WGA Horizons Writers Circle Final Reading (Edmonton)

GISELLE GENERAL is a Filipino-Canadian artist who has called Edmonton her home since 2008. She’s passionate about the idea of bringing purpose: whether it is finding meaning and inspiration in tragic experiences, outlining resources that can help others based on personal observations, or bringing beauty using items that would have been thrown away. Her artistic expression ranges from creative nonfiction such as essays, anthologies, articles and blogs, as well as mixed media art with a focus on upcycling. 

Creative Non-fiction and Self-mastery emerging writer. CATALINA MORALES VELEZ is a communicator passionate about cultures, higher consciousness, art, travelling, and helping others. She is working on a memoir, a graphic novel and her blog.

JUHUA (MANNA) LIU was an immigrant who came from China in 2003. She was a librarian in China and helped the Chinese community to establish Edmonton Chinatown Library. She loves writing and consistently focuses on her short story about the first generation of Chinese immigrants in Canada and published them in Chinese. She established the Edmonton Chinese Writing Club in 2009. Also, she has published her children’s series of stories in Chinese and English. She started to learn English in 2015 and graduated in Settlement Studies at NorQuest College in 2022. She wanted to share her stories with people for understanding how life is in Canada for Chinese immigrants. So, her dream is to write her story in English in the future.

TING PIMENTEL-ELGER is a settler and an immigrant from the Philippine islands; she came here almost two decades ago when racism and diversity was not often discussed yet. She may have encountered roadblocks and micro aggression but she was equally welcomed and embraced by kind souls in Canada; she continues to discover herself and pay attention to the magic and beauty that surround us through forest bathing, writing, and painting from recycled materials. She continues to be an interpreter both in her mother tongue and in Sign Language. Ting is also a registered & trauma informed yoga teacher and was recently honoured by the Yoga Alliance for “Teaching For Equity” grant. She is also a board member of Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre who was key in bringing The Shoe Project stories to Edmonton, Alberta.

DEVIKA SHORT is passionate about the written word.  She has been writing short stories and poetry for many years. Devika is a past volunteer of the Edmonton Poetry Festival and her poems have been published locally. Originally from Trinidad, Devika previously lived in Toronto, where she worked in customer service and in the banking industry. After moving to Edmonton, she worked as a library technician in several libraries and then as a personal fitness trainer in the fitness industry. Devika continues to live in Edmonton with her husband Doug and in close proximity to her children and grandchildren.