Friday, September 30, 2011

Literary agent Bill Hanna of Acacia House in Brantford

Acacia House Publishing Services
62 Chestnut Avenue
Brantford, ON N3T 4C2

Principal agent: Bill Hanna
Email: bhanna.acacia@rogers.com; phone: 416-484-8356
But do not contact by email or phone.

Interests: Fiction with international potential, (first novels, quality mysteries, literary fiction); non-fiction (especially: business, history and military history, and memoirs)

Query by mail with a writing sample of up to the first 50 pages of your book. Include SASE.

Frances Hanna, who represented Helen Humphreys among others, was formerly one of two principle agents at Acacia House but Frances died this past February.

Brian Henry will be leading "How to Get Published" workshops on Sunday, Oct 23, in Sudbury (see here) and on December 3 in Oakville with guest Ali McDonald of The Rights Factory literary agency (see here).

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

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Happy Rosh Hashanah!


Learning to blow the shofar
A shofar is a ram's horn that's blown in synagogue on Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) to bring people back to God and to living right. The shofar's role is also to herald other important occassions - the coming of the Messiah, the end of the world, etc.

Happy New Year one and all for 5772! (That's 2011 - 2012 on the common calendar, but Jews have been counting the years longer than most peoples.)

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Storyteller, a short story collection by Sherry Isaac, reviewed by Karen Kachra

Paperback, 212 pages, Publisher: In Our Words Inc., Toronto, July 2011

Sherry Isaac and her muse have been spending a lot of quality time together. The result is Storyteller: stories, an impressive and enjoyable collection of short fiction, and Isaac’s début book. Here we have classic storytelling a good hook, authentic characters, fruitful tension, unexpected plot twists, and the sort of resolution that is deeper and wider than a happy ending.

This collection has a commendable diversity of voices. Among them are impressionable young girls, elderly firebrands, one or two con artists, a dying streetperson, an anxious would-be groom, and a storyteller haunted by his past.

Many of the stories, such as “What you Wish For,” “A Pickpocket in Paris,” “Sweet Dreams,” “Nana’s Farewell” are light reads that slip-slide you into the unexpected. Some read more like memoirs, others, snapshots of the human grotesque. (Though, depending on your family, these categories may blur.)

In Storyteller, humour is abundant and charming. As when pickpocket Abby finally meets her match: “She was accustomed to improvising but she’d never encountered a Greek god before.” Or in the hilarious account of Christmas morning 1976, when Mallory tells us Mom is notorious for “buying hideous clothes…and an itchy lace bra big enough to support coconuts when all I had were limes, with matching panties that would fit Shamu.”

Sometimes the story itself is the funniest bit. I laughed out loud at the shenanigans in “Mount Baker.” Who hasn’t over-thought and been over-wrought while making their way through customs and immigration?

Isaac is a writer’s writer, by which I mean she takes care choosing words, her images are well-drawn, her dialogue faithful. As every good writer does, she convinces us through the apt use of detail, and she is meticulous in this. Consider the description of a missing toque in “Taking Care of Auntie”: “It was Pepto-Bismol pink, with a broad white strip along the bottom and a generous pompom.”

I believe Isaac’s writing shines even brighter when she tackles serious topics and themes. “Where Credit is Due” is a sensitive treatment of a young mother struggling to be a good daughter to her own mother, a selfish alcoholic. Isaac wisely resists the pitfall of overwriting this emotional drama, the result being a touching portrait of narrator Diana as well as fresh insights on worn topics like poverty and self-esteem.

“Storyteller,” the title short, is in my opinion the hands-down best contribution of the book. Isaac creates a poignant conflict within the main character Alistair, a Victorian-era busker who struggles with the tragic death of his sister by recreating a life for her in the tall tales that he sells to street corner audiences. Alistair muses, “There is a freedom in telling tales to folks who’d never been anywhere they could not contradict him. And what harm did it do, to entertain them with a fable or two that might brighten their dreary lives?”

Uniquely, Isaac probes the effects of storytelling on the teller. “Storyteller” is also, more simply, a poetic exploration of loss. “He came across the devastation of the west harbour the same way some men come across love, without warning.”

I suspect that Isaac, like Alistair, feels “a freedom in telling tales.” Her readers are certainly likely to be entertained. And more.

Storyteller is available through Sherry Isaac's website here and through other on-line venues.

Karen Kachra has a background in philosophy. She has published various and sundry works of short fiction and nonfiction, some of them award-winning, and she is hard at work on a novel-length manuscript. She writes poetry in the spare part of her spare time. Her website www.karenkachra.com features her running commentary on the craft of writing. You can read another of Karen's book reviews here.

Quick Brown Fox welcomes book reviews, interviews with authors and other book-related articles. Guidelines here.


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

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

CBC Canada Writes Short Story Contest

This prize is awarded once a year to the best original, unpublished, short story submitted to the competition. All Canadians can participate, and with a $6,000 first prize, many do..

