Monday, February 25, 2013

Guernica Editions and Brick Books both open for submissions

Guernica Editions
1569 Heritage Way
Oakville, Ontario, L6M 2Z7

Guernica prefers to receive manuscript queries by email. Before inquiring, authors are requested to check Guernica’s website to determine the type of material they publish. Note that Guernica accepts submissions only from January through to the end of April.
Submissions page here.


Brick Books
Box 20081, 431 Boler Road
London, Ontario, N6K 4G6

Brick Books is the only press in Canada that specializes in publishing poetry books.  Based in London, Ontario, the press was started by Stan Dragland and Don McKay in 1975 and began by publishing chapbooks. We now publish full-length volumes of an individual author’s work.

The mandate of Brick Books is to foster interesting, ambitious, and compelling work by Canadian poets, both new and established; to create and maintain the exceptional editorial standard for which Brick has gained a national reputation; to produce beautifully designed, attractive books worthy of the excellence of their contents; and to distribute and promote these books and their authors. We publish 7 new books and an average of 9 reprints every year.

We receive approximately 100 manuscripts for consideration every year. We publish only 7 books a year. Please note that we only read submissions between January 1 and April 30.Submissions received outside of our reading period will be returned. Our publishing schedule is filled two years in advance.

If you would like to submit work to Brick Books, you should be familiar with our books to see if your writing is a good fit with our publishing program. Check out our books in your local bookstore or library or browse our website. You may send the full manuscript or a sample of 8 – 10 poems from a finished manuscript.  Unfinished manuscripts are unlikely to be considered by Brick Books.

With your submission, you should include a covering letter telling us a bit about yourself including whether you have had any work previously published in literary magazines or journals. You must include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with sufficient Canadian postage for our reply/return of your materials.

Keep in mind that writers without previous publications in literary journals or magazines are rarely accepted by Brick Books for publication. Some appropriate Canadian literary magazines are the Malahat Review, The Fiddlehead, The Antigonish Review. Having a publishing history shows that the writer is serious, is developing their career, and has some experience with the editorial process.

Complete submission guidelines here.

Brian Henry will be leading "How to Get Published” workshops on March 16 in Peterborough (details here), Sun, March 17, in Kingston (see here), and Sat, May 4, in Barrie (see here). 
To register, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca


Before you submit, though, the best way to get your manuscript into shape is with a weekly course. Brian will be leading Next Step in Creative Writing classes on Thursday afternoons in Mississauga (see here) and Thursday evenings in Georgetown (see here). He’ll be leading Intensive courses on Wednesday afternoons in Burlington (see here) and Wednesday evenings in Mississauga (see here). 
To register, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca


Also, he’ll be leading Life Stories classes on Monday mornings in Mississauga (see here) and Monday afternoons in Brampton (see here and scroll down), and he'll lead a Welcome to Creative Writing course on Tuesday afternoons in Burlington (see here). 
To register, 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, Orillia, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

The Onion Stone, a novella by Mandy Pannett, reviewed by F.H.Lee


Pewter Rose Press, Nottingham, UK, 2011, paperback, 198 pages

After three reads through 
 The Onion Stone, to better absorb the marble layering within this intricate novella, I might now attempt to do it justice. The plot concerns a 2oth Century academic rivalry, a 17th Century love affair and the true identity of Shakespeare. But rather than list plot puzzle pieces or character action, I would much rather attempt to explain why Mandy's writing is so appealing.

My first immersion was for the sake of story – just the pure enjoyment of a well balanced unpredictable plot line.

The second time through was to appreciate the poetry of the writing. Mandy Pannett writes poetry, teaches poetry, judges poetry. Mandy has already had three books of poetry published, with a fourth out later this year. The language in the book is delicious! Each word or phrase has been selected for its precise meaning, rhythm, and detailed description that only a poet can capture.

Finally, the third time through (but not the last!) was to absorb history, real or fictional. The author sprinkles it generously on this fine feast of words. My grade 9 history teacher is likely still shaking his head in disbelief that I've actually come to like the subject ...

What is the book about you ask? Well dahhhlings it depends entirely on what you already know. Some chapters walk us through present day issues, characters, deeds and misdeeds. Noble and neurotic. Other chapters launch us into the 16th century, where we can revel in Shakespeare's muddy world.

