Love Letters

Dear Friends,
Just thought you might be interested to know that I took some of your suggestions (from the intensive creative writing class) to heart regarding my story called “Python.” I made a few changes and entered the story into the 2011 John Kenneth Galbraith Literary Award competition.

I have just learned that Python is a semi-finalist. It's totally exciting. It was a fun class and your feedback was very much appreciated. I hope we can do it again soon.

Thank you and Have a Great Day!
Janice Agnew

Good luck, Janice! And to everyone else who's made it into the semi-final round for this $2,000 award. For next year, check out the contest details here.

Hi Brian,
I just wanted to share the story with you I had published in the Registered Nurse Association of Ontario (RNAO) Registered Nurse Journal magazine this month. There is no online link yet to my story (that will come when the issue becomes "past") so I had to scan and save.

Members of the RNAO were invited to submit stories about a role model or mentor who has influenced their nursing practice. The intro to the 9 stories published stated; "Competition was fierce for a spot in this issue of Registered Nurse Journal". I'm so thankful for your ongoing encouragement.

Best wishes,
Sue Shipley

Hi, Brian.
I wanted to share some exciting news: Something I've written has been published in a book, and has been very well received! My piece is called "Not Far Away." It's about children growing up and as parents, being able to let them go in spite of challenges. The book is "Footprints for Mothers and Daughters." It's a compilation of inspiring stories. See here.

It was unbelievable to walk into Chapters, find it on the shelf and tell the girl assisting me that one of my stories is inside, and thrilling to hold it in my hands, find the page with the title and my name there, in print!

Thanks for all of the info, support and guidance you've given at your workshops, it's much appreciated :) Though it's been awhile since I've attended one of them, I'm hoping to get to at least one in the fall as they are always very informative, fun and get the ol' creativity flowing.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Cindy Watkin
Waterloo

Dear Brian,
I'm getting published!!!!!!!!!
A small publisher in Ottawa is publishing my semi-autobiographical novel Queen of the Castle. He's been around for a long time though and he used to work for a big house.

I was supposed to have to wait a month but he read the script in 3 days! He called me and said "this is a great story and very well written, and believe me, I read a lot of stories". He is pushing my book ahead of all his Christmas stuff, something he said he had never done in his career.

The tentative date is mid-November 2011!!!!! I know. Pressure! On me that is.

I still have to go over the whole thing and I only have 10 days to do it. He doesn't want much changed; he really likes it the way it is.

Thanks for your help. I started my second book at that workshop of yours this summer. 6 chapters in!

All the best to you,
Marta Soltys

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