The competition is blind. A jury composed of well-known and respected Canadian authors will select a 1st place winner and 4 runners-up.

The First Prize winner will receive $6,000, courtesy of the Canada Council for the Arts, and will have his/her story published in Air Canada’s enRoute magazine and on the Canada Writes website. He or she will also be interviewed on CBC Radio’s The Next Chapter with Shelagh Rogers.

The 4 runners-up will each receive $1,000, courtesy of the Canada Council for the Arts, and their stories will be published on the Canada Writes website. Submissions to the short story category must be between 1,200 and 1,500 words.

A fee of $25 (taxes included) for administration purposes is required for each entry.

Deadline: November 1. Full contest rules and submission form here.

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

"Khadijah goes to School - A story about You" by Asim Hussain

Hi, Brian.
Asim Hussain here. I am glad I met you because I have benefited from our conversations. I would like to tell everybody about my first book, Khadijah goes to School - A story about You.

Khadijah goes to School is a multi-layered graphical production about Contribution. Contribution to yourself, contribution to others, and contribution to society. The theme of the book and the platform is helping yourself and helping other people. In more detail, elements include:

1. Fun graphics with meaningful messages
2. Questions, it’s a resource
3. Poetry
4. Thoughts
5. Creative elements
6. Psychology
7. Philosophy
8. Diversity
9. Ideas

Khadijah goes to School shares experiences, spark curiosity and discussion. A young girl, Khadijah, learns about the lessons of education and life, namely, life is: helping yourself and helping other people. Khadijah goes to School as a whole, has a book offering and is also a platform, to share ideas and experiences. Here is the mission statement:

Through ideas, thoughts, and discussions, Khadijah goes to School aims to act as a resource of personal experiences relating to common themes that affect the vast majority of us. With this shared experience, Khadijah goes to School wishes you will discover information for: helping yourself and helping other people.

Thanks!
Asim Hussain

"Khadijah goes to School" is on facebook here Website here.  

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

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Contest for stories suitable to 9 to 12 year olds to benefit TOSH

This Children's Story Contest is to benefit The Old School House Arts Centre (TOSH), Qualicum Beach, British Columbia.

Ascent Aspirations Publishing is seeking contributions for a unique volume of previously unpublished children’s stories with representative fine art. Stories should be directed to ages 9 to 12 and be of approximately 1,500 words. Ten stories will be published with a prize of $200 for the best entry.

After selection, artists-in-residence from TOSH. (The Old School House) will create fine art works to represent the stories. Our goal is to produce a special book that will give children great stories and exposure to a range of contemporary and original artistic styles. All profits will go to support TOSH., a non-profit community arts centre in Qualicum Beach, BC.

Contest closes October 31, 2011.
Please send electronic entries to ascentaspirations@shaw.ca 
either in the body of the e-mail or as a word.doc. Put “Children’s Story” in the subject heading. Also send your entry fee of $10 and a hard copy submission to:

Ascent Aspirations Publishing
1560 Arbutus Drive
Nanoose Bay, BC  V9P9C8

Complete contest rules here.

Brian Henry has a "Writing for Children and for Young Adults" workshop coming up on in Gravenhurst in Muskoka on October 1 (see here), and in St. Catharines on January 14, 2012 (see here). Bring the first 500 words of your work for an on-the-spot critique.

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

Writers' Community of York Region announces its first monthly event

The Writers’ Community of York Region" inaugural brunch and speaker event takes place at the Aurora Cultural Center on Sunday, Oct. 2nd, 2011. All are welcome. Lunch, drinks and a presentation on writing craft by Richard Scrimger, renowned Canadian author of 15 books, is planned for $20 payable at the door.

Pre-register at www.WCYork.ca to guarantee your seat and learn more about this new organization.

Early in the new year, on Saturday, January 28, the WCYR will be sponsoring “How to Build Your Story,” a full day writing workshop with editor Brian Henry and author Lynda Simmons. Details here.

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

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Writing and Revising workshop, Saturday, February 11, Guelph


“Writing and Revising”
Saturday, February 11, 2012
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Harcourt United Church, 87 Dean Ave, Guelph (Map here.)

If you want to refine your story-telling skills and cut the time you will need to spend editing, this workshop is for you. You'll learn how to step back from a manuscript in order to find – and fix – flaws in your plot, structure, characterization and style. You'll learn how to rethink, rework and rewrite so that your manuscript will live up to your vision.

Special option: Participants are invited to bring a piece of their own writing (though you don’t have to!) If you do bring a piece, bring 3 copies of something short (1,000 words absolute maximum, though 500 words works better).

