Thursday, September 26, 2024

“The Young Man and the Spree: When Hemingway was dispatched to Kingston” by Sharon Hamilton

“The Young Man and the Spree: When Hemingway was dispatched to Kingstonby Sharon Hamilton 

A review of We Were the Bullfighters by Marianne K. Miller

(Dundurn Press, 336 pages, softcover and ebook, available from Chapters/Indigo here)

A tantalizing pronouncement appears at the start of We Were the Bullfighters: “This is a work of fiction, except for the parts that are true.” A debut novelist and a member of the Hemingway Society, Marianne Miller draws upon the lives of Ernest Hemingway and a man known as the “Jesse James of Canada,” the notorious bank robber Norman “Red” Ryan. She crafts an adventurous and unexpected work of historical fiction that opens a window into the brief time Papa spent working for the Toronto Daily Star in the early 1920s. …

Read the rest in the Literary Review of Canada here.

Read more reviews here (and scroll down).

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

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Lana has two new picture books: My Grammie’s House and The First Ones on the Ice

My Grammie’s House, by Lana Button, illustrated by Skye Ali 

(Published by Tundra Books, a Penguin Random House imprint)

A sweet picture book about a kid welcoming new people into her grammie's old house.

You're going to love my Grammie's house. You'll love every single thing about it.

A precocious and delightful tour guide walks some potential buyers through Grammie's old house, showing them all the great things about it: a shaggy rug for shuffling, a shady closet that makes a great clubhouse, the perfect spot for eating cookies – even a climbing tree.

And with each new detail eagerly pointed out, we get to see hints of what the house was like when Grammie was still there and experience the love that lived in every nook and cranny.

This charming and tender story celebrates the connections we make between people and the spaces they inhabit, and the memories that can live on even when new connections are being made.

My Grammie’s House is available from Chapters / Indigo here.

***

Note: Lana will be one of the guest speakers for our online weekly course, “Writing Kid Lit ~ The Next Level” on Monday evenings, starting Sept 30. Details here.

***

The First Ones on the Ice, by Lana Button, illustrated by Alex MacAskill

(From Nimbus Publishing)

A gentle winter story about a brother and sister and the simple beauty of their neighbourhood outdoor rink, inspired by the author's hometown of St. Stephen, New Brunswick.

My brother and I are the luckiest kids in town.
We start the path. We’ll get there first.

On a quiet winter morning, before the sun has fully risen, a brother and sister set out with their skates. They spend the day on the icy pond behind their house–clearing the snow, skating with the crowd of neighbourhood kids, and cheering on the local hockey team, who play until the sun begins to set. Finally, under the moon and stars, the siblings once again have the ice to themselves.

Inspired by the author's childhood memories of growing up in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, this nostalgic and beautifully illustrated picture book celebrates community, family, and the joy of playing outside.

Coming November 5. Pre-order from Chapters / Indigo here.

Note: For information about submitting to Nimbus Publishing (and three other east coast publishers), see here.

Lana Button

Including My Grammie’s House and The First Ones on the Ice, Lana has 15 children’s books to date, published with Orca, Kids Can Press, Owlkids, Tundra, Nimbus and Pajama Press. She has several more books scheduled for publication through 2028, including a series of early chapter books with Orca Books and a 2025 Groundwood picture book, co-written with Eric Walters.

Lana has been awarded the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Award and the Crystal Kite Award. Her picture books have been shortlisted for The Blue SpruceThe Shining Willow, the Jean Throop IODE Award and the Rainforest of Reading, and have been recognized as Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Best Bets and the IBBY Outstanding Book for Young Children.

Find out more about Lana and her books at www.lanabutton.com and connect with her on social media @lanabuttonauthor  

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

For more about new books and book launches from your fellow authors, see here.

Monday, September 23, 2024

The Light from my Menorah ~ A new picture book by Robin Heald

Hi, Brian.

Last fall I attended one of your workshops, featuring literary agent Eve Adler. You were kind enough to mention my picture book about adoption, Whistling for Angela.

I wanted to let you know that my new picture book, The Light from my Menorah: Celebrating Holidays around the World, was released last Tuesday, from Pajama Press.

