Tuesday, September 29, 2020

New book: Attitude by David Moores

Attitude, a novel by David Moores

If the ice, snow and perpetual wind blowing in off the lake weren’t bad, now the citizens of Southmead have been hit with an outbreak of truly weird and criminal stuff. Fifteen-year-old Lyle, his best friend Garth, and Laura the girl of his dreams don't have wheels, don't have cash, certainly don't have guns, but they've got attitude, and if you're going to face down all the weird, what more do you need?


From Middleroad Publishers. Available on Amazon here.


David Moores started writing fiction “to see if I could” following a decision to finally retire from the workforce. Writing in turn started becoming a full-time job. Dave’s first novel, Windward Legs, was set in the sailing community in Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe Region where he races his own sailboat and lives with his wife Chris. 


See Brian Henry's schedule hereincluding online and in-person writing workshops, weekly writing classes, and weekend retreats in Algonquin Park, Alliston, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Collingwood, Georgetown, Georgina, Guelph, Hamilton, Jackson’s Point, Kingston, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Southampton, Sudbury, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Sunday, September 27, 2020

“Collections” by Catherine Munro


Most people collect something
during their lifetime.

Men collect luxury cars if they can afford them, ex-wives if they can afford them, stamps, coins, toy soldiers and train sets if they’re less ambitious.

Women collect shoes, handbags, scarfs, cats, teddy bears and lovers between husbands.

I collect Trimdin jackets.

It all started on a beautiful autumn day when my dear friend and colleague, Jane Baker and I were having lunch together in the park next to St. James Anglican Cathedral, King Street, Toronto.

When we had finished our lunch Jane said, “Let’s go and look in the new store in the concourse that has beautiful handwoven clothes.”

I was barely ten feet in the door when I saw this gorgeous cotton hand woven turquoise and blue jacket. It had a sign on it saying, “Buy me Catherine.” I tried it on for the size, and also to see how it looked with my black outfit – black was the standard Bay Street (financial district) dress code.  It looked terrific. I bought it. It’s still in my closet.  It might be considered vintage by now as it is over thirty years old.


One day I was at an art exhibition at the McMichael Gallery in Kleinberg, just north of Toronto.  I think it was about 2008. I went into the Gift Shop to buy some postcards, and what did I see but another jacket which had the same sign saying, “Buy me Catherine.” So I did.

I had a small collection of jackets at this point but my nascent collection had just become focussed.  This jacket was a Trimdin jacket. Plus, it was reversible and so doubly beautiful.  It’s still in my closet, but beginning to look a little worn – just a little.

When I got home with my new jacket I checked the Trimdin website to see where they were located, and what else they made. They made only jackets at that time and were made in the US – that was a bonus. WOW what a gorgeous collection! They’re made from jacquard unique textiles. That’s what makes the jackets so special.  They’re  very classic so if you wanted to look like an up-to-date fashion icon they were not for you. But I liked jackets I could wear for years.

The collection was in various designs and colours – few in solid colours with a different design on the reverse side. The textiles are vibrant and unique and designed in house.  I’ve a beautiful deep red jacket for very special celebrations. They make long and short jackets but all very classic, and I soon learned they bring out new designs at least twice a year which are all designed in house.


There was an email address and phone number on the website.  I phoned to see if there was an outlet anywhere nearer to me in downtown Toronto than Kleinberg.  I talked to Michael, one of the owners, who told me about a store in the concourse of the Royal York Hotel that carried a small line of their jackets.

I live within walking distance of the Royal York so I went to the shop to see what their selection of jackets was like.  I bought two more Trimdin jackets.  You might say now I was hooked!  One of the jackets is a black and white reversible in the Ruffle style. It made its debut in New York at a performance at the New York Metropolitan Opera.

Unfortunately, the store stopped selling these jackets when the Canadian dollar tanked against the US dollar. By now I have a good idea of my size and what suited my lifestyle.

I began ordering jackets on line. Every time Trimdin produced a new line I’d get an email.  Can I resist buying another jacket or not? Mostly it was not. Then they began having a sale twice a year. The $US exchange rate wasn’t getting any better and a sale always made me feel I could afford another jacket. I’m the perfect marketing target!


