A new book from contract from Harper Collins, a movie based on a personal essay hits the Toronto Film Festival – and much more to celebrate

Hi, Brian.

Hope all is well.

Great news – MIRA (HarperCollins) acquired another two of my books! Books 5 and 6 will most likely publish in 2021 and 2022, and are both psychological suspense.

Meanwhile, Her Secret Son (book 3, May 2019) became a Canadian bestseller, and we’re slowly gearing up for the release of Sister Dear (book 4), which will be in May 2020.

Exciting times indeed!

Hannah McKinnon

Oakville, Ontario

Note: Hannah’s books are available at bookstore everywhere and online here {including Sister Dear on pre-order}. 

Hi Brian,

Deb

I don't know if you remember that, during the Welcome to Creative Writing course in Oakville, you suggested I submit one of my essays to the Globe? I followed your advice and I heard back from them! My first published work. Thanks for the push :)

Deb Stock

You can read Deb’s First Person Essay, “Serenading Dad” in the Globe and Mail here, but you can also read it in Quick Brown Fox, with much better images here.

For information about submitting a First Person essay to the Globe and Mail (and to 21 other places), see here.

Note: This winter, I’ll be offering Introductory, Writing Personal Stories, Next Step, and Intensive creative writing courses. Check out the details here. ~Brian

Jill

Hi, Brian.

I’m pleased to tell you that Twelve House has decided to include my story “Sick Day” in an upcoming anthology titled Quirks. I’m not sure when it will be published (it could take a year or more) but wanted you to know since it’s a story you helped me with!  

By the way, Twelve House is looking for stories for several themed anthologies. They don’t pay but they don’t charge and copyright stays with the author. You might want to let your readers know about this opportunity. See here.
Best

Jill Malleck

Hello Brian,

I'm excited to announce that my short story “Gin and Vin's Last Ride” is in the Haunted anthology! The anthology is about vengeful female ghosts, and it’s available here.

I've taken your workshops in the past and they have been extremely helpful. Thank you for all the insight you've shared.

Take care,

Elesha Teskey

Note: Pen and Kink is continually looking for pieces for anthologies. For more information about submitting to them, see here.

Hi, Brian.

It's been a good month.

First the film made from my First Person essay in The Globe and Mail – Life Support – was featured at the Toronto International Film Festival. Thanks to Carousel Pictures for that exciting news!

Today I got the copy of Our Canada with another short story called “Holy Cow in the Kitchen.”

And I just heard from Our Canada that their February 2020 magazine will include my short story, “A Regal Encounter,” with a few of my Gray Owl pictures

If only I could find an agent for my YA novel, No Reception (insert laughing emoji because I don't know how to do it in Gmail).

Barbara Wackerle Baker

Note: At the writers retreat at the Briar’s Resort this November, we all watched Life Support, the short film that’s been made based on Barb’s first person piece in the Globe and Mail. It was fabulous! No wonder it’s making a splash at film festivals.

You can see the film yourself here {though unless you’re already a subscriber, its costs $1.99 for a week’s subscription to the Globe and Mail}.

For information about submitting a First Person essay to the Globe and Mail (and to 21 other places), see here.

For information about submitting to Our Canada, see here.

See Brian Henry’s schedule here, including Saturday writing workshops, weekly writing classes, and weekend retreats in Algonquin Park, Alliston, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Collingwood, Georgetown, Georgina, Guelph, Hamilton, Jackson’s Point, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Midland, Mississauga, New Tecumseth, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Sudbury, Toronto, Windsor,  Woodstock, Halton, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.