities of language, and who has a natural understanding of cadence and rhythm.” Alexander McCall Smith

Heather Cardin lives in Gatineau, QC with her family. She received a Master’s degree in English from Carleton University (2005) after twenty years as a high school and college instructor. She has published a number of poems in a variety of magazines, has had a poetry manuscript accepted for publication in the U.K., has published a non-fiction book entitled Partners in Spirit (2006) and has another, A Warm Place in My Heart, forthcoming in fall 2007. Her blogs can be found at Book Woman and Poet.

Linda Lee Crosfield's poetry and fiction has appeared in Room of One’s Own, Horsefly, The New Orphic Review, Ascent Aspirations, WordWorks, and in several chapbooks and anthologies. She lives and writes in Ootischenia, in South East BC.

Carol Ramsden Deckert was the first winner of Canadian Author and Bookman’s New Poetry Contest. Her poetry and fiction have been broadcast on Sheila Martindale’s radio program, Cabbages & Kings and have appeared in various periodicals. Carol is head of the English Department at Orchard Park Secondary School in Stoney Creek and resides in Grimsby, Ontario.

Rebecca del Rio lives and writes in Northern California and Cataluña, Spain. A graduate of the Creative Writing program at the University of Arizona, her work appears in The Loop, Poets Against the War, and he Crazy Child Scribbler. Currently completing edits on her first novel, she also juggles writing with working as a court investigator in the County of Sonoma, traveling and being a wife, mother and grandmother.

Peggy Fletcher, a native of Newfoundland, now living in Sarnia, Ontario, is widely published in Canadian and international journals and has six poetry books, a short story collection and a play published. She recently won second prize at the Elora Writers’ Festival.

Lorraine Gane is a poet and writer living on Salt Spring Island. She is the author of Earth Light and Even the Slightest Touch Thunders on My Skin.

Katherine L. Gordon lives to write in a secluded river valley in Ontario. She has two full collections, many chapbooks, and is an award-winning poet whose work has been published in many languages. Her latest book Myth Weavers, a collection of Canadian myths and legends, Serengeti Press, was released in April, National Poetry Month, 2007. She is the resident columnist for Ancient Heart Magazine, England. Katherine believes that poetry is the link uniting all cultures.

Martha Gould is the author of two poetry collections, With the Whales in the Water and Poems for Owen (both Exile Editions, 1997), and one children’s book, The Silver Tree (Catchfire Press, 2002). She lives in North Bay, Ontario.

Jill Meriel Harrington-Fox’s poetry has been published in more than 30 anthologies and periodicals and has won prizes and honourable mentions. She works for the Region of Waterloo and lives in Cambridge where she has been an active member of the Cambridge Writers Collective for many years. Her first poetry chapbook is Where the Tide Changes (2005) Serengeti Press.

Sterling Haynes is a retired urban and country medical doctor. Mostly he writes humour. This summer a poem called “The Postal Telephone Blues” was published by the New Quarterly. A short story called “Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary” was published by The Medical Post. The two poems, “Touretting” and “Dementia Praecox” are dark. For fourteen years he looked after people who were mentally challenged, some in A.A. He sometimes writes about these people in his poetry and creative non-fiction. Perhaps the public, politicians and the legal profession will soon realize that addiction, mental aberrations and schizophrenic problems have to be dealt with in an understanding, humanitarian, non-criminal way.

Veryan Haysom is a lawyer based in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. He began writing poetry when he took a workshop from Carole Glasser Langille in the spring of 2006 and has continued writing with the encouragement of the ‘newly formed unnamed poetry group’ that grew out of Carole’s workshop.

John Hoben was raised in Musgrave Harbour, a small fishing community on the north-east coast of Newfoundland. After attending Memorial University of Newfoundland, and the University of Western Ontario, he worked as a teacher and lawyer in both Ontario and Newfoundland. John is currently a first year Ph.D student at Memorial University’s Faculty of Education. In 2006 he was awarded the Aldrich Doctoral Fellowship (Memorial University).

