"Treat” by Paula Aicklen

We suffered 362 days a year without sugar. But tonight…

The light was slowly fading and suppertime was fast approaching. Four pillowcases were out at the ready, one for each of us, empty now but holding the promise of a long-awaited bounty.

Itchy fabric around my neck was a small price to pay for the orgy of sugar that was to come and my clown costume was beautiful with its tulle collar dancing up and down with each excited step I took. No matter it was a third Hallowe’en appearance for this costume, I still felt so special.

We four sisters assembled hurriedly at the kitchen table, our mother uncharacteristically chatty and lighthearted. Who could believe it? She enjoyed the break in our usual suppertime routine as much as we did. 

Soup and grilled cheese were gulped and swallowed, dishes cleared. Our final touches were applied – the blackened cork to mark the two front teeth of my Hobo sisters Kate, Linda and Marilyn.

The countdown had begun – matches lit, pumpkin lid lifted, Jack-O-Lantern alight and flickering in the cool autumn evening.

Our pillowcases were assigned, our buddy system hastily reviewed and we were off – out into the neighbourhood of small, working-class houses, with all manner of costumed characters joining in on the fun.

Our excitement sparking, we rushed door to door, shrieking, “Trick or Treat!”

Kate had my hand, perhaps not happily so. She yank on my arm, hastening us to the Hallowe’en Mecca of Tourangeau Road: Mrs. Whiton’s house.

It was brightly lit, a happy, friendly looking abode, and the aroma of melted brown sugar and butter wafting through the air was beyond description. But the line of ghosts and ghouls awaiting the prized treats was disappointingly long. Were we too late?

One by one, kids politely took their turns. Maddening! Waiting on the stairs, all we could do was hope and pray that by the time we made it to the door there would be some left.

And then there she was, a smiling Mrs. Whiton, greeting us warmly and proffering each of us a bright red, beautiful, handmade taffy apple! Not one that had to be shared four ways but one for each of us!

Mmmm…warm, childhood bliss.

Paula Aicklen is a budding writer who engages in many creative ventures and has always had a love for the written word. Paula works in Oakville as a design consultant and floral designer and hopes to mesh her writing with these pursuits.

 See Brian Henry’s schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Saint John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

“Halloween” by Wendy Simpson

Every time the thread jammed, the machine made a horrible screeching sound which seemed to mock her. It was well past midnight and Maggie was engaged in yet another wrestling match with the aging Singer.

     I really hate Halloween!

     Cursing her mom and anyone else who thought sewing was easy, she decided to give up for the night.

     The room was a mess, overflowing with pink tulle, sequins and plastic jewels. She’d claimed this room during the basement renovation more for solitude than creativity and had dubbed it the craft room ironically. Now it seemed more like a dungeon, with all the requisite torture tools, sewing machine, iron, ironing board and the always painful glue gun. She still had a little more than a week to finish all three costumes – Ghost Buster, Ladybug, and Princess – but it was the princess dress that was really testing her.

     The little kids’ costumes were easy. Sarah happily accepted the ladybug costume that big sister Hailey had worn several times.  Matt, always easygoing, had asked to be a Ghost Buster; authenticity was desired but not required. Luckily Santa had brought a Proton Pack, slime and a ghost trap last Christmas, which left Maggie responsible for the jumpsuit, goggles and iconic arm patch.

     But Hailey wanted to be a princess of the highest order, with a beautiful pink gown, diamonds, and a tiara to rival any Disney creation. Maggie had tried to talk her into a dress from the party store but Hailey had demanded more; puffier, pinker, rolling in rhinestones, and much, much more sparkle! That was when Maggie had decided that maybe she could make it. After all there were patterns for these things. Right?

     Maggie and Hailey had planned it all together and had had lots of fun choosing the miles and miles of pink tulle and packages of sparkling jewels from the craft store. Hailey was beyond excited so Maggie felt justified to be creating a dress which seemed to rival a couture wedding gown and decided not to tell Joe what it all cost.

