Thursday, July 17, 2025

Close to paradise ~ My first stay at Arowhon Pines Resort, by Brian Henry

Nothing settles my heart like an Algonquin lake. For me, sitting on the porch that wraps around the dining hall at Arowhon Pines this past June,* drinking a morning coffee while watching the mist rise off the lake came pretty close to paradise.


Hummingbirds hovered at the feeders, their wings whirring with the effort of keeping them stationary, while down at the far end of the lake, a minuscule smudge in the shallows showed up in my binoculars as a bull moose munching on water lilies. Best of all, though, I had a pen, a notebook, and time. Lots of time. I loved it.

Decades back, I was keen on canoe-tripping into the interior of Algonquin Park. But the ground seems to have gotten harder and canoes heavier; after the last time I took a trip that required  carrying a canoe from lake to lake and sleeping on the ground, I couldn’t stand up straight for a week.

But having a real bed was just the start. Then there was the food. Dinner on Friday evening featured a choice of lobster in passion fruit; roasted chicken with Arowhon stuffing and house cranberry sauce; roast loin of venison; or orange and ginger glazed tofu. It was a tough choice, even though for us the lobster was out (not remotely kosher, you know).

To my family’s collective sighs of pity, I went for the tofu, but the flavours were so sharp and complex that it stacked up well against both the venison and the chicken.

If you wanted, you might avoid the hell of having to choose by ordering a half portion of all four entrees. But for myself I was close to full just from the buffet of appetizers (the salad strewn with edible flowers was my favourite) and I wanted to leave at least some room for the buffet of desserts. Among those, I voted for the homemade wild blueberry ice-cream as best of the buffet, but the kids were passionate advocates for the maple mousse and the butter tarts (winners of some award or other).

And of course in between the appetizers and the main course, there was also the mushroom soup with a truffle cream, which was simply the best soup I’ve ever had. So I can’t recommend ordering the whole dinner menu – that was a strategy I reserved for breakfast, where I asked for almost everything: half portions of smoked whitefish, eggs, potatoes and toast, French toast, and cinnamon pancakes, plus juice and coffee. Lots of wonderful coffee.

For lunch on Friday, we all ordered fish and chips (delicious). Lunch on Saturday was a buffet with far too many dishes to begin to describe, but I have to give special mention to the outstanding bean and mushroom salad, the Scotch eggs, the tomato basil soup, and the edible flowers everywhere.

But what I loved most was how we could go from enjoying food that’s as good as it gets, take one step outside and be at the edge of the wilderness, with Little Joe Lake at our doorstep and a series of other lakes within an afternoon’s paddle. We took three trips out on these lakes: once a guided tour on a small pontoon boat; once all four of us in a pair of canoes; and once me and my son in a pair of kayaks.

We saw moose on every outing. More accurately, we hung out with moose. A mama and her calf were happy to let us drift close enough that we could hear them munching their water lilies; close enough to smell them. They paid no more attention to us than to a loon that swam by.

Brian vs William, photo by Emma
My son and I had to go swimming, too, though it hadn’t been a warm spring, and even with the sun high overhead, the air temperature didn’t rise above 220. But, heck, we were at a wilderness lodge and a few other hearty people were jumping off the dock, so we did, too.

Georgian Bay has colder water. William promptly turned blue and his extremities went numb, so I told him to get out while he could still climb the ladder. As for me, well, that breakfast I’d had and the extra pounds I still posses provided warm insulation.

We also hit the games room for a family ping-pong tournament and to introduce the kids to the wonders of a well-salted shuffleboard table. Possibly this was a mistake. At a restaurant back in Toronto, William demonstrated to one of his buddies how salt acts like ball bearings, erasing friction so that salt and pepper shakers – and even dinner plates – glide and spin as effortlessly as pucks on a shuffleboard table.

Perhaps, though, we experienced the most marvelous wonder of the trip that night as we headed back to our cabin. With the closest traffic eight kilometers down a back road through the woods, the quiet was profound and the sky clear of reflected light. In the west, an orb hung in the sky as bright as a spotlight.

In books, I’ve read references to airline pilots mistaking Venus for an on-coming aircraft but had never before understood how this was possible. Now I did. The sky was so clear that Venus didn’t look like just another star; it was plainly a disc, a goddess shining in the heavens.  

