Speaking, Retreats + Workshops

We love to teach. If you’re looking for a speaker or facilitator for your writing and publishing-related event, we’d love to hear from you. We’re all experienced at delivering our workshops virtually, and can even provide the technology to host the event in many cases.

Reach us by email using our first name (Crystal, Donna or Eileen) @CreativeAcademyForWriters.com and we’ll talk about how we can help you.

Crystal Hunt

Crystal Hunt writes contemporary romance and non-fiction for writers. She lives life at the intersection of stories and technology, and is a frequent speaker on topics such as:

  • strategy for series authors
  • audiobooks
  • author websites + branding
  • indie publishing strategy
  • focus + productivity + organization
  • health and wellness for authorpreneurs

Crystal is passionate about empowering authors to take control of their indie publishing journey, and make friends with the technology that will help them!

Donna Barker
Donna Barker’s days are split between all the things she loves: researching and writing non-fiction for writers, writing steamy, contemporary romance under the pen name Danika Bloom, learning all about marketing books, and providing accountability & motivation coaching to writers. Donna’s workshops focus on:
  • building confidence as a writer
  • accountability techniques
  • identifying your author purpose
  • how to write when you’re scared
They are highly interactive, draw on science-backed approaches to setting and achieving goals, and always include at least four laughs. 
Eileen Cook

Eileen Cook writes non-fiction for writers, and a range of fiction including plot twisty page-turners. She loves the opportunity to talk about all things writing craft and publishing related including:

  • using psychology techniques to build more realistic characters
  • how to increase conflict
  • polishing your manuscript for publication
  • business planning and career development for writers

She’s spoken to groups from five to three hundred and only occasionally makes herself laugh-snort while talking.

Upcoming Events

Past Events

Surrey International Writer's Conference (Oct 2021, ONLINE)
Who: Eileen Cook, Crystal Hunt
When: October 21-24, 2021
Where: ONLINE
What: Crystal & Eileen are presenting workshops
How to register: Information available on the SiWC website
Royal City Arts Society (May 2021)
Who: Eileen Cook
When: May 2021
Where: ONLINE
What: Eileen presenting on Show vs Tell
 
Be a Bestseller (April 2021)
Who: Donna Barker
When: April 19, 2021
Where: ONLINE
What: Tips to finish your scrappy rough draft
BC Federation of Writers (Feb 2021)
Who: Eileen Cook
When: February 2021
Where: ONLINE
What: Characters Online
 
 
 
Sisters In Crime (March 2021)
Who: Crystal(CJ) Hunt 
When: March 2021
Where: ONLINE
What: Presentation at Sisters in Crime Conference 
 
 
Surrey International Writer's Conference (Oct 2020)
Who: Eileen Cook, Crystal Hunt
When: October 22-25, 2020
Where: ONLINE
What: Crystal & Eileen are presenting workshops
How to register: Information available on the SiWC website
Whistler Writer’s Festival (Oct 2020)
Who: Eileen Cook
When: October 2020
Where: ONLINE
What: Insight from Publishing Professionals
 
 
Build Better Characters (Sept 2020)
Who: Eileen Cook
When: September 19, 2020
Where: ONLINE
What: WORD Vancouver
 
 
 
Vancouver Island Romance Authors (June 2020)
Who: Crystal (CJ) Hunt
When: June 13, 2020
Where: ONLINE
What: Presentation and workshop for members of the Vancouver Island Romance Authors group.
How to register: For members of Vancouver Island Romance Authors (ViRA)
Children's Writers and Illustrators of BC (April 2020, ONLINE)
Who: Crystal (CJ) Hunt
When: April 8, 2020
Where: ONLINE
What: Presentation and workshop on social media for authors for CWILL BC.
How to register: For members of CWILL BC
Greater Vancouver Writers' Association (March 2020, ONLINE)
Who: Crystal (CJ) Hunt
When: March 21, 2020
Where: ONLINE
What: Presentation and workshop on author websites and mailing lists for Greater Vancouver Writers’ Association.
Women In Publishing Summit (March 2020)
Who: Eileen Cook
When: March 2 – 8, 2020
Where: Online 
What: Eileen will be giving a talk.
How to register: Information on the entire festival and how to register can be found here.
RCLAS Tellers of Short tales (March 2020)
Who: Crystal (CJ) Hunt
When: March 12, 2020
Where: The Anvil Centre, New Westminster, BC , Canada
What: Reading and open mic at the Royal City Literary Arts Society
How to register: Admittance is free, no registration required.
Golden Ears Writers' & Readers' Festival (January 2020)
Who: Eileen Cook
When: January 18, 2020  (10am – 3pm)
Where: The ACT Arts Centre: 11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, BC, Canada
What: Workshop: Eileen Cook: The Power of Story: How Stories Can Change your life – or at least your brain (1:30pm – 2:30pm)
How to register: Information on the entire festival and how to register can be found here.
Vancouver Island Romance Authors
Who: Donna Barker
When: November 16, 2019
Where: Nanaimo BC, Canada
What: Accountability and motivation
How to register: Workshop for members and guest of ViRA. See website for details.
Noir at the Bar
Who: Eileen Cook
When: November 6, 2019 @ 7pm
Where: Shebeen Whiskey House, 110 Carrall Street (Gastown), Vancouver, BC
What: Come drink, mingle and hear some great crime and mystery fiction
 
