You're invited to a reading from Nancy Coomb's new book: The Audition: Poems of Longing, Limbo, and Restoration

Hi, Brian.

Super big news—my book, The Audition: Poems of Longing, Limbo, and Restoration, is out now! It is “a collection of poems that explore the human condition and all that it entails...” (Curtis Jordan, writer and executive producer of Playing Through). A Different Drummer Books in Burlington carries it, as do major retailers across Canada and the U.S. (Chapters/Indigo, Barnes & Noble, Target, Amazon, etc.), and other independent booksellers.

I will give a reading from The Audition in the Art Bar Poetry Series, Canada’s longest-running poetry series:

Monday, December 18,
7 p.m
at Free Times Cafe
320 College Street, Toronto (2 blocks west of Spadina - Map here)

Tickets $10 at the door.

You, and the writing community, are cordially invited to join me.

Many thanks for your encouragement—hope to see you there!

Nancy

Nancy J. Coombs

Author, The Audition

***

See Brian Henry’s upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and weekend retreats here.

New book: Pieces of Us: a collection of stories and poems celebrating women’s resilience

Hi, Brian!  

The friendship anthology I told you about, Pieces of Us, a collection of stories and poems, is now published and available on Lulu.com.

The anthology contains 29 stories written by authors Andrea Adair-Tippins, Lyndi Allison, Evelyn N. Pollock, and Barbara Wackerle-Baker, as well as 16 of my poems. 

I shared with friends how Evelyn, Barb, and I attended your writing retreats together. Such fun times!

I’ll send you a copy of our anthology.

Talk soon!

Lisa Reynolds

Lisa

Pieces of Us: a collection of stories and poems celebrating women’s resilience

Pieces of Us treats you to a combination of 45 short stories and poems that challenge, provoke, and delight. This book has it all. It’s about abandonment, growing up, growing older, and getting a grip on life. It’s about fate versus self-determination. Incarceration behind bars or inside yourself.

The stories and poems are full of twists and turns, truths, false promises, rejections, and self-acceptance. Get ready to laugh and cry, as you ride a roller coaster through life’s unpredictable journey, witnessed through the compassionate eyes of five female friends. All proceeds from the sale of this book will be sent directly to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

Pieces of Us is available here.

***

For information about Brian’s upcoming writing retreats, see here.

See all upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and weekend retreats here.

“Hello Beautiful” by Ann Napolitano reviewed by Sarah Corrigan

The book Hello Beautiful could be a manual that explains the old adage, "Man plans, and God laughs." 

We see the characters throughout the book making ardent plans for their future and imagining how wonderful life will be when it happens. But, as we all know, things only sometimes happen as planned. We see how their plans, choices, and decisions result in consequences – some foreseen and others not – that they must live with and how they find ways to carry on either way. 

Hello Beautiful is also a textbook example of how complicated families and relationships can be, even amongst the closest and well-intended people.

The characters are all richly developed. So much so that it is easy to visualize the four sisters as parallel characters to the long-favored girls in Little Women. The four girls in Hello Beautiful, though raised in the same home with the same parents, become adults with unique personalities and motivations who are entirely different from one another. 

Their uniqueness is further emphasized by the mother's disappointment when the girls do not follow the life path she wanted for them. The author certainly had me (as I'm sure she planned to) annoyed with the mother's reactions at all stages of the book. So blinded by what she wanted, she cannot see that they all became independent, which, to me, was the heart of her desire for her daughters.

The book also pays homage to the Isaac Newton's law: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Through many of the characters reactions to events, the author demonstrates how it’s not just life plans, but people's reactions that often are much different than we anticipate, which often leads to further roadblocks. A good reminder that all we can ever control is our own reactions.

From a plot structure perspective, I really enjoyed how the author hinged many plot twists on life and death: when William is born – Caroline dies; when Izzy is born – Rose leaves; when Alice is born – William almost dies; when Sylvie dies – the family is reunited. Even the "dead" professor, whom William sits beside on the bench before he attempts suicide, is a key small part and unique character in the story.

Of course, the book was on the dark side, but the themes of depression and mental health (amongst others) are serious topics. Reading how others cope with various issues is why we read any story.

I thought Hello Beautiful was an excellent book that I would rate 4.5 out of 5.

***

Sarah Corrigan retired from a career in technology and now spends her time exploring the art of creative writing. She is an avid cyclist, book lover, and globe trotter. She lives in beautiful Collingwood with her partner Dave. 

***

See Brian Henry’s upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and weekend retreats here.