Sunset over Little Joe Lake, by Emma Henry

Note: I took this trip in June 2015 to check out Arowhon as a site for holding writers' retreats. It passed! The subsequent retreats have been great, too. Read reviews and other pieces inspired by of the retreats offered so far here (and scroll down).

Check out details upcoming retreats, at Arowhon Pines and other locales here (and scroll down). 

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

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

You're invited to "Writing Kid Lit – The Next Level!"

Graphic novels, picture books, middle grade and young adult novels

Online: Wednesday evenings, 7 – 9 p.m.
October 8 – December 3, (or to Dec 10 if the course fills up). No class Oct 22.

This course is for adults (or teens) interested in writing graphic novels, picture books, chapter books, middle grade books, or young adult novels. It’s meant for people who have previously taken a kid lit course or who otherwise know the basics of the contemporary market for children’s literature. 

The focus of the class will be on your work – picture book manuscripts or chapters of novels, graphic novels, or nonfiction books for young people that you’ll present to the class for feedback as to how to make them even better. We’ll also have discussions, talks from the instructor, and two children’s authors as guest speakers (TBA).

For graphic novels, we’ll be looking at writing scripts not creating the art, though if you’re a writer-artist, we’ll want to see your work!

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 and other pieces about or inspired by Brian's writing courses, workshops, and retreats here (and scroll down).

Fee: $257.52 plus 13% hst = $291

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

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

 

Monday, July 14, 2025

Groundwood books (for children) opens for submissions Aug 1. Anansi Press (for adults) is always open for submissions

House of Anansi Press (for adults)

and Goundwood Books (for children)

128 Sterling Road
Lower Level
Toronto, Ontario

https://houseofanansi.com/

House of Anansi Press was founded in 1967 by writers Dennis Lee and David Godfrey to publish work by Canadian writers. The House got its start publishing authors such as Matt Cohen, Michael Ondaatje, Northrop Frye, Austin Clarke, Harold Sonny Ladoo, Daphne Marlatt, Roch Carrier, and Margaret Atwood (who also worked for the press as an editor).

Now under the ownership of Scott Griffin, House of Anansi Press aims to continue breaking new ground with award-winning and bestselling books that reflect the changing nature of the country and the world.

Anansi publishes about 35 books a year, including fiction, poetry, drama, French-Canadian writers in translation, lifestyle, and authors from around the world.  Anansi also publishes children’s literature under its Groundwood imprint….

Groundwood Books publishes literary picture books, fiction, poetry, nonfiction and graphic novels from Canada and around the world. The press is home to award-winning authors and illustrators, such as Deborah Ellis, Marie-Louise Gay, Sydney Smith and Jillian Tamaki, among many others. And coming soon: Lana Button and Eric Walters (here).

Groundwood is open for submissions Aug 1 – Sept 30 and Feb 1 – March 31.

In Picture Books, Groundwood seeks beautifully written manuscript, featuring distinctive stories and children in real-life situations.

Groundwood is always looking for new authors of book-length middle grade and young adult fiction. Their mandate is to publish high-quality, character-driven literary fiction with a strong narrative voice. They do not generally publish stories with an obvious moral or message, or genre fiction such as horror or high fantasy.

Groundwood is also looking for nonfiction for children of all ages, from informational picture books to issues-driven works for middle grade and young adult readers.

For middle-grade and YA nonfiction, they do not require a completed manuscript. Please submit a proposal that includes a compelling introduction to and argument for the book, followed by a chapter outline that conveys the proposed content of the work, plus one or two sample chapters that convey the proposed tone and approach. 

Please also include a bio and/or previous publishing credits that demonstrate credentials relevant to your book or give you authority on the proposed subject.

Groundwood is also looking for Canadian illustrators.

See Groundwoods detailed submissions guidelines here.


Note: Our one-day “Writing for Children and for Young Adults” workshops always have a literary agent or an editor from a children’s book publisher as the guest speaker. See what’s coming up here.  

And also join our upcoming weekly course “Writing Kid Lit – The Next Level.” Details here


House of Anansi Press is always open for direct submissions from authors, both established authors and new authors.

