Writing your memoirs & other true stories, weekly course, Tues evenings, Sept 24 – Nov 12, in Burlington

“Writing Your Life & Other True Stories”

~ An eight-week adventure in writing ~

Tuesday evenings, 7 – 9 p.m.

Sept 24 – Nov 12, 2013

Appleby United Church

4407 Spruce Ave, Burlington, Ontario (Map here.)

If you've ever considered writing your memoirs, your family history or just getting your thoughts down on paper, this weekly course will get you going.

We'll reveal the tricks and conventions of telling true stories. We’ll introduce you to introduce you to historical research and how to use the archives - and the archivists - to assist you in researching your family. And we’ll show you how to use the techniques of the
novel to recount actual events.

Weekly writing exercises and friendly feedback from the instructor will help you move forward on this writing adventure. Whether you want to write for your family or for a wider public, don't miss this course.

Instructor Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing teacher for more than 25 years. He teaches at Ryerson University and has 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.

Number of attendees strictly limited.

Fee: $115.04 plus 13% hst = $130

To reserve your spot, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

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, Bracebridge, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

You're invited to the book launch for Dottie Flowers and the European Caper by Sheila Gale

We are very pleased to announce the launch of Sheila Gale’s second book in the Dottie Flowers series, Dottie Flowers and the European Caper.  

Dottie and her friend, Mabel Scattergood, fly to Europe for a month’s vacation, courtesy of Tom Snead. Because of Tom’s dubious reputation, Dottie has misgivings about the trip. At Tom’s house, her doubts seem well founded when Mabel opens what she believes is her suitcase and finds bags of white powder inside. By the time the police arrive, the bags have disappeared, Mabel’s suitcase has reappeared, and a man’s bloodied body is discovered a few yards from the house.

Gripping and fast paced, the book is a page turner that will entertain you right to the last page.

Listen to an interview with the author

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Oakville Public Library, 2nd Floor

120 Navy Street, Oakville, Ontario

1 – 5 p.m.

RSVP no later than July 10 to sheilatedgale@aol.com

Should you be unable to attend the launch, let her know if you’d like a copy reserved for you.

The library parking lot is located behind the library, on Water Street. (Map here.)

An array of finger foods will be served, along with coffee and cold drinks. 

We look forward to seeing you on July 17.

Kevin Aguanno,

Managing Editor, Crystal Dreams Publishing

A division of Multimedia Publishing Company, Oshawa

You can also buy a copy of Dottie Flowers and the European Caper online here and you can buy the first Dottie Flowers book, Dottie Flowers and the Skinner Gang here.

Brian Henry will lead a “How to Get Published” workshop with guest speaker Carly Watters of P.S. Literary agency in Georgetown on October 5 (see here). To register, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Before you submit, the best way to get your manuscript into shape is with a weekly course. In September, Brian will lead "Next Step" courses on Thursday afternoons in Mississauga (see here) and Thursday evenings in Georgetown (here) and "Intensive" courses on Wednesday afternoons in Burlington (here) and Wednesday evenings in Mississauga (here). To register, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

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, Bracebridge, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Armenia's Sorrow and We Name It the Past by Bieke Stengos

“Armenia's Sorrow” by Bieke Stengos

Pain lies buried deep within the sinew

Of the bones and flesh

Of those who still yearn

For the towers of strength

That were planted firmly

In the waving grasses

Until a cruel wind in April

Scaled the mountains

Like a mournful song

That sent the swirl of dancing skirts

To fly like dervishes

Who could not save

Women from bending over their dead children

Young men

From no longer hearing

The whisper of wind

In the almond trees

Now how can you turn back time, Ani wonders

And how can you keep abandoned churches

From bleeding into the weeping earth

 “We name it the past” by Bieke Stengos

(Inspired by “Dark Charm,” by Dorianne Laux)

we love it, we hate it

we run from it

we shun it

it leaves us indifferent

we poke it, we prod it

we feel it, we shape it

we mine it

we let it lie fallow

we live there

we die there

we drag it behind us

we name it to lose it

we name it to never let it go

it drags us

it lifts us

it haunts us

it own us

and it never leaves us alone

Bieke Stengos has published poetry and short stories and is now working on a novel that has been at the periphery of her existence for as long as she can remember. The wonderful part of having so many cultures in the mix is the rich texture; the hard part is finding a voice in English to make this come to life. You can find her work at her website: www.bieke.stengos.cammaert.eu

See Brian Henry's 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, Bracebridge, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Welcome to Creative Writing course, Tuesday afternoons, Sept 24 – Nov 19, in Burlington

“Welcome to Creative Writing”

~ Nine weeks of exploring your creative side ~

Tuesday afternoons, Sept 24 – Nov 19, 2013

12:45 – 2:45 p.m.

Appleby United Church

4407 Spruce Ave, Burlington, Ontario (Map here.)

This is your chance to take up writing in a warm, supportive environment. This course will open the door to all kinds of creative writing. We’ll visit short story writing, children’s writing, and just for fun writing. You’ll get a shot of inspiration every week and an assignment to keep you going till the next class. Best of all, this class will provide a zero-pressure, totally safe setting, where your words will grow and flower.

