Friday, June 29, 2012

Two new ebooks: The Last Timekeepers by Sharon Ledwith and Recession Proof by Jason Lawson


Hey, Brian!
Well, it's finally here! My middle-grade/YA time travel ebook, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, published through Musa Publishing! It's the first book of a series. 

I just wanted to thank you for all the help and encouragement you gave me through your workshops I attended in the Barrie and Gravenhurst areas. In fact, you made it into the book's Acknowledgements page, and you totally deserve it. 

Thanks for being who you are: a guru to those who need it!
Cheers and forever grateful,
Sharon Ledwith

Note: You can buy The Last Timekeepers at Amazon here.
Musa Publishing is an e-publisher of commercial fiction. See their submission guidelines here.


Hi Brian,
I just wanted to let you know that I've released my novel Recession Proof on amazon's kindle.  So far the sales have been brisk.  An excerpt from the story won an honorable mention in the Writers' Federation of New Brunswick's short fiction contest and was very well received at CommuterLit

You can check out the novel and read a free chapter here.
The story is about 2 unemployed factory workers who decide to take up a life of crime.  It's just too bad they really stink at it and get themselves in some hilarious predicaments.  

Thanks again for your help.
Jason Lawson


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

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Roseanne Wells of Jennifer DeChiara Literary agency seeks YA, science fiction, mystery, nonfiction, etc ...


Roseanne Wells
Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency
31 East 32nd Street
Suite 300
New York, NY 10016

The Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency is a full-service literary agency founded in 2001 and named one of the top 25 literary agencies in the country by Writer’s Digest.

The agency represents children’s literature for all ages – picture books and middle-grade and young adult novels – but also represents high-quality adult fiction and non-fiction in a wide range of genres. The categories we are most enthusiastic about agenting are literary and commercial fiction; mysteries, thrillers, celebrity biographies; humor; psychology and self-help; parenting; health and fitness; women’s issues; men’s issues; pop culture; film and television; social issues and contemporary affairs.

JDLA is proud to be one of the few literary agencies to represent illustrators, as well as screenwriters for both television and film, including Emmy-winning writers and a Peabody Award-winning illustrator

Roseanne Wells has joined the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency as an associate agent.She was previously with the Marianne Strong Literary Agency, Roseanne graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with degrees in Literature and Dance. An avid reader, Roseanne discovered her passion for book publishing during her internship at W. W. Norton, and she approaches agenting as a writer's advocate, editor, and partner. She is also an arts reviewer for PlayShakespeare.com and a volunteer for Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in Soho, NYC

Submissions:
Nonfiction: I'm interested in authors who have a unique story to tell and are dedicated to building their platform and reaching their audience. I like narrative nonfiction, select memoir, science (popular or trade, not academic), history, religion (not inspirational), travel, humor, food/cooking, and similar subjects. I'm also interested in fresh, modern self-improvement that not only inspires but energizes readers to strengthen and empower themselves in this rapidly evolving world. 

Fiction: I'm looking for strong literary fiction that emphasizes craft and style equally, and doesn't sacrifice plot and character for beautiful sentences; young adult of all genres; very selective middle grade that connects me to a strong main character; science-fiction and fantasy; and smart detective novels (more Sherlock Holmes than cozy mysteries). 

To Submit :
Email a one-page query letter to 
queryroseanne@gmail.com
Please include "Query" in the subject line of the email. Paste your contact information and the first ten pages into the body of the email below the letter.

Brian Henry will lead a "How to Get Published" workshop on Saturday, October 13, in Toronto with Monica Pacheco of The Anne McDermid literary agency (see here).

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

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Northwind literary journal seeks fiction, nonfiction & poetry, pays $150 for lead story


Northwind is an online/kindle literary quarterly, started in 2011 by editors Tom Howard and Abbe Steel. It is published quarterly in spring, summer, fall and winter, by Chain Bridge Press, LLC, in Arlington, Virginia. Pays $150 U.S. for feature story in each issue. Publishes 10 stories and 20 poems per issue.