Instructor Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing teacher for more than 25 years. He teaches at Ryerson University and has led writing 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: $38.94 + 13% hst = $44 paid in advance
Or $42.48 + 13% hst = $48 if you wait to pay at the door

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

Friday, September 23, 2011

Terra Chalberg and Rachel Sussman start new literary agency, seek authors


Terra Chalberg
 Chalberg & Sussman
115 West 29th St, Third Floor
New York, NY 10001
http://www.chalbergsussman.com/

Terra Chalberg and Rachel Sussman are hanging up their own shingle, launching Chalberg & Sussman. The pair met ten years ago while working at Simon & Schuster and their new agency will represent a wide range of literary and commercial fiction and nonfiction authors. The agency will also sell foreign rights to select titles from independent publishers Milkweed Editions and Ig Publishing.
 
Since leaving S&S, Chalberg has been an agent and foreign rights director at the Susan Golomb agency, while Sussman spent six years as an agent at Zachary Shuster Harmsworth.

Two Kisses for Maddy a memoir
by Matthew Logelin,
one of Rachel Sussman's clients
Chalberg and Sussman will co-mange the agency. Their clients currently include: Dr. Elias Aboujaoude (Virtually You); Margaux Fragoso (Tiger, Tiger); Andrew Porter (The Theory of Light and Matter); Matt Logelin (Two Kisses for Maddy); and Glenn Taylor (The Marrowbone Marble Company). Forthcoming projects include Eugene Cross’s story collection, Fires of Our Choosing (Dzanc), and Sherry and John Petersik’s home makeover guide, Spruce (Artisan).

Query Rachel Sussman, at: rachel@chalbergsussman.com
Query Terra Chalberg at: terra@chalbergsussman.com
 
Brian Henry will be leading "How to Get Published" workshops on September 24 in Guelph with guest Monica Pacheco of the Anne McDermid Agency (see here), on Sunday, Oct 23, in Sudbury (see here) and on December 3 in Oakville with guest Ali McDonald of The Rights Factory literary agency (see here).

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

Thursday, September 22, 2011

The Danforth Review rises from the grave


"Spirits rising from the dead" Klee

After two years in the grave, The Danforth Review is back in the business of publishing short fiction, though it intends to publish only two (yes only 2) short stories per month.

Michael Bryson
Submit short stories to: http://danforthreview.submishmash.com/submit

Unfortunately, there is no financing, and so no payments. International fame, however, is sure to follow.

The current iteration of The Danforth Review will not publish reviews but will be carrying brief interviews with short story writers and tweeting like mad.

"We hope to find a few readers and share the short story good news. Keep the faith, brothers and sisters. And submit."

In its previous incarnation, The Danforth Review was an online magazine published out of Toronto between 1999-2009. All content and a number of full past issues are archived at the website of the Library and Archives Canada (here).

Michael Bryson is the magazine's publisher and editor. See The Danforth Review home page here.
 
See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Frontenac House merges with rapidBooks


"Learning to Count" by Douglas Burnet Smith
published by Frontenac
has been shortlisted for the Atlantic Poetry Prize
Frontenac House
1138 Frontenac Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
T2T 1B6
But check the address before you send anything; they plan to move
http://www.frontenachouse.com/

Calgary literary press Frontenac House has merged with rapidBooks, which focuses on IT professionals, to form Frontenac House Media.

Frontenac co-publisher David Scollard explains: "Manoj Khanna and rapidBOOKS bring exactly the capabilities that we have been seeking in this new age of international and electronic publishing."

"We always felt that our greatest need was to extend our publishing range into art and literature," Khanna adds.

Khanna will be president of the new company, with Rose Scollard and David Scollard working as consulting editors. Lyn Cadence, who currently has publicity and marketing posts at both entites, will become publisher.

Frontenac House Media will continue the publishing policies and philosophies that have proved successful for Frontenac House. Foremost of these approaches is the recognition that authors are the absolute foundation of a publisher’s success. “Loyalty to the authors whom we have published has always been the company’s foremost priority,” both Ms Scollard and Mr. Khanna agreed. “We fully intend to continue that policy in the future,” Mr. Khanna added.

A Calgary-based literary press that publishes poetry, aviation history, political satire and fine art books, Frontenac has published 62 titles since it launched in 2000.

The submission process for Frontenac House is ongoing. If you have a poetry manuscript, please mail a complete manuscript, not partial manuscripts or samples. "At present, we are looking for manuscripts for Quartet 2013. There is no due date for submissions; when we have chosen four manuscripts we will consider any new submissions for 2014."

If you have a manuscript other than poetry, please mail a letter of inquiry with a 20 – 30 page sample of your book,. "We prefer this to answering queries on the telephone or by email, due to limited resources. Email queries, especially, can be very time consuming and, as our slowness in answering can be extreme, it would be better just to send along your submission.

"Please look at our website and in bookstores to see what we publish. That will give you an idea of the kinds of manuscripts we are looking for. Please note that although we have published a children’s book we are not at this time looking for more books for children."