This was the beginning of a chatty telephone or email relationship with Michael and his wife and partner Marissa about what to buy next.  They have all my information on file – address, phone number, email address and credit card number so all I have to do is send an email, or phone saying what I want, not need, to buy.

Trimdin has the most outstanding customer service I’ve ever come across. A couple of years ago I ordered two jackets from one of their sales.  When the jackets arrived they were a size larger than I wear.  I phoned Michael to see if they had my size before I returned them for an exchange. eHh He told me to keep them and he would send the size I ordered – no charge. I sent the jackets to my daughter, Melissa in Australia.  Now Trimdin has a presence in Australia! I’m not sure how often she can wear them because she lives in Cairns, Queensland where the temperature seldom dips below 35 deg.C, but visits her grandchildren in Sydney where it’s much cooler.e

 

 

There came a point when I realized I had an obscene number of jackets hanging in my closet.  Time to do a little culling – but what jackets? The women reading this story will probably recognize the panic that sets in I’ll probably need this jacket some time so maybe I should keep it. Mostly I did keep them.


I still have so many jackets I can divide them into seasons with a little overlap because they are reversible.  Some of the jackets I only like one side. There are certain jackets I only wear to the opera or ballet.  Others I wear to plays, lectures or to church. Most women of my generation like to be well dressed.

I did make an exception for my opera jacket when I was Irene Declute’s matron of honour when she married Doug Fisher in 2012. She deserved a very special jacket.           

A couple of weeks ago I was at my ophthalmologist’s wearing one of my long summer jackets. He said, “you’re looking very fashionable today.”

“I have a cupboard full of jackets and nowhere to wear them during this panndemic.”

“You can come to my office any time dressed like that.”

eHH

I bought my last jacket early in 2020 from a new collection. It’s called Classic Mardi Gras Confetti. This jacket is to wear for my 90th birthday celebrations.  Well, that’s not going to happen.  The birthday will happen in October, but the celebrations will be postponed until October 2021 – 91 will be the new 90. My jacket arrived with a handwritten note from Michael wishing me an early 90th birthday – I’ll treasure that note.

When I wake up in the morning I say to myself, what play am I in today and what’s the costume?

Then I get up, get dressed and put on a beautiful Trimdin jacket to start the day.


Catherine Munro
was born Toronto and grew up in Mississauga when it was rural Ontario.  She left Canada when she was 24 to see the world and returned when she was 48.  In the intervening years she married an Australian, Kenneth Munro, lived in Ghana, West Africa, and Australia.  She writes memoirs for her children and their children. 

See Brian Henry's schedule hereincluding online and in-person writing workshops, weekly writing classes, and weekend retreats in Algonquin Park, Alliston, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Collingwood, Georgetown, Georgina, Guelph, Hamilton, Jackson’s Point, Kingston, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Southampton, Sudbury, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

 

Saturday, September 26, 2020

Six agents at Canadian-based literary agency Transatlantic seek new authors

Sister Dear
by Hannah Mary McKinnon,
represented by Transatlantic

Transatlantic Agency

2 Bloor Street East,Suite 3500

Toronto, Ontario, Canada 

http://transatlanticagency.com/

Note: Don't ever miss a post on Quick Brown Fox. Fill in your email in the Follow Brian by Email box to the right under my bio, and get each post delivered to your Inbox. If you’re not yet on my newsletter list, send me an email, including your locale to:  brianhenry@sympatico.ca ~Brian

Transatlantic Agency offers a full spectrum of career representation to authors (Adult, Children’s & YA, and illustrators) and storytellers (Speakers, Industry leaders & Influencers) across all genres and formats for book, content development, speaking and TV & Film. Six agents at Transatlantic are currently open to queries.


Evan Brown
 is an Associate Agent currently developing his list of authors. Evan has been in publishing since 2012. Prior to joining Transatlantic in April 2019, he worked at a major trade publisher based in Toronto as a marketing specialist for adult and YA novels, including multiple New York Times bestsellers across a wide range of genres; as an acquisitions committee reader; and in online rights, helping authors combat digital piracy and plagiarism. He has experience copyediting, proofreading and freelance editing.

