Tuesday, May 31, 2011

"A Daughter's Diary" by Elizabeth Crocket, reviewed by Jennifer Mook-Sang

Self-published with Lulu.com, paperback 119 pages $13.13 or pdf download $7.24

A Daughter's Diary by Elizabeth Crocket is a tribute to the author's father in his final days of cancer. It's an exploration of their relationship and the devastation that illness can bring to a family. Touching and, at times, laugh-out-loud funny, this memoir describes an ordinary family and the courage that emerges when times are most dark.

Although this is a very sad subject, the writing is so honest and the characters so true and warm that it makes for an effortless read (albeit requiring a couple of tissues). It leaves us with the hope that ordinary though we are, when we need it, we’ll find our own fortitude.

A Daughter's Diary is available in paperback here or for download in pdf here. All profits donated to cancer research.

Jennifer Mook-Sang lives in Burlington, Ontario, with her husband, two sons and two crazy cats. She supposes that makes her a crazy cat lady. She is working on a novel for young readers about a shy boy who faces his fears and enters a speech competition in order to win the prize of his dreams. She is also working on learning how to make delicious Japanese dishes to wow her friends in her Gourmet Supper Club. You can read another review by Jennifer here and a short piece about her supper club here.

Quick Brown Fox welcomes your book reviews. Guidelines here.
See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, Woodstock, London, Orangeville, Kingston, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Love letters

Hi, Brian.
You were in Sudbury last summer doing an editing workshop – super, insanely valuable stuff and I hope you come back to the Big Nickel soon! – and I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know that “Pearl,” the story I brought to work on at the workshop (about the would-be mermaid), has found a home!

Allegory magazine's May issue went live today with my story, and I wanted to share the link. It's my first sale, and I'm pretty jazzed.

Thank you again for your help. And please come back to Sudbury soon! : )
Stephanie Charette

Read Stephanie’s story here. For information about submitting to Allegory, see here. I will be returning to Sudbury - on Sunday, Oct 23, to lead a "How to Get Published" workshop. Details here. - Brian

Hi Brian,
I must say, you’re in good company for liking my poem “Feeling” that you looked at in class. I just received notification today that it has been selected for publication in Sibyl Magazine I'd submitted it for their 2nd annual poetry contest last month!
Cheers!
Linda Spencer
Georgetown

Brian,
I am very happy to report that my first piece of published fiction, a humorous look at life in a diner, was included in the new food-themed anthology Crave It! from Red Claw Press (here). The editors hosted a marvelous launch party and readings from the new book on May 5 in Toronto. After many years of being published as a cookbook author and food writer for magazines, I am so pleased to now be 'bi-published' (fiction and nonfiction)!

Thanks for sharing this with your readers, as I would love to point to the inspiring - and mouth-watering - works of my fellow authors, and acknowledge the dedication and hard work of the editors at Red Claw.

Cheers,
Anne Lukin

Hi Brian
More big news from Sarnia! On Sunday, May 15, two of our local writers/editors launched Sweet Lemons 2, an international anthology focusing on Sicilian heritage and writing. You don't need to be Italian to appreciate the significance of this 400-page book which features the work of close to 90 authors.

On a much smaller scale (but exciting for me), I will be one of the opening acts for the afternoon, launching a poetry chapbook, my second collection of previously published and 'honourable mention' work. Included is one of my poems shortlisted in the Freefall 2008 Prose and Poetry Contest.

Debbie Okun Hill
Sarnia

Hi Brian,
Recently one of my stories, an excerpt from my creative non-fiction book "Finding Matthew" was published in Commuterlit, and in June another story will appear in the spring publication of ARS Medica. Thanks for all your encouragement.
Donna Kirk

Read "Finding Mathew" here. For information about submitting to Ars Medica, see here. For submitting to CommuterLit, see here.

See my full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, Woodstock, London, Orangeville, Kingston, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

"How to Get Published," Sunday, October 23, Sudbury

The Sudbury Writers Guild presents...
How to Get Published
Sunday, October 23, 2011
10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
The ParkSide Centre, Kinsmen Room B,
140 Durham Street, Sudbury (Map here.)

If you've ever dreamed of becoming a published author, this workshop is for you. We’ll cover everything from writing your opening to getting an agent, from getting your short pieces published to finding a book publisher, from writing a query letter to writing what the publishers want. Bring your questions. Come and get ready to be published!

Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing teacher for more than 25 years. He teaches creative writing at Ryerson University and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Charlottetown. But his proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get their first book published and launch their careers as authors.

Special Option: Participants are invited to bring a draft of a query letter you might use to interest an agent or publisher in your book. You don’t need to bring anything, but if you do, 3 copies could be helpful.

Fee: $38.94 + hst = $44 paid in advance
or $42.48 + hst = $48 if you wait to pay at the door

To reserve a spot now, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

See Brian Henry's full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, Woodstock, London, Orangeville, Kingston, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Waking the Witch out in paperback and a new YA series – all the latest for Kelley Armstrong fans

Kelley Armstrong is the only one of my students who has been on the New York Times bestsellers list more than once and the only one who's been in the number one spot. As Kelley will be my guest speaker at the upcoming "How to Write a Bestseller" workshop (details here), I thought it was a good time to give an update on her latest releases:

Waking the Witch, a supernatural thriller for adults, came out in hardcover last summer and shot up the bestsellers lists. Now it's available in trade paperback.