In fiction, they seek groundbreaking Canadian literary and upmarket fiction that has a unique flair, memorable characters, and a strong narrative voice. For their Spiderline imprint, they’re also seeking genre-bending, ground-breaking, experimental, innovative, unexpected, and unconventional speculative writing in all its forms, from horror and science fiction to psychological thrillers and mysteries.

In nonfiction, they look for creative nonfiction and book-length deep dives alongside more lifestyle-oriented offerings. Specifically, for their Anansi imprint, they want compelling narrative nonfiction and meticulously researched, thesis-driven works to wrestle with the mind and passions. For their Ambrosia imprint, they want visually arresting gift books and cookbooks, along with creative and prescriptive nonfiction. And for Walrus Books – a partnership with The Walrus magazine, they want “excellent book-length nonfiction.” 

Anansi is not a good bet for personal memoirs or autobiographies.

In poetry, they’re looking for the best of Canadian poetry, from debut collections to selections by established and award-winning poets.

Like everyone else, they especially welcome “work by writers from historically underrepresented communities, including—but not limited to—those who are Black, Indigenous, people of colour, disabled, neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA+.”

Anansi is also particularly interested in authors looking to publish their first book later in life.

Full guidelines here.

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

Navigation tips: Always check out the Labels underneath a post; they’ll lead you to various distinct collections of postings. For more children’s and young adult publishers, see here {and scroll down}. For book publishers in general, see here {and scroll down}.

Note: You can get new postings on Quick Brown Fox delivered straight to your Inbox as I publish them. Subscribe to Quick Brown Fox on Substack here: https://brian999.substack.com/

 

Sunday, July 13, 2025

Lana Button has a new picture book coming out!

One Can by Lana Button and Eric Walters, illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant

A child donates a can of food to their school food drive. But in an unexpected twist, they come to understand what it means to give and receive.

A child is excited to donate a can of their favorite Zoodelicious to the school food drive. Their teacher has explained that the food will be given to people in need, along with mittens from the “mitten tree.”

In the classroom, there’s a carpet with one hundred squares, and the goal is to fill each square with a can of food. When the child places their can of Zoodelicious on square 100, everyone cheers, and the teacher puts a snowflake sticker on top to celebrate.

But a few days later, the child finds the same can of Zoodelicious among the groceries their mom has brought home. There’s a pair of red mitts, too. “Mom, are we the people in need?” the child asks.

The next morning, after having thought of all the people who will receive food from the school and wondering what else they might need, the child donates their too-small blue mittens to the mitten tree at school.

Created by an award-winning team, One Can tells a timely and touching story of a child who learns to give and receive – and wants only to give again in return.

One Can is available for pre-order from Chapters / Indigo here or pre-order from your local bookstore (see here). 

Pre-orders are important! They…

Tell publishers people are excited about this book

Build buzz among booksellers

Push the book higher in retailer algorithms, making the book more likely to get stocked in stores

Set the book up for post-publication, with strong initial sales drawing attention from readers, reviewers, booksellers, and publishers.

Help the authors you love – order their books even before they come out!  

Lana Button is a children’s book author, motivational speaker for kids and an early childhood educator. She has written more than a dozen picture books, many of them award-winners, including Tough Like Mum, illustrated by Carmen Mok (Crystal Kite Award), and Willow’s Whispers, illustrated by Tania Howells (Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year, IBBY Outstanding Book for Young People with Disabilities). Lana lives in Burlington, Ontario. 

Many Quick Brown Fox readers will know Lana a frequent guest speaker at my Kid Lit courses and, from long ago, as a frequent attendee at my workshops ~Brian

Eric Walters has published over 130 novels and picture books for young readers. Among many awards, he won the Governor General’s Award for The King of Jam Sandwiches and the Children’s Africana Book Award for The Matatu, illustrated by Eva Campbell. 

He is co-founder of Creation of Hope, which supports orphans and disadvantaged children in Kenya, and creator of National Run Day for the Terry Fox Foundation and I Read Canadian Day. A recipient of the Order of Canada, Eric lives in Guelph, Ontario.

