New Canadian literary agency / micro-publisher wants your manuscript

Walden House (Books & Stuff)

284 Hiram Street
Bracebridge, Ontario

http://www.waldenhousebooks.com/        

Walden House is a combined literary agency and micro-publisher. Founded in Bracebridge, Muskoka, in April 2011, the company has been actively involved in the preparation of its authors’ manuscripts, and assisting in the building of their platforms and marketability prior to presenting them to prospective clients.

“We first concentrated on the YA genre and have now ventured into the self-help arena,” says Brenda Paterson, the company’s co-founder. “Because we’re a new and small company, we intend to keep the number of books we serve to a manageable minimum. No manuscript is disregarded at this point. And we actually do read them all.”

“Author-centric is a term we use because we put the author first in all considerations,” adds Paterson. “Walden House also encourages our authors to participate in promoting not just their own work, but the work of other writers represented by the company. We’re all on the same exciting adventure, and the success of one will impact the success of the others.”

Although based in Muskoka, Walden House currently represents authors from across North America. Also unique to the company is its Editorial Selection Committee, a group made up of volunteer readers, writers and editors who vet proposed manuscripts. They represent various age groups (9-82), experience and are wide spread geographically.

Although focusing on its agency work (a number of its manuscripts are currently being considered by publishers in Canada, the US and Europe, but no sales yet), Walden House will consider publishing ventures with titles it feels have local appeal or would appeal to niche markets. One such title, Alex Mortimer & The Beast & Wildeor by Walden House co-founder Bryan Dearsley, a novel for young readers, has sold almost 1,000 copies in Muskoka through local bookstores and venues such as the RMS Segwun steamship, aboard which some of the action of the book takes place.

Query Brenda at: info@waldenhousebooks.com

Your submission should include:

1. A brief description of your project.

2. Author bio, including published writing, awards, professional or personal contacts that may be relevant.

3. A vision of how to market the book and to what demographic.

4. The first three chapters of your manuscript double-spaced.

5. Only e-submissions will be accepted.

Brian Henry will be leading a "Writing for Children and for Young Adults" workshop in Hamilton on February 9 (details here). Also, he'll be leading "How to Get Published" workshops on March 16 in Kingston (details here) and on March 17 in Peterborough (details here). To register, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca  

But probably the best single step you can take toward getting manuscript ready for publication is to join one of the “Next Step” or “Intensive” creative writing courses. Starting in January, Brian will be leading “Next Step” courses in Mississauga (details here) and in Georgetown (details here). He’ll be leading   “Intensive” courses in Burlington (details here) and in Mississauga (details here).

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