     She still had a few hours of work ahead but the dress was taking shape and tomorrow, after school, Hailey would finally be able try it on.

     As they waited for the school bus the next day, Maggie and her friend Joan talked about Halloween, agreeing that it was getting out of hand.

     “Maybe we should scale it back this year?” suggested Joan.

     “Cheers to that!” said Maggie and raised her insulated coffee mug to clunk it against Joan’s.

      “Yum,” said Joan. “I love this vintage coffee!”

     Maggie grinned as she took a sip of wine from her cup, a small and secret treat they shared a couple of times a week. 

     “Seriously,” said Maggie. “I don’t know how to rein in these ghosts and goblins. We have to keep up with the Joneses.” She nodded towards the highly decorated house across the street, which rivalled a Hollywood set, with pumpkins, tombstones, cobwebs, a fogger, and three of those horrible inflatable, animated creatures with LED lights.  Colleen Jones was the mom they loved to hate.

     “I don’t know how she does it,” said Joan.

     “Well, we’d have more time, too, if we hired a nanny and a cleaning lady. And James generally does what he’s told,” said Maggie referring to Colleen’s husband.

     “But those costumes! When does she have time to make those?”

     “I don’t get it either. The kids told me she’s making a dinosaur and a Tweety Bird this year. She works crazy hours, so she must stay up all night.”

     “Maybe she has a Halloween elf stashed away in the attic.”

     “Ha, that’s been me for the last few weeks,” replied Maggie. “But I’m getting close to being done with Hailey’s dress and then I’ll get started on Matt’s things.”

     Later that night Maggie sat down to work on the dress. Really, why had she put so much time into this costume? Things had been simpler when she was a kid.

     Oh god! She sounded just like her mom. But seriously there had never been this fuss and stress over Halloween. A striped top, a red nose, Dad’s big shoes and, voila, you were a clown. A ragged shirt, a tea towel tied on a stick, a dirty face and, bingo, you were a hobo. One year her brother had been a cowboy with six shooters and Maggie had been an Indian, both costumes tossed together from things they already had in their toy box. So easy, but now so very wrong.

     They had always carved one pumpkin, one simple, solitary pumpkin for the front porch. Her dad did all of the dangerous cutting work and mom scooped out the gross bits. Now they designed a different jack-o-lantern for each family member and placed them at the front of the house with all the other decorations. It took an entire weekend to get all of this together. Thank God, it was only six more sleeps till the big day.

That night, Hailey woke Maggie up around midnight.

     “Mom, I feel sick.”

     “Wow,” said Maggie as she turned on the light and saw what were unmistakably chicken pox covering Hailey’s feverish body.

     During the week, Hailey got worse before she started to improve, first covered in red spots, then the lovely oozing pustules. It was at this point that Matt broke out, far worse than Hailey. He was truly sick, with a high fever that just wouldn’t break. Halloween went on the back burner but not before Hailey had a major breakdown, declaring it unfair that her princess dream was spoiled.

     They all waited for Sarah to get sick but it didn’t happen.

     On Halloween morning Maggie realized that they had done nothing to get ready for that night. The pumpkins sat outside in the rain without scary faces and all the decorations were in a box in the basement. Still tending to Matt, Maggie decided she didn’t care. At some point Hailey asked if maybe she could go trick-or-treating.

     “I think you can,” said Maggie. “Your spots are mostly dry and crusty so you’re no longer contagious. I think your dress is finished enough.”

     “Oh I can’t be a princess! I’d look horrible!”

     So Maggie dragged out an old witch’s hat and cape and painted Hailey’s face, using green and grey eye shadow to accentuate the spots, turning them into the best warts ever. Then Hailey and Sarah went out to get their loot bags filled.

     Later that night all three kids sat hunched over the booty.  The girls had pooled their candy and, in some elaborate barter system only they understood, were sharing it all with Matt.