Isabelle Malenfant has illustrated more than twenty children’s books, including Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino (Stonewall Honor Book, American Library Association’s Rainbow List, Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year) and Pinny in Summer and Pinny in Fall, both by Joanne Schwartz. Isabelle’s illustrations for Pablo trouve un trésor by Andrée Poulin were nominated for a Governor General’s Literary Award. 

Isabelle lives in Magog, Quebec.

Note: For information about submitting to Groundwood Books, see here.

If you’re interested in writing for children, don’t miss our upcoming Kid Lit workshop Sunday, July 27, with guest speaker Katie Hearn, Editorial Director at Annick Press. See here.

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

Saturday, July 12, 2025

“Jambo! Karibu! Habari Gani? – Hello! Welcome! What’s the News?” by Debra P. McGill

We gathered in the dining tent at 10:30. Inside, light from the lanterns illuminated our tired but excited faces. Outside the glow of the lanterns through the canvas competed with the stars that shimmered in the otherwise impenetrable darkness of the night.

We were served hot tea and Dickson, our guide, ever smiling and confident, gave words of encouragement and instruction before we began the final climb to the summit . . . in the dark. The hope being that we’d make it to the summit to watch the sun rise above the clouds spread out like an ocean below us.

That was the hope, but in my heart of hearts I knew that the reason we were making the final climb to the summit in pitch darkness, was that if we could actually see what we were doing, we wouldn’t do it!

“We were thinking of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro for our honeymoon,” my daughter Violet had told me some time ago. Perrin, her beloved and my soon to be son-in-love, was standing next to her, both of them wearing huge, toothy grins, “and we were wondering if you would like to come with us?”

They had spent two wonderful weeks with me when I had been living in Botswana and though I had been back in Canada for two years, I hadn’t been able to shake the dust of Africa from my sandals. And so an opportunity to return to Africa! “Yes! Absolutely yes!” I said.

We spent the rest of the weekend talking excitedly about climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, but on Sunday morning as they were preparing to leave, I said to them, “This is your honeymoon . . . you don’t want your mother sleeping in the same tent as you!”

“That’s okay, we were thinking it would be more like a holiday.”

“No, really. That’s very thoughtful of you. But it’s your honeymoon and you’ll never have another honeymoon. I want you to talk about it on your way back home. I am so grateful for the offer, but you think about it.”

The drive from Barrie, where I was living, back to Guelph University where they were both students, was two hours and almost to the minute, my phone rang and a very tearful Violet cried into the receiver, “your right, it’s our honeymoon, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay. It’s okay.” I said, trying to comfort her.

Violet and Perrin booked the climb through G-Adventures, but not enough people signed up for the trip and so the Mt. Kilimanjaro climb was cancelled. They honeymooned – without me – in Machu Picchu – which turned out to be one of those “it didn’t go quite as planned” honeymoons, but that is their story to tell.

But when they returned and recovered from their Machu Picchu adventure, they called and asked if I would like to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with them next year. The honeymoon was over and so “yes, absolutely, I would LOVE to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with you!”

On August 23rd, 2011, backpacks strapped over short sleeved shirts, gaters zipped over our lower pantleg and hiking boots firmly laced, Violet, Perrin and I stood with twelve other adventurers, three guides, three cooks and twenty-seven porters who carried our gear, tables, chairs, dining tent, food, pots, plates, utensils, washbasins, toilet tent, and water . . . on their shoulders, heads and backs . . . and one after the other, we walked through Machame Gate into the hot, moist Enchanted Rainforest that is Kilimanjaro National Park. Hakuna matata. Karibu! (No worries. Be My Guest!)

“Porters to the left! Porters to the right!” I lost count of the number of times I confused my left and my right as I turned my body to let a porter pass by me, checking to see if my fire engine red duffle bag was one of the bags stacked on his back.

After much walking and talking and getting to know each other, and the passing by of the porters, the mud floor morphed into packed dusty earth and the lush canopy and ground cover transitioned into thick, dry brush as we climbed up and out of the rainforest.

Every once in a while, through the branches, I would catch a glimpse of a distant rounded mass of grey rock with tendrils of glacial snow imbedded in its crevices. The snows of Kilimanjaro.

In the months before leaving for Moshi, Tanzania, I trained as much as is possible when there aren’t any mountains to climb. I took aerobic classes at the Y, I ran and rode my bike up overpasses, which is as much altitude as there is in Barrie.