Full submission guidelines here.

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

Monday, September 19, 2011

Love Letters

Dear Friends,
Just thought you might be interested to know that I took some of your suggestions (from the intensive creative writing class) to heart regarding my story called “Python.” I made a few changes and entered the story into the 2011 John Kenneth Galbraith Literary Award competition.

I have just learned that Python is a semi-finalist. It's totally exciting. It was a fun class and your feedback was very much appreciated. I hope we can do it again soon.

Thank you and Have a Great Day!
Janice Agnew

Good luck, Janice! And to everyone else who's made it into the semi-final round for this $2,000 award. For next year, check out the contest details here.

Hi Brian,
I just wanted to share the story with you I had published in the Registered Nurse Association of Ontario (RNAO) Registered Nurse Journal magazine this month. There is no online link yet to my story (that will come when the issue becomes "past") so I had to scan and save.

Members of the RNAO were invited to submit stories about a role model or mentor who has influenced their nursing practice. The intro to the 9 stories published stated; "Competition was fierce for a spot in this issue of Registered Nurse Journal". I'm so thankful for your ongoing encouragement.

Best wishes,
Sue Shipley

Hi, Brian.
I wanted to share some exciting news: Something I've written has been published in a book, and has been very well received! My piece is called "Not Far Away." It's about children growing up and as parents, being able to let them go in spite of challenges. The book is "Footprints for Mothers and Daughters." It's a compilation of inspiring stories. See here.

It was unbelievable to walk into Chapters, find it on the shelf and tell the girl assisting me that one of my stories is inside, and thrilling to hold it in my hands, find the page with the title and my name there, in print!

Thanks for all of the info, support and guidance you've given at your workshops, it's much appreciated :) Though it's been awhile since I've attended one of them, I'm hoping to get to at least one in the fall as they are always very informative, fun and get the ol' creativity flowing.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Cindy Watkin
Waterloo

Dear Brian,
I'm getting published!!!!!!!!!
A small publisher in Ottawa is publishing my semi-autobiographical novel Queen of the Castle. He's been around for a long time though and he used to work for a big house.

I was supposed to have to wait a month but he read the script in 3 days! He called me and said "this is a great story and very well written, and believe me, I read a lot of stories". He is pushing my book ahead of all his Christmas stuff, something he said he had never done in his career.

The tentative date is mid-November 2011!!!!! I know. Pressure! On me that is.

I still have to go over the whole thing and I only have 10 days to do it. He doesn't want much changed; he really likes it the way it is.

Thanks for your help. I started my second book at that workshop of yours this summer. 6 chapters in!

All the best to you,
Marta Soltys

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

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Welcome to Creative Writing course, Tuesday afternoons, Jan 17 – March 13, Burlington, Ontario

Nine weeks of exploring your creative side
Tuesday afternoons, 12:45 – 2:45 p.m.
January 17 – March 13, 2012
Appleby United Church, 4407 Spruce Ave, Burlington. Map here.

This course will open the door to 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 at Ryerson University and has led writing 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
This class will likely fill up. To avoid disappointment, register early.
To reserve your spot now, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca  

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

Write2Xpress writing Contest 2011 for Oakville adolescents and teens

Open to students from Oakville or students who attend school in Oakville (grades 7-12). Win Oakville Place gift certificates for your interpretation of this year's photo (on left). Short story, graphic novel or poem - it's up to you!

Deadline: October 24. Winners in each category will be announced at the Awards Night in November.

Full details here.

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

Friday, September 16, 2011

Great writing workshops and courses starting soon

"Girl on the Other Side" by
Deborah Kerbel, one of Monica's clients
How to Get Published
An editor & an agent tell all
Saturday, September 24
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. Bring your questions. Bring a query letter you might use to interest an agent or publisher in your work. 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 children's and YA writers and writers in the fields of science fiction and fantasy.

Fee: $44 paid in advance or $48 if you wait to pay at the door
To reserve your spot, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca. More details here.

"How to Get Published" will also be offered Saturday, October 22 in Elliott Lake as part of the Elliott Lake Writers' Fall Festival (see here), on Sunday, October 23 in Sudbury (see here) and Saturday, December 3 in Oakville (see here).

"The Calling" a YA novel by one of
Brian's students: New York Times
bestselling author Kelley Armstrong
Writing for Children
and for Young Adults ~ the world's hottest market
Saturday, October 1
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Community Room in Your Independent Grocers
290 First Street N., Gravenhurst, in Muskoka. Map here.

Whether you want to write the next best-selling Young Adult books or just want to create stories for your own kids, this workshop is for you. Learn how to write stories kids and young adults will love, and find out what you need to know to sell your book. And if you want, bring the first couple of pages of your children’s book or young adult novel to get it critiqued on the spot. Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He is also the author of a juvenile version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Tribute Publishing Inc).

