We’re a group of writers based in Tofino and Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia, Canada (although now our ranks boast several Tofino “ex-pats”). We write fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screenplays, scripts and more, for kids and adults. We are journalists, novelists, poets, playwrights, bloggers. We publish chapbooks under the Mudflat Ink imprimatur. Some of us are published, some self-published, some have works-in-progress. All of us write for the pure pleasure of the creative act.
This is who’s punching the keyboard these days (in alphabetical order, naturally).
![]() ADRIENNE MASON is a multi-talented writer and editor. Her works for child and adult include books on science, biology and history. She blogs at Tough City Writer. For more information, visit adriennemason.com. |
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![]() Chris won in the creative non-fiction category of the Federation of British Columbia Writers 2016 contest, Literary Writes, for her piece “The Shaking Man.” The Pacific Rim Arts Society presented Chris with its inaugural Rainy Coast Arts Award for Significant Accomplishment in 2014. Website at ChristineLowther.blogspot.ca, Facebook author page here. |
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![]() David now lives in Tofino, and is a member of the BC Federation of Writers and the Clayoquot Writers Group. His first book, Kittenstein and Frankenfur—the gambling cats, reveals how mini-monsters from kitten hell can become their owner’s last hope of salvation. Both books will be available in print and ebook versions on his soon-to-be-launched website, davidfloody.com. |
![]() She was writer-editor for TV’s high school quiz show Reach for the Top, as well as coordinator and game producer for the televised segments on City TV and TVO. She spent 6 years on the production side of the Toronto film industry including as a member of IATSE Local 667’s Camera trainee program, camera second on Detroit Rock City and Canadian Film Centre productions. Erin has an MFA in screenwriting from UBC and is a current member of Women in Film and Television (WIFT). |
![]() greg blanchette has written on spec and on assignment for 30 years. His travel features have appeared in several magazines; his essays, articles and letters to the editor have graced newspapers local to national. He moved from Vancouver to Ucluelet in 1998, relocating to Tofino in 2008, where he continues “hobby writing” and volunteering in the arts. His website gregblee.ca includes a blog, and samples of prose and poetry. |
![]() JAN JANZEN shares his visions and experiences from the mystical to the mundane, with love and humour as themes in a cosmic dance where no one is a wallflower. |
![]() Her work has appeared in various anthologies and literary magazines, and on CBC Radio. Her first poetry chapbook, Ipsissima Verba (Latin meaning “the very words”), is a “found” poem about math, philosophy, definitions and a middle-aged woman’s life. In 2009, she wrote her first commissioned work, Requiem for the Fridge, a poem written on the door of a dead refrigerator. She is a founding member of Performance Anxiety, a performance poetry collective, which first presented its work to the public in December 2011. She is also a member of The Diversity Project, a performance group which explores universal themes through a tapestry of art forms. She has recently begun making handmade books to showcase her poetry. And someday her website, janicelore.ca, will be up and running. |
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![]() JOANNA STREETLY is a long-time Tofino resident. Writer and artist, she has been editor of the long-running The Sound magazine. Her books include the kayaking guidebook Paddling Through Time, the story anthology Salt in Our Blood, and the novel Silent Inlet. For more information, visit joannastreetly.com. |
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![]() MARION ANN BERRY writes up a storm in Victoria, where she moved from Tofino some years ago. A dedicated writer, Min’s first manuscript is off to the publishers, with several more in the works. Min blogs at marionann.wordpress.com. |
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URSULA BANKE has lived in Tofino since 1967. She is an artist, musician and writer. Her memoir, Once in a Lifetime, is now in print. Her website is at ursulabanke.com. |
Hi Doug,
Thanks for your comment/inquiry on the Clayoquot Writers Group site. We’re based in Tofino but we do get to Port Alberni occasionally. We have a reading scheduled there on 25 January, for example.
I’ve forwarded your request to the group, to see if any of us might want to make the dash to Port to talk to your students. A couple of us are also in contact with some Port Alberni writers, so they can forward your request to them.
I’m glad to hear that some teachers are keen on poetry — it does rather seem like a poetic desert out there sometimes!
~greg
Hello,
I’m an education student at VIU and am currently doing a practicum in Port Alberni. In April and May I will be doing a five week poetry unit with three of my grade 8 classes and would like to introduce them to a poet who could talk to the class and read some poetry. Does anyone know of a poet from Port Alberni or who would not mind traveling to Port Alberni to talk to my class? As a teacher I really want to do what I can to support Canadian poetry and I think this is a very important way to introduce students to contemporary poetry.
Thanks,
Does anyone know of a writers group in Port Alberni?
Hi!– Clayoquot-Orca has a lovely lounge with fireplace; attractive, friendly ambiance, ‘the Chuckling Oyster’– we’ll be delighted to host your group–if of interest do feel free to give me a call
cheers, Olivia 725-2323