Based in Hamilton, Ontario
Welcome to Hamilton Mountain Writers’ Guild. Founded by Professor Barry Gottlieb, we are the number one writers’ guild in Hamilton, Ontario.
More information about becoming a member and joining a group can be found here
Go to the Membership Application Form
Note: Members page is only accessible to logged in members & Membership is granted to people who have been to our guild meetings. The Board reserves the right to deny or revoke membership as necessary.
Click on the images below to read more about some members of the guild
Professor Barry Gottlieb |
Leah Vrakela |
Christine Bernshaw |
Sylvie Gionet |
James Ruth |
Anita Joldersma |
Carmenn Kocznur |
Nathaniel Saige |
Robecca Austin |
Graziela Nequia |
Linda Brown |
Karen Wood |
Katherine Kobernyk |
Laurie Hazel |
Neil Chopp |
Feel free to check out the blogs of some of our members.
PROFESSOR BARRY GOTTLIEB
Education and Certifications
Accomplishments: Author
Awards:
Present:
LEAH VRAKELA
Leah Vrakela is inspired by her father, who always encouraged her to write. An active member of the Hamilton Mountain Writer's Guild, Leah received the HMWG honourable mention award for her short story, The Butterfly Lullaby. Leah holds a university degree in Honours Health Studies and a minor in Religious Studies from McMaster University. She is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Applied Disability Studies. She enjoys writing creative non-fiction and historical fiction drawing from her experience as a former Miss World Canada. Leah is based in Hamilton, Ontario where she lives with her husband and two young children.
CHRISTINE BERNSHAW
Christine is an avid reader of books that take you on a magical journey. This love of stories led her to completing a degree in English literature. Christine aspires to do what great writers have always done - take readers on a most excellent adventure.
SYLVIE GIONET
Sylvie Gionet is a writer of fiction and an accomplished photographer. The Guardians of the Sun-Star and Moon-Star: The battle begins is her second novel in a series. Book I is the inspiration that led her to an uplifting spiritual experience. Her fascination with the universe started with stargazing and led to a visionary, metaphysical focus on the cosmos. Astronomy reflects the spiritual side of her life. She enjoys the study of ancient history with its many lessons. Reach for the stars because one of them belongs to you. S. G.
JAMES RUTH
James Ruth, a retired senior living in Burlington, married with two children and four grandchildren. McMaster University graduate with degree in Physics/Chemistry. Canadian and U.S. business career was focused on Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sales and Product Development. Primary reading and writing genre is Fiction/Suspense/Mystery. Has assisted in both writing and performing in local theatre. Was runner-up and published a children’s short story in first writing contest and was awarded second place with suspense mystery in latest HMWG book. Favorite writers are John Grisham, James Patterson and Dick Francis. Favorite hobbies besides writing, are golf and competitive duplicate bridge.
ANITA JOLDERSMA
Anita Joldersma is a wife and mother of six grown children and a grandmother of ten. She has been a member of the Hamilton Mountain Writers’ Guild since it’s beginning. Anita mostly gargled at the fountain of education but did manage to fool some of her fellow students into thinking she was pretty smart... she was not quite as successful in fooling her teachers. To her surprise she was the recipient of the Award of Exellance from McMaster Continuing Education in the Certificate of Writing program. -Guest columnist in the Hamilton Community News, October 2016 -Guest columnist in the Hamilton Community News, November 2016 -“The Moose Dance” Published Short Story, Amazon, Hamilton Mountain Writers’ Club, 2017 -“Food for Thought” Published Short Story, Amazon, Ascending, 2018 Anita is currently working on a short story called "Confessions of a Street Walker" which chronicles some of her four year - two thousand mile adventure of walking every street in her hometown. If your address is Hamilton, Ontario she has walked past your home.
Ever since he was a young lad, Carmenn had always wanted to be an author. His love of short stories (particularly those of Ray Bradbury), various television anthologies (Rod Serling’s original Twilight Zone; the 1990s Outer Limits remake) and all things fantastical drove him to write his own tales. Typically, his stories range in the genres of Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror, Weird Fiction, and perhaps the occasional Western. He is very thankful for the opportunity to be part of this wonderful thing called The Hamilton Mountain Writers’ Guild, and is pleased to announce his short story “Where Lazarus Sleeps” will appear in the Guild’s third book.