Fiction: We want crazy beautiful prose, strange characters, unexpected plots, great opening lines, and edgy dialogue. But mostly we just want great stories. There are no restrictions other than quality, and we're always looking for unusual perspectives and original story-lines. Think Ellison, Pynchon, Helprin, Calvino, Roth, BolaƱo, Marquez, Borges, Vonnegut, Delaney, Barthelme, Crowley. Surprise us. 

Our preference is for stories between 3,000 and 8,000 words, although both longer and shorter pieces are considered. We do not publish flash or micro-fiction.

Nonfiction: The criteria for fiction apply to non-fiction submissions as well. We want strong biographical or autobiographical narratives that read like fiction, with clearly defined characters and a compelling story-line. We are not looking for essays, reviews, travelogues or editorials at this time.

Poetry: We accept poetry submissions on any subject and in any style, although we tend to avoid rhyming poetry and prose poems. Read the magazine for excellent examples of what we're seeking. We want compelling ideas, unforced language, and genuine meaning over sentimentality. Up to five poems may be submitted at a time, and all pieces should be included in a single file.

We accept electronic submissions only, using our online submission form.
Full submission guidelines here.

Northwind pays $150 for the issue's featured story only. All contributors, however, will be provided with a dedicated page on the site for biographical information (including photo), any relevant web site links, and an optional feedback form for readers.

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

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Secrets of Writing a Page-turner workshop, Burlington, Ontario, November 24


"Secrets of Writing a Page-turner"
~ 18 secrets from the pros ~
Saturday, November 24, 2012
10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Appleby United Church, 4407 Spruce Ave, Burlington, Ontario (Map here.)

Ever stayed up all night reading a book?  In this workshop, you’ll learn you how to build that kind of tension.  And we'll help you put into practice the techniques professionals use – on every page and in every kind of story – to create drama and tension.

Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing teacher for more than 25 years. He teaches at Ryerson University and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Moncton. But his proudest boast is that he has 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
To reserve a spot now, email 
brianhenry@sympatico.ca 

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

Monday, June 25, 2012

Love letters


Mazel tov - congratulations - to 
Gila Green for her first novel contract!

Dear Brian,
Your blog has often encouraged me to continue on my search for publication when I was about to give up or at least take an extended break. I am happy to announce that my first novel, a futuristic satire, King of the Class, about a post-civil war Israel has been accepted to Vancouver press: Now or Never Publishing due for a spring 2013 release.
Thank you for creating this online community of Canadian writers, so that even ex-pats in faraway Israel can receive encouragement.
Gila Green
Beit Shemesh, Israel
For information about submitting to Now or Never Publishing, see here.

Hi, Brian.
Great news: my short story, "With Regret" won first prize in the Elora Writers' Festival Short Fiction Contest. I owe much of the success for the story to two sources: criticism by my fellow scribblers at the Brampton Writers Guild, and especially to your workshop on editing and revision which I attended in January. Thanks for the invaluable instruction on ripping out and rebuilding, renovator-style, and rewriting an already perfect story to make it better.
Please let me know when you will be putting on an Intensive or Extreme writing course somewhere west of Yonge Street – I’d love to attend.
Regards,
Michael Joll
Read Michael’s award-winning story here. The Extreme Creative Writing courses are both full for the fall, but the slightly less intensive Next Step in Creative Writing has spaces open in the  Thursday afternoon course in Mississauga (details here) and in the Thursday evening course in Georgetown (details here).

Hi Brian,
I've had 3 more poems published in Commuter Lit - thanks again for the tip!
Erica Richmond
Read Erica's 3 poems and her short story, "Worry Dolls," here. For information on submitting to CommuterLit, see here.