Waking the Witch tells the tale of Savannah, a powerful young witch with attitude.  Savannah has never been able to resist the chance to throw her magical weight around. But at 21 she knows she needs to grow up and prove to her guardians that she can be a responsible member of their supernatural detective agency. So she jumps at the chance to fly solo, investigating the mysterious deaths of three young women in a nearby factory town. At first glance, the murders look garden-variety human, but on closer inspection signs point to otherworldly stakes.

This August, will see the worldwide release of Kelley's twelfth novel, Spell Bound, a follow-up to Waking the Witch.

On the heels of the wildly popular "The Darkest Powers" series, Kelley has released, The Gathering, the first in another supernatural Young Adult trilogy.

Maya lives in a small medical-research town on Vancouver Island. How small? You can't find it on the map. It has less than two-hundred people, and her school has only sixty-eight students for every grade from kindergarten to twelve.

Now, strange things are happening in this claustrophobic town, and Maya's determined to get to the bottom of them. First, the captain of the swim team drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. A year later, mountain lions start appearing around Maya's home, and they won't go away.

Her best friend, Daniel, starts getting negative vibes from certain people and things. It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret and he's interested in one special part of Maya's anatomy: Her paw-print birthmark.

I'm under orders from my daughter, Emma, to bring home a signed copy of The Gathering from the workshop June 18.

- Brian

See my full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, Woodstock, London, Orangeville, Kingston, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

"Peter and the Plan" by Sherrie Charter

Peter stood frozen, his sock-clad toes curling against the linoleum. He could hear the hum of the refrigerator and the laugh track of the TV in the living room. Everything else was quiet. No footsteps. But he better not breathe just yet.

He snuck a peek at Bobby. Bobby had also frozen to the spot, his eyes wide and his arm still reaching forward. It looked like he wasn’t breathing either. Bobby’s eyes drifted towards Peter’s as a drop of snot dripped from his nose. Bobby didn’t even move to wipe it away – they were both too scared to move another muscle.

Peter looked towards the doorway, sure that he’d see his worst nightmare already standing there on the threshold to the kitchen. His life was over, he was sure of it. But there was only empty space there, except for the dust motes floating in the sunbeam streaming in through the window.

Peter looked down and saw the remains of the once beautiful plan scattered across the floor. Bobby whimpered and broke the spell.

“Shhh!” Peter whispered and quickly clamped a hand across Bobby’s mouth. He could feel that drop of snot now stuck to his hand but if that was the most horrible thing that happened to him today he’d be lucky. Bobby’s eyes went even wider and Peter looked back down again at the mess on the floor.

“Daisy! No!” Peter hissed, springing into action to brush the dog away. Too late. The dog was already hoovering bits of chocolate off the floor. Great. If she ate something sharp she’d yowl and then his life really would be over.

Bobby whimpered again.

“Hush, will you? And go get the broom. Quietly!” Peter whispered, still holding the dog who was now frantically straining her tongue towards the crumbs on the outer edge of the disaster zone.

Bobby toddled over to the closet and reached up to twist the knob. The door stuck and Peter watched as Bobby put both hands on the knob, standing on the tip toes of his Elmo socks, and pulled with all his strength. The door made a soft creak and popped open, spilling a mountain of Tupperware from the top shelf, covering Bobby, who fell back in a heap against the counter, and startling Daisy, who turned and barked at what she surely thought was an intruder set to steal the bounty of broken cookies so recently gifted to her.

In the ensuing silence Peter heard the final death knell. The TV clicked off.

Sweat trickled down his neck as he summoned the courage to look back towards the doorway. Fearing that he would be turned to stone, or worse, he finally raised his eyes as the silence deepened. He saw the slowly tapping slipper, the faded fleece pants, the hands planted on hips and knew a dread deeper than his six year old stomach had ever known.

His mother had arrived. And she was mad.

He didn’t even need to see the look on her face to know that he would not be eating another chocolate chip cookie for a very long time.

Sherrie Charter is a self-professed dreamer and hopeful poet...with a rather average sort of day job. She grew up all over the Golden Horseshoe and currently calls Mississauga home. Sherrie has had many beautiful plans over the years, many of them involving dessert, and many beautiful pets that have often enjoyed the fallout.

See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, Woodstock, London, Orangeville, Kingston, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Congratulations to Richelle Kosar – winner of the Toronto Star Short Story Contest

Back in the 1990s, Richelle was part of a class I taught at Ryerson University that was a precursor to the “Intensive,” “Intermediate” and “Extreme” creative writing classes I teach today. At the time, Richelle was working on her manuscript for The Drum King, which was published by Turnstone Press in 1998 (available here).

Then in 2003, Richelle published A Streak of Luck with Cormorant Books (available here). Now, with her story "Citrines," she's won first place in the Toronto Star Short Story Contest, which comes with a prize of $5,000.
- Brian

"Citrines" by Richelle Kosar

We were having a great time.

Let me tell it. You always forget something important. And I wouldn’t say a “great” time. Actually we were thinking that the food was the same as before. We were saying that maybe next year we should try somewhere different. Remember?

Yeah, true. The food was kind of boring. But every day was sunny and the water was always warm.

The weather was good, but you can get that in a lot of places. Anyway, one afternoon we started walking along the beach. It stretched for more than a mile and there were lots of hotels along the way. Big, gorgeous hotels. We picked one and said if we ever won the lottery we’d stay there.