In 2005 his poem, “Salmon Falls, was awarded a Newfoundland and Labrador Arts and Letters Award”. In September 2006, two of his poems, “You Lie Still in Gentle Rivers”, and “Two Poems on a Theme” were chosen for publication by AB Collector Publishing for their compilation commemorating the life and work of Malcolm Somerville, A Quiet Bashful Man: Remembering Malcolm ISBN 1895466180. Two other poems, “To Alva”, and “What Was Lost” will also be published during the upcoming year in a collection entitled What Remains, a collection edited by Professors Elizabeth Yeoman and Ursula Kelly of Memorial University centered around the themes of cultural memory and loss. A related scholarly collection of essays Despite this Loss will include an academic essay on cultural mythology and meaning. He currently lives in Torbay with his wife, Sylvia.

Liz Huck is a semi-retired civil servant in Springfield, Illinois, and a long-time member of Springfield’s Poets and Writers Literary Forum. Her work has been published in Prism Quarterly and Illinois Times. She is the author of the chapbookMany Glories Together, and co-author, with Al Perry, of the novel, The Lanyard.

Barbara Hunt is a dry-eyed nostalgic who delivers contemporary bites of naked truth wrapped in a rich appealing texture. She writes poetry, fiction and non-fiction from her home in Port Perry, Ontario where she’s a correspondent for a local monthly magazine. She has been published with CBC Radio One, The Globe and Mail, Metroland, Esteem and Homemakers Magazine as well as in several anthologies. She can be reached at Writers Plyaground

Inge Israel is the author of seven books of poetry and short stories in French and in English, and five dramas. Her work has been widely published in literary magazines in Canada and abroad, and broadcast on BBC (UK) and CBC. She has won several prizes and, was named Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Vera Jensen is a writer, gardener, great grandmother, retired teacher and a poet. The joys and fears, the tears and laughter that these professions encompass are reflected in her poetry and stories. She lived for many years on the very edge of the ocean on the East Coast of Vancouver Island. Recently she moved a short way inland and into the town of Comox. Sidewalks and streetlights are a new experience, but she still has a garden. Add up the wear and tear, aches and pains of approaching old age, a generous dollop of imagination, a good measure of faith, a wonderful loving family spread across this continent and you will have a picture of Vera as she sees herself today. She has had stories published in Ranger Rick Magazine, and the Collections Editions of Gage Publishing; Stories and poems published in various regional and church affiliated magazines; and stories in the local newspapers. One of her recent poems won honorable mention in the West End Writer’s Contest.

Marcelle Kasprowicz was born in Niort, France and lives in Austin, Texas. She received an M.A. from UT at Austin (Foreign Language Education Department) in 1983. She was awarded first prize for her poem “House of Bones”, in the Austin International Poetry Festival Anthology Di-verse-city 2001. Marcelle also won an honorable mention in the Tri-language Poem Contest 2001 from Gival Press. In 2005 she was awarded second prize in the Ascent Aspirations Magazine for her poem “The Seer”. Her poem “Field Hospital” was published in the 2005 Texas Poetry Calendar. Organza Skies, her first book, was published in 2005.

Shari A. Koopmann resides in Florida with her partner and three dogs. She received an MA in literature from the University of New Hampshire, and she is currently a professor of English at Valencia Community College in Kissimmee. Articles of hers have appeared in or have been accepted by The Atlantic Literary Review and The Atlantic Critical Review Quarterly. Her poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in the following journals: Fulva Flava, Defect Cult, Falling Star Magazine, and Validium X.

John B. Lee is a Canadian author and poet who is presently Poet Laureate of Brantford, Ontario. He has received more than 60 prestigious international awards for poetry.

Barbara Lefcourt grew up in New York City. She migrated to Canada with her family in 1963. A former teacher of Literacy and Basic Skills, Barb started writing poetry as she neared retirement. Her poems have appeared in a number of juried anthologies, chapbooks and magazines. She is a member of The Cambridge Writers Collective and The Ontario Poetry Society. In 2005, "The Power of Penmanship" won third prize in the T.O.P.S. Food For Thought Chapbook Anthology Contest and "Treasure" won Honourable Mention in their Simply Good Poetry Contest. Barb's muse quickens, particularly, during summers spent on Manitoulin Island (Lake Huron) and travels in Australia when she periodically visits some of her family there.

