After seeing initial success during its first iteration, the Airdrie Public Library (APL) is set to host Calgary author Simon Rose as the library’s second Writer in Residence for the month of November.
In his temporary role, Rose will be operating a number of workshops and other online consultations to help local writers with whatever questions they may have about the trade, as well as share experiences about his own career.
“We interviewed a lot of people for this,” said Eric Pottie, programming, and customer engagement manager with APL. “We are very excited that we landed Simon, and we are excited to do this again.”
APL introduced its first-ever Writer in Residence last year, when they welcomed C.B. Forrest in November 2020 to mentor local writers and share his knowledge of the publishing industry.
Pottie said it is important to keep this program going because APL feels having a Writer in Residence is a great way to support local storytellers who may want to pursue some additional help and resources.
“We want to support people in developing their craft, and also support people who write the books that may end up in our library,” he said. “We think this is a great way to be supportive.”
Through a variety of clubs, contests. and events, Pottie said he knows there are a lot of writers in the Airdrie area, and he hopes programs like this will help continue to develop the local literary community.
“Someone here from Airdrie may be the next Stephen King but may just need that little break,” Pottie said. “We are always excited and look forward to offering opportunities.”
Throughout November, APL has scheduled four public talks or supporting workshops with Rose, with one of them being an author reading where Rose will share some of his latest work.
Writing for publication, writing for children and young adults, writing beyond books, and developing a career are a few of the other areas Rose will cover during his short stay with APL.
Rose has authored 18 books since starting his writing career in 2003. Fifteen of those have been published, with three set to be released in the future.
Originally from Derbyshire in the United Kingdom, Rose came to Canada in 1990. Now residing in Calgary, he not only writes novels and books, but also teaches courses at the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University.
Additionally, for over a decade, he has acted as a consultant and editor of sorts for other writers. He said he enjoys the process of helping writers find their stride, and said his breadth as a writer is useful in doing so.
“The fact that I have such a wide range of experience with different genres is probably one of the factors that made APL interested in me this time around,” he said. “I don’t think there are many genres I haven’t worked with authors on.”
Rose said while his tenure as APL’s Writer in Residence will be solely online, he feels the virtual sphere may actually work out better for writers who are interested in taking part, especially for the blue pencil sessions that give an opportunity to writers to receive guidance and critiques from Rose.
“It works out better because they get more time,” he said. “I’ll probably be talking to them for an hour or more, [whereas] if it was in the library, it may be a little more rushed.”
According to Rose, being a published author can be a lonely existence for the people who are really trying to make it in the industry, which is why he enjoys being able to connect with other writers.
“In some ways, it has to be [solitary] because you are dealing with your own imagination and characters, sitting in front of a computer all of the time,” he said. “But I think it is important if you have the knowledge and experience, to share that with other people. Things like this [program] are a wonderful thing for people to experience.”
Jordan Stricker, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @jaystrickz
