On Tuesday December 10th, 2019 TriCities Chapter of Amnesty International is hosting an evening of poetry, music, silent auction, delicious food, delightful company and more.
Come join us and get your tickets soon becuase space is limited.
I am humbly and utterly honored to be invited by Joy Silver to be the featured poet for the evening.
As I continue to write my story, I am going to be reading part of it at the event and some new and published poems from my three books, (I’m No Hero), (Counting Waves) & (Dreamers Needed). My books will be on display for sale and part of the proceeds will be donated to Amnesty International.
I look forward to seeing new and familiar faces on Tuesday.
I wish to thank Joy Silver and her incredible team for organizing the annual event that I am so much looking forward to.
You are invited to join us!
If you can’t make it and want to order copies of my books, feel free to contact me directly. Part of the proceeds of any book sold up to/ on the day of the event will be donated to Amnesty International.
Here are the events I will be present at in November where I am reciting poetry, telling stories, answering questions and selling my books (I’m No Hero) & (Counting Waves). I will also be reading some poems from my upcoming 3rd book (Dreamers Needed) that is coming in December.
All events listed here are FREE for the public to attend and all are wheelchair accessible:
Please see if you can come to one or more of those events ok?
>>>’Hands Off Yemen -Anti-War Rally’ on Saturday November 3rd, 1-3pm (rain or shine) 1245 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 1G7, Canada. You are strongly encouraged to share this event and please do come join us. https://www.facebook.com/events/340812466679376/
>>> On Tuesday November 6th, 7-9pm join us at the Holy Wow Poets Canada in the lobby of The ACT Art Centre 11944 Haney Pl, Maple Ridge BC V2X 6G1. There is an Open Mic so you too can bring a poem to share with us. I will read a couple of poems too 🙂
>>> On November 8th 6-8pm I am the host of Tellers of Short Tales where I present Chelene Knight who will read from her book then there is an Open Mic where I will share one of my short stories and you are invited to bring a story too or just come and enjoy people reading amazing stories. https://rclas.com/recurring/tellers-of-short-tales/
>>> On Sunday November 11, 2018 from 2-5pm you are invited to attend a great afternoon of poetry at the Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre 7646 Prince Albert Street Vancouver BC. Feature poets lined up are: Jaz Gill, Shahana Akter Mohua and Ahn Bong Ja. On Open Mic 🎤: Obet Calingo, Una Bruhns and Bonnie Quan Symons. There will be a sign-up sheet as well for people who want to share a poem with us. It is a free event so do come and enjoy some treats and wonderful poetry. For further information please contact: Ashok Bhargava President Writers International Network https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/moberly-arts-and-cultural-centre.aspx
I am here to make the announcement that I have submitted my finished manuscript and cover photo to my publisher, McNally Robinson in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. I am excited to finally get the MSS done and sent so I can now focus all my writing on my upcoming memoire.
Stay tuned for the big news of the book launch date and the subsequent book signing events.
My sincere thank you to all my dear friends and amazing poets that helped me edit and work on my manuscript especially Deborah L. Kelly & Janet Kvammen. Thank you to the talented writers who wrote blurbs for the cover of my book:
~Lilija Valis ~Patricia Sandberg ~Ashok Bhargava & ~Nasreen Pejvack
She is vividly present among the refugees suffering, dying & escaping. She is with her ancestors, her mother, son, vulnerable girls & women, declaring her love & protecting; she is with the homeless & the revolutionaries. Her purpose is to “wake up your conscience”. She advocates a life of peace, love and responsibility, in harmony with the earth. ~Lilija Valis Award-winning poet
Iraqi refugee, Lozan Yamolky, confronts us in her poetry with passionate, powerful imagery of war-torn countries. She challenges us to listen and understand, issues urgent calls to action, then leaves us believing in our power to change. ~Patricia Sandberg Author of award-winning ‘Sun Dogs & Yellowcake’
There is a genuine silence between and behind Lozan’s words. She attempts to evoke what can’t be said or expressed easily. There is truth, light & strength in her poems because they grew from her memories of actual places, experiences & events. Like a skillful weaver she knits her dreams & visions to create a compelling & captivating collection of poignant & profound poetry.
