September 24/99

Books a virtual success for College instructor

ommunications instructor
Crawford Kilian has

published two books in the past
year, and another is under
consideration by a US publisher.

“Self-Counsel Press
approached me early in 1998
about doing a book on writing
science fiction and fantasy,”
Crawford says. “I agreed, but I
also proposed a book on writing
text for Web sites — a subject
I’ve been teaching for a couple of
years. Self-Counsel liked the
idea, so I went ahead with it.”

Writing Science Fiction and
Fantasy appeared in October
1998, and Crawford says it’s sold
well. “The Writer’s Digest Book
Club has ordered 2,000 copies,
and the book has gone to a
second printing.”

As soon as the first book was
finished, Crawford started work

Last student
orientation of
the 20th
century

Student orientation
volunteers were
responsible for making
the event a meaningful
and pleasurable
experience.

“Orientation ’99 was a great success
again this year and the credit for this
must go in large part to our
volunteers,” said College president,
Greg Lee. “I thank you for your
commitment, your energy and your
dedication to the College, to our
incoming students, and to your fellow

Crawford Kilian

on Writing for the Web, which appeared in
May. “It’s about writing a very different

kind of prose from print media,” he
says. “People tend to scan Web text
instead of reading every word, and
computer monitors slow down reading
speed. So Web writers need to write
very clearly and concisely.”

Writing for the Web has enjoyed
good reviews and brisk sales. “After one
good online review,” he says, “its sales
rank at Amazon.com jumped from
somewhere around 60,000 to 443. It’s
now around 4,000. More importantly,
it’s meeting a real need among Web
content developers.”

Crawford’s pursuing other writing
projects, including another novel (he’s
published 11) and a book about the last
decade in computer education.
“Technos Press in the US is considering
it,” he says. “Even if they don’t take it,
it’s been valuable to look back over 10
years of remarkable change. And I’m
really looking forward to the changes of
the next 10 years.”

student volunteers.

“The introduction our new students
receive to Capilano College is something
that will stay with them forever,” he
added, “and it is therefore important to
make the experience as pleasant and
positive as possible.”

Special thanks to: Dave O’Leary,

Coca Cola, PRIMUS Canada, Money’s
Mushrooms Canada, Venice Bakery,
Beaver Foods, the Sportsplex
employees, Lana Robinson and all the
wonderful volunteer students and
College employees.

Submitted by Lynne Hamilton