Friday- Sunday Schedule

Here is the lineup for the next few days! Come to the Festival with a purpose! We are in the large Expo Hall, amidst the Floral Department, Home Arts Department and the vendors......
Come grab a drink and join us at the Creative Arts Stage!


Friday, August 21:
12:00-1:30- Geri Spieler : Telling True Stories
3:00-4:00- Red Desert Dance Company
4-5:30-Laurel Anne Hill: Breathing Life Into Your Writing
6-7:30 Literary Winners Readings

Saturday, August 22:
12-1:30- Inés Villafañe-León: The Foreign Challenge- The Dream of Becoming a Writer
1:30-2:00- Peter Gin: author on stage
2:00-3:00- Floral Department's Second Judging/Tasting
3:15-4:00- Peter Gessner: author on stage
4:30-5:30- Angel Simmons: Harpist

Sunday, August 23:
1:00-3:00- Luisa Adams, Martha Alderson and Teresa LeYung Ryan: Three Stories, Three Writers, Three Paths
4-5:30- Laura Weinbach, experimental folk artist
5:30-6:30- Jonathan Tomczak, an author reads.

Red Desert Dance Troupe

Back to enchant us at the Festival for the second time is the Red Desert Dance Troupe!! Four of the lovely ladies will be on the Creative Arts Stage from 5-6:00 THIS evening!


They will also be on stage this Friday from 3-4!

Don't miss the sword balancing, poi, double veil, duets, drum solos... and join us for audience participation and learn to shimmy along with the Red Desert Dance Company!


Fore more info on Marie and her Dancers, visit them online!: Red Desert Dance Company

Foxtails Brigade @ Chasing The Moon 8.06.09 from Scott McDowell on Vimeo.

Laura Weinbach, half of the duo 'Foxtails Brigade' will be on the Creative Arts Stage today from 6-7:30. She will be sharing a set with Bay Area acoustic-metal group, Judgement Day.

"...Weinbach's lyrics never fail on the storytelling front, whether she's channeling a scary doll that comes alive in the dark of night or writing about a psychotic student. In the latter song, "For Leo," she sings, "But I have known your kind before / You're linked by paper cuts and sores / Rotten green banana eyes / With chocolate milk and hungry flies." Creepy yet compelling, Foxtails dare you to turn away." -Kat Renz, SF Bay Guardian.

Author Spotlight: Diana Orgain

Diana Orgain was born in San Francisco, CA. As a child she loved Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries and dreamed of being a writer one day.

She went on to earn her B.A and M.F.A. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University with a minor in acting.

Diana has acted professionally in many theater roles and national commercials. She wrote several plays, which were produced at San Francisco State University, GreenHouses Productions, and PlayGround in San Francisco. But then a funny thing happened – on the way to becoming a mystery writer, she went and had a baby…

Bundle of Trouble: A Maternal Instincts Mystery was inspired by the transformational experience that motherhood brings. Battling sleep deprivation, diaper blowouts and breastfeeding mishaps Diana muddled through the creation of her first manuscript, Mommy style. Bundle of Trouble is her debut novel, the first in this humorous series published by Berkley Prime Crime. Diana continues to live in the beautiful city by the bay, San Francisco, with her husband and their children.

Diana will be presenting her workshop "Write a great scene in 6 easy steps" on Wednesday, August 19 from 12-1:30 pm!

To check out more about Diana, visit her online at: dianaorgain.com

Author Spotlight: Joyce Robins

Joyce Robins says, "I have been writing stories and poems since childhood and have just completed a manuscript, a memoir in episodic style of growing up in Toronto in the 1920’s and i930’s. My earliest influences were my grandmother, my mother, six aunts and two uncles, a large co-operative, creative, story telling family who all lived together. My mother was the oldest of grandmother’s nine children and I was the precocious child in their midst- an observer and participant. Men were scarce in our family as men tended to die early. My stepfather was a teacher, folklorist, a writer who in spite of everything had a profound influence on my development as a writer.

"My first piece of literary writing “An American Wife in Madrid” was published in ‘The Reconstructionist’ in 1959. In the mid 1960’s I wrote a series of articles for 3 Peninsula newspapers based on my experiences at W. & J. Sloanes’s on El Camino in Los Altos and Breuners Design Studios on Sutter Street in San Francisco. I had a by-line and the editor dubbed the column “Decorator’s Casebook.”