Two different love triangles exist ... one woman (Frances) is caught in a nasty spider web that dates back to her youth, when she chose between two suitors, and now later in life, she has to deal with them both as they mature into nasty spiders. They fight over scholarly prestige of the unsolved mystery, and she is the fly caught between them.

Yet, I like Frances, and rather than perceiving her as incompetent or bullied or blasé, I find her refreshingly feisty, with her own reasons for her own conduct. They may grind on her from the outside, eroding her protective armour, but inside she is spry and smart and self-propelled, rebellious as ever. The shards of her spirit still razor sharp.

Now Anne is another story. She is stuck firmly in her web, held fast by protocol and position, with a father, husband, and lifestyle to pity. Tension and suspense exists in her past and present worlds, as does love and deception, astounding betrayal and adamant devotion.

Mandy's words, research, vast knowledge, and creativity within the confines of an old theme merge together to consider the paradox of reality versus possibility; past versus present; young versus old; pristine emotion versus pouty old crabgrass (the two main male characters, take your pick!).

I shamelessly admit that my priority for any piece of reading lies as thus: 1) place, 2) plot, 3) people.

In this book, all become equal. Mandy leads me gently by the hand through both sets of conflicting relationships, their frustrations, frequent plot twists, truths, assumptions. Many contrasts are mixed; personality, relationships, physical appearances, past/present/future, speculation/research, men/women/children, dreaded and beloved, bossy and resistant, just and unjust, endless possibility and burned bridges, closed doors, brick walls.

She makes each shine. She builds tension until I am almost late meeting my kids at the school bus stop. I do not want to leave this imagined but realistic world, made tangible and meaningful and current, just for me. I will return often. I will take my three sons for a spin through her wonderful words. Introduce them to Robert Browning and the other noted poets. I will read this to my daughter until she is perhaps able to read it herself.

Kind and generous, Mandy has included something for every age and stage: For Shakespeare nuts and novices. For actors and audience. For serious English Lits and those just dipping toes into cool refreshing irresistible waters. The book has its own full moon, its own tides and currents, its own comedy and tragedy.

I am so thankful that Mandy mustered the courage to attack a novella in her sound, profound, poetic way, and that it found its way across the ocean to me. And although there is not a flaw found from stem to stern, my favourite thing about the book is the humour. The wonderful dazzling unexpected nuggets buried between the pages. It is so very serious and sad at times, that the uplifting corners of the mouth moments are truly delicious.

My favourite character is a child who cannot speak. My favourite mishap is a confusion of colours. I love every drive taken, every launch into history, every memorable moment. You will too!


F.H. (Francine) Lee spends too much time deliberating over her favourite fictional character – a stalemate between the disciplined but philosophical Lee in East of Eden and  Mrs. Dubose in To Kill a Mockingbird, the bravest person Atticus had ever known. Francine has taped Brian Henry's advice from his  “How to make yourself write” workshop to the front door, so that she can stop explaining why she's never home, and after thirty-odd years of writing, on and off, she’s published numerous works of poetry, flash fiction, and nonfiction both online and in print.

Quick Brown Fox welcomes book reviews and other book related pieces. I also welcome reviews of plays, movies, restaurants and anything else that catches your fancy. Reviews may be straight up or tongue in cheek. You might review restaurants you can’t afford, based on what you can see peering through the window. Or you might review the patrons of some event, rather than the event itself. Or you might otherwise use your imagination to get up to some mischief. Please keep reviews short and as free of long paragraphs, clumsy prose and grammatical mistakes as possible. Email your review to me at: 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, Orillia, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

This year, Kelley Armstrong has one TV series and four books coming out and will make two appearances at Brian Henry workshops


Book trailer for The Rising

Next Saturday, March 2, Kelley Armstrong will be my guest speaker at the How to Write a Bestseller workshop in Oakville (see here). She’ll also be a guest speaker at a workshop Saturday, September 28, most likely in Guelph. I don’t usually book my guest speakers that far in advance, but Kelley is a New York Times bestselling author and this year, she’s even busier than usual.