Years after reading it the first time, I reread Ernest Hemmingway’s “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”. When I told people that Violet, Perrin and I would be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, people inevitably asked me if I had read Hemmingway’s story. I had. And knowing the plot, that the “hero” was merely hallucinating, I wondered silently, “Had you?”

“Yes,” I said. “I did read it.”

And now I’m peering through branches, catching glimpses of the glaciers

that during Hemmingway’s day, covered the entirety of the summit and which now today, have almost entirely disappeared. But she was still beautiful and majestic, the sun turning her into burnished gold as it reflected off the rock as we made our way into camp.

Six hours, eighteen kilometers of walking with an upward climb of 2,980 meters, we shuffled into Machame Camp to find our tents set up between groupings of trees with our bedrolls rolled out and our duffel bags set inside, the toilet tent and dining tent were erected.

Our chef greeted us as we entered the tent, a white towel draped over his arm, an entertaining smile on his face and bowls of Chakula cha jioni (hot cucumber soup) and plates of roasted potatoes on the table ready for us to devour. And devour we did. Fifteen ravenous and grateful climbers, tastebuds savouring every bite, mouths full of food and compliments. “Ladha sana!” Delicious. “Asante sana!” Thank you, chef.

Violet and Perrin shared a pup tent . . . just the two of them. And because I didn’t have a partner, I was assigned a tent mate, Beth Hallowell, a young woman from Britain. We were well paired and being that we were sharing a very small space, I was grateful for that.

The sun set gold and night came quickly and very, very dark. And stars! I never thought I would see stars again as magnificent as when I was living in Botswana. And now . . . the night sky was filled with uncountable shimmering glints of star light.

I fluffed my sleeping bag and then with socks on to warm my feet and a hoodie over my long johns, I wormed my way into my sleeping bag, pulling the zipper up close under my chin, and wiggling my hip, found a sweet spot on the rocky ground beneath me. Usiku mwema. (Goodnight).


Note: All photos by Debra, except for the tents under the stars, which was taken by Chinese Canadian climbing companion Xi Zhu.

Debra P. McGill retired for a whole four months after twenty-five years as a United Church of Canada minister. Now, for the nine months, she’s been serving and learning at the St. Clair United Church with the Aamjiwnaang First Nation community in Sarnia, Ontario.  

Growing up in a Canadian Air Force family, Debra has been blessed to experience many adventurous opportunities, including this story, a short chapter of a much longer story. Debra has two daughters, two sons-in-loves and three grandsons. She dabbles in photography and very much enjoys putting pen to paper in the hopes of sharing stories that others might find affirming as they stir up memories for reader.

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

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

Friday, July 11, 2025

September in Algonquin Park Writing Retreat

 

Join us at Arowhon Pines Resort in Algonquin Park

~ and stretch out your summer with a glorious writing retreat

Friday, September 12 – Monday, September 15, 2025
Arowhon Pines Resort
Arowhon Pines Road
Little Joe Lake, Algonquin Park
Ontario, Canada

Note: We see all upcoming retreats here (and scroll down)

Stretch out your summer and give yourself the time to write  four days of instruction,  a weekend of instruction, inspiration and creativity. Award yourself with time away from distractions, with no dishes to do and wonderful food at every meal, as you sit with your feet up and write in the most beautiful wilderness setting in Ontario. This is where the Group of Seven got its inspiration (Tom Thompson is buried just a couple of lakes over); it’s a wonderful place for you to find your inspiration, too.

The retreat will feature both instruction and guided writing exercises, plus one-on-one critiquing and coaching from Brian.  You’ll also have lots of time to relax, rejuvenate, and reconnect with your creativity.

All writing levels welcome. Whether you are just beginning or have a novel in progress, please join us. 

The retreat will be limited to ten or eleven participants. This will mean plenty of one-on-one time with the instructor.

The setting: Arowhon Pines is a peaceful, quiet resort nestled in the woods on Little Joe Lake inside Algonquin Park. There are no motorboats on the lake, except for the resort’s own pontoon boat which takes guests on occasional wildlife tours.