NATHANIEL SAIGE
Nathaniel Saige has a passion for storytelling. Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario he lives with his fiancée and their dog of mixed breeds. The young man is well read, well spoken, humble and polite. He values abstract thought, hard work, and prefers face to face encounters with peers and mentors in equal measure.
ROBECCA AUSTIN
Robecca Austin is an author of romance and paranormal stories. She is the founder of ColorfulPen.com and contributor on Wordsilly.com. Her non-fiction articles have appeared a number of times in Vision: A resource for Writers, published by, A Conspiracy of Authors.
Robecca is a member of The Hamilton Mountain Writers Guild. Her first prize short story, Cold Table, was published in a short story collection by, The Hamilton Writers Guild.
When she’s not dodging buds, she is outside enjoying nature and lots of sunshine. She lives and works in Canada.
Connect with Robecca on, www.colorfulpen.com
Twitter: @thecolorfulpen
GRAZIELA NEQUIA
Graziela Nequia has been a member of HMWG since May 2018. She’s written poetry since she was a teenager which won her a Literary Award. She just published her first short story, The Rainbow After the Storm and is currently working on her memoir. Graziela works full-time and is a single mom. She enjoys hiking when there’s an opportunity. She reads and listens to music to clear her mind. Her favourite author is Danielle Steel. She prefers reading history books especially European history. Graziela is looking forward to future writing.
LINDA BROWN
Linda has had a career in teaching instrumental music and English at the high school level for both the Ottawa Board where she taught at a school for the arts, and the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board. Her background includes a Bachelor of Music in Education and an ARCT Solo Performers Diploma in piano. After retirement, Linda enrolled in several of Humber
College’s workshops in creative writing and became a graduate of Humber College’s Creative Writing course. She enjoys writing in all genres.
Linda has just completed her first novel, Fingers and Toes, about a two-piano competition. Her piano teachers, the Bedfords were two-piano artists who settled in Hamilton to teach. The setting is historical Hamilton to highlight our great city. It is Linda’s intention to reveal to the reader, interesting facts about the mind of a musician and to illuminate the frightening arena of
those who perform.
KAREN WOOD
Karen M. Wood lives in Ancaster with her husband.
She grew up in the country like so many generations of her family before her.
After graduating as a nurse, she became a city dweller and worked to adapt to the new environment.
Her children and grandchildren are also city dwellers and unfamiliar with the wonders of country life.
Karen wishes to share family stories and family roots with the next generations to provide a sense of belonging for them.
Growing up she enjoyed hearing family stories.
Now she is sharing those stories with her children and future generations.
KATHERINE KOBERNYK
Katherine Kobernyk, known as Katie by her close friends and family studies Science and Business at the University of Waterloo. During her time at school she has been able to explore her passion for both writing and science through her two academic papers published, 'Microemulsion Utility in Pharmaceuticals: Implications for Multi-Drug Delivery and Effect of Counterions on the Micellization' and 'Monolayer Behaviour of Cationic Gemini Surfactants'. When she is not busy conducting research in the lab, she is testing reality through her creative writing.
LAURIE HAZEL
The writer behind the pen name Laurie Hazel is by profession a Psychologist and by passion a writer of romantic escapes. She is currently working on her debut novel, a contemporary romance set between Canada and Australia, and a collection of short stories, that explore human relationships in various levels of connection.
Laurie is the founder of Whispering Willow Press. She is also an active member of the Hamilton Mountain Writers Guild and contributor at wordsilly.com.
Laurie lives in Hamilton, ON with her husband and two young daughters.
You can follow Laurie on her blog: www.lauriehazel.com
Instagram: writing_romantic_escapes
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/lauriehazelwriter
NEIL CHOPP
Neil Chopp has lived in the Hamilton area for 60 years. Currently residing in Dundas, he is actively involved in the local community with Rotary, Church and volunteerism. A single-father of two since 2001, he is currently writing a self-help text for men who lose their spouses at an early age. Writing has been an avenue of expression and creativity for Neil since his elementary school years.