Evan holds an MA in 18th Century Studies from the University of York in the UK and a BA combined honours in Early Modern Studies and English from Dalhousie and The University of King’s College, where he was editor-in-chief of the Early Modern Studies programme student journal, Babel, in 2009.

Evan is looking for submissions in the following genres:

Literary fiction, featuring unique voices, intriguing characters, writing ranging from real to the surreal, and stories that ponder big questions – even when narrow in scope.

Historical fiction, literary rather than genre, featuring epic settings, multi-generational legacies, and compelling character drama.

Fantasy fiction written for adult readers, meaning mature themes more than mature content, laced with intricate lore, tangled politics, and relatable motivations.

Science fiction set in unique and evocative locations, challenging elements of contemporary society through a futuristic lens or alternative reality.

Sports history and memoir, ideally narrative driven and reflecting to some extent on bigger issues or the wider world beyond sports.

Query Evan at: evan@transatlanticagency.com

Include a synopsis and 20-page sample in Word or PDF.

Note: Evan will be our guest speaker at the How to Get Published workshop Saturday, Oct 3, in Toronto. Details here.


Devon Halliday
 joined Transatlantic as a Literary Agent in the summer of 2020, with prior experience at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, Susanna Lea Associates, Writers House, Maria B. Campbell Associates, and Folio Literary management in agenting and scouting. She grew up in Athens, Ohio, and studied Comparative Literature at Brown University. After years in the New York City publishing scene, she has returned to Ohio and is excited to build a list at Transatlantic.

Devon represents both fiction and nonfiction. On the fiction side, Devon leans toward adult fiction, but will also consider YA and cross-over projects. She is interested in literary and upmarket fiction with sharp, insightful writing and vivid characters. She’s partial to speculative fiction, women’s fiction, contemporary fiction, metafiction, light psychological suspense, and romcoms. She is not the right agent for most thrillers, horror, mystery, or historical fiction.

On the nonfiction side, Devon is on the lookout for creative and narrative nonfiction, investigative journalism, broad-perspective memoir, and popular science/ psychology/ medicine/ philosophy. She’s interested in any strong narrative voice that can bring a complicated or niche subject to the average reader.

Across the board, her interest is always piqued by manuscripts that feature tangled-up morality; internet culture; climate change; millennials; unusual story structures; or love stories between flawed characters. She seeks to represent a diverse range of voices and perspectives. For more detail on what she’s looking for, please view her website or her #mswl tweets on Twitter.

Query Devon at querydevon@transatlanticagency.com

Include a 20-page sample (for fiction) or a proposal (for nonfiction). Please include “Query” in the subject line, and notify her if another offer of representation is received.


Amy Tompkins
has worked in publishing since 2002 and has been with the Transatlantic Agency since 2007. She represents children’s authors, adult authors, and select illustrators.

On the children’s side, she represents authors working in all levels and genres, everything from board books through young adult, with a particular fondness for children’s nonfiction.

She also represents select illustrators and will consider submissions from author-illustrators and graphic novelists. She is particularly looking for Own Voices authors and illustrators.

On the adult side, she is interested in nonfiction, literary fiction, and commercial fiction with fabulous writing. In adult books she’s not a fan of genre fiction in the areas of horror, science fiction or fantasy.

Guidelines: Please send submissions through this link.

 Submissions should include a short biography, past publishing credits, and a 20-page writing sample in Word or PDF format, or a link to your portfolio or dummy.


Carolyn Forde
 would love to see literary fiction (especially speculative and horror), commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction by experts in the field and is open-minded to a broad range of topics and styles – as long as it engages her.

There are a few things she’s not keen on – medical/disease related memoirs, police procedurals, climate thrillers, military or CIA fiction, cozy mysteries, books about film and tv behind the scenes.

Previous to joining Transatlantic Agency as Senior Agent, Carolyn was a literary agent and International Rights Director at Westwood Creative Artists for 14 years.

For the last decade Carolyn has traveled to both the London Book Fair and the Frankfurt Book Fair and New York regularly and will continue to do so. She represents Hannah Mary McKinnon and Karma Brown, who many followers of Quick Brown Fox will be familiar with, and she’s represented authors who have won or been nominated for just about every award going. Carolyn is also an active member of the literary community, having been a speaker or mentor at many conferences.