In April, her publishers will release The Rising, a new urban fantasy out for teens (see the trailor above), followed in May by Loki’s Wolves, her first  middle-grade novel, followed in August by Omens, a gothic novel for adults, with Wild Justice, a straight thriller (no supernatural elements) rounding out the year in November.

And if all that weren’t enough, Bitten, a 13-part television series based on Kelley’s Women of the Otherworld series starts shooting this spring.

Here’s the story from the Hollywood reporter (with a bit extra from the media release)…

Bitten - thirteen part TV series from the Space Channel

TORONTO – Canada's Space sci-fi channel has placed a full-season order for Bitten, a one hour drama about a female werewolf.

The 13-part man vs. beast series from Vancouver producers No Equal Entertainment and Hoodwink Entertainment and Toronto’s Entertainment One is based on the Kelley Armstrong book series Women of the Otherworld.

The series, executive produced by J.B. Sugar, is to start production in Spring 2013 in Toronto.

Set in Toronto and upper New York State, Bitten portrays the world of 28-year-old Elena Michaels, the world’s only female werewolf who thought she’d found her one true love, Clayton.

But one small bite has her normal life vanish, leaving Elena to survive life living in a pack.

“I could not be more thrilled about this. A writer always hopes her stories will live on after the last word is written, and now Elena's will, finding fresh life in a new form,” said Armstrong.

“Kelley Armstrong’s novels contain a rich world, compelling characters, and a deep mythology from which to build a dynamic television series,” Sugar, executive producer of No Equal Entertainment, said of the erotically-charged series.

See my 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, Orillia, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Four agents at Corvisiero Literary Agency seek authors – for commercial fiction & nonfiction for adults and young adult and middle-grade fiction


Corvisiero Literary Agency
275 Madison Avenue
14th Floor
New York, NY  100016

The Corvisiero Agency bills itself as a boutique agency, meaning it’s fairly small. It was founded within the last couple of years by Marisa Corvisiero, which means that all four agents at the agency are new and need authors.

Prior to starting her own agency, Marisa Corvisiero was with L. Perkins Agency. She is also a Literary Consultant at Literary Powerhouse Consulting and Attorney. Marisa has over ten years of legal experience in New York City.

Marisa seeks creative stories with well developed plots and rich characters with unique voices. She will consider Romance, Thrillers, Adventure, Paranormal, Fantasy, Science Fiction, and any combination thereof.

She will also consider the same genres for Young Adults and Middle Grade readers.

In non-fiction, she enjoys out of the box and high concept spiritual, self-improvement, parenting, science, business, and cookbooks.

Query Marisa at:
query@corvisieroagency.com
Put “Query for Marisa Corvisiero" in the subject line. Attach a 1-2 page synopsis and the first 5 pages of the manuscript as separate Word .doc files.


Stacey Donaghy likes thrilling stories, fantastical events, and even off the wall concepts. Stacey is currently seeking stories in AdultYA and MG fiction.  
 
When it comes to Middle Grade fiction, Stacey wants only stories that have series potential.   (Harriet the spy, and R.L. Stine books, paranormal, mystery and suspense all work for her)

Thrillers 
in all sub-genres and especially loves Crime fiction (think The Krays’, Clockwork Orange, Seven, Silence of The Lambs, The Usual Suspects, Pulp Fiction, and Reservoir Dogs and is very interested in stories that focus on serial killers), high octane, suspense or mystery are all things that she seeks in her Thrillers.

Soft Sci-Fi  (I Robot, The Stepford Wives, generally anything well written where characters are defined by their behaviors)

Fantasy, especially High/Epic, Contemporary, and Dark (particularly where there is an alternate version of our own world, themes that include ghosts, psychics, shape-shifters, and other manifestations.  Also comic book or fairy tale characters)

Stacey loves well written Horror stories; the kind nightmares are made of!  She likes stories with surprising twists, strong characters that she can love despise, fear or shed tears over. This coupled with a strong plot development is the key to getting her attention.

Stacey is accepting Women's fiction and Romance.

Stacey is not accepting non-fiction at this time.

Query Stacey at:
query@corvisieroagency.com
Put “Query for Stacey Donaghy " in the subject line. Attach a 1-2 page synopsis and the first 5 pages of the manuscript as separate Word .doc files.


