James Dewar – Biography and Bibliography:
James Dewar is a poet who actively promotes the popularization of poetry in the Toronto area through personal performances and by hosting events that showcase the work of other poets. He is a popular feature at various Toronto venues including: The Artbar Poetry Reading Series, The Renaissance Conspiracy of Poets, and the Diamond Cherry Reading Series. He was one of the first featured poet at the new Sabbat Nights Poetry Series (March 2007). As well as performing, James is a supportive poetry audience participant, attending many readings each month in the Toronto area.
His first full-length book of poetry, The Garden in the Machine (March 2007) has just been published by Hidden Brook Press and has resulted in his invitation to join The League of Canadian Poets.
His poetry has also been chosen for inclusion in many other publications previous to this, such as Quills, The Word Weaver and Labour of Love. His poems are anthologized in Renaissance Conspiracy Poetry Anthology (2004) and the follow-up, Renaissance Reloaded (November 2006). His chapbook, Guys in Garages (2005) was very popular and his third, Interluscious, co-written with Susan Lynn Reynolds, has just been published (winter 2007).
James hosts his own poetry events with a laid-back, comedic flare. He has been a regular host of the monthly Renaissance Conspiracy Poetry Reading Series for the last 3 years. He was invited to host the Toronto Artbar Tribute to Irving Layton (May, 2006), and has been organizing and hosting his own Poetry Reading Series, emphasizing audience participation, Hot-Sauced Words in Toronto for a year. These shows showcase male and female poets equally, and encourage new poets to perform material in front of friendly audiences. He has just added a second Hot-Sauced Words monthly reading series in the Durham Region east of Toronto. An article appeared on The Durham Times front page in mid January, 2007, discussing his new approach to audience involvement in poetry readings. In an article entitled, “Poetry Heats Up in Toronto and Durham” (March/April, The Word Weaver), Dewar further explains how he arrived at the idea for the show and how encouraging audience involvement has morphed the show into its popular format over the last year.
In addition to his regular appearances on Nik Beat’s HOWL radio show on CIUT 89.5 FM, he has been a two time judge of the Dan Sullivan Memorial Poetry Contest and through his four year affiliation with the Writer’s Circle of Durham Region he has offered workshops on:
Writing and editing poetry (See the Workshops tab on this website for the latest news)
Using microphones (understanding microphones – basic skills that everyone performing in public should know – 10 tips to help you stay natural and look professional)
Public performance planning (Being prepared means much more than deciding which poems to read – what if you get up to the mic to read and you freeze – how to prevent this from happening and how to turn it around if it does)
Poetry Feature-reading design strategies (You’ve just been invited to perform a 20 minute feature – creating a 20 minute masterpiece of your best material – identifying your strengths and weaknesses honestly – being yourself first – making it look easy -practising techniques – the relationship between performance and selling books)
What it takes to develop a happy relationship with a Muse. (Listen, Write, Explain, Refine, Disperse – simple words for one of the most complicated art formsy – All of the workshop strategies described already AND believing that simple phrase
“Never apologize. (for being a poet – on stage – at a party – to your family – to yourself – ever)
His poetry course was available through Durham College in the winter of 2007, and he will be offering two poetry workshops through the Oshawa Arts Council in 2007. The first workshop involves the process of refining poetry and putting a chapbook together and the second inspires the poet to develop a personal style and design an ideal feature-reading set for public performance.
James was originally mentored by Irving Layton and is dedicated to continuing Layton’s example by helping other poets enjoy, edit and publish their own poetry. CreativeJames Publishing has published four chapbooks.
“Poetry is the purest of all the arts. There has never been any money in it so those who write poetry are the least influenced by the corruptive influences of society. Poets write because they must write, because they believe that words can transform the world. We owe them all a vote of thanks.” Eduardo Della Foresta, painter
James Dewar - Bibliography
James Dewar
Hon. BA. English and History, York University
Bachelor of Education, University of Toronto
Freelance Writer, Published Poet,
Editor, Book Publisher,
Impresario, Business Advisor
13240 Mast Road,
Port Perry, ON L9L 1B5
cell phone: 416-435-7372
email: james@piquantproductions.ca
Current:
Freelance Writer/Editor/Graphic Designer
Partner in Piquant Productions
Impresario
Organizer and host of Hot-Sauced Words Poetry and Spoken Word Performances Show held monthly at the Black Swan Tavern in Toronto and EP Taylor’s Student Pub, Durham College, Oshawa Ontario Campus
Virtual Business Consultant
Manage information and provide business consultation for small business clients
CreativeJames Publishing:
Design, edit and publish poetry and short fiction books.
Instructor:
Teach workshops on Creative Writing and Public performance of Creative Writing, particularly poetry.