     “Not the Smarties! They’re all mine,” said Hailey.  “Oh Mom,” she added. “The Jones kids looked really cute tonight but Jake’s dinosaur tail got so wet and heavy from dragging it through the puddles that he could hardly walk. And Katie’s Tweety Bird head was itchy so Mr. Jones had to carry it. And oh yeah, everyone loved my warts!”

     Halloween simplified, thought Maggie. Maybe we can try this again next year.

Wendy Simpson lives and sells real estate in Oakville. Although her university days are long behind her she’s never lost her love of reading. She is the mother of three adult children and three (soon to be four!) grandchildren. She travels as much as possible and loves to spend several weeks each year in Victoria and the Cayman Islands.

See Brian Henry’s schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Saint John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Literary agent Tess Callero at Curtis Brown seeks Young Adult and Adult Fiction, plus some nonfiction

Al Capone Does my Shirts, a YA novel
by Gennifer Choldenko,
represented by Curtis Brown

Curtis Brown Ltd

Ten Astor Place

New York, NY  10003

http://www.curtisbrown.com/

Note: Don't ever miss a post on Quick Brown Fox. Fill in the “Follow Brian by Email” box in the right-hand column under my bio, and get each post delivered to your Inbox. Also, if you’re not yet on my newsletter, send me an email, including your locale to brianhenry@sympatico.ca ~Brian

Curtis Brown, Ltd. is one of the world’s leading literary agencies, representing a wide variety of established and emerging authors of all genres since 1914. The company has offices in New York and San Francisco and has seventeen literary agents on staff and in boasts a very successful film and foreign rights departments. The newest member of the team is Tess Callero, and like all new agents, she needs authors.

Tess Callero has worked at Curtis Brown since 2015. She represents young adult and adult fiction manuscripts, as well as select nonfiction projects. She welcomes all YA submissions but tends to gravitate towards stories involving friendship, romance, or suspense.

On the adult side, Tess is interested in commercial and upmarket women’s fiction, mysteries/ thrillers, and romance. She has a soft spot for anything involving food, sports, or Hollywood.

Her nonfiction interests include pop culture, business, cookbooks, humor, biography, self-help, and food narrative projects.

In addition to her role as agent, Tess is also the Social Media Director at Curtis Brown. Follow her on Twitter here and follow Curtis Brown on Instagram here and on Twitter here for updates.

Query Tess at tc@cbltd.com

No attachments please. She will respond only if she’s interested in taking a look at your work.

Agency submission guidelines here.

Hey, everyone.

On Wednesday afternoons, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m., throughout the month of November, a whole warren of writers will gather at the Burlington Central Library to bang out novels, short stories, memoirs – wild words of all sorts – and to swap advice, encouragement, and tales of the writing life. And you're invited. Come for one Wednesday or for all of them. And, yes, it’s absolutely free.

More details here. ~Brian

If you’re interested in and finding an agent or publisher (someday soon or down the road), don’t miss From the Horse’s Mouth ~ Strategies for Getting Published, with literary agent Stacey Donaghy, House of Anansi Press editor Douglas Richmond, and Simon & Schuster managing editor Patricia Ocampo on Saturday, Dec 2, 2017, at Ryerson University in Toronto (see here).

You’ll also be interested in our How to Get Published mini-conference, with literary agent Martha Webb, author Hannah Mary McKinnon, and HarperCollins editor Michelle Meade on Saturday, Nov 18,2017,  in Guelph (see here). This mini-conference is currently full, but to get on the waiting list, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca.  A space may open up!

Brian is also leading a Writing for Children and for Yong Adults workshop, on Saturday, November 11, 2017, in London (see here).

Also, this fall, Brian will lead a Writing with Style on Saturday, Nov 4, 2017, in Barrie (see here) and How to Build Your Story on Saturday, Nov 25, 2017 in Burlington with author Hannah Mary McKinnon (see here).

