"Strategies for Getting Published ~ for writers who want to become authors," Ryerson U, Toronto, Ontario

Kerr Hall West

From the Horse's Mouth
Strategies for getting published
Saturday, May 7
Registration: 12:45 p.m.
Seminar: 1 - 4 p.m.
Ryerson University, Kerr Hall West, Room 61, 379 Victoria Street, Toronto (Map here.)

Bring all your questions. Get them answered by the most knowledgeable people in the publishing industry.

Moderator: Brian Henry, editor, writer, and creative writing instructor

Brian has been a book editor for more than 25 years. He teaches creative writing at Ryerson Univeristy and conducts private weekly classes in Mississauga, Oakville and Burlington. He's 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.

The Panel:


Lynn with author Gil Adamson

 Lynn Henry, publishing director, Doubleday Canada.
Lynn Henry started at Doubleday Canada in March 2010. She oversees the acquisitions and work of the senior editors, provides vision for the overall list, and acquires a select list of her own books.

Previously, she was the publisher at House of Anansi Press.  Lynn books included Rawi Hage’s multiple-award winning, bestselling first novel, De Niro’s Game, and Hage’s  second novel, Cockroach; Peter Behrens’ 2007 Governor General’s Literary Award winner The Law of Dreams; Gil Adamson’s multiple-award winning, bestselling first novel The Outlander; Lisa Moore’s Giller-shortlisted novel Alligator and her bestselling, Booker Prize nominated novel February; Margaret Atwood’s award-winning, bestselling Massey Lectures, Payback; and Wade Davis’s multi-award winning, bestselling Massey Lectures The Wayfinders.

In all, books Lynn edited and published during her 5 years at Anansi were nominated for eight Scotiabank Giller Prizes and more than 20 Governor General’s Literary Awards.

Before joining Anansi, Lynn was the associate publisher for five years at Raincoast Books in Vancouver, where she oversaw the production of the Canadian editions of the Harry Potter books and edited fiction by (among many others) Governor General’s Literary Award nominee Colin McAdam, and Giller Prize nominees Bill Gaston and Shani Mootoo.

Lynn has taught at the Simon Fraser University Summer Editing Workshop and the SFU Summer Publishing Workshop, and has been a guest lecturer at the Masters in Publishing Program at SFU and at many other undergraduate and graduate classes for writers. In 2007, Lynn won a Canadian Booksellers Association Libris Award for Editor of the Year, while Anansi Press won Publisher of the Year. In all, Anansi won Publisher of the Year three times under Lynn’s tenure (in 2007, 2009 and 2010).

For more about Lynn Henry and Doubleday Canada, see here.

Mike doing what publishers do best - selling books

Mike O'Connor, publisher Insomniac Press
Mike O’Connor is the founder and publisher of Toronto-based publishing house, Insomniac Press. Before starting Insomniac Press he worked for Firefly Books and McClelland & Stewart.

He teaches creative writing and publishing at the University of Toronto, University of Western Ontario, York University and Ryerson University.

In 1992, Insomniac started as a small press that published poetry chapbooks. Insomniac is now a medium-size independent press based in London, Ontario, that publishes eye-catching nonfiction titles as well as the great fiction and poetry. Insomniac's books are sold in 40 countries around the world.

Insomniac always strives to publish the most exciting new writers it can find. Celebrated authors like Natalee Caple, Lynn Crosbie, Stephen Finucan and A.F. Moritz either got their start at Insomniac, or have published important books with them.

Insomniac has developed special niche areas in which it publishes unique books. For example, its black studies books, gay and lesbian books, personal finance books, celebrity writer-as-musician books (including titles by Matthew Good, Jann Arden and Terri Clark), and gay mysteries have developed devoted followings.

For more about Mike and Insomniac Press see here.

Margie Wolfe, publisher Second Story Press,
and Marilyn Biderman

Marilyn Biderman, principal agent, Marilyn Biderman Literary Management
Before starting Marilyn Biderman Literary Management in September 2010, Marilyn Biderman worked at McClelland & Stewart Ltd for twelve years, most recently as Vice President, Director, Rights and Contracts. There she represented many authors, including Leonard Cohen, Alistair MacLeod, Anne Michaels, and Madeleine Thien.

She has guest-lectured at the publishing programs at Ryerson University, Simon Fraser University, Humber College, and Centennial College. She has also mentored many publishers under the auspices of the Association of Canadian Publishers and the Canada Council. She is also a lawyer, the author of several papers on copyright law, and has been a juror for literary competitions.

Marilyn is developing a small and select list of commercial and literary fiction, narrative and expert nonfiction, memoir, and YA.

Among other authors, Marilyn represents Dimitri Nasrallah, whose first novel, Blackbodying, was published in 2004 by DC Books and who has sold Canadian English-language rights to his second novel, Niko, to Véhicule Press. Marilyn is also representing UBC Creative Writing Program grad Ben Hart, who will have a collection of short stories ready to go on offer in 2011; and Marguerite Pigeon, whose debut novel, Open Pit, is currently on submission. Her agency also represents Breakwater Books of St John’s, Newfoundland.

For more about Marilyn Biderman Literary Management, see here.

Fee: $94 (HST Included)

To register: If you’re a Ryerson student, register on-line, starting March 7, here.
Otherwise, reserve a spot by emailing: brianhenry@sympatico.ca
And bring a cheque made out to Ryerson University (no cash or credit cards please) on May 7. Please be sure to arrive by 12:45.

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