Welcome to the 5 Minutes Series. Each week, I’ll ask five questions of some of my favorite authors, editors, publishers, and other industry professionals. This week I’m talking with Faye Arcand, one of the co-creators of the Wine Country Writer’s Festival.
Yay. That’s me!
Thank you Finn for this opportunity to discuss what’s happening in life. I am an author, writer, speaker, blogger, festival organizer…. pretty much if it is about writing, you can assume I’ve got a finger in there somewhere.
Come check out my blog, My Twisted Writer Brain, which is all about writing and Auntie Says, which is all about life, family, teens, etc.
Have a great day everyone.
Faye Arcand
Picture it. You and Jim Jackson drinking martinis in a lakeside bar somewhere. That’s how I imagine the Wine Country Writers’ Festival coming to life. What was the true origin story of how you and Jim decided to start collaborating?
Well, Finn, you have a wonderful imagination, but the truth is far from fantasy.
You know, I’m often amazed at how things happen when, where, and with whom they’re meant to.
Case in point: Several years ago, I considered taking over the reins of a dying festival and my husband talked me out of it. Afterwards, I was very happy he did.
He reminded me that I needed to focus on my writing and not running a festival.
Fast forward about five years … I met Jim Jackson at Creative Ink (Covid killed it unfortunately). I knew nothing about him, nor he me. Just another writer, dude. Shake hands. Best of luck to you (oh my in my head, I just said that in an Irish accent lol)
Anyway, we met again about a year later at another festival and discussed the idea of some sort of collaboration.
Just idle, though lively, chat. That’s all it was.
No plans were hatched. No seedlings planted. We chatted, and the air was, dare I say, dripping with literary-festive energy, when it came to me.
“Hey Jim,” I said, “talk me out of doing a festival in the Okanagan.”
He contacted me a few weeks later and said, “I’ve looked at all the angles and can’t find a downside…”
Tada, Wine Country Writers’ Festival (WCWF) was born. No martinis or lake, but now WCWF is now going into its third year where we meet next to the Okanagan Lake (stunning venue btw). There’s a lack of vodka martinis and more grapes—just saying—but fabulous all the same.
Come check out the Festival website.
The festival takes place September 22/23/24, 2023. Early Bird price of $189 CAD is in place until August 1/23
(currently that’s about $142 usd and covers all the workshops, one pitch, blue pencil and more.)
Where is the Okanagan? 4 hours east of Vancouver, BC.; 4 hours north-ish from Spokane, WA., 1 hour south of Kelowna, BC., and four hours west of Kootenays… Yup, we all need a map. Google it. Lol.
Tell my readers something about the festival. What makes it unique? Why should they come?
The Wine Country Writers’ Festival is boutique on purpose. That makes it not only unique, but very special.
I don’t know about you or your readers, but I like to connect with others on a personal level. Over the years, I’ve felt that was something really missing from so many of the festivals I’ve attended.
Don’t get me wrong. Each is special in its own way and you have to go in with eyes wide open, but I guess now that I’m 60 (shhh… that happened this year and I’m not telling anyone), I’ve found that the cliquiness (or exclusiveness) of some festivals or conferences is off-putting for me.
Let’s face it, it’s bloody scary going into a room full of strangers and then sit at a table with no one so much as saying hello… That sucks. Hopefully, you won’t find that at WCWF.
We want people to connect. Meet your people. Make new friends and feel supported.
Finn, I’d be curious what your readers would think of a Festival Friendship Bench. This would be a place to sit to let others know you’re open to chatting and connecting. Does that sound stupid? Should I make this happen at this year’s festival? (Ed. Note. I love the idea but I wonder if I’d be scared to sit on the bench.)
You’re offering pitch sessions at the Wine Country Writers’ Festival. What advice would you give writers to help them prepare for something like that?
Yes, we’re offering pitches-to-publisher and also pitches-to-agents for representation.
One thing I’d want everyone to do is their homework.
Make sure you’re pitching to someone who reps what you’re selling.
We will do most of our pitches via Zoom, so keep that in mind.
Always be professional, polite, and patient (PPP), but be YOU. With a publisher or agent, you’re seeking a long-term relationship, so pretending to be something you’re not will exhaust you quickly.
THE ACTUAL PITCH:
Prior to the festival, sit down with someone and discuss your book.
I know that sounds strange, but if you were telling a friend about your book-baby, what would you say? Keep it conversational and relaxed. If you can do that, you’ll feel much more in control and not get all twisted in a knot.
Know your audience (who is going to buy this book), what genre is it (where does it belong in the bookstore)? Comparables (what already published book/game/movie does your work compare to? (i.e.: My ABC book is a fantastical mishmash love story of Harry Potter meets the Matrix … that creates a picture of what has been written.)
Remember too, pitches are also for you to interview the publisher or agent.
Ask yourself: Could I work with this agent? Publisher? Do they seem bossy? overbearing? judgemental? Would I want to work with them?
Don’t hesitate or be afraid to ask questions.
If you could have any superpower in the world, what would it be and why?
What a wonderful question.
I would want to sprinkle magic dust over every kid who’s hurting. Whether physically, mentally, or emotionally, children and youth should not be in pain.
I am an Auntie Extraordinaire. I have over 50 nieces and nephews (I’m the 7th of 8 kids…) and there are many other young people who come to me seeking advice, mentorship, and/or a listening ear.
Kids don’t ask for the bullshit that’s heaped upon them, but too many get more than their fair share.
I’d like to don a wonderful Auntie Robe with a long dramatic cascading train, then sprinkle that magic auntie dust (aka: MAD) to let each of them know they’ll get through it… they can survive… life can, and will, be their own one day…
And always remember that if you can’t ask mom you can always ask auntie.
What are you working on right now?
Right now the Wine Country Writers’ Festival takes a lot of my time, but I’ve got a lot of other sticks in the proverbial fire.
I blog regularly. I have two blogs:
- Auntie Says… This is advice for young people but also for those who have young people in their life. It’s also the trials and tribulations of Auntie… lol. That’s me.
- My Twisted Writer Brain. This blog is all about writing. Sometimes it’s a book review, an observation, a current event, a lesson in craft, or whatever tickles my twisted writer brain.
I’m also currently working on my third , fourth, and fifth book… lol.. yes, all at once.
1. I have a women’s contemporary upmarket fiction, Inside Outside, with my agent… He’s trying to find it a forever home.
2. My second book is a YA Contemporary Thriller titled: Can You See Me?
I’m torn with this one and may just self publish. It’s a great read at 90K.
3. I’m also working on Auntie Says… A Book of Mentorship and Common Sense Advice for Teens.
This book has been rattling around in my head foreverrrrrr….
It’s very niche and I’ll probably self publish in the next few months.
4. Contemporary YA Contemporary Thriller: Date With the Devil.
5. Prequel novella for book one Inside Outside.
Bonus question: Have you ever taken a picture of a weird bird?
Well, I think I’m a weird bird, so I’m assuming selfies count!
Finnian Burnett 