Joyce will be on the Creative Arts Stage today from 4-5pm, sharing with us her memories and ideas about writing memoir.

Tory Hartmann and Chris Wachlin: Demystifying Fiction

What IS fiction?

Tory Hartmann and Chris Wachlin are here to approach the genre of fiction in a new and accessible way during their workshop Demystifying Fiction- Tuesday August 18 from 1-2:30 pm.


Tory Hartmann
is a freelance writer living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her non-fiction has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle, San Mateo County Times, and Parenting on the Peninsula. Her fiction has been published in The Sand Hill Review, Descant, The Hurricane Review, The Homestead Review, Ship’s Log: Writings at Sea, Tattoo Highway,
San Francisco Peninsula Review as well as many others. Her screenplays include Castro Confidential and three episodes of The Powerhouse Kids.

Chris Wachlin
Born and raised in Grand Chute, Wisconsin. Chris attended the University of Iowa, where he missed a lot of classes but did meet his beautiful wife, Jennifer, in French Composition. He has also lived in Vermont, New Hampshire, and the city of Boston, and currently lives in Redwood City, California. “Talking WriteMax!®” is his first published story.

Bring your pens, pencils and a ready and eager brain on over to the Creative Arts Stage THIS Tuesday!

Wow! + Monday - Wednesday Schedule!

It's surreal to think that the Festival is here! After months of planning and dreaming about these 9 days, it's crazy to think that this will soon be over!

What fun it was to award and congratulate all of our artists- literary and then some... on Saturday evening- It was truly inspiring to see 150+ of you to show up! You inspire us and you keep the Creative Arts Department going strong.
It's been nice hearing your stories, and it's been nice getting to know each and every one of you.

As the Creative Arts is undergoing new changes this year, please know that your comments and suggestions really DO affect what and how we do things.... please don't hesitate to share!

We are starting the week! We have many exciting things ahead, and we really hope you can join us...!!!


Monday, August 17:
2:00-3:00- Beth Barany: Fairy Tales, Brainstorming and Tarot- Plot Your Story Quickly and Have Fun Too!
4-5:00- Maureen Brennan: Harpist
5:00-6:00- Red Desert Dance Company


Tuesday, August 18:
1:00-2:30- Tory Hartmann and Chris Wachlin: Demystifying Fiction
3:00-4:00- Floral Department: Wreathmaking Workshop
4:00-5:00- Joyce Robbins: Writing A Memoir


Wednesday, August 19:
12:00-1:30- Diana Orgain: Write A Great Scene In 6 Easy Steps
2:00-3:00- John Saint Germain: Factual Fiction
5:00-6:00- Red Desert Dance Company
6-7:30- Judgement Day


We look forward to seeing you!

-Creative Arts Crew


ps- don't forget to keep up with us on facebook AND twitter!!!

THIS Weekend at the Festival's Creative Arts Department...

Saturday, August 15:


12:30-1:30- Copus












Kicking off the Creative Arts Stage with a bang!- The wonderful world beats ensemble that is Copus.

2:00-3:00- The Floral Department's Judging/Tasting

3:00-4:00- The Floral Department: An Ikebana Demonstration
Uniting humans and flowers, 插花 ("flower art") or Ikebana is more than just flower arrangement- it is an art form. Hosted by the Floral Department.

4:30-5:00- Jonathan Tomzcak

This 16 year-old SF author talks about his book, 'Quinn's Survivors' and answers your questions.

5:00-6:00- Copus
This is your last chance to experience Copus at the Festival- don't miss them!

6:00-7:00- Awards Ceremony
Honoring this year's artists!





Sunday, August 16:

12:00-3:00-Piano Recital
Come and hear the best of the best!


3:00-4:00- Bill Cervenka: All About Bees


Bill will tell us all about the Floral Department's bees- buzz on over, it's sure to be an interesting talk!



4:30-6:00- Laurel Anne Hill: Creating New Worlds- Writing Fantasy
An interactive literary workshop, led by renowned SF author Laurel Anne Hill.



6-7:00-Eva Gordon: Wolf Bio/Lore Workshop
Author of Paranormal and Fantasy Romance to host a workshop so good you'll be howling for more!