Bernice Lever, member and past executive on national writing organizations, has been publishing poems for decades, but she still gets high on words. From 1972-1987, she edited WAVES in Ontario; now she enjoys life on Bowen Island, BC. BLESSINGS, Black Moss Press, 2000. Find more about her on www.colourofwords.com

Eric Linden has settled in the sunny Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada, after roaming and rambling his fair share throughout life. Writing has always been a significant part of his life. While he was living in the interior of B.C., his travelogues appeared weekly in the local newspaper, along with his advertising for the travel industry and real estate. Sometime in 2001, he responded to a competition to write poetry. He didn’t win, but began a delightful hobby, spinning off ballads, pantoums, sonnets, and other rhyme and meter verse, as well as the rare bit of free verse. His first book, Linden’s Lyre, was published in 2006. The British Poetry Life and Times, several anthologies and Sonnetto Poesia have printed his works, and his garland about the Halifax Explosion of 1917 was accepted by the National Maritime Museum in Canada.

Steven Erik Lindstrom is a teacher, writer, actor, and amateur mycologist. After a decade of inveterate wandering in Europe, Asia, and Africa, he now makes his home in Goderich, Ontario with his wife, Laurie Hayden, daughter Sophia, and Rhodesian Ridgeback, Mali.

Sue Littleton: Born in Texas, Sue Littleton now lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her first two books, in Spanish, were published in Buenos Aires in 1972 and 1974. After 18 years in Argentina, she returned to Texas in 1976 and in 1990 received a B.L.S. from St. Edward’s University, Austin, Texas. She has published six chapbooks. The Ranch on the Pecos, the story of her family’s West Texas sheep ranch was published in 1996. Her poems have been published in numerous anthologies, including three of the Ascent Aspirations anthologies and in the Ascent Aspirations Magazine online. Her poem “Regime Change Begins at Home,” from 100 Poets Against the War, has been published in Croatia and Denmark. She has edited three poetry anthologies and for five years hosted bilingual poetry venues in Austin under the auspices of the Austin Commission for the Arts. Sue is one of the four founders of the Austin International Poetry Festival, now attended by poets from all over the world. She has four books on CDrom, two with audio readings (Waltsan Publishing) and her bilingual illustrated epic poem, Corn Woman, Mujer Maiz, is available in its entirety at hhtp://www.waltsan.com/FTP/sandra/corn_woman/index.html and is the history of corn in the Americas. She has participated in the Encounters of Narrators and Poets organized by the Asociación Cultural de las Dos Orillas, Uruguay, and is presenting two books, one an illustrated bilingual re-edition of Imágenes/Images and the other Papel de Barrilete/Kite Paper (Botella al Mar, Colección Poetas del Sur) at the 2007 Uruguayan Book Fair.

Sandra Lloyd’s work has appeared in periodicals including The Windsor ReView, The Globe and Mail, The Prairie Journal, and Hammered Out. She received a literary prize from MSVU in Halifax, graduated from the Humber School for Writers in 2004, and served on the advisory board for McMaster¹s Main Street Anthology from 2002-2005. She lives in Hamilton, Ontario, and writes with the enduring support and friendship of The Pearls Writing Group.

Pamela A. MacBean lives in New Hampshire. She has been published in Adagio Verse Quarterly, Subtletea.com, Small Brushes, Autumn Leaves, Open Mind’s Quarterly 2nd prize Bi-Annual Brainstorm Contest, 2nd prize Lisbon, NH’s Fall Festival of the Arts, and nominated for The Pushcart Prize. A chapbook, Postscripts in Time, was published by Foot Hills Publishing in 2005.

Kathryn MacDonald has previously published under the name Deneau in literary journals such as Descant, Northward Journal, The Fiddlehead and small anthologies. She has also published essays and recipes in The Farm and City Cookbook (Second Story Press, co-authored with Mary Lou Morgan) as well as non-fiction articles in popular and trade magazines.