And then we saw them … more


In the fall, I'll be leading three "Intermediate Creative Writing" classes - on Tuesday afternoons in Mississauga on Ridgeway Dr. (details here), on Wednesday afternoons in Burlington (details here), and on Wednesday evenings in Mississauga on Truscott Dr. (details here - note this class is almost full).

I also have introductory classes starting this summer and fall and Saturday workshops throughout Ontario and beyond.  See my schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, Woodstock, London, Orangeville, Barrie, Kingston, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, South Carolina, etc.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

You're invited to the Toronto book launch for The Meaning of Children by Beverly Akerman

Hello, Brian.

I'm thrilled to announce that my new short story collection, The Meaning of Children, published by Exile Editions, will be launched in Toronto on May 31st at the Dora Keogh Irish Pub, 141 Danforth.

Part of The Exile Writers Series, we will also be toasting the launch of Claude Tatilon's A Pinch of Time (David Homel's translation of the original French novel, La soupe au pistou). The book has won many honours and sold 20,000 copies in France.

Jesus Hardwell's story collection, Easy Living, will also be featured, along with work read by Ann Elizabeth Carson and Claudio Gaudio, from Exile Quarterly's 34.3 and 34.4 issues. Music by bass musician Grant Curle.

I just wanted to let you know and invite you and everyone who reads Quick Brown Fox to drop by if at all possible. Links to some fantastic media coverage I’ve been blessed to receive are below. I’ve put the TV and radio interviews on youtube; links to the newspaper reviews are up at my blog. Please feel free to circulate this note to anyone you think might be interested.

Best to you,
Beverly Akerman
http://beverlyakermanmscwriter.blogspot.com/

More about The Meaning of Children:
“Each story [is] a reminder of what an optimistic endeavour it is to parent…Akerman holds up our greatest fears, not to dwell on them, but to marvel at our commitment to life, especially to passing it on to others.” ~Anne Chudobiak, The Montreal Gazette.

“This isn’t the invented childhood of imagination and wonderment…[here] children both corrupt and redeem: each other, family relationships and the female body.”~Katie Hewitt, The Globe & Mail

CTV Interview with Mutsumi Takahashi: here.

CJAD Interview with Anne Lagacé Dowson here

For information about submitting to Exile Editions and to Exile, the Literary Quarterly, see here.

See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, Woodstock, London, Orangeville, Barrie, Kingston, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

"The Eagle" by Daniel Groppini

The Eagle flies so high in the sky
When I look at it, it makes me cry
When I see it soar
I almost feel the wind blow through my hair
When I see it land
I take a picture.
Then I take more and more, until the sun goes down.

When the sun comes up, I jump out of bed
To see that Eagle fly again.
I love that Eagle flying in the sky
Once endangered, destined to die.

Now the Eagles are saved again
I am so happy that they fly again.

When you see an Eagle
What do you feel?
Do you feel the way that I feel?
The Eagle makes life feel so real.


Daniel Groppini is in grade 5. His poem, The Eagle, won 1st place in the writing category, poems for grade 5. in a contest sponsored by Raptorfest Grimsby. Prizes were also awarded for art and poetry. The art contest has run for fourteen years; the writing contest for three years; and the photography contest for two. Raptorfest is a conservation event featuring birds of prey. Read more about it here

See Brian Henry's schedule here, including creative writing courses and writing workshops in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, Woodstock, London, Orangeville, Barrie, Kingston, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Exile Editions books and Exile, the Literary Quarterly – submissions

Exile is a literary publisher that puts out both books and a literary quarterly. Home page here.

Submitting your manuscript to Exile Editions books
Material Accepted for Consideration:
* Fiction: short stories and novels.
* Poetry: book-length manuscripts of more than 64 pages; preferably 96 - 144 pages.
* Non-Fiction/Essays/Travel: preferably manuscripts of more than 160 pages/Travel minimum 80 pages.
* Graphic Novel and/or Poetry: writing and art combined with a "literary/visual inclination" to adult readers, and with an emphasis on "quality" writing.
* Drama: preferably manuscripts of 96-144 pages.
* All submissions will also be considered for possible "partial/selection" publication in Exile, The Literary Quarterly. See: www.ExileQuarterly.com

Submissions by mail only, to:
Exile Editions - Books Editor
134 Eastbourne Ave
Toronto ON M5P 2G6

Note: It usually take 12-16 weeks for our editorial board to issue a reply. If you don't receive a reply within 16 weeks, email: info@exileeditions.com
See previously published titles here.
Full submission information here.

Submitting your work to Exile, The Literary Quarterly:
"We strongly suggest that you read two or three issues of Exile to get an understanding of the “flavour” of our selective taste with regard to what we publish in our journal. We are particular in our belief that we have a duty to ourselves (and our readers) to publish the best of both established and new writers–and artists–and we therefore have a very refined selection process.

Also, the mistake many authors make is that they think submitting everywhere and anywhere is their best chance of getting published (and this is increasingly evident as authors want to dump their work on publishers via e-mail) … but this is not the case here, as we are quite deliberate in who we select (and, if we do choose you, only to find out the same submission has been chosen by another publisher, you will never appear in Exile – hence, our No Multiple Submission policy).
Some simple Guidelines for submitting to Exile:

1) As noted above, We do not accept Multiple Submissions (ie, if you have submitted the work you want to send us elsewhere, then do not submit to us); and we do not accept electronic submissions/e-mail submissions (these will simply be deleted upon receiving).