Hi, Brian.
First a phone call and then this email. It is for real. “Ginette” found a home! Thank you for helping me to make this possible.
I’m pleased on behalf of the Canadian Authors Association, Niagara Branch to advise that you have won Honourable Mention for your story – The Last of Ginette. We have enjoyed reading your story and are looking forward to having the printed version in our Ten Stories High 13th Edition Anthology.
Yours,
Bieke
For information about all the annual writing contests in Canada, order the Canadian Writers' Contest Calendar, now $5 off the regular price: just $18.50 including all taxes and shipping. For details, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Hi, Brian!
I took a couple of your writing workshops a few years back. The last one I attended was at Westdale library (which is kind of funny since I now work there!) and you had a local lawyer turned romance author come to speak to us. At the time I was trying to get my erotica work published. I thought it was a pipe dream.
Still, I worked on it slowly over the past few years and had a number of short stories published. Then this year HarperCollins UK launched their new erotica imprint the same week Fifty Shades of Grey blew the erotica market wide open. Their editor asked me to be a contributing author. I published a few more short stories with them and now they've offered me a contract for a single author title. It is due out March 2013.
Thanks for your support!
Sincerely,
Paula Culp
For information about submitting to HarperCollins’ erotica imprint, Mishief Books, see here.

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

Sunday, June 24, 2012

The Eden Mills Writers’ Festival Literary Contest

Hi, Brian.
Could you share the following information with your group?

The Eden Mills Writers’ Festival Literary Contest is open internationally to new and modestly published writers, ages 16-plus. Submit a short story, poetry collection (of 5 poems or less), or one-act play. The best entry in each category will win a $100 prize.

Entry Requirements:
Include four copies of each submission.
On a cover page, include title, with your name address, phone number, and email. Name and contact info should not appear on other copies.
Manuscripts will not be returned.
Finalists will be notified prior to the Festival, and winners will be announced at the Festival.

Submission Fee:
$15 (CDN) per entry. Cheques to be made payable to Eden Mills Writers' Festival.
*A combination of entries may be sent in one envelope with one payment for all entries, e.g., a short story and a poetry collection, and $30.

To Submit:
Mail four copies to:
Laurel Marsolais
39 Bushmills Cres.
Guelph, ON  N1K 1T6

Submission Deadline: July 15, 2012
For more information email lmlmarso@gmail.com

Best wishes,
Laurel Marsolais

For information about all the annual writing contests in Canada, order the Canadian Writers' Contest Calendar, now $5 off the regular price, so just $15 at one of my workshops or weekly courses or $18.50 by mail including all taxes and shipping. For details,  email brianhenry@sympatico.ca


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

“The Meeting,” a short story by Bev Bachmann


“How long have we been coming here?”  Sam wondered more to himself than to his companion seated across the table from him at their favorite Tim Horton’s.  

He and Jake had been meeting together once a week for years and it had become something of a ritual.  They usually discussed things like world events or sports or politics—the kinds of topics that had a negligible impact on their personal lives.   

“I don’t know—twenty years maybe.”  Jake dabbed a serviette at the crumbs in his beard.  As a professional in the business world, he had been scrupulous about his appearance, but now that he was retired, Jake regarded shaving as more trouble than it was worth.  “Anyway, why do you ask?”

“No reason.  Just wondering.”  Sam turned his ever watchful eyes towards the commotion at the front door.  A boisterous group of teenagers had burst into the coffee shop and were cloistered around the counter, impatiently waiting to give their orders.  A few were clowning around, but, in general, they struck Sam as harmless.

“Look at that,” said Jake.  “Were we ever so young?”

“Or so innocent?” added Sam wistfully.

“That’s an odd thing to say,” Jake said, pushing his chair back and starting to get up.  “Anyway, I’m still hungry.  I’m going for a muffin.  Can I get you anything?”

Sam stared off into the distance as if distracted.  “Maybe an apple Danish,” he said finally.  He began digging into his back pocket for his wallet, but before he could fish it out, Jake was halfway to the counter. 

Gloomily Sam studied the coffee grinds at the bottom of his cup.  He wondered if he dared to get things off his chest or if he should just continue to keep his mouth shut.