Robert Martens grew up in a Mennonite farming village, and has never forgotten the scent of manure on quiet spring mornings. He has helped write and co-edit several regional histories, hoping this might in some small way help stall the spread of mass global abuse. Recently Robert contributed to and co-edited an anthology of west coast Mennonite writers.

Florence McKie is a retired educational consultant living in Edmonton, Alberta. Poetry and memoir have been broadcast on CBC Radio. Poetry and personal essays have been published in Contemporary Verse 2, Haiku Canada, Other Voices, Haiku Canada and Maclean’s. Most recently, “Heather at the Neurologist’s” was published in the May 2006 issue: Narratives About Disabilities in Equity and Excellence in Education.

Michael Mirolla is a novelist and short story writer currently residing in Toronto. His most recent publication is Berlin: A Novel(available for purchase online at http://www.trafford.com/robots/03-1650.html). A collection of short stories— The Formal Logic of Emotionwas published by Nuage in 1992. One of the stories from the collection, “A Theory of Discontinuous Existence,” was also selected for that year’s The Journey Prize Anthology, awarded for the best short fiction published in literary magazines in Canada during the previous year. He has had short stories published in numerous journals in Canada, the U.S. and Britain, including several anthologies such as Event’s Peace & War Anthology, Telling Differences: New English Fiction from Quebec, Tesseracts 2: Canadian Science Fiction, the Collection of Italian-Canadian Fiction, and New Wave of Speculative Fiction Book 1.

Debbie Okun Hill Since the fall 2004, Debbie Okun Hill has had two short stories and over 60 poems published in over 25 different Canadian and US publications including Quills, MOBIUS, North American Maple, Rhyme and Reason: Modern Formal Poetry, Reportage (Cranberry Tree Press), and all print editions of Ascent Aspirations Magazine. Her poems have won awards from The Ontario Poetry Society, the Canadian Poetry Association, the 2006 Toward the Light Poetry Contest, and most recently the 2007 WCDR Dan Sullivan Memorial Poetry Contest. Read her most current work in the chapbook Executive Sweet: A Collection of Poetry by TOPS Executives.

Ann Olson has taught literature and writing at Heritage University in Toppenish, Washington, for more than twelve years. She holds a Master’s from the University of Illinois and is working on her MFA in Creative Writing at Eastern Washington University. The Yakima River runs through Ellensburg where she lives.

Diane Attwell Palfrey Diane Attwell Palfrey was born in Toronto and has lived in Cambridge for the past sixteen years. She is a poet and prose writer. Diane is a member of the Cambridge Writers Collective and has poetry published by the Waterloo-Wellington CAA, Serengeti Press, Craigleigh Press, Hammered Out, The Ontario Poetry Society and Ascent Aspirations.

Emily Paskevics is 18 years old and is about to be a first-year Arts and Sciences student at the University of Toronto. She hopes to pursue an undergraduate degree in English, History and/or Philosophy. Her interests include writing, reading, photography and waterskiiing. Her work has previously apeared in Highlights and A Celebration of Young Poets by Creative Communication Inc. As well, she will be published in the upcoming Toronto Public Library creative writing magazine, Young Voices.

James Phillips, educated at Oxford is a teacher of English at Neston High School in Cheshire, England. His poetry has been published in Orbis, Weyfarers and Iota. He is presently re-drafting a full-length, semi-autobiographical stage play about a group of fools and charlatans.

Gary Pierluigi was a freelance journalist and creative writing teacher in several high schools and colleges. In 1996 Gary became a quadriplegic. He has numerous publishing poetry credits in many literary journals, including CV2 and Queen’s Quarterly.

Joan Rippel is a retired business woman originally from southern Ontario. She has been living and writing in B.C. for over 30 years and is a long time member of The Federation of BC Writers. She has had a number of poems published, and is presently writing fantasy/science fiction novels and books. She lives in Coquitlam, BC.

Kathleen Schmitt came from the USA to Canada in 1971. Author of Seasons of the Feminine Divine in three volumes published mid-90s by Crossroad, New York, Kathleen has also won several short story awards, including first place in the 1997 Amethyst, and earlier The Edmonton Sun. A retired Anglican priest, she lives with her spouse Ed in Burnaby, B. C. The Schmitts have two grown children but alas, no cats.