Writing Background:
Business Writing
Scotiabank:
Retail Sales Manager of Toronto East Provincial Office
Special Projects for Toronto Regional Office
Branch Manager
Self Employed Business Program
Freelance Writer 2004 to Present
Clients:
Metroland Newspapers
Rose Scapin, Editor
Dorothea Helms, Editor
Dynamic Publishing Magazines
Andrea McFater, Editor
Moxy Femme magazine
Enviro-Clean
Play It Again Sam
Writers’ Circle of Durham Region
Deer Creek Golf and Country Club
Surefit
Mackie Harley-Davidson Buell
Poet
Event organizer for the summer CCLA Lit-Fest in Brighton, On, coming in August 2008
Featured reading at Plasticine Poetry Series, Toronto, January 2008
One of 27 Canadian poets Invited to join Random Acts of Poetry, an annual international celebration of poetry held the first week of October 2007
Featured reading at CCLA Lit-Fest in Brighton, On, August 2007
Invited to join The League of Canadian poets, June 2007
Appearance on “The Artist’s Lifestyle” radio show, May 2007
Featured reading at Coffee and Company in Kingston, April 2007
5 appearances since 2005 on Nik Beat’s HOWL radio show on CIUT 89.5 FM
Art Bar Poetry Reading Series – second full-length feature, February 2007
Host of the Toronto Artbar Tribute to Irving Layton, May 2006
Two time judge of the Dan Sullivan Memorial Poetry Contest
Organizer and host of Hot-Sauced Words, since March 2006
Host of other poetry and spoken word readings and events since 2005
Art Bar Poetry Reading Series – first full length feature reading May 2005
Member of The Renaissance Conspiracy of Poets since 2004
Poetry editor and publisher since 2004
Teaching Background
Teacher
High School English and ESL teacher
Instructor
Writers’ Circle of Durham Region
Developing Confidence in the Writing, Editing and Public Performance of Poetry
Writing with a Slow Hand: How to write Erotica
Writing Education:
Vocables Workshop,- Chiara Adams and a rawlings, August 2007
The Art of Sexuality, Laura Hollick, Hamilton April 2007
The Long Haul, Barry Dempster, March 2007
WordPress Workshop, Rich Helms, Durham College February 2007
Writers Circle of Durham Region, Fall 2004
Conquering Corporate Markets, Paul Lima, 2006
BA in English, York University, 1974
Creative Writing with Irving Layton, York University, 1972
Service Background:
Serving on the Board of Directors Writers’ Circle of Durham Region www.wcdr.org since June 2007
Serving on the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Durham 2002 and 2003
Serving on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Oshawa, Whitby, Clarington representing Financial Institutions 1999 to 2001
Publishing Credits (literature):
The Word Weaver
Poetry Contest – co-winner – March 2007
Poetry Contest – co-winner – March 2006
Short fiction – 2 published in 2005
Labour of Love – 2 poems
Interluscious – chapbook, erotic poetry co-authored with Susan Reynolds
The Garden in the Machine book of poetry published by Hidden Brook Press March 2007
Quills Lust issue Erotic Poetry Anthology, 2004
Renaissance Reloaded Poetry Anthology, 2006
Guys in Garages – chapbook, 2005
Renaissance Conspiracy Poetry Anthology, 2004
Anvil Blood – 4 poems. (Included a foreword and poems by Irving Layton) 1972
Employment Background:
2003 – present Self-employed
Freelance editor, writer, journalist, copywriter and graphic designer
2002 – James Dewar Business Consulting
Preparation of business plans, financial planning and other strategic approaches to business start-ups and expansion.
1980 – 2003 Bank of Nova Scotia
Branch Manager and Registered Financial Planner
All aspects of running a retail branch and providing expert financial planning advice
Regional Retail Manager – Toronto
Management of all aspects of 35 bank branches: people motivation and training, sales management, complaint resolution, executive group meetings host, speech writing, legal representation , detailed executive level reports
1976 – 1979 High School English Teacher
Teaching English and English as a Second Language for the North York Board of Education
Member of the Curriculum Design and New Policies Committee
2 Comments
September 22, 2008 at 9:03 pm
By some fluke of cyber-digression, clicking here and there, landing on the Writers’ Circle of Durham website, then over to Steven Laird and the unfortunate demise of Lichen, I finally arrived on your website and its Hot-Sauced Words. Intrigued and curious, I read on and realized you might be just the person I’m looking for.
Officially (i.e. for tax purposes), I’m a resident of Oshawa, but actually I live in Beirut, Lebanon where I teach English at International College. When I’m not teaching (or ducking bullets), I’m writing. Poetry, mostly. I’ve had some success placing my poems with journals across the country and Brick Books has just accepted my manuscript, “Alien, Correspondent.”
As part of the publishing process, they need information regarding media and author contacts, book launches, reading series, etc. located in my “home town.” Having been out of the poetry loop in the GTA for some time, I’m not sure where much of the poetry scene remains. I’ve read at the Art Bar Series at the Liberty on Markham and the PUBlic Library by Ryerson; I remember a writers’ festival at Pickering Village Museum where I first heard Steven Laird read; and I helped launch an issue of Lichen at West Durham’s Art Council offices, somewhere in Pickering, I think. Your website now gives me hope that something is actually happening in Oshawa, that Oshawa might be a possible venue for launching a book of poetry.
All this to simply ask whether you could forward me any information on reading series, venues, festivals, etc. that might match my needs to launch and promote my book in Durham or even the broader GTA. Anything you have on that or can direct me towards would be appreciated and welcomed.
Enjoyed your website, by the way, and its many nooks and crannies. And I look forward to reading “The Garden in the Machine” one day.
Regards,
Antony Di Nardo
July 31, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Hi, my name is Lucy. I have been interested in writing poetry since 2006. I wrote my first book called, “Strangers in the night of Poetry.” This has been my long and hard experience. I even love the sound that rings in my ears when I say it. But I wanted too meet you and disguse my where abouts and what I am about. I wanted too become famous one day and needed too promote this book and reading is the only idea I have. I don’t have any money and my pubishers wanted to send me out too the states.