~Ashok Bhargava President of Writers International Network Canada
A brave, mindful woman. Who better to portray the anguish of being a refugee than one who has tasted it. Lozan Yamolky’s poems speak from her own experiences, showing the cruelties that our numb societies allow to operate within war zones. Yet she also paints the love of woman, mother and lover in gorgeous colours. ~Nasreen Pejvack, Author of Amity, Paradise of the Downcasts, & Waiting
Here is a brief info about this amazing Canadian publisher:
McNally Robinson was founded by Holly McNally in 1981 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with her partner Ron Robinson, who quit the book business a year later to pursue a career with CBC Radio. Robinson’s name has remained attached to the enterprise because at the time he left, McNally didn’t have the money to replace the store’s signage. Beginning with just one small corner bookstore, Holly and her husband Paul gradually built McNally Robinson Booksellers into one of the largest independent bookstores in Canada, spreading to Saskatoon and (formerly) Calgary. The stores host readings and book launches by authors from Winnipeg, Canada and beyond.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McNally_Robinson
I will be at the following events in September; I hope you can join in.
This clip if of Sherry Duggal of her poetry book on the different shades of an Indian Bride entitled Shringar. She will be captivating the Holy Wow Poets Thursday September 6th at 6:00pm
We will gather at the Pitt Meadows Golf Course at 13615 Harris Road in Pitt Meadows. At this dinner, we also have Open Mic. I will be reading later in the evening.
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I will be one of the poets at the West Coast Tagore Festival 2018 on Saturday September 8, 2018 at the Gateway Theatre, 6500 Gilbert Road, Richmond, BC
I am going to recite a translated Tagore poem along with others in languages of the world. I will read in Arabic & in Kurdish.
Program Line-up:
Indian Classical Music by Naad Foundation Woven World Tapestry of Words by World Poetry
Tagore Songs by Vancouver Tagore Society Workshop Series
Bharata Natyam Dance by Alex Parappilly & Ashvini Sundaram
‘Raindrop: A Quest for Love’ – A musical theatre by Vancouver Tagore Society
The story of ‘Raindrop: A Quest for Love’ revolves around two parallel plots of love and nature. In one, the dance-drama presents Dhora, the protagonist, as a young woman furtively questing for love. Looking from outside, she rather seems to be a happy single, even though her Fear, the antagonist, does not allow her to follow her true emotions. In another, Dhora portrays the village soil getting dry deep inside and silently yearning for rain from Shyamal, the Dark Cloud; but her Fear does not let her welcome the changes she must undergo to embrace and enjoy the cloudburst. This dance-drama brings forth awareness of climate justice in an aesthetic way.
The Festival is presented by Vancouver Tagore Society and funded in part by cultural project grants from the City of Richmond and BC Arts Council.
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I will be the host of (( Tellers of Short Tales )) Our feature Author: Nasreen Pejvack Date: Wednesday Sept 12, 2018 Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm Admission: FREE
Location: Anvil Centre, Room 413A, 777 Columbia Street, New Westminster
Open Mic Sign Up will be available for writers who would like to share their stories.
More info https://rclas.com/recurring/tellers-of-short-tales/
During the evening, I will read a short story of mine.
I will be performing Arabian Dance and will also gather the crowed to teach some basic dance moves so bring a hip scarf and come join me on Saturday September 22 at the Haney Farmers Market in Maple Ridge, BC between 10:00am-2:00pm HANEY FARMERS MARKET 2018 Market Events Memorial Peace Park on 224th in downtown Maple Ridge Every Saturday from 9 – 2, May 12 to November 11 http://www.haneyfarmersmarket.org hfminfo@haneyfarmersmarket.org 604-467-7433 ext 2 _________________________________ _________________________________
At 1:00pm pm Saturday September 29th, I am one of the feature poets at the Strawberry and will be reading poems from my 2 previously published books and read from my upcoming poetry book. My books will be on sale as well during my reading.
Hills Library 7399 122 St, Surrey, BC V3W 5J2 https://surreylibraries.ca/locations/strawberry-hill-library
on Sunday, September 30, 2018, I will be reading poetry at the Vancouver Public Library in downtown Vancouver during the annual WORD Vancouver. http://wordvancouver.ca/
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I am feature poet in Port Moody on October 24 🙂 Stay tuned!
My busy summer is keeping me away from my website and from completing my third book of poems (manuscript) to give to publisher. I need a bit more time so. stay tuned for the big announcement. I am really excited.
Once this book is out, I will dedicate all my energy on my memoire. The story of my journey from Iraq to Canada.
Photos by Janet Kvammen
I was honored to be feature poet at Poetry In The Park on Wednesday July 4, 2018 in New Westminster, BC in Queens Park.
All summer long, every Wednesday, go to Queens Park 6:30-8:30pm at the bandshell and enjoy poetry & open mic