Love Letters

Hi, Brian.

It's been a while since I've been in touch with you. Perhaps you'll recall a few years ago you edited my detective novel, A Private Man. Since that time I've followed your suggestions for improving the plot and finished the novel last year. After numerous strike-outs with a number of publishers (and agents) I finally connected with Maureen Whyte at Seraphim Editions now in Woodstock, Ontario.

The book will be published this fall.

I'm now working on the second volume in the series using the same detective. Since I always found your seminars helpful, I thought it would be a good idea to brush up with you before getting too far along with my latest project.

Therefore I'm signing up for your “How to Write a Bestseller” workshop in Kingston on April 28. My cheque's in the mail (to coin a phrase).

Cheers,
Chris Laing

Nancy Kay Clark,
publisher, CommuterLit.com

Hi, Brian.

I was at one of your workshops last November. Thanks so much for the inspiration to write (and actually finish something)! And thanks for the tip on CommuterLit – I was published on April 16!

Erica Richmond

You can read Erica’s story here.

For information on submitting to CommuterLit, see here.

Hi, Brian.

I have a success to report: an honourable mention in the Brucedale Press's Acrostic Story Contest!

I enter this contest every year; it's great fun. This year I didn't get the usual reminder email that the deadline was approaching, and forgot all about the contest until the Friday before. This meant that in order to get a submission there in time (no email entries accepted), I had to think of a topic, write the story (while doing my day job at the same time), and take it to the post office by noon. But there you are... sometimes a little time pressure can be a good thing (not to mention access to Wikipedia!).

Cheers,
Susan E. Smith
Kitchener

You can find out about all the annual writing contests in Canada in the Canadian Writers’ Contest Calendar. Just $23.50 by mail or $20 if you buy it in person at one of my writing courses or workshops. To order a Contest Calendar, email me at brianhenry@sympatico.ca 
More about the Contest Calendar here. 

Meghan Macdonald of
Transatlantic Literary agency
will be the guest speaker May 12 at
"How to Get Published" in Newmarket

Hi, Brian.

I’m happy to say that my short story “The Must Have” was chosen as a finalist for the Canadian Federation of University Women Aurora/Newmarket writing contest! They held a reception last night and I think I dropped your name at least a half a dozen times saying that your workshops are wonderful and your blog is one of the best ones out there for Canadian writers.

Speaking of which, could I reserve a spot for the May 12^th “How to Get Published” workshop in Newmarket? I attended one of your workshops a while ago and really enjoyed it.

Thanks,
Wendy Nelson

See details of the CFUW Aurora/Newmarket contest here.

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