Board of Directors
Clayton Bye - President
he/him
he/him
Clayton has lived in Northwestern Ontario for most of his life and now resides in Dryden. He's a long-time professional writer with well over 100 books to his credit—11 of them are his and the rest are ghostwritten. Clayton writes in many genres, and his published works include novels, short stories, poetry, non-fiction, and hundreds of reviews. He is also a small, independent publisher.
Elizabeth Pszczolko - Vice President
she/her
she/her
Elizabeth has been involved with NOWW since its early beginnings more than twenty years ago. She recalls early meetings with fellow writers and feeling she had found her "kindred spirits." Since those early days, Elizabeth said it has been wonderful to see how much NOWW and the writing community has grown and developed through the region. Recently retired as manager of the Thunder Bay Public Health Laboratory, Elizabeth is looking forward to finding her writing legs again. because she believes, "writing is about learning and exploring." Her work has been published in the NOWW magazine and she recently started her own blog: www.awonderinglittlevoice.com/ |
Charles Campbell - Treasurer
Charles Campbell is an accountant by day and writer by evening and weekend. Although he has had succesfully submitted his tax returns for decades, he is far more proud of having his plays selected for the 2015 and 2016 10x10 showcases. Charles joined NOWW to get away from financial statements and to dedicate more time to develop his writing, but much like Michael Corleone, he's been 'pulled back in' and is serving as Treasurer.
Laura Beeby
Laura has recently resettled in Thunder Bay after 15 years living in the Netherlands with her Dutch husband and fur kids. She has an Honours Bachelor of Arts majoring in English and History, as well as an Honours Bachelor of Education from Lakehead University. She also has a Graduate Certificate in Book and Magazine Publishing from Centennial College. A former advertising copywriter at Generator, she’s also held various marketing positions in the Netherlands and maintained a blog recounting her adventures as an immigrant. Laura is currently working on her first novel.
Laura Beeby
Laura has recently resettled in Thunder Bay after 15 years living in the Netherlands with her Dutch husband and fur kids. She has an Honours Bachelor of Arts majoring in English and History, as well as an Honours Bachelor of Education from Lakehead University. She also has a Graduate Certificate in Book and Magazine Publishing from Centennial College. A former advertising copywriter at Generator, she’s also held various marketing positions in the Netherlands and maintained a blog recounting her adventures as an immigrant. Laura is currently working on her first novel.
Annette Pateman
Annette was born in the UK to Jamaican parents. She grew up listening to Jamaican sayings and folklore. This is reflected in her poetry which centres on identity, race and relationships. Annette holds a BSc in Biological Science, PGCE in Secondary Education and a PgDip in Applied Immunology. Annette now lives in Thunder Bay with her family, where she enjoys giving readings of her poetry, yoga and walking in nature.
Annette published her first collection of poetry ‘Spectrum’ in May 2020. She is currently undertaking research on fairytales and folklore, with a grant from the Ontario Arts Council.
Annette was awarded a grant for anti-racism work from the City of Thunder Bay.
Annette has been awarded a grant from the OAC to be Writer in Residence at the Thunder Bay Public Library for 2021.
Her book ‘Spectrum’ can be brought locally from Indigo bookstore, The Bodymind Centre and The Groggy Toad Coffee shop. The book is also available on Amazon.
Annette published a children’s picture book called ‘Anancy and The Turtle’ in December 2020.
The book is available from amazon in paperback and in kindle format.
‘Lover Lines’ a book of flash fiction and poetry was published in jan 2021
The book is available in paperback and kindle format rom amazon.
Annette Pateman can be found on social media on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter
Amazon links
Spectrum https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1714041549/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_u1VOFbJ4ZQ472
Anancy and The Turtle https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1777341612/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_hS6cGbSE27QNH
Lover Lines: Poetry and flash fiction stories about love and life, by Amazon.ca
Learn more: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1777341639/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_HWRSSYVY8V36B3CXKXCT
Phil Bullough
Phil is a resident of Pearl Ontario. He was born in Port Arthur and moved with his wife, to Alberta in 1981. He worked in the oil and gas industry in Supply Chain Management and specialized in Contract Administration. After retirement they moved back to the Thunder Bay area in 2015.
Phil loves sports and continues to play golf and hockey. He recently began writing and has recently had a story printed in the Feb. 2020 issue of The Walleye. He is currently working on a full length play.
Phil is a resident of Pearl Ontario. He was born in Port Arthur and moved with his wife, to Alberta in 1981. He worked in the oil and gas industry in Supply Chain Management and specialized in Contract Administration. After retirement they moved back to the Thunder Bay area in 2015.
Phil loves sports and continues to play golf and hockey. He recently began writing and has recently had a story printed in the Feb. 2020 issue of The Walleye. He is currently working on a full length play.
Patrick Peotto
Patrick is a former litigation lawyer, teacher, and boarding school headmaster. He grew up in Thunder Bay before leaving to attend university in Toronto. After more than thirty years away, living in various places in Ontario, Quebec and Italy, he returned in semi-retirement. Now he spends his time teaching online, writing and volunteering. In addition to NOWW, he also sits on the executive of the Friends of the Thunder Bay Public Library.
Crystal Donohue
Crystal is from Thunder Bay and lived in South Korea for a few years. She has a mixture of teaching and writing experience to bring to this community and recently earned a Library and Information Technology diploma. Her writing encompasses a variety of modes, including modern written correspondence from texting to tweets, email, and blogs. Crystal’s passion is still poetry but now includes essays, short stories, and novels. She has a creative writing curriculum she is looking to house somewhere to offer to the public.
Crystal is from Thunder Bay and lived in South Korea for a few years. She has a mixture of teaching and writing experience to bring to this community and recently earned a Library and Information Technology diploma. Her writing encompasses a variety of modes, including modern written correspondence from texting to tweets, email, and blogs. Crystal’s passion is still poetry but now includes essays, short stories, and novels. She has a creative writing curriculum she is looking to house somewhere to offer to the public.
Support Staff
Don Parsons
Administrator
Don comes to us with a wealth of experience ideally suited to the position. He was a teacher, Vice -Principal, and Coordinator of Student Services for the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board, He also held positions as an Education Officer for the Northern Schools Resource Alliance and was the Mental Health Project Lead for the Superior Greenstone DSB. Don comes to NOWW with strong public relations, communication, and problem solving skills, and is deft at various social media platforms.
Joelle Barron
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Contest Coordinator
Joelle Barron is a poet living as a settler on the Traditional Territory of the Anishinaabe of Treaty 3 and the Métis people (Longbow Lake, Ontario). Their first poetry collection, Ritual Lights (icehouse Press, 2018), was nominated for the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award, and was a finalist for the Dayne Ogilvie Prize for Emerging LGBTQ Writers. Joelle lives in an off-grid cabin in the woods with their wife and daughter.