She has lived and worked in Japan, Mexico and the Czech Republic and is a dual citizen of Canada and the UK.

Query Carolyn at: carolyn@transatlanticagency.com

Include the first 20 pages for consideration, within the body of your query – attachments will not be opened (double spaced and 12 pt font).


Chelene Knight
 is primarily interested in literary fiction and memoirists. For fiction, she is drawn to character-driven narratives with rich language that push boundaries (think Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye). She also looks for books that encourage the setting to be a living character (think Amber Dawn’s Sub Rosa).

For memoir, beyond a compelling story, she needs an unconventional structure that amplifies the narrator’s experiences and contributes to the reflective voice in a unique way (think Lidia Yuknavitch’s Chronology of Water).

“I have a soft spot for gritty stories where human nature, resilience, and experience take centre stage,” says Chelene. “The ‘grit’ lends its qualities to books where the story and its characters have some of the roughness, imperfection and complexity of the real world.”

She especially encourages BIPOC writers to submit.

Chelene has worked on the editorial side of publishing and in the magazine industry for years. She is the author of the poetry collection Braided Skin and the memoir Dear Current Occupant, winner of the 2018 Vancouver Book Award and long-listed for the George Ryga Award for Social Awareness in Literature. Her essays have appeared in multiple Canadian and American literary journals, plus the Globe and Mail, the Walrus, and the Toronto Star. Her work is anthologized in Making RoomLove Me TrueSustenanceThe Summer Book, and Black Writers Matter, winner of the 2020 Saskatchewan Book award.

Chelene has worked as a substantive editor for manuscripts in literary fiction, historical fiction, hybrid and traditional memoir, and most recently, children’s books. She has juried for many literary prizes, including the Amazon First Novel Award. She’s also been on many arts boards’ granting juries, including the Canada Council for the Arts, and participated in numerous literary festivals across Canada.

Chelene was the previous managing editor at Room magazine and festival director for the Growing Room Literary Festival in Vancouver. She is now founder and CEO of Breathing Space Creative Literary Management. She often gives talks about home, belonging and belief, inclusivity, and community building through authentic storytelling. She teaches poetry at the University of Toronto online.

Query Chelene through her query manager here

Please include a 20-page sample of your work. Do not query by email.


Sandra Bishop
 represents notable nonfiction and award-winning fiction authors who write across a variety of categories.

Sandra is currently only interested in considering commercially viable non-fiction submissions on pop-culture, celebrity memoir, cooking, hobbies, travel, lifestyle, parenting, and relationships from authors with an established platform, online or media presence, or recognized expertise.

Sandra is not taking on new fiction authors, but she will consider representation of established romance authors seeking new representation. She will also consider complete manuscripts from fiction writers she meets at conferences, or via referral from current clients or industry associates. No erotica, academic, or textbooks, please.

A literary agent since 2008, Sandra Bishop represents a boutique list of notable nonfiction and award-winning fiction authors.

Sandra passionately supports her clients closely from idea through negotiation and beyond, and works alongside an author’s editor, publicist, and marketing team to help create opportunities for success.

Sandra is a former Marine, and is also a Portland, Oregon native who doesn’t like ale, drive a Subaru, wait two hours in line for brunch, or live in a treehouse with a lumberjack (much to her dismay.) She does enjoy hiking, live music, paddle-boarding, sunshine, star gazing, and working out of her home office located halfway between the scenic Columbia River Gorge and the rugged Oregon coast.

Query Sandra at:  querysandra@transatlanticagency.com

See full submission details for all agents at Transatlantic here.

Scholastic Books Executive Editor
Anne Shone

If you’re interested in meeting an agent and in getting published, don’t miss our upcoming online How to Get Published workshops Saturday, Oct 3, with Evan Brown of Transatlantic Literary Agency (see here) and Saturday, Oct 24, with Paige Sisley of the CookeMcdermid agency (see here).