In a few minutes Jake was back.  “Here you go,” he said, handing over the gooey confection.  “I took the liberty of getting you another coffee.”  He placed a fresh cup in front of Sam.

“Thanks,” Sam grunted.  He stirred his coffee in silence. 

Jake had the sense that Sam was bothered by something.  He didn’t want to pry, but . . . .  “Is something wrong?” he asked.

“Nah,” Sam brushed the idea aside with a wave of his hand.

“Well, you seem preoccupied.”  A thought suddenly occurred to Jake.  Maybe, the guy was depressed about recently giving up his position at the university.  It was worth a shot.  “Listen, Sam, I’ve known a few teachers in my day, and they all gave me the impression that teaching is more than a job—that it’s something that gets in the blood.  Is that it? You miss teaching?”

“My career is part of the past.”  Sam shrugged philosophically.  “However, sometimes I do miss the adrenalin rush of standing in front of a classroom full of eager faces, but it had its down side too.  Besides, I got what I wanted out of it.”

“You mean Lucinda?”  Jake couldn’t help teasing his friend about the eighteen-year-old beauty who had been in Sam’s economics class twenty years ago.  Lucinda had managed not only to win his heart, but also to become his wife.

Sam shifted uncomfortably in his chair.  “I guess you could say Lucinda.” 

“I remember it like it was yesterday,” said Jake with a big goofy grin on his face.  “You, the middle-aged professor crazy in love with a girl half your age, and Lucinda, your idolizing student hanging on your every word.  I used to think you two had a fairy tale romance—or at least it would have been if . . . . Well, if you hadn’t been married to Marge at the time.” 

Sam’s faraway look returned.  The awkward pause that followed made Jake wonder if he had gone too far.  “I’m sorry, Buddy, I didn’t mean to bring up the past.”

“It’s all right.  You can talk about it.”  It was curious.  Sam suddenly realized he was no longer reluctant to broach the subject of his first marriage.  In fact, he wanted to talk about it.   

Jake hesitated to go to the place the two of them had assiduously avoided for years, but maybe, with a few well chosen words, Jake could pull his friend out of his obvious funk. 

“I know Marge was upset about your love affair with Lucinda, but a wife of eighteen years ought to at least leave a note of some kind before disappearing into the night.  She owed you that much.” 

Sam’s face was devoid of expression, but his eyes never left the picture windows, where he watched as a steady parade of people came and went from the coffee shop.  The silence continued unabated for several minutes.  Finally, Sam spoke.  “Marge was a good wife.”  

Jake was starting to feel weird, as if he and Sam were having two distinct conversations at the same time, and he wasn’t exactly sure what to say next.  “At least Marge’s walking out paved the way for Lucinda to come into your life.  And you two have been happy together for the last twenty years—right?”

“Sure.”  Sam took a vicious bite out of his Danish.

Jake raised a skeptical eyebrow.  “You don’t sound convincing, Buddy.”

Sam couldn’t keep up the pretense any longer.  “Lucinda is seeing someone on the side.”

“Oh.  I’m sorry.”  Jake stirred his coffee thoughtfully. 

“I don’t know why I’m surprised.  I’ve suspected her of cheating for some time now.” 

“Why do you put up with it?”

A look of unutterable sadness came into Sam’s eyes.  “When you hurt a woman as wonderful as Marge, I figure you get what’s coming to you.”  He seemed on the verge of tears.

“Listen, Buddy, everyone makes mistakes.  You can’t beat yourself up the rest of your life.  It’s not healthy.” 

“I guess you’re right.”  Sam’s face was solemn.  “Still, I wish I hadn’t allowed my life to turn into such a dismal disappointment.”

“You’re being too hard on yourself.”  Jake’s tone was sympathetic.

“Why not?” Sam said miserably.  He looked at his friend with haunted eyes.  “Tell me something.  Have you ever made a mistake this big?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact I have,” Jake said quietly.