Band Spotlight: COPUS

COPUS is a world beat ensemble that presents conscious lyrics and beautiful melodies for the intelligent listener. Formed by poet Royal Kent and composer Wendy Loomis in 1998, the group has performed at clubs, theaters, and festivals in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Atlanta, and are scheduled to perform in Boston and at the WordxWord Festival in Western Massachusetts August 2009. The group has released CD “Later Than You Think”, single ‘The Fool”, trilogy “Jah Provide” and is currently working on their next full-length recording. “COPUS could become legendary if given the opportunity to thrive!” -Michael Allison, MusicDish.com

ROYAL KENT’s love of poetry goes back several decades. Originally inspired by the legendary Last Poets, he has performed with dancers, theatrical troupes, poets, and many bands including the Vancouver-based Band of Angels and Czech Republic-based Pseudo Pseudo. He has produced television, radio and stage shows, and is the co-founder of independent label Copus Music. As poet MC he has opened major reggae concerts for Peter Tosh, Toots & the Maytals, and The Wailers. Kira Njinsky, daughter of the great Russian ballet star Njinksy, said: “Royal Kent recites poetry the way my grandfather danced!”

Composer/pianist WENDY LOOMIS has released 7 CDs of her compositions for COPUS, acoustic ensemble Phoenix Rising, as well as solo piano works. She won the ASCAPlus award for composition for the past 2 years, was a finalist in the Unisong International Songwriting competition, has had her commissioned works performed by flute ensembles, and is currently writing music for film. Wendy earned her bachelor’s degree in Creative Arts and her master’s degree in Arts Education. She is the co-founder and president of Copus Music LLC and teaches private piano at her San Francisco studio.

Flutist MONICA WILLIAMS is a graduate of Eastman School of Music and has studied with several esteemed flutists such as Bonita Boyd, Susan Levitin, and Brad Garner. She has performed with orchestras in Chicago, Rochester, and Cincinnati and has toured Europe and the United States. In addition to COPUS, Monica is a member of Phoenix Rising with Wendy; their 2 CDs, ‘Whispers’ and ‘Ascension’ , have been receiving critical acclaim including the latter being nominated for ‘best acoustic album of the year’. Monica is the director of Flock of Flutes and teaches private flute at Civic Arts Center of Walnut Creek and her home studio in San Francisco.

Bassist PATRICK MAHON was born and raised in San Francisco. Patrick studied jazz with Tony P. Miller, but he is primarily self-taught – giving him a creative facility and an eager ear for new ways of expression, including most recently using an unusual bowing technique on the electric bass. He joined COPUS in 2007, played on the ‘Jah Provide’ trilogy, and has performed at many Bay Area gigs as well as at the Sweet Auburn Springfest in Atlanta. His influences include Charles Mingus, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, and Les Claypool. In addition to COPUS, Patrick has performed with bands Scaramanga, The Ambassadors, and Electric Color Wheel.

RICK CAMPBELL is a native San Franciscan who currently lives in Vallejo, California. He joined the marching band in high school and was part of a punk band called ‘Black Athletes’ and has been studying and performing percussion ever since. He has opened up for acts such as Dead Kennedys, Public Image Limited, Fishbone, and Romeo Void. He has toured Yugoslavia and Poland with the George Coates Performing Ensemble and has performed and recorded with Native Elements, the Funkanauts, and toured extensively in France with The Motivators. Rick plays timbales, congas, traps, and ‘all things percussion’; he joined COPUS in 2009.

COPUS to be LIVE! at Creative Arts Stage August 15 for two sets: 12-1:30 pm AND 5-6:00pm!

Author Spotlight: Jonathan Tomczak

Jonathan Tomczak isn't your average teenager....

Sixteen years old, he currently attends high school in South San Francisco and is a published author. Although Quinn's Survivors is his first published work, Tomczak has been writing since the third grade. He credits his own experiences and the support of his family and friends as inspiration for this novel.

"Alex Quinn, a slightly anti-social teenage prodigy, is just trying to live a normal life with a group of loyal friends and a love interest. Although living in the United States during World War III makes life anything but ordinary.

One night, strange missiles destroy Alex’s home city of San Francisco, but mysteriously leave its inhabitants alive and unscathed..."

Jonathan Tomczak will be on the Creative Arts Stage from 4:30-5:00 pm on August 15! Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about this incredible, young and talented author!