Fee: $44 paid in advance or $48 if you wait to pay at the door
To reserve a spot now, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca
More details here.

"How to Write for Children and for Young Adults" will also be offered Saturday, January 28, 2012, in St. Catharines. Details here.

September will see the start of Intermediate Creative Writing classes in Mississauga (one on Truscott and one on Ridgeway) and in Burlington, and Exploring Creative Writing classes in Georgetown and Oakville, but those are all full, and I'm now taking registrations for winter courses...

Extreme Creative Writing
Eight weeks of creative growth
January 25 – March 14
at two locations:
Wednesday afternoons, 12:30 – 2:45 p.m.
St Cuthbert's Anglican Church, 1541 Oakhill Drive, Oakville. Map here.
More details here.
and
Wednesday evenings, 6:45 – 9:00 p.m.
Unity Church. 3075 Ridegeway Drive, Unit 8, Mississauga. Map here.
More details here.

This course is for people who have have their own writing that they want to work on. Over the eight classes, you’ll be asked to bring in four pieces of your writing for detailed feedback. In addition to learning how to critique your own work and receiving constructive suggestions about your writing, you’ll discover that the greatest benefits come from seeing how your classmates approach and critique a piece of writing and how they write and re-write. This is a challenging course, but extremely rewarding.

Fee: $132.74 plus 13% hst = $150
These courses usually fill up, so enroll early to avoid disappointment.
To reserve a spot now, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Welcome to Creative Writing
Nine weeks of exploring your creative side
Tuesday afternoons, 12:45 – 2:45 p.m.
Jan 17 – March 13

Appleby United Church, 4407 Spruce Ave, Burlington. Map here.

In this course you'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.

Fee: $115.04 plus 13% hst = $130
This class will likely fill up. To avoid disappointment, register early.
To reserve your spot now, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

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

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Jennie Goloboy promoted to associate agent at Red Sofa Literary, seeks authors

Red Sofa Literary
2163 Grand Avenue #2
St. Paul, MN 55105
http://redsofaliterary.com/

Jennie Goloboy is now building her own client list.  She is looking for YA and adult speculative fiction with a literary edge; especially books with well-developed characters, a sense of humor and perspective, and happy endings.  Plus she is a sucker for good romance, as well as noir-influenced narration and attitude.

In regard to nonfiction, Jennie is looking for books in the biography and history categories.  Jennie brings a special love for American history, but will consider other projects as well.  (Please note that she won’t be representing memoirs).

Query Jennie at: jennie@redsofaliterary.com

"We highly encourage everyone to send an email and/or query letter initially, before attempting to send a full book proposal or sample chapters. If querying via email, please only put the contents of your query in the email. We will not open attachments unless they have been requested in advance."

Full submission guidelines here.

Brian Henry has a "Writing for Children and for Young Adults" workshop coming up on in Gravenhurst in Muskoka on October 1 (see here), and in St. Catharines on January 14, 2012 (see here).

Also, Brian will be leading "How to Get Published" workshops on September 24 in Guelph with guest Monica Pacheco of the Anne McDermid Agency (see here), on Sunday, Oct 23, in Sudbury (see here) and on December 3 in Oakville with guest Ali McDonald of The Rights Factory literary agency (see here).

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

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

“Rescued” by Donna Dawson, reviewed by Rose McCormick Brandon

Self-published with Word Alive Press, 2010, paperback 242 pages.

After several in-vitro fertilization attempts, each one ending with miscarriage, Charlene and Daniel MacTaggart are on the verge of giving up. Their doctor presents them with a new alternative - an embryo transplant. Charlene hesitates, wondering if lending her body to research will only bring more grief.

Jason Steadman, a genetic researcher from Australia has experimented with embryo transfer in animals. He is summoned to Canada to meet with Daphne and Charlene. Will Jason’s research bring happiness to many childless couples? Or is he, as critics say, meddling in the sanctity of human reproduction?

Dawson expertly weaves her characters into a global debate. She adds extremists, activists and stalking reporters to this suspense-filled novel while maintaining a calm focus on the real star of the story, the child in the womb of young 17-year-old Daphne Barrie.

Donna Dawson is an award-winning Canadian suspense writer. She lives in London and teaches Creative Writing at Fanshawe College. Rescued is available at book stores and on-line here.

Rose McCormick Brandon is the author of award-winning personal essays and articles on faith and family. She also writes devotionals and contributes to book compilations such as Chicken Soup for the Soul. She lives in Caledonia, Ontario, with husband Doug. They have three children and two grandchildren and occasionally co-author articles on finances. They enjoy time at their cottage on Manitoulin Island.

