A little bit about us…
Our team
Our 2024/2025 board, facilitators, and coordinators
We are a friendly, talented, and good-looking bunch of writerly nerds.
Angela Rebrec
President
Angela is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community for writers of all abilities. In 2021, she founded the Delta Literary Arts Society to turn this vision into reality. She is a multi-disciplinary artist whose writing has appeared in antholgies and journals such as EVENT, Vallum, and The Antigonish Review. Angela’s poetry films have garnered recognition at international festivals and is the recipient of Pulp Literature’s 2024 Magpie Award for Poetry. She facilitates writing and expressive arts workshops for all ages and has proudly produced a variety of works in collaboration with composers and visual artists. Angela believes everyone becomes their best self working in partnership with others.
Anna Eastland
Vice President
Canadian poet and mother of ten, Anna climbs though the brambles of motherhood to write bittersweet poetry with her blackberry-stained fingers. She is the author of unexpected blossoming: a journey of grief and hope (Blurb), and has contributed to various anthologies including Love Rebel: Reclaiming Motherhood and Never-ending Love: Sharing Stories, Prayers and Comfort for Miscarriage and Infant Loss. Anna was chosen as a librettist for The Lament’s Project by soprano Ai Horton, who transformed Anna’s babyloss poem “Carry Me” into a song accompanied by harp. Find her at @justeastofcrazy and https://eastofcrazyland.com/
Rosemary Rigsby
Treasurer
Debra Purdy Kong
Secretary
Debra has published short stories in a variety of genres as well as personal essays and articles for publications such as Chicken Soup for the Bride’s Soul, B.C. Parent Magazine, and The Vancouver Sun. Her volunteer experiences, criminology diploma, and various jobs inspired her to write mystery novels set in the Lower Mainland. Debra’s employment as a campus security patrol and communications officer provided the background for her Casey Holland mystery series. She’s currently working on an urban fantasy trilogy and paranormal mystery series. Debra has been a facilitator for Port Moody’s creative writing workshops for twelve years and enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She’s also a member of Tri-City Wordsmiths and is a former board member of Crime Writers of Canada. More about Debra can be found at www.debrapurdykong.com.
Kim Lawton
Member At Large
Kimberly is an author of short stories, young adult fantasy, screenplays, stage plays, and poetry. She has been long-listed by the BC Federation of Writers for her short story, Anger. Kimberly is the winner of the 2024 Collector Con writing contest. Her work has been presented on stage in front of sell-out crowds with the Delta Literary Arts Society over several years of their annual Killer Verse stage productions. The City of Delta continues to sponsor her work at an annual family Christmas event in partnership with DLAS. In 2024, her literary film, directed by Carson Jones, was shortlisted in the COMPOSED Short Film Festival.
Laura Burns
Member At Large
Laura discovered her love for acting at age 11 and honed her craft studying theatre at Douglas College. Driven by a passion for storytelling, she spent eight years traveling the world, enriching her perspective and artistry. Based in the Lower Mainland of BC, Laura is an active contributor to Vancouver’s Independent Film scene and community theatre. In 2023, she was accepted into the Arts Club Actors Intensive program. Her dedication to portraying deeply flawed and complex characters remains at the heart of her work as an actor. Laura is instrumental in organizing DLAS’s COMPOSED Short Film Festival.
April Moore
Member At Large
April is a secondary English teacher who enjoys the opportunity to share her love of all things literary. She is passionate about encouraging reading and feels a particularly keen satisfaction on hearing students declare a new-found joy in poetry. She reads voraciously in many genres and always has a book recommendation on the tip of her tongue. Book club is essential to her. So, naturally, she loves to help organize DLAS’s InkWellTold events that bring thoughtful, creative, book-centred conversations into the community.
Kyle Hawke
Member At Large
Kyle is a writer and editor, who has been performing spoken word for over 30 years. Active with various literary non-profit groups, he founded the Bohemian Caress and Voice on Canvas interdisciplinary performance series. Kyle’s poetry is juxtaposed with the art of Wade Edwards in their book, whispers of humanity. He lives in Vancouver, BC.
Zohra Shahabuddin
Member At Large
Zohra is a creative dynamo with a passion for storytelling, marketing, and all things literary. A newcomer to Canada, she recently completed her Master of Publishing from Simon Fraser University, where she honed her skills in crafting compelling narratives and building strategic connections. Dedicated to amplifying diverse voices, Zohra brings fresh perspectives to the DLAS community. When she’s not busy championing the literary arts, Zohra is likely off on a new adventure, exploring the world and soaking up inspiration from her travels. Whether she’s climbing mountains, sipping chai by the beach, or diving into a thrilling new book, Zohra’s zest for life is as boundless as her imagination.
Genie Key
Member At Large
Genie is a novelist and children’s book author who writes under several different pen names. She is currently taking time away from the society while her infant learns to sleep more than 1-2 hours at a stretch. In her non-existant spare time, Genie enjoys curling up with her kitty and reading or listening to various fantasy books—her cat would prefer she have way more time for cuddles.
Sarah Subotnick
Member At Large
A recent graduate of Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s creative writing program, Sarah has a passsion for flash fiction and world building. She also has an unwavering love of sharks and an adversion to having her photo taken. You can sometimes find Sarah working the front desk at DLAS events and/or reminding its tireless president to hydrate.
Stevi Martyniuk
Graphic Artist / Poster Design
Stevi is a secondary English and Visual Studio Arts teacher in Delta, BC, on the traditional territory of the Tsawwassen and Musqueam First Nations. Her writing work spans from Academic Publications in international journals and anthologies on Art Education and Video Game culture to Fiction and Fantasy novels. Stevi has a passion for photography, graphic design, and digital media and enjoys making things look pretty as a side hustle. When not lost in her own head, writing stories that border on the fanatic and weird, or teaching, Stevi enjoys reading, attempting to throw on the pottery wheel, and travelling the world.
Winston Lê
Pages & Passages Coordinator
Winston is a Vietnamese-Chinese poet, interdisciplinary artist, and cultural worker who resides in Langley, BC. His writing has been featured in Composed: anthology of poetry 2024, Poetry Pause, periodicities, Sparkling Tongue Press, Ekphrasis Magazine, pagefiftyone, and filling station. His debut chapbook, translanguaging was shortlisted for the 2018 Broken Pencil Zine Awards. translanguaging is now curated as part of the special collection at Colby College Libraries and Michigan State University Libraries, respectively. In March 2024, Winston spent a two-week tenure as the poet-in-residence at Studio Faire, an artist residency located in Nèrac, France.
Tara Avery
Writers’ Workshop Facilitator
Tara is a Vancouver-based writer, editor, ghostwriter, and coach. She holds a BFA in Theatre, Film, and Creative Writing from UBC. Tara is passionate about storytelling in all its forms, and she’s grateful to have built a career not just writing but helping others tell their stories. She is a Professional Member of the CIEP, the Chair of Editors BC, and the Treasurer of Editors Canada. She is also the interim President of the FBCW’s board of directors. You can find her at http://www.taraavery.com/
Aly Laube
Communications Coordinator
Aly is a writer, communications expert, and musician passionate about equity-seeking and rabble-rousing. Their work has been published in outlets like Exclaim!, SAD Mag, The Tyee, and more. They shifted from journalism to communications for nonprofits after about a decade in print and radio media. Aly is a settler on the stolen ancestral land of the Qayqayt, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh people, where she is grateful to live alongside her cat, partners, and chosen family.