2) For fiction and drama, we accept an average of 10-20 pages, although sometimes 1-2 pages, or as many as 30-40 pages, depending on the “body” and “individual integrity” of the work. This means that submissions generally fall within these lengths, and are expected to be a selection of your highest quality material.

3) For poetry, it is similar in that you can submit a few poems, or up to fifteen, again depending on the body of work.

4) Artists should submit ten to fifteen 4×6 photos, or colour-accurate photocopies, of their work, and should consider the body as a whole so we have the option of doing a Colour Section with them. You can also provide a Web site address, so that we can view more of your work if need be (please give exact links that take us to works that complement those you’ve submitted–we do not want to browse through your complete site).

5) Otherwise, we have no further particular guidelines except that you choose your work conscientiously, mail it in to us to the address below, and include a SASE if you want it returned (it usually take 6-8 weeks to receive a reply). For artists, be sure that your SASE is durable/safe and labelled accordingly (ie. Fragile, Photos, etc.) for you to have your works returned undamaged.

Direct your submissions to either the Fiction Editor, Poetry Editor, or Art Editor, at:
ELQ/Excelsior Publishing Inc
170 Wellington Street West – PO Box 308
Mount Forest, ON, N0G 2L0

Full submission guidelines for Exile quarterly here.

Brian Henry will be leading: "How to Get Published" workshops on August 27 in Woodstock, Ontario, (see here) and on September 24 in Guelph with guest Monica Pacheco of the Anne McDermid Agency (see here.)

See Brian's full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Orangeville, Barrie, Woodstock, London, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Literary agent Beth Fleisher seeks Middle Grade, YA, adult sci-fi, etc.

Beth Fleisher formerly of Barry Goldbalatt Literary has founded her own agency, Clear Sailing Creatives. Beth  has more than 20 years experience in the publishing business as an editor, author and agent. 

She was with Ace Science Fiction (part of The Berkely Publishing Group), and when Berkley wanted to explore the graphic novel market, she took on those projects. In 2009, she became an agent with Barry Goldblatt Literary.

Her clients include: Will Alexander, Jared Axelrod and Steve Walker, Jacey Bedford, John Mantooth, and Emily Murdoch.

Beth will read submissions in
• Middle grade - all subjects
• YA - all subjects
• Adult genre- SF, fantasy, some horror/thriller
• Select children's non-fiction, especially on history, science and nature
• Select graphic novels/hybrid books

She does not want, and so will not read
• Picture books
• Romance
• Memoir
• General adult fiction
• How-to books

She would love to find
• A true middle grade or YA mystery
• A great ghost story
• A wonderful animal story
• Adventure stories, whether dystopic YA, SF, or fantasy

How to submit
• Send a short cover letter with synopsis and any professional credits or relevant experience
• Include the first 10 pages or first chapter, whichever is shorter in the body of the email
• Mail to queries@clearsailingcreatives.com

"I don’t want self-aggrandizing statements. (This book is the next bestseller!). All I need is a brief paragraph outlining the plot and characters, and five pages or so, so that I can see if you can write. Please only include biographical information that is relevant to the content and sale of the book. And take into account what I’m looking for. It’s just a waste of time to send me material that I do not take on."

Note that Beth is big on setting: “Setting is so important to a book. Those who have ‘talked book’ with me will know my mantra is that setting is the unnamed character in a successful book -- and that if a book doesn't have that strong sense of place, the story just lies there on the page, lifeless. I can still smell the coverlet in Meg's attic room on that rainy night -- as well as a certain deli counter in Manhattan. I don't think either book would have garnered the Newbury if Ms. Stead or Ms. L'Engle had short-handed their own particular world.”

Brian Henry has a "Writing for Children and Young Adults" workshop coming up on on August 20 in Oakville. (See here).

Brian will also be leading: "How to Get Published" workshops on August 27 in Woodstock, Ontario, (see here) and on September 24 in Guelph with guest Monica Pacheco of the Anne McDermid Agency (see here.)

See Brian's full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Orangeville, Barrie, Woodstock, London, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

"Bagpipes & Bullshot" by Janice Horton, reviewed by Melanie King

Self-published by Janice Horton, April 2011

Orley McKenna is an American cowgirl and Innes Buchanan is the Laird of a rundown Scottish estate. Innes is in Texas looking to save his home from ruin by seeking out a cattle expert to help him breed a hardy new herd back home.

By the time he returns to Scotland he’s found his new cattle expert – Orley – but to complicate matters, he’s fallen in love with her.

Back home, Davina MacKenzie waits for Innes to return. They have been arranged in marriage and she is determined to see it through even though his plans no longer include her. Lady MacBeth has nothing on Davina when it comes to what lengths she’ll go to in order to marry a man with a title.

Fergus, Innes’s younger brother is madly in love with Davina and would do anything for her, until he discovers her secret. But she isn’t the only one with something to hide.

Janice Horton keeps you riveted from the beginning. She does a great job portraying the beauty of the Gulf Coast of Texas and the ruggedness of Scotland in addition to keeping you wondering what’s going to happen next.

Bagpipes & Bullshot is a definite “feel-good” book and it is impossible not to laugh out loud at some of the situations she throws her characters into.

Highly recommended!