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

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

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

The 2012 Minotaur Books/ Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition

In 2007, Stefanie Pintoff launched her career
with "In the Shadow of Gotham," winner of the
1st Minotaur Books First Crime Novel award
Sponsored by Minotaur Books (a St. Martins Press imprint) and Mystery Writers of America (MWA), the Competition is open to any writer, regardless of nationality, aged 18 or older, who has never been the author of any Published Novel in any genre, (except that authors of self-published works only may enter, as long as the manuscript submitted is not the self-published work) and is not under contract with a publisher for publication of a novel.

To enter, you must first request an entry form. All requests for entry forms must be received by Minotaur Books by email by November 15, 2011.

But it is important that you submit your Manuscript as early as possible. Our judges are volunteers who are extremely busy with their primary concerns, and submissions will get a more careful reading if the judge does not have to contend with a flood of last-minute entries.

Murder or another serious crime or crimes must be at the heart of the story.

Nominees will be selected by judges chosen by the Mystery Writers of America, with the assistance of the editorial staff of Minotaur Books, and the winner will be chosen by Minotaur Books editors on the basis of the originality, creativity and writing skill of the submission.

Minotaur Books reserves the right to cancel or modify the competition if, in the sole opinion of the editors, an insufficient number of qualified Manuscripts are received.

If a winner is selected, Minotaur Books will offer to enter into its standard form author's agreement with the entrant for publication of the winning Manuscript, including an advance against future royalties of $10,000. The winner will then be recognized at the Edgar Awards Banquet in New York City in April 2012.
 
Complete rules here.
 
See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Interview with Brian Henry of Quick Brown Fox on Beyond Words

Brian Henry of Quick Brown Fox interviewed by Jeanne Bannon of Beyond words:

I’ve been a follower of your blog, Quick Brown Fox, for quite some time and I am a huge fan. I was wondering where you find all the interesting and varied information? Do you have to look for it, or do people approach you?

Both. People who have been in my classes or workshops are always emailing me to let me know they’ve gotten something published. I post those emails, and I also check if I’ve done a post about the journal or book publisher they’ve gotten published with.

So, suppose someone’s gotten published in CommuterLit or Jersey Devil, Ronsdale Press or ECW. Then I figure that’s a good place for other writers to send their work, so I make sure they can look up the submission info on Quick Brown Fox....

Also, I continually get emails from agents, literary journals, organizations sponsoring writing contests, book publishers, authors with a new book, etc. The bottom line is that Quick Brown Fox is Canada’s most popular blog for writers. So when someone wants to get info out to writers, they send it to me...

I’ve heard you were a mentor to best-selling Canadian author Kelley Armstrong, could you tell readers a little about this?

Sure. Kelley lives in Aylmer, down in Southwest Ontario, and she used to be a regular at my workshops in London. She asked me to look at a manuscript she’d been working on for five years and to tell her whether I thought there was any hope and maybe make some suggestions about how she might improve it.

Well, it was pretty rough in the way a manuscript always is when it’s a first effort and it’s been written and rewritten a dozen times. But – and this is the important thing – when I read it, I got goose bumps. The writing was brilliant.

Kelley reworked it a bit and then I phoned the agent Helen Heller to convince her to take a look at it. That was tough because Helen hates anything like a horror novel and this was a werewolf book. So I softened Helen up by explaining the manuscript was hip and contemporary, with sentences that skipped off the page. Then I just whined until Helen broke down and said she’d read the damned thing...

Read the whole interview at Beyond Words here.

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

Sunday, September 11, 2011

“Esther,” a true story by Donna Kirk


Passengers and crew of Flight 93

Now that Bin Laden is dead, I wonder what Esther thinks.

I met her in March on the Manasota Beach in Venice, Fla. My daughter Kelley was further along the beach that day, absorbed in her search for shark’s teeth. Even though she’s 39 years old, I couldn’t help looking up constantly, trying to spot her among the other shell seekers. When she’s in my presence, she’s my little girl.

I noticed a woman moving slowly along the waterline, bending over occasionally to sift through the seaweed and broken shells that lay strewn on the sand. We were looking in the same patch and smiled at each other. Even though her grey/blond hair was piled up on her head in a get-it-out-of-the-way fashion, I judged her to be younger than me. She had quite a tan.

Something in her eyes made me speak to her. “Beautiful day for the beach.”

“Yes,” she replied. “Coming to Florida and looking for shells brings me peace.”

“I’m Donna,” I said.

“Esther,” she replied.

Esther told me that she and her husband owned a trailer in a park close by and came down from January until the end of April. She said even though he’s retired he needs to travel back and forth from Baltimore where they live, but she prefers to stay put for the winter.

We started talking about stress and the need for activities that offer relief from daily worries. I’m not usually a spiritual person, but somehow, I felt connected to this woman. Her gaze is direct; there’s a deep sadness about her.

“I’ve lost a child,” she said.

I told her I’ve lost a child too, and marvel at myself for not breaking down and sobbing to this stranger.

“My daughter Elizabeth was killed on September 11, 2001, on Flight 93, the one that crashed in Shanksville, Pa.”

