| Executive Director |
Giorgia Severini |
| Giorgia has been with the Writers’ Guild of Alberta since 2008 and has spent the time gathering information and developing resources to best serve Alberta writers. She has a BA Honours in English from the University of Manitoba and an MA in Drama from the University of Alberta. Outside of the Writers’ Guild of Alberta, she is a theatre director, playwright, manuscript reader, and Online Features Editor for Canadian Theatre Review. Her most recent original play, Border Breakdown, was produced at the 2019 Edmonton Fringe and read at the 2020 SkirtsAFire Festival Peep Show. |
| Program and Operations Coordinator |
Ashley Mann |
| Ashley was born in Grande Prairie but moved to Edmonton at the age of 11. She worked as a veterinary assistant for a number of years in her early twenties and even though she loved working with animals on a daily basis, she knew she wanted to go back to school to study literature. She wanted to write! Ashley went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from MacEwan University in 2017, where she also contributed two short fiction pieces to MacEwan’s anthology series, The Bolo Tie Collective (Volumes I and II).Ashley continues to be inspired by all types of literature, but is especially fond of speculative fiction. She writes poetry and fiction in her spare time, and her greatest achievements during the pandemic have been quality time spent with her cat, Tilly, taking up cross stitch, and rewatching every available Jane Austen adaptation. |
| Program and Events Coordinator |
Jason Lee Norman |
| Jason was born and raised on the shores of the mighty North Saskatchewan. He received a Bachelor of Arts (English) degree from the University of Alberta and a Master of Arts degree in Creative Writing from the University of Manchester. Since returning home from studying in the UK Jason has worked tirelessly to create new opportunities and projects that showcase local writers. He was the publisher behind the 40 Below winter anthologies, currently publishes Monto Books and edits the new Edmonton literary journal Funicular Magazine. He mainly writes short fiction and hilarious tweets these days. |
| Program Coordinator (Southern Alberta Office, Calgary) |
Ashley Frerichs |
| Ashley Frerichs (aka Ashley J.J. White) was born and raised in Calgary where she worked in radio until 2012 when she made a swift escape to the west coast. In Vancouver, she was the Program & Promotions Coordinator at the Rickshaw Theatre and co-founder of The Revival Festival. She moved to London in early 2017 where she spent three years attending as many writing workshops and music festivals as possible while working as a freelance copywriter and occasional bartender. She is now (finally) working toward a BA in English from Athabasca University. In addition to her studies, she is a writer of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction; she’s had a few short stories and poems published in various literary magazines. She is thrilled for this new chapter in her career as the Program Coordinator for the Writers’ Guild of Alberta’s Calgary office. |
| Communications and Partnerships Coordinator |
Ellen Kartz |
| Born and raised in Edmonton, Ellen lived in Calgary for four years while completing her Bachelor of Arts degree. Subsequently, she completed a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia. She tutored other students to pay her way through university and has also taught guitar; she has played the instrument since she was 12 years old. As an active writer and freelance editor throughout her career, Ellen worked with and for the Edmonton Poetry Festival for many years as a volunteer coordinator, event planner, founding member, and board member. She says that she is thrilled and excited to come to the Writers’ Guild of Alberta after all of her other literary and artistic endeavours. |
| Member Services Coordinator |
Mike Maguire |
| Mike was born in Ontario but has lived most of his life in Alberta. He has a Bachelor of Communication Studies from MacEwan University; as part of his degree he interned at the Writers’ Guild of Alberta over the summer in 2016 and is delighted to return to the WGA. Mike has written short fiction that appeared in the first and second volumes of MacEwan University’s Bolo Tie Anthology, as well as short nonfiction pieces for the popular game Dungeons and Dragons that appear on the web site Dungeon Masters Guild. |
| Project Assistant |
Sadie MacGillivray |
| Sadie MacGillivray was born and raised in Iron River, AB. They love being outside and soaking in all of the sounds and sights that nature has to offer and uses that time to come up with new project ideas as well to sneakily photograph everything that catches their eye. Sadie also enjoys taking time out of their day to learn interesting facts, watch anime, play as many Legend of Zelda games they can get their hands on, as well as sit down and work on the multitude of projects (resin art, cross stitch, knitting, painting, screenplays, poetry, sewing, etc.) they have scattered around their house. Sadie has a Professional Communications degree from MacEwan University, and is a few steps closer to becoming a book editor. Although, going back to school for a teaching degree in English or drama is definitely on the table.
Sadie has decided that even though there technically isn’t enough time in each day to do everything they want to do, they are going to try to fit it all in anyway! Stay awesome and weird <3 on the table. |
| Horizons Writers Circle Coordinator and Community Outreach Facilitator |
Luciana Erregue-Sacchi |
| Luciana is an art historian, publisher (Laberinto Press), writer, and translator. Her work has appeared in Canadian anthologies, and international publications, she has also presented at literary festivals and conferences (Edmonton LitFest, the FOLD, Edmonton Poetry Festival, FIL Canada, WGA Conference). She maintains her blog, Spectator Curator, is a WGA Borderlines Writing Circle alumni, a Banff Centre Literary Arts Alumni, a former Edmonton Arts Council Artist in Residence, an academic, and an advocate for diversity in Canadian publishing. Luciana loves going for walks throughout the beautiful Edmonton River Valley alongside friends and family. |