If you live in the US or Canada, you can download your own copy of Bagpipes & Bullshot for $1.95 US here. or if you live in the UK you can download from Amazon.co.uk for £1.38 here. And, if you have a Sony or other reader, Janice's book will soon be available for download at Smashwords here. I recently had the honour of interviewing Janice for my blog. See here.

Melanie King lives in Brockville, Ontario with her family. When not working or speaking, Melanie loves reading and writing, hoping one day to break into the novel-length fiction market.

Quick Brown Fox welcomes book reviews and other book-related articles. Guidelines here.

See Brian Henry's schedule here, including creative writing courses and writing workshops in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, Woodstock, London, Orangeville, Barrie, Kingston, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Ashe County, NC, sponsors new contest for fiction, nonfiction & poetry

Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina

I'll be visiting the North and South Carolina this September and will be leading a writing workshop in Charlotte, SC, so I thought I'd put in a plug for this writing contest. (And if you're wondering why I'm visiting the Carolina's, you haven't seen photos of the Blue Ridge Mountains.) Besides, it's the first year for this contest, and the great thing about new contests is that they tend to get relatively few entries....
- Brian

Ashe County’s Literary Festival, On the Same Page, now in its fourth year, has for the first time announced a writing competition as part of the Festival. In association with the 2011 Festival, which will take place September 14-17 in Ashe County, North Carolina, the Page Crafter’s Prize will recognize writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry with cash awards.

The writer’s competition is designed to encourage and acknowledge emerging writers and to reinforce the annual theme of the On the Same Page Literary Festival. In 2011, the festival’s theme is “Family Matters.”

Page Crafter’s Prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place in fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Prize money totaling $1,200 will be presented: $250 for first place, $100 for second place, and $50 for third place in each category.

Deadline for submissions is July 8, 2011, (postmarked snail mail or email submissions).

Entries must be centered on the 2011 festival theme “Family Matters.” There is a 1,000-word limitation for prose and no more than 50 lines of poetry.
A non-refundable entry fee of $10 (U.S.) per submission is required.
There is no limit to the number of entries per person.
Only previously unpublished entries qualify; winning entries will be published on the On the Same Page Literary Festival website. Authors will retain all rights to submitted works; winners need not be present to win, but are encouraged to attend the Festival and read their work.

Complete contest rules and instructions for submitting here.
Visit the festival website here. 

See my schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, Woodstock, London, Orangeville, Barrie, Kingston, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Allegory on-line magazine seeks science-fiction, fantasy, horror, and quirky fiction

Allegory (http://www.allegoryezine.com/mainpage.htm) is a not-for-profit, tri-annual online publication of fiction and nonfiction. Here's what the editors have to say for themselves:

We're looking for good, solid fiction. We specialize in the Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror genres. We will consider other genres, such as humor or general interest, provided that the work possesses an original, "quirky" slant in the Northern Exposure, Ally McBeal vein.

Here are some basic "do's" and "don'ts".
DO give us strong characters and good plotting. DO put clever, but logical twists on the end of your tales. DO experiment with new ideas and unusual writing styles, but without falling into traps of contrivance and cliché.
DON'T submit any stories based on movies, television or any printed media not your own. DON'T submit reprints without including the name of the publication in which the work first appeared, along with the date of publication. DON'T send more than one story in the same submission.

We pay a flat rate of $15 (U.S. dollars) for each story.

Nonfiction Guidelines
We publish one or two articles an issue. The subject matter must involve the art or business of writing. Research, editing, characterization, narrative style, query letters, cover letters, dealing with editors, agents or publishers - virtually any topic that concerns writing is fair game.

The maximum length for non-fiction is 2000 words. We pay a $15 (U.S. dollars) flat rate.

Book Reviews
No more than six reviews will appear in any one issue. The reviews must be of a sci/fi, fantasy or horror novel or anthology (if fiction), or a writer's self-help book (if nonfiction). Reviews should be no more than 200 words. We are not offering compensation for book reviews at this time.

General Stuff
We publish tri-annually, on the first of January, May and September. The order in which stories and articles appear on the site is solely arbitrary and should not be construed in any other way. All works that are accepted for publication remain on the site for the full four months. With the publication of the subsequent issue, all rights to the works previously displayed revert to the author. We buy First World Rights and World Reprint Rights. Bylines are most certainly given.

To submit, see the detailed guidelines here.

See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, Woodstock, London, Orangeville, Barrie, Kingston, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

“How to Get Published,” Saturday, September 24, Guelph

"Girl on the Other Side" a YA novel
by Deborah Kerbel, one of Monica's clients
An editor & an agent tell all
Saturday, September 24, 2011
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Harcourt United Church, 87 Dean Ave, Guelph (Map here.)

If you've ever dreamed of becoming a published author, this workshop is for you. We’ll cover everything from getting started to getting an agent, from getting your short pieces published to finding a book publisher, from writing a query letter to writing what the publishers want. Bring your questions. Come and get ready to be published!

Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing teacher for more than 25 years. He has helped many of his students get their first book published and launch their careers as authors.

Guest speaker Monica Pacheco is a literary agent with Anne McDermid and Associates. The McDermid agency represents literary novelists and commercial novelists of high quality and writers of non-fiction in the areas of memoir, biography, history, literary travel, narrative science, investigative journalism and true crime. The agency also represents a certain number of children's and YA writers and writers in the fields of science fiction and fantasy.

