Love Letters

Hi Brian,
My first novel, The Unraveling of Abby Settel, is being published by a small US publisher and is scheduled to be released August 22.

My other project is a cozy mystery series that I am co-authoring with a friend under the pseudonym Lucy Arlington. We have a three-book contract with Berkley Prime Crime. The first one, Buried in a Book, is scheduled for release in February 2012.

I am currently figuring out how to best market the books, something that is taking a lot of time away from my writing! But, as you know, that's all part of the business these days. All the social networking stuff takes so much time, even for books that aren't out yet! I've printed up bookmarks and am mailing them out and trying to get them in bookstores and libraries. And I'm finding the target audience for my Abby book.

The cozy mystery series already has a strong fan base, because of my co-author and also the genre, but I'm still spending a lot of time Facebooking as Lucy Arlington and joining in on the Yahoo groups.

It's certainly been an interesting year so far!
I hope all is well with you.
Sylvia May
http://www.sylviamay.com/
http://www.lucyarlington.com/

Bony Pete

Hi Brian,
I just wanted to tell you that the first short story I ever wrote, "Last Roll of the Dice,” snagged second spot in the Crime Writers of Canada Bony Pete short story contest. The CWC Bloody Words conference took place in Victoria, BC, at the beginning of June and it was such a wonderful moment when my name was called. You gave us some handouts on short stories last fall in the "How to Build Your Story" workshop in Guelph and that gave me the idea to try a short story, and the story turned into "Last Roll of the Dice."

In other news, my paranormal mystery novel, Cheat the Hangman, should be published before year end by Imajin Books. The e-book will be first, followed by print. I’ve just seen the cover art and it’s better than I could have imagined, very spooky. My other novel, a humorous mystery, Corpse Flower, which won the 2010 Unhanged Arthur, is being considered as well.

By the way, I met John Jeneroux in Victoria after he won the 2011 Unhanged Arthur and I wish him the best and a speedy publication for his novel.
All the best,
Gloria Ferris

Information about the Crime Writers' of Canada's Unhanged Arthur award for best unpublished crime novel here.

Hi, Brian.
My short story "The Chowdrys" and my narrative poem "Harry Flannigan" have been published on the British blog, How Yah Doon. See here: http://howyahdoon.blogspot.com/
Yours,
Wilma Seville

Hi Brian.
I wanted to take a minute to thank you for continuing to shape the path of my writing career. At your revision workshop in Kingston last fall, I met an extremely nice woman from Ottawa who recommended that I submit a story to the Ottawa Citizen's "The Wrap." I did so and my first short story was published in February.

I also made the decision to embark upon a "Year of the Contest" as a way to try to get some results under my belt while I pursue publication of my novel. I ordered the Contest Calendar from you and started entering contests.

Since then I've had an honourable mention in the National Capital Writer's Contest, which came with publication in a really nice anthology they produced (and the story will eventually also be published in the Wrap), I won third place in the North Shore Writers' Association Contest and I'm a finalist in the West End Writers' Workshop Short Story Contest (results to be announced June 22).

Thanks again and best wishes,
Tudor Robins
http://twowriterstalking.ca/

See information on submitting short stories to the Ottawa Citizen's The Wrap here. Information about the West End Writers' Workshop short story contest here.

The Canadian Writers' Contest Calendar contains listings of all the annual writing contests in Canada. Because the contests listed are held annually, the Contest Calendar remains a good guide from one year to the next. Buy a copy at one of my workshops or classes or to order a copy by mail. It's now on sale for just $15 in person or $18 by post. Email me at: brianhenry@sympatico.ca
 
See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Peterborough, Kingston, Orangeville, Barrie, Sudbury, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.