Stunned, I reached out to take her hand. “Our son Matthew died of pneumonia last July after four months in hospital. He was 40 years old.”

“Elizabeth was 27,” she said. “She called me from the plane to say good-bye that day. The person next to her had made a final call to a loved one and handed her the phone. Thank God I was home. ‘Do you know what’s going on, Mom?’” she said.

I couldn’t imagine receiving a phone call like that one. I’d dreaded the calls from the hospital telling us Matthew was worsening and we should get there as soon as possible. I scanned the beach for Kelley while Esther continued talking.

“Even though I knew what was happening, and had a horrible feeling she was on that flight because I knew she was flying out of Newark that day, I told her I didn’t know. I didn’t want to break down and waste this last conversation with my daughter.”

I wondered if I could have done that and not give in to my first reaction of alarm. Watching my son becoming sicker was hard for me. I knew he would eventually die, but at least I could comfort him during that process and take comfort in the luxury of still having him and perhaps coming to terms with the eventuality. And, I couldn’t imagine how anyone would ever be able to hang up the phone knowing they would never hear that voice again.

“She told me she loved me and she’d accepted the fact that she was going to die, and would be reunited with her grandparents. She was such a bright girl, with so much to offer the world.”

Matthew was bright in his own way, I thought, even though he was mentally and physically handicapped. He taught us the value of life and the meaning of dedication, persistence and love.

“She said some of the passengers planned to overpower the terrorists and try to take the plane back.”

Esther and Elizabeth had mere moments to come to terms with looming death. My husband and I had known for months our son would never recover. However, we couldn’t accept it, and Matthew’s death on July 6, 2010 was a shock to us.

“Nearly 3,000 people died that day. If the passengers and crew aboard Flight 93 hadn’t intervened, the terrorists would have crashed the plane into the U.S. Capitol building and more would have died.”

I knew nothing about the details of the fated Flight 93 and wondered how many times Esther had told this story. Perhaps it was her mission - to give meaning to the atrocious death of her daughter - that without the brave actions of the passengers on Flight 93 the tragedy would have been worse. I understood her need. I too wanted the world to understand the importance and worth of people like my son.

I spotted Kelley coming toward us, smiling and holding her hand out. “Got some really big ones, Mom!”

We watched Kelley continue towards her father who was seated under our beach umbrella reading his crime novel.

“Your daughter?” asked Esther.

“Yes.”

“She’s lovely.” I told her we had another son, our youngest child, Joseph.

“Do you ever get the feeling that because you have other children people think it somehow makes the loss easier?” asked Esther.

I nodded. It also hurt me to know that some felt the life and death of a handicapped person was not as valuable and important as the people they could more easily identify with. Even though no one had ever spoken the words to me, I knew by their expressions and by the way they articulated their condolences. It was my wish to change those attitudes.

“No child can replace another,” said Esther.

Esther and I stood looking at each other and clasped hands.

Now, a decade after the crash of Flight 93, Bin Laden is finally dead. How does Esther feel? Is she outraged that it took so long for her government to track him down and eliminate him? Or, does she know that he is merely a symbol of terrorism, of hate, of a pervasive cancer that won’t change with his death? Perhaps she feels comforted that, even though it took so long to rout out this figurehead of evil, her country never gave up.

I know one thing. Esther will keep on telling her story. Shocking strangers like me into facing the reality of what horrors like 9/11 impose on one family. Forcing us to wonder how life could be if tolerance, co-operation and compromise were the standard.

Originally published here, in the Daily American, July 14, 2011.
Elsewhere in the world, terror attacks against civilians continue on a daily basis. See here.

Donna Kirk is a non-fiction writer from Oakville.  Her short stories revolve around her family and particularly, her son Matthew, who was born with physical and developmental challenges.  She has just completed Finding Matthew, a literary non-fiction narrative.  Donna is published in Quick Brown Fox, Canadian Voices Volume Two, Ars Medica, and CommuterLit, The Daily American and The Daily Reflector, two U.S. Newspapers.

Donna will be one of the writers reading her work at CJ’s Café in Oakville on Tuesday, September 13 (6:30 – 9:00). Everyone’s invited! More here.

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

Friday, September 9, 2011

Cheat the Hangman by Gloria Ferris now available as e-book

Hi, everybody:

My paranormal mystery, Cheat the Hangman, was shortlisted for the Crime Writers of Canada Unhanged Arthur Award.

It’s now available in eBook edition at AmazonKindleStore and Smashwords for $3.99. Trade paperback and other eBook retailers coming soon.

This story will appeal to readers who enjoy a mystery with a shot of humour, a dash of romance, and a pinch of the paranormal. Please let your friends and other book lovers know about my new release by forwarding this email on to them.

Many thanks for helping me spread the news.