Monica Pacheco
The McDermid agency's clients include distinguished literary authors such as Michael Crummey, Camilla Gibb, Greg Hollingshead, Andrew Pyper, Nino Ricci, David Adams Richards, Michael Winter and Vincent Lam, who won the Giller Prize in 2006. The agency also represents writers of narrative non-fiction, such as Charles Montgomery and James MacKinnon, both of whom won the Charles Taylor prize for literary non-fiction in their years of publication.

More recently, the agency has been branching out to represent upmarket commercial fiction writers, such as Leah McLaren from the Globe and Mail, Robert Wiersema, and Peter Darbyshire. (More about the McDermid agency here.)

Monica represents a growing list of writers, focusing on children's, young adult, science fiction and fantasy. Her clients include actress/writer/director Sarah Polley whose children’s picture book she sold to HarperCollins Canada, Yves Meynard whose fantasy trilogy she recently sold to Tor/Macmillan, Deborah Kerbel (shortlisted by the Canadian Library Association for 2010 YA Book of the Year) and Bram Stoker Award-winning horror writer David Nickle.

Special Option: Participants are invited to bring a draft of a query letter you might use to interest an agent or publisher in your book. You don’t need to bring anything, but if you do, 3 copies could be helpful.

Fee: $38.94 plus hst = $44 paid in advance
or $42.48 plus hst = $48 if you wait to pay at the door

To reserve your spot, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

See Brian's full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Woodstock, London, Orangeville, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Love Letters

Hi Brian,
I just wanted to share some exciting news with you today - I wrote a poem for a magazine called Mississauga Life and they published it! The magazine is mailed to approx 70,000 homes in Mississauga, and you can also view it online.

It's a great magazine - just click on the Spring Issue to flip through it online - my poem is on page 15 and it's called "A Mother's Wish." I hope you like it.

Thank you for hosting a very inspirational and productive Creative Writing course.
Take care,
Ann Ivy Male
Read Ann’s poem here. And you can read a story by Ann here.

Hi Brian
Hope you're well! I just wanted to share some exciting news - I won runner-up for my creative nonfiction story in the Lush Triumphant 2010 contest. My story, “1948,” will be published in the Spring 2011 edition of SubTerrain (I believe it's available at Chapters). Needless to say, I'm very excited. Just thought I'd share the news with you - seeing as you helped "birth" me as a writer.

Take care and hopefully we'll see each other some time soon!
Natalia Buchok
For information on submitting to SubTerrain, see here.

Hi, Brian.
Thanks for your newsletter with your always-enticing workshop offerings. I would like to attend the Writing and Revising workshop here in London April 16. I'm trying to remember how many of your courses I have attended and I'm not completely sure, but it is a bunch. Most recently, I drove all the way to Toronto for your How to Get Published seminar, which was great.

I have had some recent success with my writing and am hoping to keep the ball rolling. I recently had a couple of short stories published. One was in an online-only journal called The Writers Block (Issue #7) and the other was a print and online literary magazine from England called Litro. I just got my contributor's copy in the mail and it is pretty cool. Also, my novel "Henry on the Fifth" made the long list in the Simon Fraser University's Writer's Studio 1st Book Competition and is currently making the rounds with publishers.

Looking forward to seeing you.
Thanks,
Mark Young

Read Mark’s piece, “Gertrude and Ernest, Paris 1926” in Litro here.  Read the writers bloc #7 here. Mark’s piece, “Frank’s Wager,” begins on page 5.

For information on submitting to Litro, see here. For information on submitting to the writers bloc, see here.

See my schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Woodstock, London, Orangeville, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Kathleen Rushall joins Waterside Literary Agency, seeks children's and YA fiction

Waterside Productions Inc.
2055 Oxford Ave.
Cardiff, CA. 92007
http://www.waterside.com/agency/

Waterside Literary Agency bills itself as "the world’s premier literary agency for computer and technology authors. Since our founding in 1982, Waterside agents have successfully represented more than 5,000 books to over 50 publishers, generating more than $150 Million for authors."

Recently, Waterside has hired Kathleen Rushall to expand the agency's operations into children's and young adult literature.

"Kathleen looks forward to garnering fresh voices, strong narratives, and whimsical tales in all areas of young adult literature including fantasy, historical fiction, science fiction, dystopian stories, and contemporary fiction. She is open to all genres of YA, but has a soft spot for well-researched historical narratives, edgy or paranormal plots, humorous voices, and would love to find a dark mystery. Kathleen is open to unique, quirky picture books and character driven middle grade fiction as well (especially multi-cultural or boy-driven MG).

"For all manuscripts, character development and voice are essential. Please make sure your work is as polished as possible and has been revised, both for plot and for superficial changes (grammar counts!). Please submit a query letter and a maximum of the first 50 pages of your manuscript for consideration.

"Kathleen also represents select nonfiction and is interested in parenting, cooking, crafts, business, alternative medicine, women’s interest, humor, pop-culture, and some how-to. For nonfiction projects, please submit your query letter in your email body with your proposal and up to 3 sample chapters as an attachment. You can find our nonfiction proposal guidelines on our website." (See here.)

Kathleen graduated from Seattle University with her bachelor’s degree in English and minor in fine arts. She moved back to her hometown of San Diego to earn her master’s degree in English, specializing in children’s literature, from San Diego State University. When she is not at her desk, Kathleen enjoys exploring new restaurants, dreaming of Ireland, and walking her Australian Shepherd, Finn.

