InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship Fall Conference 2014 - Ruth L. Snyder

InScribe Members Sheila Webster, Glynis Belec, Carol Schaefer, Ruth Snyder, Tandy Balson and Greg McKitrick at the ICWF Book Signing, The Fig Tree in West Edmonton Mall

Thursday night mixer

What a wonderful few days I've enjoyed! The fun and fellowship started on Thursday afternoon at the InScribe book signing at The Fig Tree in West Edmonton Mall. Six of us were able to participate. Although we didn't sell books that day, the manager invited us to leave our books in the store on consignment. He also set up a special InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship section in the store! That evening we held our first ever Artists and Writers Coffee House Mixer. About 40 people came out and most attendees shared either a reading or a description of art. One attendee commented,

"This was a great way to meet others and share stories. I appreciated having the stories connected to the art piece."

Plenary session at Fall Conference

Attendance was up a bit for this year's conference, and before the weekend was over we gained 15 new members :). The extra workshops on Friday went over extremely well; in fact, people are asking for conference to start Friday morning next year. Attendees commented they appreciated the variety in workshops and the warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Keynote Speaker, Phil Callaway

Phil Callaway shared stories from his own writing journey and walk with God. On Saturday morning his session was called, "If Phil Can Write...So Can You!" He encouraged us to:

1. Be talented
2. Be a reader
3. Be self-critical
4. Be neat
5. Be strategic
6. Be focused
7. Be knowledgeable about words & markets
8. Be personable; Act like a Christian should!
9. Be observant (Show, don't tell)
10. Be persistent
11. Be yourself
12. Be prayerful; Ask God what He wants you to say
13. Be a doer (Psalm 34:3-4
14. Be faithful

"It is by sitting down to write every morning that one becomes a writer. Those who do not do this remain amateurs." Gerald Brenan

Executive members for 2014 - Back (L to R) Bryan Norford, Tracy Krauss, Ruth L. Snyder, Glynis Belec, Gwen Mathieu, Eleanor Bertin. Front (L to R) Sheila Webster, Shirley Patterson, Sheri Hathaway, Sandi Somers, Janice Dick, Bobbi Junior

 I'm thankful we have almost a full slate of officers on our executive for 2014. We still need someone to step into the Vice-president role. Here's a list of our current executive members:

President: Ruth L. Snyder
Vice-president: (Vacant)
Secretary: Sandi Somers
Treasurer: Bobbi Junior
Membership: Gwen Mathieu
Website: Janelle Baldwin
Local Writing Group Coordinator: Tracy Krauss
Publicity Coordinator: Glynis Belec
FellowScript Editor-in-Chief: Sheila Webster
FellowScript Acquisitions Editor: Pam Mytroen
FellowScript Columns Editor: Joanna Dawyd
FellowScript Layout Editor: Bryan Norford
Contest Coordinator: Eleanor Bertin
Conference Convener 2015: Shirley Patterson
InScribe Writers Online Blog Moderator: Tracy Krauss
Professional Blog Moderator: Stephanie Nickel
Spiritual Advisor: Sheila Webster
Listserv Moderator: Sheri Hathaway
BC Rep: Tracy Krauss
Saskatchewan Rep: Janice Dick
Manitoba Rep: Addy Oberlin
Ontario Rep: Glynis Belec
New Brunswick Rep: Elaine Ingalls Hogg
NL/Labrador Rep: Beverley Nippard

One of our new members sums it up well:

"I’m very grateful for the effort put into the conference this year.  Glad to have met so many new friends."

InScribers Review: It's Always Darkest Before The Fridge Door Opens

Review by Vivia Oliver

It's Always Darkest Before the Fridge Door Opens
Finding Joy in the Cold Places of Life

Authors: Martha Bolton and Phil Callaway
Publisher: Bethany House, 2006


These two writers have worked with many comedians to create clean humour in the world. Any of their work is worth the time to read it.

This book is a compilation of anecdotes of humorous and realistic ways to look at life.

They open the 'fridge door' to view some great ways to laugh at life in general. This book contains lots of neat ways to take worry off your mind. These writers of humour have turned food and kitchens into fun centers. Like moldy cheese turning into chia pets.

The fun tales they tell seek humour in family life, ways to laugh about hard times and disappointments in home life. If you don’t have sore ribs from laughter after reading this book, you will at least come away with a smile and peace of mind.

They describe many fun ways for looking at life’s troubles from a new view. There is a funny side of life and we are blessed to take a funny look at trouble. As Phil Callaway reminds us, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.”