Gloria Ferris
http://www.gloriaferrismysteries.blogspot.com
http://www.imajinbooks.com

About Cheat the Hangman:
After inheriting Hammersleigh House from her eccentric great-uncle Patrick, Lyris Pembrooke makes a grisly discovery in the tower room of the Georgian-style mansion―the mummified remains of a child.

To uncover the mystery, Lyris is aided by family psychic Aunt Clematis and Leander, a spirit guide with an attitude, who prefers hanging out with Winston Churchill and John Lennon. While nurturing a new relationship with Blackshore’s Chief of Police, avoiding her controlling ex-husband’s demands, hosting this year’s family reunion and engaging in a psychological battle with the mansion's butler, Lyris is taxed to her limits.

During an oppressive summer heat wave, a tear in the gossamer veil that separates past and present forces Lyris to finally accept her psychic destiny. Driven to find out who murdered little Tommy Pembrooke sixty-eight years ago, she begins a journey back in time.

""A dazzling blend of the bizarre and the domestic, horror and humour, nostalgia and intrigue… Southern Ontario Gothic at its spine-chilling, provocative, hilarious best." ―John Moss, author of Reluctant Dead
“A powerful, layered story told with clarity, pizzazz, and humour.” ―Eileen Schuh, author of Schrödinger’s Cat

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

Thursday, September 8, 2011

“Chatterer the red squirrel” by Elizabeth Barnes

Chatterer the red squirrel
with his meddlesome tongue
runs for his life
the rush the speed
blurred branches
looping treed skylines
forest floor tipping overhead
menace behind
he leaps he soars he reaches
and peppering the forest with his chatter
he falls
flattens his belly-body
for a splat landing
bones and muscles turned to jelly
and like jelly
he bounces

and flies
a streaking arrow released from a taut bow
fired thru underbrush
snaking round and round
tail to nose
an ascending trunk
his pursuer nibbling his heels
up-around up-around up-around
along ever-diminishing branches
shrinking narrower and narrower
weaker and weaker
till twig snaps:
he leaps he soars he’s gone
become a sailing flying squirrel...
free at last


Elizabeth Barnes has been writing prose and poetry for more than 20 years. She is published in Canadian Voices Vol I and II. in 2002 she was short-listed for the Writers' Union of Canada short story contest for her story “The Yellow Dahlia.” She is a member of the High Park Writers’ Group, the Ontario Poetry Society and regularly attends meetings of the Canadian Federation of Poets. As well as writing, she takes photographs, sews wall hangings and is trying to improve her skill on the piano.

Elizabeth will be one of the writers reading her work at CJ’s Café in Oakville on Tuesday, September 13 (6:30 – 9:00). Everyone’s invited! More here.

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

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Event Magazine seeks fiction and poetry

Event Magazine
PO Box 2503
New Westminster, BC V3L 5B2

Event publishes fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction and literary reviews. In every issue we aim to present a compelling selection of work by established and newer writers, both from Canada and abroad. As editors, we look beyond competent craft to writing that inspires, delights and challenges.

In fiction, we're looking for readability, style, well-handled characters and a strong, effective point of view (although not necessarily all in the same story). Generally, we favour strong narrative, but are open to all literary styles and strive for a diversity of voices.

In poetry, we tend to appreciate the narrative and sometimes the confessional modes. In any case, we are eclectic and always open to content that invites involvement.


The four main editors make their selections collectively. Our intention is to cast a wide net, and in that regard, we read everything that comes to us and only make selections after editorial assistants and at least three editors have commented on the submissions. Rejected manuscripts often receive encouraging comments, where appropriate.

Almost all manuscripts are unsolicited. Only reviews are actively sought. Here we make an effort to match the book and the reviewer in order to produce a review that provides empathetic insight into the nature of Canadian writing today.

On the cover of each issue we present the work of a notable or up-and-coming Canadian visual artist.

It is our goal to support and encourage a thriving literary community in Canada while maintaining our international reputation for excellence.

We do not read manuscripts in January, July, August and December. Creative non-fiction can only be submitted through our annual non-fiction contest held every spring.

Always include a stamped, self-addressed return envelope. Send Canadian stamps, international reply coupons or US$1 if you are submitting from outside Canada. Tell us if you'd prefer your manuscript to be recycled rather than returned. We do not accept email submissions, nor do we respond electronically.

Submit three to eight poems but no more than two short stories (maximum 5000 words each). We rarely publish excerpts from novels, unless they stand well on their own. Do not mix genres when submitting.

Attach a brief covering letter with your contact information, the title(s) of your submission(s) and listing other publications credits, if any.

We reply as soon as possible, usually within one to six months.

We pay a minimum of $25 ($30 for a poet's first page) on publication (up to a maximum of $500), and publication is within a year of acceptance. We buy first North American serial print rights and limited, non-exclusive digital rights; copyright reverts to the author after publication.

Submissions page here. Home page here.

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