Kathleen can be queried at kathleen@waterside.com

Brian Henry has a "Writing for Children and Young Adults" workshop coming up on on August 20 in Oakville. (See here).

Brian will also be leading: "How to Get Published" workshops on August 27 in Woodstock, Ontario, (see here) and on September 24 in Guelph with guest Monica Pacheco of the Anne McDermid Agency. (Details here.

See Brian's full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Orangeville, Barrie, Woodstock, London, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Tampered, a medical murder mystery by Dr. Ross Pennie

Hello, Brian.
Good News! Tampered, my second Dr. Zol Szabo novel, was released this week by my publisher ECW Press. The story is loosely based on an alleged real-life crime that shocked the city of Hamilton, yet went unpunished. Someone is murdering the lively seniors residing in the city’s most recognizable mansion.

If you can judge a book by its cover, this is a beautiful novel. The team at ECW has done a terrific job of it.

Cheers,
Ross Pennie

Tampered is available at most bookstores or on-line here. You can read a review of Ross's memoir, The Unforgiving Tides, here. Information about submitting to ECW Press here.
 
Ross will be my guest speaker at upcoming "Writing Your Life & Other True Stories" workshops: on Sat, May 14 in Gravenhurst (details here), Sat, May 28 in Kitchener (details here), and Sat, June 11 in Hamilton (details here).

See my full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Woodstock, London, Orangeville, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

"The curse of eBay," a true story by Margaret Carey

$687 plus shipping and handling
I thought he was watching porn on those nights I would awaken in a menopausal sweat to the hazy chartreuse glow emanating from his office. I’d slink down the hall, shedding my damp garments like a stripper in a cheap whorehouse, arriving unprovocatively naked at his door.

“What are you doing on the computer at this time of night?” I’d whine.

The swift click of the mouse was followed by his standard reply: “Just finishing up a game of chess.”

“Yeah, right,” I muttered as I shuffled back to our bed.

Packages of all shapes and sizes began arriving at our door, bearing postage from exotic destinations -  Thailand, Bali, Tasmania - all addressed to him. I assumed they were gifts and gadgets from his online porn girlies.

After a few months, I asked the postman, whom I had begun to have a mild flirtation with, what all this stuff was. He seemed startled, although I didn’t know if it was from my question or the curious gaze he held towards the new coral goddess lipstick I’d worn just for him. He said he didn’t know exactly what was in the packages but suggested, due to similar mail deliveries at other addresses, that it was likely products from eBay.

“eBay! You mean my husband’s buying stuff on eBay?”I exclaimed in complete and utter surprise, followed rapidly by a hiccup of anxiety mixed with relief. Could this be the reason I couldn’t balance our cheque book anymore?

My husband did have the courtesy to blush when I asked him about the $2,467.54 that had gone from our account to something called PayPal in the last month. A long list of bizarre objects rattled rapturously from his lips. He described the pleasure and excitement he experienced in auction. Objects he was devastated to lose or orgasmic in winning. I was shocked by the intensity of his obsession and by the uncontrolled attraction he held for this computer site. I felt a pang of jealousy and hurt that he certainly didn’t love me that way anymore.

Was our marriage in as much trouble as the rapid decline of our finances?

I began to recognize the particular look that appeared in his eyes when he was involved in a poignant bidding war. I ceased being alarmed and resentful when he left me alone at all hours of the night, although I was livid when he cancelled our anniversary dinner because the final bid for a set of silk Armani ties was on that night. A steady stream of stuff began to saturate its way into our lives. Haitian voodoo dolls, an Irish rabbits foot, a box of 6487 flies to catch trout with, lederhosen, for god’s sake.

I remembered the advice of a very clever colleague who worked from the premise that if you want someone to change try to become a little bit more like them. So one night, armed with an 8 ounce glass of Chardonnay, I plunked myself down in front of what I was now secretly calling our “at home ATM” and ventured into the land of looking at small pictures of stuff you didn’t really think you wanted to buy but after sitting there for a few hours you desperately thought you did.

I love art, so zoomed into a spectacular gallery selling modern art, my fav. I eventually found something I knew I could afford and focused intently on a 6” x 8” pencil drawing by Picasso. The auctioneers could not actually authenticate it because it was likely done when he was quite young, but the signature was close and it was only $687 plus shipping and handling.

I went to bed that night with visions of the Picasso drawing dancing through my thoughts and dreams. Only 17 hours 53 minutes to go.

It was like having a seizure the moment I realized I was becoming just like him.

We settled into a routine. I never ventured onto eBay again after realizing my sheer stupidity at believing I was buying a Picasso on the computer for $600. He began to ask if he could buy such and such. Significantly fewer packages arrived and, although I missed the mailman a bit, life took on a more even and pleasant tone...

Until we went on a blue drink beach vacation. Upon boarding our flight, he proudly presented me with a red leather Ray Ban sunglass case. Inside was a  pair of vintage mermaid sunglasses, complete with multiple teeth marks imprinted on the arms, and the name Molly Morrelli embedded in gold on the case.

“eBay,” he smiled at me.

“Thanks so much” was my sarcastic reply.