Many thanks,

Robin Heald

Ashland, Oregon

The Light from my Menorah is available from Pajama Press here or from Chapters / Indigo here.

***

Note: For information about my next workshop with a literary agent, see here.

Also starting soon: a mini-course about writing Jewish picture books (see here), and a general course about writing Kid Lit – picture books through young adult (see here). ~Brian

***

The Light from My Menorah by Robin Heald, illustrated by Andrea Blinick

The light from a menorah takes a young boy on a fantastical journey around the world to experience different festivals of light, and the people who celebrate them.

Nothing brings communities together like the warm glow of a lamp or candle flame, illuminating people and the stories they tell. In The Light from My Menorah, a young boy celebrating Hannukah follows his menorah’s light as it twists and turns in the night sky, carrying him to mountains, deserts, and even into space. On his journey he sees families from around the world sharing food and togetherness as they celebrate their own special holidays, lighting diya for Diwali, kinara for Kwanzaa, crowns of candles for St. Lucia Day, krathongs for Loy Krathong, and strings of lights for Christmas.

Illustrator Andrea Blinick’s luminous mixed-media art creates a dazzling world filled with sparkling light and warmth, while Robin Heald’s beautiful free-verse text evokes the quiet wonder of a holiday night. An author’s note offers further information about Hanukkah, Diwali, Christmas, Kwanzaa, St. Lucia Day, and Loy Krathong.

The Light From My Menorah, is a new book by Robin Heald, which lyrically emphasizes not only the light of her menorah, but how our world is filled with light, traveling from day into night and back again…as well as into the worship or celebration of other religions and countries.”
Jane Yolen, author of Owl Moon, the How Do Dinosaur picture books, and 400+ other books

Robin Heald 

Robin Heald lives in Ashland, Oregon. Before her 30-year career as a drama teacher and preschool director, Robin was a stage manager in regional theaters and on and off-Broadway. 

Her previous works include Pat, Roll, Pull and Liberty Saves the Day. Her articles have appeared in Exceptional Parenting Magazine and Children's Literature in Education. Robin’s picture book Isadora's  Sandálias won the Katherine Paterson Prize for unpublished children’s literature at Hunger Mountain in 2015. 

Her newest picture book, Whistling for Angela, was inspired by her first-hand experiences with adoption. Robin holds a Master’s of Fine Arts in Writing for Children from Spalding University.

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

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Winner of Pottersfield Prize for nonfiction to be guest speaker for "Writing Personal Stories & Other Nonfiction"

Writing Personal Stories & Other Nonfiction

~ Join us for eight afternoons of writing, learning, and   sharing

Online: Tuesday afternoons, 1 – 3 p.m.
October 8 – December 3 (or to Dec 10 if the class fills up. No class Oct 22.)

If you want to write any kind of true story, this course is for you. Personal stories will be front and centre – we’ll look at memoirs, travel writing, personal essays, family history – but we’ll also look at writing feature articles, creative nonfiction and other more informational writing. 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.

Guest speaker Jennifer M. Smith is the author of Green Ghost, Blue Ocean. This story of Jennifer’s 40,000-mile nautical adventure won the 2019 Pottersfield Prize for nonfiction and was published by Pottersfield Press in 2020.  

Jennifer has also written five articles for Canadian Yachting magazine and has been published numerous times on Quick Brown Fox. For more on Green Ghost, Blue Ocean visit the distributor, Nimbus Publishing,  hereto read one of Jennifer’s articles, see hereand visit her website  here.

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, teaches creative writing at Ryerson University and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Saint John. But his proudest boast is that he’s has helped many of his students get published.  

Read reviews and other pieces inspired by Brian's retreats, courses and workshops here (and scroll down).

Fee: $220.35 plus 13% hst = $259

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

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

Thursday, September 19, 2024

“Raising the Stakes: How to tighten your story's tension”


“Raising the Stakes: How to tighten your story's tension”

With guest speaker: author Laurie Elizabeth Flynn 

Saturday, November 9, 2024
1:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Online via Zoom and accessible wherever there’s Internet

Ever stayed up all night reading a book? In this workshop, you’ll learn you how to build that kind of tension.  And we'll help you put into practice the techniques professionals use – on every page and in every kind of story – to create drama and raise the tension in each scene they write.