“Back Country” by Judy Keith

Spearhead Range, Near Blackcomb Mountain, Whistler, BC

The rotors slowed their circulating. We had all exited the helicopter according to protocol but were still ducking our heads while heading to our guide, Danny, despite being out of range of the heli rotors.

My heart hammered in my throat. Was I really going to do this? I’m only an intermediate skier; I never attempt black diamond runs, let alone double blacks. Moguls give me hives. I can just about manage three to four inches of fresh snow but if it’s any deeper my skis somehow tangle up. You probably think that’s impossible but my friends have videos to prove it.

I tried to smile at my husband, Darren, but he looked back at me with uplifted brows. Not a smile then, more a grimace.

I’m happy to be here, I keep telling myself. This will be the best day of my life.

Since Darren is busy talking to our guide, it looks like he’s no longer worried about me. My smile worked.

Then I remember the waiver we all had to sign: “Avalanches occur frequently in the terrain used for wilderness activities.” 

What The F – FREQUENTLY?? Had I read that correctly?

“The terrain used for wilderness activities may include but are not limited to dangers of cornices, cliffs, crevasses (why would we go there?) trees, tree stumps, creeks…” Don’t the guides know where the creeks are?  … “infectious disease contracted through viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi.” Yuck. I can’t believe we are paying for this.

In preparation for our heli ski adventure and before we got into the helicopter, we learned the basics of using a transceiver, which we’re all required to wear t in a slim harness around our upper body. ‘The transceiver,” our guide explained, “sends and receives signals and is a valuable search and rescue tool in case of an avalanche.”

Great.

I said I was terrified of being caught in an avalanche but was even more terrified that everyone else might get buried and I’d have to use the transceiver to locate my fellow skiers. We also have a backpack containing a probe and shovel – the probe to jab into the snow in order to determine someone’s location and the shovel to dig them out.

I’m sweating now, and we’re all surveying the terrain. The untracked snowy slope below us narrows into a forest. That means tree wells for sure. Maybe crevasses. Pine branches to poke me in the eye.

Enough. I turn and head back toward the helicopter.

Judy Keith is a domestic reverse snowbird, spending her summers in Muskoka and her winters in Whistler, BC. She travels back and forth with her husband and her dog. In the summer, Judy spends her days playing tennis and golf when she is not in the water or relaxing on the dock. 

She spends her winter days skiing, snowshoeing and playing bridge. Thanks to the   indoor courts in Whistler, she can play tennis year round. Dog walking is also a favourite year round activity. Judy’s been writing off and on but has trouble finishing a piece before moving on to the next one. Her goal for the next year is to write consistently and stick with the same story line.

See Brian Henry’s upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and weekend retreats here.

“Forever Memories, a Blessing” by Sharon Deutsh

The barbarous acts
will not be revered
nor shall you see
seventy-two virgins
martyrdom will not come
you will inhale
through porous
lungs of charred ashes
withering and squirming
clawing and tearing
your choking throats

lips blackened
with slag from the earth’s
reddened fiery crust
as you burn
from within
body and mind
will hover in purgatory

gasping for life
as your sins replay
over and over again
boiling in your
wickedness of atrocities
squirming with lust
for wanton breath
with no respite

as you hang  
languishing with paralysis
your hearts and brains
slowly decay

every cell and fiber 
shrouded with garroting
clouds of darkness
as you grovel
tremble for air 

never to be free
of your hideous vile filth
soul sucking
black soil
of your abhorrent
yellow-bellied cowardliness 

***                 

Innocent in their deaths
the splayed pregnant women
eviscerated belly detached
with the open
layers of musculature
bared to the naked eye

the thumb-sucked dead fetus
umbilical cord cocooned
around its body
as the last
protection of its soul 

the knife plunged
deep into the depths
last bleating breaths
no more 

***

brutal cruelness
causes anguish
to those that pick through
the fallen rotten flesh

unable to contain
such horrors
witnessed in these
butchered deaths 

retching through and through
with dry heaves of blood
nothing more to come
as acid eats 

within the souls
who came
to bare witness
to their own
flesh and blood

the urge to run
from the savageness
of the barbaric acts
on the innocence of life
with fierce resilience 

valor to stay
to give honour 
peace a soft landing
for those at their place
of distorted deaths 

***

Now to rest
their precious gentle souls
as angel cotton puffs
of pink and white clouds
floating high
within the yellow healing hues 

with the sun’s
warming rays of strength
embrace the gentle
beating hearts
of no longer as they
are gently laid to rest

forever a blessing
of their courage in life
whispering through the
last of baby breaths
as their souls rise
from beneath  
the shadows of evil 

guardian angels shield   
forever memories a blessing
the souls of the chosen
children of Israel
live on for eternity 

Am Yisrael Chai

***

Sharon Deutsh is a creative artist, a long-time registered nurse. She has a passion for writing, enjoys being active, and likes to spend time with her family and dogs.