“And what was that?”

Jake studied the contents of his coffee cup with absorbed concentration.  Sixty seconds ticked by, and Sam began to wonder if Jake had forgotten the question.

“So, what was this great mistake you made?” Sam prompted.

Jake looked up from his empty coffee cup.  “Lucinda,” he said.


Bev Bachmann is a retired high school teacher who hopes to start a new career as a writer. Presently she lives with her husband and her Australian terrier in Mississauga.


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

Friday, June 22, 2012

Writing Memoirs & Other True Stories workshop, Oakville, October 20


Writing your life & other true stories
Saturday, October 20, 2012
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Oakville Central Library, 120 Navy Street, Oakville, Ontario
(Good all-day parking on Water Street across from the Canoe Club. Map here.)

Have you ever considered writing your memoirs or family history? This workshop will introduce you to the tricks and conventions of telling true stories and will show you how to use the techniques of the novel to recount actual events. Whether you want to write for your family or for a wider public, don't miss this workshop.

Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He has helped many of his students get published, including our guest speaker, Dr. Ross Pennie...

Ross Pennie is the author of The Unforgiving Tides, a doctor’s memoir of Papua New Guinea (Manor House Publishing). Ross has also signed a contract with ECW Press for three medical mystery novels. The first of these, Tainted, came out in 2010 and won Arts Hamilton Literary Award for Fiction.  Ross’s second mystery, Tampered, came out in 2011, and his third is due out early in 2013. Dr. Pennie will speak on how to turn ordinary life into dramatic material and will answer questions about how he wrote his memoir and got it published. Check out Ross's website here.

Fee: $38.94 + 13% hst = $44 paid in advance by mail or Interac
or $342.48 + 13% hst = 
$48 if you wait to pay at the door.
To reserve a spot now, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

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

Playfort Publishing seeks books for children, teens & adults


Playfort Publishing 
PO Box 576 
Salmon Arm, BC  V1E 4N7

Playfort Publishing is a small press publishing books under three imprints:
Playfort Publishing for children’s books.
Midway Press: Quick reads for the young adult crowd
Highgate Press: Quick reads for adults.

Submissions:
Interested in sharing your stories? Author submissions for children's fiction and non-fiction as well as short, easy read, fiction for adults and youth are welcome. Send a sample chapter online or by post and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. Be sure to include your contact info (e-mail preferred) and if you mail us something, don't forget a self-addressed, stamped envelope so we can return your material.

As a new publisher, our resources are limited to just a few new titles a year. But we promise to give your book a good look and let you know if it works for us.


Brian Henry will lead a "How to Get Published" workshop on Saturday, October 13, in Toronto with Monica Pacheco of The Anne McDermid literary agency (see here).

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

Thursday, June 21, 2012

New literary agency, Hardman & Swainson, seeks fiction & nonfiction


Joanna Swainson
Hardman & Swainson

Caroline Hardman and Joanna Swainson are launching a new agency, Hardman & Swainson. The two were formerly colleagues at Christopher Little Agency, and at least 18 existing clients are moving with them. However, new agencies always need new clients. 

The authors already on their books include Rebecca Wait, Anne Putnam, Rosie Fiore, Liz Trenew and Vanessa Greene, Michele Gorman and Professor Dan Davis. The agency will be focused on developing authors, "both editorially and commercially", with an emphasis on "quality writing across the genres."

Hardman & Swainson will focus on literary and commercial fiction, crime and thriller, YA, and quality non-fiction, including popular science, philosophy and memoir, but they welcome fiction submissions across all genres.

Caroline Hardman 
Submissions:
For fiction, please send a covering letter, one page synopsis and first three chapters to submissions@hardmanswainson.com
For nonfiction, please send a covering letter, proposal or outline, plus a sample chapter to submissions@hardmanswainson.com

Brian Henry will lead a "How to Get Published" workshop on Saturday, October 13, in Toronto with Monica Pacheco of The Anne McDermid literary agency (see here).


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