Saritza Hernandez specializes in the e-publishing world. Saritza represents both new and established authors and is currently looking for strong erotic romance in the following sub-genres:

  • Intercultural romance
  • BDSM erotica/erotic romance
  • Sci-Fi/Fantasy romance
  • Steampunk & Cyberpunk romance
  • Historical romance (emphasis on Ancient Egypt, Caribbean/MesoAmerican)
  • Paranormal romance
  • M/M, F/F, GLBT-themed erotic romance, erotica & general fiction
  • GLBT themed YA
Query Saritza at: query@corvisieroagency.com
Put “Query for Saritza Hernandez" in the subject line. Attach a 1-2 page synopsis and the first 5 pages of the manuscript as separate Word .doc files.


Junior agent Brittany Howard is the newest member of the Corvisiero agency. When reading, Brittany loves to be introduced to new and interesting people and places. She looks for strong voice, good storytelling, and fascinating relationships between characters—romantic or otherwise. More than anything, she loves when a book surprises her.
Brittany is interested in the following genres:

Her first love is YA 
– from High Fantasy to Paranormal to to soft Sci-Fi  to Contemporary – she loves it all.

She also likes high concept, adventure themed, and funny MG, but a strong voice is must for her in MG.

She's willing to look at Picture Books,
but is very selective. 

Brittany prefers that you paste the 1-2 page synopsis and the first 5 pages directly into the query e-mail. Do not send Brittany attachments.

Query Brittany at:
query@corvisieroagency.com
Put “Query for Brittany Howard" in the subject line. Attach a 1-2 page synopsis and the first 5 pages of the manuscript as separate Word .doc files.

See submissions page here.

Brian Henry will be leading a "Writing for Children and for Young Adults" workshop in Guelph on April 13 (see here). Also, Brian will lead "How to Get Published” workshops on March 16 in Peterborough (details here), Sun, March 17, in Kingston (see here), and Sat, May 4, in Barrie (see here). 
To register, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Before you submit, though, the best way to get your manuscript into shape is with a weekly course. Brian will be leading Next Step in Creative Writing classes on Thursday afternoons in Mississauga (see here) and Thursday evenings in Georgetown (see here). He’ll be leading Intensive courses on Wednesday afternoons in Burlington (see here) and Wednesday evenings in Mississauga (see here). 
To register, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Also, he’ll be leading Life Stories classes on Monday mornings in Mississauga (see here) and Monday afternoons in Brampton (see here and scroll down), and he'll lead a Welcome to Creative Writing course on Tuesday afternoons in Burlington (see here). 
To register, 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, Orillia, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.


Thursday, February 21, 2013

Call for nominations for Oakville authors, poets, and playwrights and other artists who deserve recognition


Dear Brian,
We are looking for Oakville authors, poets, playwrights, etc. to be recognized for their talents and honored through an arts awards celebration. 

The deadline to apply is March 29, 2013. See the applications overview hereand the Literary Arts application here.

A Writer could win $500… and/or the chance to have their work showcased to a larger audience.

The Oakville Arts Council is pleased to be celebrating our 35th year in delivering services to artists, arts organizations and our greater community ensuring arts are valued, artists are respected and that Oakville’s arts sector is supported. We work to promote and foster artistic development, participation, and appreciation of arts and culture for the benefit of all Oakville residents, sustaining and inspiring the community’s education and engagement in and with the arts.

Currently, our plans are underway for our 5th Anniversary of the Cogeco Stars Among Us Oakville Arts Awards to be held on Thursday, October 10 at The Oakville Conference Centre. We are really proud of the Oakville artists who have been finalists and received awards over the last four years; such as, 2010 Literary Arts Awards recipient and playwright, Peter Gruner, whose play “Minced” was chosen as Best of Fringe for the 2011 Hamilton Fringe. 

The planning has begun, the award applications are online, and we look forward to shining a spotlight on Oakville’s literary, visual, digital, and performing artists once again. (And there are applications for arts groups and for young artists, too.)

Sincerely,
Megan

Megan Whittington, Executive Director
c/o Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre
2302 Bridge Road, Oakville ON L6L 2G6

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, Orillia, Gravenhurst, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.