ABOUT US at CalgaryAuthors.com

Growing Past the Edge

We are writers living in or near Calgary, Alberta, who have published books on health, wellness and/or spirituality. Our genres include fiction, non-fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry and juvenile literature. We formed in February 2009 to share the cost of booth rental at a trade show. We decided to continue to meet to support each other in marketing our books.

Support for each other includes the website www.calgaryauthors.com. We do not claim to include all of Calgary’s authors. However, we do claim the website domain and we are open to other authors whose published books have similar themes and who wish to market collaboratively. Our concern is not only what you say, but also how professionally you say it. Our thoughts and books tend to be unconventional. Our first name, “Growing Past the Edge”, now serves as our theme. Our by-line reads: “For those who question what they’ve been taught, these books will challenge conventional thought”.

Cost of membership in Calgary Authors is currently $35 annually for inclusion on the site. An additional fee covers inclusion of your book on the Calgary Authors’ bookstand at selected sales events throughout the year. Members are expected to supply 3-4 copies for the bookstand as needed.

When your book is featured on our website, it can be linked to your own site. Questions about submissions to the website should be directed to our webmaster.

We have criteria for accepting a published book, so new members should be prepared to submit a copy to one of our members for screening. We want to be proud of the books we sell, so will screen them to ensure they fit with us and are of professional quality. Books may be submitted electronically prior to printing as well as in hard copy. Authors whose books are available only as e-books are not eligible for membership in CalgaryAuthors at this time. New members will be accepted after approval of their book for inclusion and payment of the $35 to our treasurer.

    Our goals are:
  1. To maintain the website www.calgaryauthors.com which will give each of us links to our separate sites.
  2. To participate in trade shows, sharing the cost of booth rental and work shifts.
  3. To read everyone else’s book prior to a sale so you can knowledgeably and respectfully sell any of our books.
  4. To meet regularly to share what we have learned about publishing and marketing, and to plan collaborative sales.
    Guidelines for group meetings are based on the Four Agreements, plus two.
  1. Be impeccable in your word.
  2. Don’t take anything personally.
  3. Make no assumptions.
  4. Always try your best.
  5. Ask for what you want.
  6. Listen for understanding.

At present we do not have an executive, and we are a non-profit collective. Jobs have evolved naturally during our first year of operation according to interest and talent. We make our decisions by consensus whenever possible. At present we meet the second Monday of each month in the Community Room of Calgary Co-op, 16 Avenue NE.

    Who is doing what:
  1. Coordinator: Sharon Montgomery
  2. Treasurer: Helena Kalivoda
  3. Webmaster: Roger Joyeux
  4. Meeting Chairperson: rotating, but currently Susanne Alexander-Heaton
  5. Calgary Weekend Market Coordinator: Jeane Watier
  6. Meeting recorder and minutes: rotating

Other jobs will be delineated as needed, with members assuming roles according to interest and talent. Members will volunteer to read a potential member’s book to recommend acceptance, and give feedback to the author.

return to top