I am a professional speaker on the topics of writing, crowd sourcing and self-publishing and travel throughout the year to various conferences to share my knowledge. If there are other topics which are interesting such as Japanese Anime Horror, DNA History or Women in Science, I’ll pitch in as I have a strong interest in Asian culture and work in the healthcare industry.
Online Events
May 27, 2021, 7:30 p.m. EST to 9:00 p.m. EST – Canadian Authors–Toronto & Dark Helix Press joint event
Canadian Authors–Toronto has partnered with Dark Helix Press, an indie press based in Toronto, to celebrate the book launch of a new Asian Canadian anthology, Belief. This anthology is a compilation of Ricepaper Magazine submissions—short stories, poetry, and nonfiction by writers of Asian descent from across the world. The theme that binds the collection is “belief,” a notion personal to each individual sharing a piece of themselves in their works. Each author shares a conviction of truth shaping the reality of life in the Asian diaspora.
For this event, a number of authors who contributed to this anthology will be sharing a short reading of their piece. This includes Joy Kogawa, Silvia Leung, Moni Brar, Changming Yuan, Kathy Quyen Pham, Nastasha Alli, Bianca Weeko Martin, Kevin Wong, Karen-Luz Sison, Emi Sasagawa, Carmen Chan and Michelle Zhang. The event will be hosted by JF Garrard, writer, editor, President of Dark Helix Press and co-president of Canadian Authors Association’s Toronto branch.
Full author bios and pictures listed on Belief book webpage: http://www.darkhelixpress.com/acww/belief/
Click here to register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcoce2sqzoiHd121CZCmOLMzRfMeb1Z-QHI
Ongoing Events
Write-Rice is an Asian Writers support group starting in February 2021. The list of topics we will touch upon includes the different methods of publishing to tips on how to write better. The hosts for 2021 are JF Garrard, Vincent Ternida, Derwin Mak and Cynda Yeasting. For more details and to register for these free sessions, click on this link: ricepapermagazine.ca/writerice
Feb 19 – JF Garrard (What are the different options for publishing? Traditional/Self-Publishing/Vanity/Podcasting/Youtubing, etc)March 19 – Vincent Ternida (What is the difference between short stories, novels and poetry?)April 16 – Derwin Mak (What do editors look for? Surviving the slush pile and looking for submission calls for fantasy and science fiction genres)May 14 – Cynda Yeasting (What is an author platform? Discussion about networking and promotion ideas)- June 18 – JF Garrard (What is the difference between genres? Scifi/fantasy/horror/specfic/magical realism, etc)
- July 16 – Vincent Ternida (Writing a good villain and interesting characters)
- August 20 – Derwin Mak (What happens at genre conventions for science fiction, fantasy or romance? Are they worth the money to learn about writing?)
- Sept 17 – Cynda Yeasting (Social Media 101. What is the difference between Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Tiktok, etc)
- Oct 15 – Vincent Ternida (Writing realistic fiction and plotting)
- Nov 19 – JF Garrard (Nainowrimo Write in session, e-book prizes during “Word Wars” in which people compete to see who can write more words in 10 mins)
- Dec – no session, survey link will be made available for feedback
As the Co-President of the Canadian Authors Association – Toronto Branch, I’m constantly planning events for them. Click here for our events page.
I also host a writing circle for them, this circle is exclusive for Canadian Authors Association members.
Past Events
Ad Astra (Toronto, Canada)
- The LEGO Movie: Everything is Awesome
- Advantages and Disadvantages in the Self-Publishing Game
- Creating Authentic Settings in Urban Fantasy
- The Chuck Tingle Effect: Earning Respect as a Self-Published Author
- Crowdfunding Strategies
- Ex Machina: The Greatest Scientific Event in the History of Man
- What Can Your DNA Tell You?
Anime North (Toronto, Canada)
- How To Get Published
- Japanese Kyonshî
- Self-publishing & Marketing
- Getting Published: Self or Traditional?
- Horror Anime
- World and Characters Building
- How to Impress or Annoy Editors
- Colours in Japanese Animation and Manga
- Ghost In The Shell Controversy
- Crowd Funding Your Dream!
- Women in Fiction
- The Business of Writing
- Economics of Traditional Publishing
- Diversity, Inclusion, and Safety in Our Creative Spaces
- Future of Publishing
- Horror and Dark Fantasy Writing
- Frankenstein: An Assemblage of Flesh
DetCon1 (Detroit, USA)
- Econ 101 of Self-Publishing
- Women in Science and STEM
- Crowdfunding: A New Path To Possibility
- Fat, Fandom and Physiology
Editor’s Toronto Seminar
Forest City Comic Con (London, Ontario)
- Crowdfunding: A New Path For Creations
LiterAsian (Vancouver, Canada)
- Take Control of Your Writing and Self Publish in Canada!
LiterASIAN Toronto – an annual Asian Canadian Literary annual. Serving as festival coordinator and MC’ed first year.
Unplugged Expo (Toronto, Canada)
- On Writing
- Crowdsourcing How to Get it Right!
SFContario6 (Toronto, Canada)
- QUILTBAG in the Media
- Self Publishing in Canada
Tartan Turban Secret Readings #5 (Toronto, Canada)
Toronto Public Library Seminar on Self-Publishing in Canada (Toronto, Canada)
Undead Sorceress Book Launch (Toronto, Canada)
University of Toronto’s “New Directions in Canadian Short Fiction”, co-sponsored by the Canadian Authors Association, Iguana Books, Editors Toronto, and the Creative Writing Program at the School of Continuing Studies, University of Toronto.
Visionary Women’s Fiction Book Launch with Zainab Amadahy (Toronto, Canada)
Musings of a Generic Asian 
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