In the new year, Brian will again offer a full range of weekly writing classes, from introductory to intensive:

Exploring Creative Writing, offered at two times:

Thursday mornings, Jan 25 – March 29, in Oakville (see here)

and Friday afternoons, Feb 2 – March 23, in  Toronto (see here).

Writing Personal Stories,  Thursday afternoons, Jan 25 – March 15, in Burlington (see here).

Intensive Creative Writing, offered at three times:

Tuesday afternoons, 12:30 – 2:45 p.m. Jan 16 – March 20, at Appleby United Church, in Burlington

Thursday evenings, 6:45 – 9:00 p.m., Jan 18 – March 22, at Appleby United Church in Burlington

and Friday mornings, 10:15 – 12:45, Jan 19 – March 23, Glenview Presbyterian Church in Toronto

See details of all six classes offered in the new year here.

For details or to reserve a spot in any workshop, retreat, or weekly course, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Read reviews of Brian’s courses and workshops here.

See Brian’s complete current schedule here,  including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Saint John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Navigation tips: Always check out the labels underneath a post; they’ll lead you to various distinct collections of postings. Also, if you're searching for a literary agent who represents a particular type of book, check out this post.

The Unwomanly Face of War by Svetlana Alexievich, reviewed by Sally Wylie

The Unwomanly Face of War:  An oral history of women in World War II, Svetlana Alexievich, translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, Random House, NY, 2017.

Sventlana Alexievich knew she wanted to write about the experiences of Russian women in war, but she didn’t want it to be yet another book about World War II. When she read I Am from a Burning Village, she realized that interviews – an oral history of the women’s experiences – would be her focus. It took years and thousands of train rides to villages across Russia to meet with these women in order to create this painstaking rendering of such desperate stories.

In the introduction, Alexievich tells how she went about structuring her project. She explains how careful she had to be when listening, interviewing and when compiling the war memories of these women. She hoped the women wouldn’t exaggerate, understate, clam up, or be unable to remember what they saw, heard and experienced.  She needn’t have worried. In Russia, Alexievich is well known. In 2015 she won the Nobel Prize for Literature for her compilation of other oral histories which bear a resemblance to this work. She has been credited with a new kind of genre – a nonfiction collection of work wreathed with strokes of fiction.

Women talked openly with Alexievich about where their strength came from, how they endured during the war, and once they were home, how they adapted. Despite the horrors (you may find it hard to read more than 10 pages at a time), Alexievich said the women now laugh and love and describe how getting used to peace was just as difficult as it was to go to war. “The birds forgot the war long before I did.”

 Many threads of commonality are present in almost all of the stories such as the lack of food;  how the reality of participation in WWII was expected in one way or another; and much is said about the men’s clothes they had to wear—from the underwear to the size 10+ boots. The women also shared:

“I had a pair of earrings stashed away. I’d put them on at night and sleep with them on.”

“After 4 years wearing pants, I looked at myself in the mirror in a dress. I didn’t know who I was.”

“After marching for months, some of us had no more periods. But if we did, we would march leaving red spots behind in the snow.”

What was it like for them when they returned home?  Many said the men wouldn't have them as they were corrupted by fighting alongside men, or perhaps were seen as whores. Their combat roles were dismissed. One recalls when she returned home in a uniform, she was asked what did she do in the war … cook oatmeal?  When she said she’d been a sniper with 75 kills, men laughed. With those kinds of reactions, one said, “We were silent as fish. We didn’t acknowledge we fought at the front.”

This book has birthed the voices of many Russian women most of whom believed their story would never be heard. Even after all the interviews, Alexievich wondered why these women, who had fought so bravely, did not stand up for their own history. She writes at the end, “The phone keeps ringing. I write down new addresses, receive new letters. And it’s impossible to stop, because each time the truth is unbearable.”

We have witnessed of late how, in the entertainment industry, one woman’s telling becomes the catalyst for others to step forward. Some other woman’s story of addiction or abuse may give others pause for thought. Or we might ask ourselves who will speak for the missing indigenous women? This book is a reminder to all women:  “Don’t wait 30 years to tell your story.” 