***

See Brian Henry’s upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and weekend retreats here.

Starting in January: Writing Kid Lit, Writing Personal Stories, Enjoying Creative Writing, Intensive Creative Writing, and Extreme Creative Writing

Writing Kid Lit

Picture Books to Young Adult Novels

Online: Monday afternoons, 1 – 3 p.m.,
January 15 – March 4 {or to March 11 if it fills up}
Offered online and accessible from anywhere there's internet 

This course is for adults {or teens} interested in writing picture books, Chapter Books, Middle Grade books, or Young Adult novels. This course is accessible for beginners and meaty enough for advanced writers. Through lectures, in-class assignments, homework, and feedback on your writing, we’ll give you ins and outs of writing for younger readers. If you want to write for kids, this is the course you need to make sure you’re on the right track. 

We'll also have children's author Jennifer Mook-Sang as a guest speaker. Details here. 

Fee: $220.35 plus 13% hst = $259

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

Writing Personal Stories 

 ~ A wealth of writing and sharing

Online: Tuesday afternoons, 1 – 3 p.m.
January 16 – March 5, 2024 (Or to March 12 if the course fills up)
Offered on Zoom and accessible from anywhere there's internet 

If you've ever considered writing your personal stories, this course is for you. We’ll look at memoirs, travel writing, personal essays, family history ~ personal stories of all kinds. Plus, of course, we’ll work on creativity and writing technique and have fun doing it. 

Whether you want to write a book or just get your thoughts down on paper, this weekly course will get you going. We'll reveal the tricks and conventions of telling true stories, 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 and friends or for a wider public, don't miss this course.

Our guest speaker will be Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt, author of the critically acclaimed memoir Peacekeeper’s Daughter. For more details, see here.

Fee: $220.35 plus 13% hst = $259

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

Enjoying Creative Writing

  ~ Develop your creative side

Online: Wednesday evenings 6:30 – 8:30

January 17 – March 6, 2024 {or to March 13 if it fills up} No class Feb 14

This is your chance to take up writing in a warm, supportive environment. This course will open the door to trying different genres and learning different skills, to writing short stories and writing dialogue, writing in first person and writing in third person, writing just for fun and writing all kinds of things. 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.

Fee:  $176.11 plus 13% hst = $199

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

Intensive Creative Writing

Offered at 3 different times:

Wednesday afternoons, 12:30 – 3:00
Jan 10 – Feb 28 {or to March 6 if it fills up}. First readings emailed Jan 3

Friday mornings 10:00 – 12:30
January 12 – March 8. First readings emailed Jan 5

Tuesday evenings 6:30 – 9:00
Jan 16 – Feb 27 {or to March 5 if it fills up}. First readings emailed Jan 9

Intensive Creative Writing isn't for beginners; it's for people who have been writing for a while or who have done a course or two before and are working on their own projects. You’ll be asked to bring in several pieces of your writing for detailed feedback. All your pieces may be from the same work, such as a novel in progress, or they may be stand-alone pieces. You bring whatever you want to work on. 

Besides critiquing pieces, the instructor will give short lectures addressing the needs of the group, and in addition to learning how to critique your own work and receiving constructive suggestions about your writing, you’ll discover that the greatest benefits come from seeing how your classmates approach and critique a piece of writing and how they write and re-write. This is a challenging course, but extremely rewarding.

Fee: $238.05 + hst = $269

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

“(Not so) Extreme Creative Writing”

 ~ For more experienced writers 

Onlin: Thursday afternoons, 12:30 – 3:00 p.m.
January 11 – February 29, 2024 {or to March 7 if it fills up}

Extreme Creative Writing isn't like an extreme sport – it doesn't demand something crazy – but it is meant for writers who have been writing for a while or who have done a course or two before and are working on their own projects. You’ll be asked to bring in a few pieces of your writing for detailed feedback, including a couple longish pieces. All your pieces may be from the same work, such as a novel in progress, or they may be stand-alone pieces. You bring whatever you want to work on. 

Besides critiquing pieces, we’ll have discussions on topics of interest to the class. In addition to learning how to critique your own work and receiving constructive suggestions about your writing, you’ll discover that the greatest benefits come from seeing how your classmates approach and critique a piece of writing and how they write and re-write. This is a challenging course, but extremely rewarding.

Fee: $255.75 + hst = $289

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

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

Read reviews of Brian's various courses and workshops here (and scroll down).

See all of Brian’s upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and weekend retreats here.