 And if you’re specifically interested in writing and publishing Kid Lit, don’t miss our online Writing for Children and for Young Adults workshop with Anne Shone, Executive Editor, Scholastic Books, Saturday, January 30, (see here) and the Writing Kid Lit weekly class Tuesday afternoons in the new year, Jan 26 – March 23. For details, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

 Beyond that, Brian’s schedule continues to take shape...

Online: Writing Personal Stories, Tuesday evenings, Oct 13 – Dec 15. Details here. {wait list only}

Online: How to Write Great Characters, Saturday, Oct 31. Come in costume! Details here.

Bestselling author Kelley Armstrong

Online: 
How to Write a Bestseller, with New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong,  Saturday, Nov 7. Details here.

Jackson's Point: Writing Retreat at the Briar's Resort & Spa on Lake Simcoe: The ambiance of a country estate and the comforts of a modern resort – a perfect place to write. Friday, Nov 13 – Monday, Nov 16. Details here.

 Weekly classes starting in January:

Online: Exploring Creative Writing, an introductory, low pressure course to get the creative juices flowing Thursday evenings, Jan 21 – March 25. 

Online: Writing Personal Stories, nine weeks of creativity and fellowship. Thursday afternoons, Jan 28 – March 25.

Online: Writing Kid Lit, Picture Books, Chapter Books, Middle Grade books, and Young Adult novels, with enormously talented and experienced authors as guest speakers for two of the classes, Tuesday afternoon, Jan 26 – March 23. 

For more details or to register for any of these, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca


See Brian’s complete current schedule
 here, including Saturday writing workshops, weekly writing classes, and weekend retreats in Algonquin Park, Alliston, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Collingwood, Georgetown, Georgina, Guelph, Hamilton, Jackson’s Point, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Midland, Mississauga, New Tecumseth, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Sudbury, Toronto, Windsor,  Woodstock, Halton, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Navigation tips: Always check out the Labels underneath a post; they’ll lead you to various distinct collections of postings. If you're searching for more interviews with literary agents or a literary agent who represents a particular type of book, check out this post.

 

 

Thursday, September 24, 2020

New books by Rob Shapiro and Diane Chartrand

Hi, Brian.

I attended one of your panels a few years ago at Ryerson University. I had just finished writing the first draft of my YA fantasy novel and thought it would be a good time to learn about the world of publishing.

I'm excited to share that my novel, The Book of Sam, was acquired by Dundurn Press and is now available wherever books are sold. Needless to say, your panel was quite useful.

Many thanks,

Rob Shapiro

The Book of Sam, A hell-bound fantasy starring demons, damsels, and an unlikely hero.


“A fast-paced, page-turning adventure built out of a strikingly original mythology. Eerie, surprising, and a lot of fun.” — Elan Mastai, author of All Our Wrong Todays

Sixteen-year-old Sam Sullinger lives in the shadow of adolescence. He's lost among his overachieving siblings, constantly knocked down by his harsh father, and bullied daily. His only solace is his best friend and crush, Harper.

In a grand plan designed to help him confess his love to Harper, Sam accidentally sets off a series of events that lead to her being kidnapped and taken to Hell. Racked with guilt, Sam makes a bold decision for the first time in his life: he’s going to rescue his only friend.

Sam is thrust into a vivid world fraught with demons, vicious beasts, and a falling city. And every leg of his journey reminds him that he isn’t some brave knight on a quest — he’s an insecure teenager yearning to make his mark on at least one world.

You can order a copy or learn more about the book here.

For information about submitting to Dundurn Press, see here. 


Hello, Brian.

Well I finally got to the end of my trilogy. Book 3 – Jade: The Guardian – is available in both in e-book and paperback.

Also, I have completed my new children's book, Farlie A Mason Bee Meets Buzby A Honey Bee.  It’s available here.

Happy reading

Diane Chartrand

For more about Jade: The Guardian, see here

For Book 1, Sia, Screams in the Nights, see here.

For Book 2, Willow: Family Betrayal, see here.


See Brian Henry's schedule hereincluding online and in-person writing workshops, weekly writing classes, and weekend retreats in Algonquin Park, Alliston, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Collingwood, Georgetown, Georgina, Guelph, Hamilton, Jackson’s Point, Kingston, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Southampton, Sudbury, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.