Richard
OlafsonRichard Olafson is an editor, poet, book designer and publisher. A long-time Victoria resident, he is active in many community organizations. Richard Olafson has published a number of books and chapbooks, among them Blood of the Moon, The Name of Being, In Arbutus Light, Apotheosis, Roses. Pearls. Ocean. Stars: Triads, The Ocean and My Body are One, My Body is the Ocean, and most recently, Cloud on My Tongue, and There are Some So Unlucky they Do Not Even Have Bodies. He attended Naropa Dharma Institute in Boulder, Colorado after high school, taking classes with William Burroughs, Gregory Corso, Allen Ginsberg, Larry Fagin as part of the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics in its second year of operation and was much influenced the following year when studying with Warren Tallman at UBC's English Department. Later, he met Robin Skelton in Victoria, who had a profound influence on his direction in publishing. As a book designer, he has published over 290 chapbooks and books. He is currently editor and publisher of The Pacific Rim Review of Books, a book review journal. Richard has lived in Victoria for many years and enjoys parenting two teenage boys with singer-songwriter-dancer Carol Ann Sokoloff. Website: www.ekstasiseditions.com
Linda
RogersVictoria's own Poet Laureate, Linda Rogers, is this year honouring us all as the Festival's champion! An important advocate in the community, Linda is helping the PFB organizers to develop innovative programmes. Her belief that storytelling can help engineer social change led Linda to her writing vocation; sponsoring literacy and the rights of children. Her interest in the human story is Linda's driving force. In addition to her life as a novelist, poet and journalist, she has served in many volunteer capacities. International awards are hers and her work has been translated into Welsh, Hindi, Persian, French, German ,Spanish, Hebrew and Chinese. This spring Rogers will be launching the second book in her Empress trilogy, The Third Day Book, a collection of poems called Muscle Memory, Ruin and Beauty, an album of songs co-written with Chris Trygg and performed by Light, Sweet, Crude, and will be presenting a show of collage and poetry with artist Carol Rae and Victoria children at the Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria Gallery during the 10th anniversary of BC Arts Week April 19-25, 2009.
Carol
Ann SokoloffCarol Ann Sokoloff is a writer, editor and songwriter and performer who is the author of four published books and a partner in the publishing company Ekstasis Editions. She is the author of Eternal Lake O'Hara, poetry and history of the Canadian Rockies; New Sufi Songs and Dances, an exploration of Sufism through original songs and meditative circle dances; Colours Everywhere You Go, a picture book (Tineke Visser, illustration) for the kindergarten set and a forthcoming picture book, Anything You Want to Be, for children 6-9 years of age. She has edited fiction, non-fiction, poetry, metaphysical and children's titles in her work with Ekstasis Editions, a Victoria, BC based publisher now entering its 25th year. As a freelance documentary producer for CBC radio, Carol received a Peabody Award for Educational radio from the University of Georgia for a five-part 'Schools radio' series, The Wonderful World of Science, broadcast over the CBC network. Carol conceived, researched and wrote the award-winning series, and also created and performed its original theme song. As a composer she has created theme songs for CBC radio, choral pieces, music for theatrical productions and the words and music to dozens of songs in the pop, children's and jazz genre. She currently performs as a vocalist with the jazz trio, Trio Espresso. She is also a performer and instructor of middle eastern belly dance and founder of the Oasis Dance studio and ensemble. Website: www.ekstasiseditions.com
Claire
Paulette TurcotteClaire Paulette Turcotte is a writer, artist and dreamworker and has been published in various periodicals and magazines. Her paintings are in collections in Germany, Britain, Canada and USA where a patron of the arts purchased more than 200 oils and sketches. Claire has been involved in the arts for more than 36 years. She founded the Corinne Centre in Peterborough where she organized children’s programs, apprenticeships and taught courses in dreamwork and creativity. More recently she has opened The Centre for Dream Research and Imaginal Studies to the community. Claire launched her book The Woman Who Could See In All Directions At The Same Time with an exhibition of her art at VAC. She is presently looking for a publisher for the companion reader/workbook, The Story Crouching Beneath. Claire is assisting the festival team through networking, outreach and contributing to programming. Website: www.cdris.org
Shayndelynne
Zeldin, Volunteer CoordinatorShayndelynne's comes to PFB with a long career in education which includes working with students from early elementary to college level. Her subject areas and postings have been equally varied ranging from assisting those with special needs to teaching Advanced Placement courses and college instructors. She has been a classroom teacher, curriculum leader, chair of many school board committees as well as held administrator positions. Shayndelynne's favourite days were as Head Librarian in an inner city high school where not only was she surrounded by thousands of books, she interacted with over 700 students and staff daily. She found assisting people with a wide range of abilities, interests and needs and connecting with the written word extremely rewarding. As a major hub of activity, the library required a multitude of volunteers; hence the beginning of a "career" in co-ordinating teams of volunteers. Last year's challenge of finding and co-ordinating over 40 volunteers for our first Pacific Festival of the Book was another rewarding task. New friendships have been formed as well as cementing present ones. Shayndelynne looks forward to supporting the Pacific Festival of the Book for a very long time.
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