Guest speaker Laurie Elizabeth Flynn is the author of five novels. Her adult fiction debut,  The Girls Are All So Nice Here, was named a USA Today Best Book of 2021, sold in 11 territories worldwide, and became an instant bestseller in Canada. 

Her second novel for adults, Till Death Do Us Part, was an instant USA Today and national Canadian bestseller, and a Good Morning America Buzz Pick.

Laurie is also the author of three young adult novels:  Firsts, Last Girl Lied To, and All Eyes On Her, under the name L.E. Flynn. 

Laurie is a former model who lives in London, Ontario, with her husband and their four children. When she’s not writing or taking care of her kids, you can likely find Laurie hiking in the woods, perusing thrift stores for vintage dresses, or bingeing on reality TV.

Note: Till Death Do Us Part, The Girls Are All So Nice Here, All Eyes on Her, and Firsts are available from Chapters here, and Last Girl Lied To is available from Amazon here. Visit Laurie’s website here.

Workshop leader 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 known as Toronto Metropolitan University), and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Charlottetown. But his proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get their first book published and launch their careers as authors. 

Read pieces about ~ or inspired by ~ Brian's one-day workshops, weekly classes, or four-day retreats here {and scroll down}.

Fee: $45.13 + 13% hst = $51 paid in advance by mail or Interac

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

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

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Finding Jewish Joy: An intensive mini-course on writing picture books

SCBWI Israel presents...

Finding Jewish Joy: An intensive mini-course on writing picture books

Online: October 28 – November 11 (extending to Nov 18 if the course fills up)
Mondays 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. in Israel
12:30 – 3:00 p.m. in Toronto (Eastern Time) for the first week, then 11:30 – 2:00 p.m. after that, due to the clock change.

Notes: Initially registration is open only to SCBWI members, but on Wednesday, Sept 25, registration opens to everyone.

First readings will be sent out Oct 21 (and I start making the schedule of when your pieces will be due a couple weeks before that – so please sign up as early as possible! Space is limited ~Brian)

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and polish your picture book manuscripts until they gleam. For this course, you’ll be asked to bring in two of your manuscripts for detailed feedback. Usually, this will be two different picture book manuscripts, but it could be just one and then a revised version. 

Our theme is “finding Jewish joy,” but your stories don’t need to be all sweetness and light. We can find joy in any manuscript we create as long as it’s genuine and touches on the lives of our readers or tickles their imaginations.

Besides critiquing pieces, we’ll have short discussions/lectures addressing the needs of the group. 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 highly dynamic, interactive course for serious writers – but we think you'll have a lot of fun, too!

Instructor Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years and has a particular interest and love for Jewish Kid Lit. 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 also 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 and pieces about ~ or inspired by ~ Brian's various writing courses, workshops, and retreats here (and scroll down).

As a writer, Brian mostly writes commentary. For his recent work, see here (and scroll down). But he also writes about Jewish books, particularly books for young people. See here (and scroll down).

Fee: for SCWIBI member: $100 U.S. For the general public: $140 U.S.

To register, go here and click on the green Register for Event button, then on the new screen, click on the green Purchase button down in the bottom right-hand corner: https://www.scbwi.org/events/pbminicourse

FAQs

Is this mini-course in English or Hebrew?
This and all other SCBWI Israel events are in English unless otherwise stated.

What does SCBWI stand for?
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Is this for picture book or middle grade writers?
This mini-course will focus exclusively on picture books.

Do I have to live in Israel to participate?
This mini-course is open to all SCBWI members, regardless of where they live.

Do I have to be a SCBWI member to participate?
After September 25th, if space permits, we will open this mini-course up to non-SCBWI members as well.

Do I have to be Jewish to participate?
All SCBWI events are open to anyone, of any ethnicity or religion. It might help if you write "Jewish stories" or "Jewish picture books." But you get to choose how you define those terms!

What forms of payment do you accept?
For your convenience, you can now pay via the SCBWI site using any internationally recognized credit card.