Note that Quick Brown Fox always welcomes your book reviews (or any kind of review). You can read an essay about how to write a book review here and see guidelines about submitting reviews of any kind to Quick Brown Fox here. 

QBF also welcomes essays about a favourite book or your experience of reading or writing. Read a few essays on the blog to get a taste of what other writers have done (see here and scroll down), write your own, and submit it to me at: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Sally Wylie has published textbooks in early childhood and is now fiction for young children and YA. “Attending Brian’s writing class is the perfect place to hear new stories,” says Sally, “and perhaps tell your own.”

See Brian Henry’s schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Saint John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

“Twenty-Eight Double A” by Jennifer Smith

“I can’t do it” I said from the change room.

“Do you want me to come in?”

“No!  Mom!  Don’t open the curtain! I’m undressed in here!”

As it was there was an edge of the curtain that didn’t quite meet the door frame and I could see out quite clearly – past the racks of teen fashions, past the circular rotating bra stand and out to the mall itself. It was horrifying to think that anyone out there might see in as clearly as I could see out.

“Just slide your hands up behind your back honey, like you’re trying to scratch between your shoulder blades.”

“I can’t get the hook thingy to catch other side, how are you supposed to do it when you can’t see what you’re doing?”

Suddenly there was a sharp sound of rollers on metal rod and the curtain was flung aside. Before I could utter a protest the gap in the doorway was filled by a rather large saleswoman. He permed hair had been set at the salon a few days ago – I could tell because it stood up at the crown, a cowlick exposed by a couple of nights of sleep. Obviously, she didn’t know the silk scarf on the pillow trick like my Mom did. 

She peered at me over bifocals, a wire chain swinging down each side of her face. There was a pale raised mole in the crease beside her left nostril. She must have left her lipstick behind on her coffee cup because there wasn’t any left on her lips.

“Let me help you dear,” she demanded. “Turn around!”

Clutching the 30 A to my chest I spun around as commanded. The saleswoman’s chubby fingers handily placed hooks in eyes and adjusted the slides on the shoulder straps.

“Let me see,” she barked, turning me harshly with her hands on my shoulders. I looked up at her. My Mom was trying to peer in over her shoulder without much success. “Too big,” she announced – and it wasn’t my breasts she was talking about. “We’re going to need a 28 double A.”

The curtain clattered closed, leaving me flushed with embarrassment gawking at the baggy triangles of fabric wrapped around my chest.

In a moment she was back with the smaller size and she bullied me around until she had it done up and professionally adjusted.

“There, that one’s perfect for you,” she announced, turning her large body sideways to allow my mother a view in.

“How’s that honey?” Mom asked.

“I feel like I can’t breathe,” I answered.

“Nonsense,” the mole lady answered.

“You’ll get used to it,” my Mom offered more gently.

I made a move to remove the restrictive device – my first bra.

“You might as well just wear it home,” Mom suggested.

“Oh, okay,” I said unenthusiastically.

That night at home my Mom came in to say goodnight to me before I climbed into bed.

“Night, night,” she said giving my back a little rub as she hugged me. Then, she felt it – my bra. “Honey, are you still wearing it?  Your new bra?”

“Yeah,” I answered, embarrassed.

“Oh you don’t wear bras to bed,” she informed me. “No, no that’s not necessary. Bras are only worn during the day.”

“I know,” I answered. “It’s just that if I take it off, I’ll have such a hard time putting it back on again in the morning.”

My Mom started to giggle. “Oh honey!” she said. “You’re such a nut!”

Not a nut, just practical, I thought. Despite my restricted air intake I figured if I never took it off I’d save myself a lot of trouble.

“Tomorrow I’m going to show you another way to do it up so that you can see what you’re doing. You’ll get the hang of it eventually.”

And so I did. I took it off, slung it over the arm of the rocking chair, and climbed into bed. There’s been a bra dangling somewhere in my bedroom every night of my life ever since.