Trish Shields has studied Fine Arts and creative writing. Her first book of poetry Soul Speak was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award. Trish’s poetry and short stories are published internationally. Her first novel Inferno was on The Open Book’s best seller’s list for 2004. Trish was the co-ordinator/editor for the Canadian Poetry Association’s 20th Anniversary Anthology. She is a member of a number of literary organizations: League of Canadian Poets, Canadian Poetry Association, Canadian Federation of Poets, Canada-Cuba Literary Alliance. She lives on Vancouver Island with her partner and three children.

K.V. Skene has appeared in numerous Canadian, U.K., U.S., Irish and Australian publications. Two of her chapbooks, Only a Dragon (2002) andA Calendar of Rain (2004), won the Shaunt Basmajian Chapbook Award . A further chapbook Edith (a series of poems on Nurse Edith Cavell) was recently published by Flarestack Publishing (UK). A long-term expat Canadian, K.V. Skene grew up in Lachine Quebec and has lived in various parts of Canada as well as England and Ireland. She is presently ensconced in Oxford.

Laurie Smith

Co-publisher of Cranberry Tree Press, Laurie Smith has been awarded prizes in poetry and short fiction by Secrets of the Orange Couch, The Guelph Alumnus, The Lance, Express Magazine, Detroit Women Writers, Blue Moon Press, and Literary Arts Windsor. Twice winner of the Mayor’s Awards of Excellence in the Arts, she was the recipient of the inaugural Adele Wiseman Poetry Prize. Her collections include gall/stones (Scratch n’ Sniff Ink, 1995), one ninth of a cat’s life (Cranberry Tree Press, 1999), and Menagerie (LAW-PPP, 2005). She is currently developing a poetry manuscript based on the writings and extended influence of Charles Darwin, and acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council.

Susan Snowden’s poems have appeared in anthologies and literary journals, including Now and Then, Moonwort Review, Slow Trains, Backstreet Quarterly, and Waterways: Poetry in the Mainstream. She has received awards from Writer’s Digest, Appalachian Writers Association, The Writers’ Workshop, and others. Snowden is a freelance book editor based in Hendersonville, NC. She also teaches creative writing part-time at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock.

Laura Stavro-Beauchamp lives in Toronto and has just received her BA in political science from Dalhousie University. She is currently pursuing a career in publishing.

Maude Stephany is transfigured by the playfulness of the natural world. She joins in the gambol with her words.

Luminita Suse lives in Ottawa. She is a member of the Ottawa Independent Writers, Valley Writers’ Guild, and The Ontario Poetry Society. Her poetry has been published in the “Anthology One” and “Agua Terra” anthologies of Ascent Aspirations Magazine, Enchanted Crossroads anthology and Verse Afire newsletter of The Ontario Poetry Society, Sage of Consciousness literary E-Zine, The Saving Banister anthology of the Canadian Authors Association – Niagara Branch, and Bywords Quarterly Journal. Visit her website at Web Site

Betsy Symons lives in Deep Bay on the east coast of Vancouver Island where she teaches painting and creative writing out of her studio, Symons Studio. Her work has been published in Visions, The New Quarterly, Prairie Schooner, Scrivener, and Backwater Review. She also sells her paintings - abstract landscapes in oil and watercolour. She is a swimmer and a converted semi-ruralite environmentalist.

Lynn Tait lives in Sarnia, Ontario. Her work has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies including Lichen, Windsor Review, Quills, Contemporary Verse 2, Carousel, No Love Lost III, and Ascent Aspirations Magazine Anthology Two, Windfire. She has published a chapbook titled Breaking Away, 2002.

Adele Kearns Thomas, former R.N. Supervisor, has authored two poetry books, been twice finalist in Shaunt Basmajian Chapbook Poetry Competitions, and tied for second place in Shaunt Basmajian Poetry Chapbook Competition, 2006, and has published in The Prairie Journal, Carousel, Sandburg/ Livesey Award, and Dark Lullaby, in US. She is a member of The League, and past president of Sarnia branch of CAA. She resides in Sarnia, Ontario.