Out of a sense of polite obligation, I put the sunglasses on and jerked my head around, trying to figure out who was yelling so loudly into my ear with a heavy New York accent. With no one around, I realized the voice was insisting I tell that fat broad next to me to move her butt off the armrest or she’d make sure she’d get a dose of the clap. I realized then that the voice was seeping from the dental imprints on my glasses.

I tried to talk to Molly’s imprints, but all she did was interrupt and bitch about her no good son who’d sold all her stuff on eBay so he could buy his white trash girlfriend a better apartment in the Bronx. He grew up on Long Island, so what’s he doing with that piece of crap?

On the beach I found my husband, sporting my glasses, trying to find a nice patch of sand because, he said, he had to pee a slur of profanity in front of the bore on the beach chair next to him. He insisted some loud voice kept telling him to do it. When he started to pull down his trunks, I snatched the glasses off his head and tossed them into the ocean. Ramirez, our trusty beach guard proudly returned them to me a few hours later.

When we got home, we put the sunglasses for sale on eBay. They were bought by a Taiwanese woman who was into S&M. I’ve not had the good fortune yet to find a site where I could put my husband up for auction.


Margaret Carey has a Masters degree in Art Therapy. She lives in Burlington with her hubby, two collies, two Siamese cats and three piranhas,who don't always get along well. She is new to creative writing and thanks Brian Henry for his encouragement in her endeavors.


See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, Woodstock, London, Orangeville, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Exploring Creative Writing course, Monday evenings, Sept 26 - Dec 5, Georgetown, Ontario

Nine weeks of fun and discovery
Monday evenings 7 – 9 p.m.
September 26 – December 5 (no class Thanksgiving or Halloween)
Glen Williams Town Hall
1 Prince Street, Georgetown, Ontario. (Map here.)

In this class we'll explore all kinds of creative writing. We’ll visit short story writing and personal writing, children’s writing, memoir writing, and just for fun writing. You’ll get a shot of inspiration every week and an assignment to keep you going till the next class. Best of all, this class will provide a zero-pressure, totally safe environment, where your words will flow and flower.

Instructor Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing teacher for more than 25 years. He teaches creative writing at Ryerson University and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Charlottetown. But his proudest boast is that he's helped many of his students get published.

Fee: $115.04 plus 13% hst = $130
Advance registration only. Number of attendees strictly limited.
To reserve your spot now, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Note: Brian's writing classes tend to fill up, to avoid disappointment, register early.

See Brian's full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, Woodstock, London, Orangeville, Barrie, Kingston, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Litro magazine seeks short stories, flash fiction and creative nonfiction...

Litro (http://www.litro.co.uk/) is a literary journal based in London, England, that's glad to receive stories from Canadians.  Litro accepts submissions of short stories, flash fiction and creative nonfiction up to a maximum of 3,000 words. We also publish poems, but on a commissioned basis only. Please do not submit poetry as it will not be read.

We welcome new, emerging and established writers in any style or genre and on any subject or none. Please, however, note that we are usually unable to publish work that includes gratuitous language, racial abuse, explicit descriptions of sexual activity, violence or the misuse of drugs. There are plenty of internet forums for that stuff.

Litro is an independent magazine which is distributed for free. As a result we do not pay contributors at present. If you would like to see your work appear in a high-quality literary publication with a monthly circulation of approximately 100,000 copies in various locations across the UK and France and gain the exposure that would come with this, we would welcome and carefully consider your submission. Please see below for more details on future issues and submitting your work to us.

Each issue of Litro focuses on a specific subject or title. You’re welcome to bear these in mind when submitting your work, but if you wish to submit unthemed work, please put UNTHEMED in the subject line of your email. If you are submitting for a theme, please clearly state the theme you are submitting for in the subject line of your email. We are happy to read up to three stories at a time as long as they are either unthemed, or for different themes. Please submit no more than one story per individual theme.

Forthcoming themes for 2011 include:

July: God Bless America. Stories from and about the land of the free and the home of the brave, just in time for the Fourth of July. Come on down, y’all! Submission deadline June 1, 2011.

August: Litro takes a well-deserved break …

September: Comics/Graphic Fiction. In September Litro is celebrating perhaps the the iconic (and only truly new) literary form of the twentieth century – comics and graphic novels. With comic books going more and more upmarket and mainstream, amazing writers are emerging and we’re seeking them out and bringing them to you. Contributions from writers, artists and cartoonists are sought for this special issue. Submission deadline August 1st

October: France. Britain has always had a love-hate relationship with our cousins (and cousines) across the Channel, but in June Litro goes Francophile. We’re celebrating the very best of French literary culture, so we’re especially interested in stories set in France or by French and French-resident authors. We are also looking for new translations of fantastic French literature so that we can share the work of the latest enfants terribles with our Anglo readers. Submission deadline September 1, 2011.

November: Street Fiction. As winter draws in, Litro hits the streets for inspiration – whether it’s London or Lahore, New York or Beijing, we are looking for the best urban prose and getting gritty in the city. Sharp, modern and real are the keywords for this issue which will uncover the best stories and authors coming up from the streets. Submission deadline October 1, 2011

All submissions should be emailed as Word documents to editor@litro.co.uk
Put the word ‘Submission’ and the theme in the subject line. No Zip files please. And no viruses! Due to the high volume of submissions, we’re not always able to respond as quickly as we would like. Please be patient; if you haven’t received a response within six weeks you’re welcome to contact us.

Full submissions information here.

See Brian's full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, Woodstock, London, Orangeville, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.