Authors featured at February’s Write Out Loud
During each season of Write Out Loud, four local authors are chosen to introduce their work at the February presentation. This year, the presenters are Collin Nyabadza, Wendy Lockman, Jackie Cameron, and Katelyn Toney.
COLLIN NYABADZA - Collin grew up in Zimbabwe. When he became a teacher in a rural school, he realized the terrible conditions those impoverished children face. He immigrated to Canada, settling in Swift Current in 2001. In 2012 he established the Collin Nyabadza Children’s Voice Charitable Trust (CNCVCT), a non-profit organization providing support for school improvement and activities. Recently he’s published All for the Children: The Passion Within, to share his journey and commitment to disadvantaged rural children in Zimbabwe.
WENDY LOCKMAN – Wendy’s professionally produced plays include Burn Rubber, Dolly (Lyric Theatre – Swift Current), Where It Hurts (Chasing Your Tales - Saskatoon), In the Box (Saskatoon Fringe & Chautauqua - Swift Current), and Willow Road (Live Five Theatre - Saskatoon). She was nominated for a Saskatoon & Area Theatre Award and has been a finalist and winner in several playwriting competitions.
JACKIE CAMERON - Jackie and her family raised cattle on a farm near Swift Current. Events there provided many of the ideas for her stories about the Circle Star Ranch. Jackie also worked as a teacher librarian where she recognized the need for young children’s books about farm and ranch life. Her first chapter book for ages 5-10, titled Adventures on the Circle Star Ranch was a finalist in 2022 for the children’s Sask Book awards and also a finalist in the 2022 Next Generation Indie Book Award. In 2023 Jackie published her second book, Lost Treasure on the Circle Star Ranch which continues to follow the lives of Ben, Sarah and their dog Scruffy.
KATELYN TONEY – Katelyn is a southwest farmer, rancher, writer, and mother of four living near Tompkins. She wants to see more children’s books that showcase the beauty of rural life on the prairies. Her first book, On the Busy Old Ranch, is perfect for rural kids who want to read a story familiar with their way of life, as well as kids who would like to learn about life on a ranch. On the Busy Old Ranch is a numerical story that details the realities of farm life in the prairies through rhymes and colourful illustrations.
Because of ongoing renovations at the Swift Current Lyric Theatre, Write Out Loud will be held February 21 at the Swift Current Museum. Doors open at 6:30 and author presentations begin at 7:00. Admission is $8.00.