Surrey International Writer's Conference
Who: Eileen Cook, CJ Hunt, Donna Barker
When: October 25-27, 2019
Where: Surrey, BC, Canada
What: Crystal & Eileen are presenting workshops; all three are at the book signing event
How to register: Information available on the SiWC website
Whistler Writer's Festival
Who: Eileen Cook
When: October 17-20, 2019
Where: Whistler, BC, Canada
What: Eileen will be doing a presentation
How to register: Tickets available on their website
Writers Showcase at the VPL
Who: Donna Barker
When: October 17, 2019
Where: Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia St, Vancouver, BC, Canada
What: Public reading from Mother Teresa’s Advice for Jilted Lovers
How to register: No registration required.
YVR Authors
Who: Eileen Cook, CJ Hunt, Donna Barker
When: September 24, 2019
Where: Alliance for Arts and Culture, Vancouver, BC, Canada
What: September Writer Recharge
How to register: Check the YVR Authors website for details.
Word On The Street
Who: Eileen Cook
When: September 21, 2019
Where: Lethbridge, AB, Canada
What: Eileen will be doing a reading and signing books
How to register: No registration required
Golden Ears Writers
Who: Eileen Cook, CJ Hunt, Donna Barker
When: Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Where: ACT in Maple Ridge, BC, Canada
What: Workshop: September Writer Recharge
How to register: No registration required. Details available on the event facebook page.
Vancouver Island Romance Authors
Who: Eileen Cook
When: September 14, 2019
Where: Victoria, BC, Canada
What: Eileen is leading a workshop on psychology tips for writers
How to register: Registration available on their website
Building Better Characters with Sisters in Crime
Who: Eileen Cook
When: September 18, 2019
Where: Online with the Creative Academy
What: A workshop for members of The Creative Academy and Sisters in Crime to explore how common psychological techniques can be used to create characters that feel three dimensional and jump off the page.
Eden Mills Writers Festival
Who: Eileen Cook
When: September 6 – 8, 2019
Where: Eden Mills, ON, Canada
What: Eileen is participating in a literary festival with both readings and panel discussions
How to register: Registration available on their website
SFU Urban Retreat
Who: Eileen Cook
When: July 24-27, 2019
Where: Vancouver, BC, Canada
What: Eileen is mentoring a four day writing retreat
How to register: Registration available on their website
Write On Vancouver
Who: Eileen Cook, CJ Hunt, Donna Barker
When: May 11, 2019
Where: Vancouver Public Library, Main Branch, 350 West Georgia, Vancouver, BC Canada
What: Each presenting a workshop
How to register: No registration required. All the details and workshop descriptions are here
Creative Ink Festival for Writers and Readers
Who: Eileen Cook, CJ Hunt, Donna Barker
When: March 29-31, 2019
Where: Burnaby, BC, Canada
What: Your Sh!tty First Draft (Donna), Seven Habits of Highly Effective Writers (Eileen & Lisa Voisin), Go All In and the Value of Setting Stretch Goals (Crystal). We’re all sitting on several panels as well.
How to register: Registration available on their website
Left Coast Crime
Who: Eileen Cook
When: March 28-31, 2019
Where: Vancouver, BC, Canada
What: Eileen is leading a panel on Thursday March 28 YA and Crime
How to register: Registration available on their website
Third Age Learning At Kwantlen
Who: CJ Hunt
When: March 26, 2019
Where: Kwantlen Polytechnic University (Richmond Campus)
What: Workshop on Self Publishing
How to register: Membership to TALK is $10 a year. More information on the KPU website
Room Festival
Who: Eileen Cook
When: March 16, 2019
Where: Revue Stage Granville Island
What: Panel Moderator Coming of Age
How to register: Information on the entire festival and how to register can be found here
Women In Publishing Summit
Who: Eileen Cook
When: March 2019
Where: Online
What: An interview on foreign rights and having your work optioned for film
How to register: Information on the entire summit and how to register can be found here
Greater Vancouver Writers Association
Who: CJ Hunt and Donna Barker
When: January 26, 2019
Where: Burnaby, BC
What: Workshop—The Strategic Author: Goal-setting for 2019
How to register: Free workshop, no registration required. Details on the GVWA website
Emerald City Writers' Conference
Who: Eileen Cook
When: October 2018
Where: Bellevue, WA, USA
What: Workshop: What’s Your (Back)story? 
 
Surrey International Writers' Conference
Who: Eileen Cook, CJ Hunt
When: October 2018
Where: Surrey, BC, Canada
What: Using Emotional Intelligence for Character Creation (Eileen), What’s Your (Back)story (Eileen), Career Planning for Writers (Crystal), Level Up Your Reader Relationships (Crystal), The Strategic Series Author Roadmap (Crystal).
 
Vancouver Island Romance Authors (VIRA) (October)
Who: CJ Hunt
When: October 2018
Where: Victoria, BC, Canada
What: Mailing List Makeover: How to Level Up Your Reader Engagement (Crystal)
 
WORD Vancouver (September)
Who: Eileen Cook
When: September 2018
Where: Vancouver, BC, Canada
What: Panels: Young Adult Novels, Blurring the Lines: Complex Women in Young Adult Fiction and Crime Writers of Canada: Differences and Similarities Between True Crime and Crime Fiction
 
Squamish Public Library Writer's Evening
Who: Eileen Cook, CJ Hunt, Donna Barker
When: August 2018
Where: Squamish, BC, Canada 
What: Workshop: So, You want to write a book!
 
Creative Ink Festival for Writers and Readers
Who: Donna Barker
When: May 2018
Where: Burnaby, BC, Canada 
What: Workshop: Writer on Fire and Panels: Starting is the Hardest Part, NaNoWriMo: Is it WriMo for You?, Productivity Hacks for Writers
 
Sunshine Coast Writer's Retreat
Who: Donna Barker
When: April 2018
Where: Roberts Creek, BC, Canada
What: Workshop: Fire Up Your Commitment to Your Writing