What currency will I be paying in?
All program pricing is now listed in $US (US dollars). The payment gateway may offer you the option of paying in your local currency (e.g. converting the cost to shekels if you live in Israel). This is beyond our control. Please contact us at Israel@scbwi.org if you have any questions about paying for this event.

 What other events does SCBWI Israel have going on?
Glad you asked! Hope to see you at another event soon.

What else does Brian Henry have going on?
Check out all his upcoming on-day writing workshops, four-day retreats, and weekly classes here.

Monday, September 16, 2024

“When a Cuppa Won’t Do” by Margery Reynolds

The whirling flash of red and blue emergency lights across the street drew my attention to the kitchen window. Two cruisers pulled up alongside the ambulance and unmarked car already in the driveway across the street. An army of police officers spilled out of the vehicles and surrounded the house, while the plain clothes officials went inside.

The whistling of the kettle pulled my thoughts back to the kitchen, and Jenny who sat at my table, her head buried between her trembling hands.

“What if…?” Jenny asked.

“A bit late for ifs,” I said.

Jenny’s husband of twenty-two years had been having an affair. I would never have believed it. Sid just wasn’t the type. I’d said as much when Jenny first mentioned she suspected something was going on. “He’s a family man, a brilliant father, devoted to you and the kids,” I’d said.

I was wrong. Five years later, things came crashing down and now Jenny sat at my table, waiting, wondering, worried.

I dropped three tea bags into Granny’s porcelain pot, poured in the boiling water the way I’d done a hundred times before, because that’s what you did, when someone’s world was caving in. You made tea.

“There’s nothing a good cup of tea can’t fix,” Granny used to say. “A cuppa cures all.”

But then I realized something. Jenny and I weren’t children anymore, and this wasn’t a skinned knee in the playground. A cup of tea just wouldn’t do. This called for something other than tea. I reached into the cupboard above the stove and hauled down a bottle of the good scotch.

Jenny slid back her chair, fetched two of my best tumblers from the cabinet and set them on the table, her eyes flitting to the scene unfolding across the street at her house. “Now you’re talkin’,” she said, a slow smile spreading over her face as I poured the amber liquid.

Jenny slid back her chair, fetched two of my best tumblers from the cabinet and set them on the table, her eyes flitting across the street to her house, and back again.

“Now you’re talkin’,” she said. A slow smile spread over her face as I poured the amber liquid.

The first sip burned all the way down and when it hit the pit of my stomach, it lay there smoldering. I ventured a look out the window when I heard the ambulance doors slam shut. A woman in handcuffs, flanked by uniformed officers, was escorted out of Jenny’s house and into the back seat of a cruiser. In less than a minute they were gone, nothing left but ribbons of yellow crime scene tape flapping in the breeze.

My eyes met Jenny’s. I raised my glass in a mocking toast. “To freedom, because Sid will never darken your doorstep again.”

Jenny’s lips curved into a wicked smile. “To Mary. It’ll be twenty-five to life before she ever ruins another marriage.”

Dale Margery Rutherford aka Margery Reynolds gave up her bookstore and tea shop, called Novel-Teas, in 2016 to pursue her interest in writing. In 2022 she published her first novel, followed by her second in 2023, and will have two releases in 2024. One Autumn at Ril Lake (the third in the Muskoka Cottage Novel Series) and the first in her Dotty Hamilton Series; A Tapestry of Lies.

Besides writing, Margery is also a freelance developmental editor and facilitator of a local writing group. Her personal reading choices lean toward historical fiction, family drama, women’s fiction, cozy mysteries, and the occasional suspense. When she isn’t writing, she’s researching her family tree, doing jig-saw puzzles and watching binge-worthy TV shows.

This story, “When A Cuppa Won’t Do,” started from a writing prompt at one of Brian Henry’s writing retreats at the Briars.

You can find Margery’s books in e-book form anywhere you usually buy e-books, or on loan through Overdrive or Hoopla at your local library. Print copies are available on Amazon or Ingram Spark.

You can follow Margery on Facebook here, on her website here, or on her Substack here.

Read more short stories, essays, and reviews by your fellow writers here (and scroll down).

See upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and four-day  retreats here