Jennifer M. Smith has lived on the water with her husband aboard s/v Green Ghost, for thirteen of the past twenty-one years while travelling extensively by sail.  She currently lives a land-life in Burlington, Ontario, where she works to develop her creative nonfiction and memoir writing skills.

See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Barrie, Bracebridge, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Collingwood, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Newmarket, Orillia, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, St. John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Free Writing Get-Togethers, plus two great workshops: Writing for Children & for Young Adults, and How to Build Your Story with author Hannah McKinnon

Meet Ups for Writers

Wednesdays, November 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2017

3:30 – 5: 30 p.m.

Holland Room, Burlington Central Library, 2331 New Street, Burlington, Ontario (Map here)

I’m hosting five writing support sessions at the Burlington Central Library. When you get a warren of writers all writing together, the room buzzes with energy and it’s a great motivational boost. So we’ve booked the Holland Room at the library where we can all write together for a couple hours each week. Or join your fellow writers at the Café in the library’s foyer, where we’ll be chatting about writing and the projects we’ve got on the go (leaving the Holland Room quiet for those getting words on paper).

This event is free, but phone the library and tell them which days you plan to attend so that we know how many to expect. Come to one or come to them all (or play it by ear). 

Call: 905-639-3611 ext 1321

(Though if you decide to come at the last minute, that’s fine with me. Just show up with your laptop or pad and pen. It’s unlikely we’ll fill the room, but if by chance the Holland Room does overflow, there will always be room at the café.) ~Brian

The Awakening a YA novel
by Kelley Armstrong, a New York Times
#1 bestselling author and Brian's student

Writing for Children & for Young Adults 

~ the world’s hottest market ~
Saturday, November 11, 2017
10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

London Public Library, Stevenson & Hunt Room B , 

251 Dundas St, London, Ontario (Map here)

If you want to write the next best-selling children’s books or just want to create stories for your own kids, this workshop is for you. Learn how to write stories kids and young adults will love and find out what you need to know to sell your book. Special option: You may, but don't have to, bring 2 or 3 copies of the opening couple pages (first 500 – 1,000 words) of your children’s book or young adult novel. If you’re not currently working on a children’s story, don’t worry, we’ll get you started on the spot!

Fee: 43.36 + 13% hst = 49 paid in advance

or 46.90 + 13% hst = 53 if you wait to pay at the door

To reserve a spot now, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

How to Build Your Story

Plotting novels & Writing short stories

Saturday, November 25, 2017

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Burlington Central Library, Centennial Hall,2331 New Street, Burlington, Ontario (Map here)

This workshop will show you how writers plot a novel and will give you the best tips on writing short stories. We’ll also look at where to get your stories published and how to win contests. Best yet, you’ll see how to apply the story-building techniques you’ve learned to your own writing.

Guest speaker Hannah McKinnon, the author of Time After Time (published by HarperCollins in Britain), a novel about love, loss and second chances that’s full of humour. Read a review of Time After Time here.

Hannah’s second and third books have been acquired by MIRA (a North American imprint owned by HarperCollins). The first of these, The Neighbors, a novel about the implosion of two families, is scheduled for March 2018, and her third book a year later. 

When she’s not writing novels for adults, Hannah’s three boys give her plenty of material for children’s books. . At the workshop, Hannah will be speaking about the different trial and error approaches she’s used to plot her novels and short stories. She’ll also be sharing her story of her writing career so far.

Fee: 43.36 + 13% hst = 49 paid in advance by mail or Interac

or 46.90 + 13% hst = 53 if you wait to pay at the door

To reserve a spot now, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He teaches at Ryerson University and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Saint John. He publishes Quick Brown Fox, Canada’s most popular blog for writers and is the author of a children’s version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Tribute Publishing Inc). But his proudest boast is that he’s has helped many of his students get published. 

Read reviews of Brian's classes, workshops and writing retreats here (and scroll down).

See Brian’s complete current schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Saint John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.