Instructor Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing teacher for more than 25 years. He teaches at Ryerson University and has 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.

Fee: $115.04 plus 13% hst = $130

Number of attendees strictly limited.

To reserve your spot, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

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, Bracebridge, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Your book club (and everyone else) is invited to an evening with Cathy Marie Buchanan, author of The Day the Falls Stood Still and Painted Girls

On Thursday, September 19, Quick Brown Fox will host an evening with #1 bestselling author Cathy Marie Buchanan. Cathy will talk about her journey as an author and her writing process. Everyone’s invited. A couple people have asked if they can bring their book club. The answer is yes, certainly you can!

We meet Thursday, September 19, 2013

6:45 p.m.

Unity Church, Unit 8, 
3075 Ridgeway Drive, Mississauga, Ontario,

(This is in a commercial mall. Don’t look for a steeple; the unit looks nothing like a church. Map here.)

About Cathy Marie Buchanan 

Cathy is the author of Painted Girls and The Day the Falls Stood Still. Published in January 2013, The Painted Girls garnered rave reviews and has been showered with special attention, everything from selection as a People Magazine pick to designation as a book “People Are Talking About” by Vogue to inclusion in Entertainment  Weekly’s Must List. Also an IndieNext pick, The painted Girls debuted on the New York Times bestsellers list and is a #1 national bestseller in Canada.

Cathy’s first novel, The Day the Falls Stood Still, is a New York Times bestseller, a Barnes & Noble Recommends selection and an IndieNext pick. Cathy was born and raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario, she took her degrees at Western (a BSc and an MBA), and now lives in Toronto.

Cathy will talk about her journey as an author and her writing process and will gladly answer all your questions.

We’ll have copies of Painted Girls and The Day the Falls Stood Still available for sale, or bring your copies from home so Cathy can sign them.

Fee: $4.42 + hst = $5.00

Please register in advance by email brianhenry@sympatico.ca 

 (Seating is limited, so I have to know how many people are coming.)

For a review of Painted Girls, see here. I’d love to also post a review of Cathy's first novel, The Day the Falls Stood Still. If you’d like to try your hand, go for it, and email your review to:brianhenry@sympatico.ca

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, Bracebridge, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Literary agent Margaret Bail seeks romance, science fiction, mystery, thrillers, historical fiction & fantasy, plus memoir, cookbooks & true crime

Inklings Literary Agency
3419 Virginia Beach Blvd. #C-12
Virginia Beach, VA 23452

http://www.inklingsliterary.com/

Margaret Bail has jumped from the Andrea Hurst Agency to Inklings. Margaret has a BA in English and an MFA in Creative and Professional Writing. With years of experience editing everything from medical documents to manuscripts, as well as teaching university-level English and writing, she looks forward to working closely with new and established authors to help develop their voice and craft.

Her lifelong love of stories and storytelling has her looking for books that transport her into the heart of the story, so much so that she’ll forget where she is and lose track of time while she reads.

Margaret is looking for books for adults (and only books for adults, no YA, middle grade or picture books).

In fiction she’s looking for:

• Romance – all subgenres except Christian or inspirational. (I love the romance genre, so send your stories my way!)
• Science fiction (preferably soft SF rather than hard SF, including dystopian and post-apocalyptic)
• Mystery
• Thrillers/action adventure
• Historical fiction
• Westerns
• Fantasy (Not a big fan of classic 'sword and sorcery' or anything with unpronounceable names)

Fiction genres I am NOT interested in: steampunk, Christian/religious literature, chick lit, women's fiction, literary, poetry, screenplays.

In nonfiction:

• Memoir with an interesting or unique hook
• Cookbooks with a strong platform
• True crime

Query Margaret at: query@inklingsliterary.com

In the subject line, type: Query Margaret plus the TITLE of your novel

In your query include:

- The title, genre, and word count of your project

- A brief blurb about the story

- A brief bio including any publishing credits

- The first 10 pages of your manuscript

- A brief synopsis (1-2 pages)

Paste everything into the body of the email. No attachments.

Full submission guidelines here.

Brian Henry will lead a “How to Get Published” workshop with guest speaker Carly Watters of P.S. Literary agency in Georgetown on October 5. For more details or to register, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Brian will also be leading “How to Build Your Story” workshops in Kingston on July 20 (here), in Peterborough on July 21 (here), in Woodstock on July 27 (here), in Barrie on Sept 21 (here), and in Sudbury on Sept 22 (here).  To register, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

But before you submit, the best way to get your manuscript into shape is with a weekly course. This summer, Brian will be leading an "Exploring Creative Writing" course on Thursday afternoons in Burlington (see here).  

In September, he’ll be leading "Next Step" courses on Thursday afternoons in Mississauga (see here) and Thursday evenings in Georgetown (here) and "Intensive" courses on Wednesday afternoons in Burlington (here) and Wednesday evenings in Mississauga (here). To register, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

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, Bracebridge, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.