Mildred Tremblay lives in Nanaimo, BC. Her latest book of poetry The Thing About Dying is available from Oolichan Books. She is the recipient of many awards, amongst them The Arc National Poetry Award, and The League of Canadian Poets Award. Recently she placed first and second in the Victoria Erotica Festival Poetry contest.

Rosalee van Stelten is a widely published free-lance writer whose debut poetry book, Pattern of Genes, is published by Frontenac House. Now retired, her working life has taken her from a quonset hut on Nova Scotia’s shore to Buckingham Palace. A Calgarian for many years, she now lives in Victoria.

Wendy Visser lives in Cambridge, Ontario. She has been published recently in Ascent Aspirations Anthology Three, AguaTerra,2007, Hammered Out # 11, Peter Street Publications, Hamilton, On. Street # 5, Serengeti Press, 2007, Myth Weavers: Canadian Myths and Legends, Serengeti Press, 2007, Tower Poetry, Vol 56, No.1, Tower Poetry Society Press, Summer 2007, and in Cloud Shine, launched in 2007 by Craigleigh Press. Wendy’s haiku are currently featured on the dailyhaiku website where she is one of six contributors for the spring/summer sessio, 2007. Her book, Riding A Wooden Horse, Craigleigh Press recently won the WRAC (Waterloo Regional Arts Council) best book award.

Kate Watson is the theatre critic for Halifax’s weekly newspaper, The Coast. Her fiction has appeared in Spinetingler, her poetry in Regina Weese, and her non-fiction in Cezanne’s Carrot.

Joanna M. Weston is married, and has three sons, and two cats. She lives on Vancouver Island and is a full-time writer of poetry, short-stories, and poetry reviews. She has been published internationally in journals, print and online, and in anthologies. She has written two middle-readers, The Willow-tree Girl and Those Blue Shoes.

S. J. White is a retired photographer. He writes non-fiction, short stories and poetry. He has published three books and is published here and there in the North American literary press. He lives with his wife in Brantford, Ontario, and is a member of the Cambridge Writers’ Collective and the Hamilton Poetry Centre.

Laurie Anne Whitt’s poems have appeared in various journals, including The Spoon River Poetry Review, Puerto Del Sol, The Malahat Review, Wisconsin Review, Hawai’i Review, PRISM International, Cottonwood and Poetry Canada Review. Her most recent manuscript, Interstices, won the 2005 Holland Prize and was published by Logan House Press in May 2006. Two collections of her poetry were published in 2001. Words For Relocation (Will Hall Press) won the 2001 Norma O. Harrison Chapbook Competition, and a long dream of difference (Frith Press) placed second in the 2000 Open Poetry Chapbook Competition. Her work has been assisted by fellowships from the Robert M.MacNamara Foundation, Hedgebrook, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, the KHN Center for the Arts, Centrum and the Vermont Studio Center. Currently, she lives in the Wasatch Mountains near Spanish Fork, Utah and teaches philosophy and integrated studies at Utah Valley State.

J.R. Yeates: Born in rural Ontario as the youngest of her mother’s 13 children, J.R. Yeates was deeply nurtured by her family’s love of reading and the arts. Each sibling seemed drawn to excel in a different form, and poetry proved to be Jennifer’s first and constant voice. Relocating to British Columbia at the age of 9, she found one door after another open to her enthusiasm for language and cultures, and by her early 20’s had learned French, studied Vietnamese for a year while volunteering in that community, and begun to explore West African dance and music. The easily accessible diversity of the West Coast led her to discover traditional Chinese poets such as Li Po and Du Fu as well as the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore, and their influences are clearly present in her verse as she lyrically bridges her admiration of vivid, terse language and parallels of thought with themes of striving for (and struggling with) moral improvement.

Annette Yourk lives and works on Quadra Island, B.C. Her fiction and creative non-fiction have appeared in newspapers, magazines, anthologies and on CBC radio. She co-edited and published the anthology ShoreLines; Memoirs & Tales of the Discovery Island. She enjoys reading at cultural events.