Pearl Lorentzen
Lakeside Leader

Katie Bickell grew up in Slave Lake. Her first publications were ‘flash’ fiction. Now she’s a novelist with a Canadian independent publisher.

Bickell’s debut novel Always Brave Sometimes Kind came out September 2020. The Rotary Club of Slave Lake Public Library book club read the novel and Bickell did a virtual reading that fall.

On January 26, the Slave Lake library has Bickell back as part of the writers’ group to teach a writing workshop.

One of the doors publishing a novel has opened for Bickell is to teach writing workshops.

Right after Bickell’s novel came out, libraries started asking her to teach writing workshops, she says. This was not something she expected. The first time she was asked, her first thought was it would be nice to do, but not possible. Then she decided to give it a try. She found that she enjoyed it.

“I do have some teaching experience,” she says.

When Bickell lived in Slave Lake, she taught parenting courses through Parentlink and English as a Second Language.

Over a year later, Bickell has developed a catalogue of writing workshops and courses. The one she’ll be doing in Slave Lake is called ‘Packing a Punch: Big Stories in Small Spaces.’

“It’s a fun course,” says Bickell. During the workshop, people write and edit a piece of flash fiction. “It could be considered publication ready,” she adds.

“Anyone can do this,” says Bickell. Bickell has taught it to high school students and adults of all ages.

The workshop will be January 26 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom. To register, go to the calendar on slavelakelibrary.ca.