The resort is without TV and is far from the roar of traffic. The cry of a loon is the loudest noise you’re likely to hear all day.

Rates include charming accommodation (rooms have a mix of queen beds for one person or couples or twin beds for two people rooming together, and a private bathroom of course, and each cabin has a lounge with fireplace to share with your fellow writers). 

Three all-you-can-eat gourmet meals per day are provided, featuring an abundance of fresh food prepared by master chefs and an inspired kitchen staff. (Bring your own wine or beer!)

All activities included. When you’re not writing or for spouses who accompany you, there is plenty to do: canoe or kayak a series of lakes or hike trails to see wildlife (moose, loons, beaver, turtles, fox, deer), swim in the lake, sail, stand up paddleboard, play tennis or pickleball, enjoy a sauna. and simply relax.

For indoor activities there is a games room with table tennis, shuffleboard, books, and board games. Your stay also includes access to all Algonquin Park programs and activities including a car pass for you to fully enjoy the park.

Check-in isn’t until 3 p.m., but guests can arrive in the morning to fully take advantage of the facilities (though the meals included in your package don’t begin until after check-in time, so lunch on Friday is extra if you arrive early). Each guest will have a day pass for Algonquin Park.

The formal retreat will begin late Friday afternoon. On Monday, we'll have our last formal get-together at 11 a.m., ending at 12 noon. Check out time is at 1 p.m.  Most guests have lunch while the bellhops load the car. But once you’ve had lunch, don’t feel you have to rush off!

Participants are welcome to bring spouses, partners or friends, as there will be plenty to do while you’re writing – canoeing, kayaking or sailing, swimming, pickleball, reading and just plain resting and unwinding, enjoying the wilderness.

Read about a stay at Arowhon Pines here, and scroll down for more pieces about or inspired by retreats at Arowhon.

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.

But his proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get their first book published and launch their careers as authors.

For more pieces about, or inspired by,  Brian’s writing retreats, weekly courses and Saturday workshops, see here (and scroll down).

Seminar fee:
For the full 4-day, 3-night retreat: $243.36 plus hst

Accommodation fee (including accommodation and food, plus use of all the resort’s facilities):
$578 per night single occupancy, $462 per person per night double occupancy ($924 per couple) plus 15% service charge (in lieu of tipping), then plus 13% HST. 

Book early – space is strictly limited! Full receipts issued.

For more information or to register, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

If you have questions or need more information about the accommodations,
phone the resort: 1-866-633-5661

Who can attend the retreat?

Everyone interested in developing their writing skills is welcome to attend, whether you're aspiring writer or an accomplished author or simply enjoy writing as a hobby. There is no requirement for you to have been previously published or even to have an intention to publish.

I'm a poet / playwright / other writer. Is this retreat for me?

The retreat is open to anyone who enjoys writing. Instruction will focus on narrative writing; i.e., stories, whether fiction or memoir. But if you’re an essayist or poet or whatever, you’re entirely welcome.  

Should I bring my work in progress?

Yes! If you have an on-going writing project, bring it with you. Bring more than you expect to get to; you'll have lots of time for writing. Besides, you may want to switch projects or share a project that’s just started or one that’s all done, except for reading it to a small, appreciative audience. If you’re not currently working on anything, don’t worry, we’ll get you writing.

Should I bring my laptop?

Yes, if you prefer to work on your laptop. If you prefer to work on paper bring that. Or go crazy and bring both your laptop and your notebook. Bring everything you might want.

Can you cater to specific dietary requirements?

Yes, just let the staff at Arowhon Pines know beforehand about your needs.

I want to stay longer or arrive early. Is that possible?

Yes, absolutely. There is plenty to see and do in the park, and Arowhon Pines is a lovely base from which to explore. 

Is there cell phone reception and WIFI?

Arowhon Pines is an island of luxury, but in the midst of wilderness, so spotty cell phone at best and no WIFI, though there are landlines and there’s access to the resort’s Internet connection. (Contact the resort for details.) But be sure to have your writing projects on your laptop or on paper when you come, not stored in the Cloud.

How about alcohol?

Arowhon does not serve alcohol, but guests are welcome to bring their own wine, beer or whatever to have with meals or back at your cabin or wherever. (Though do note that Hemingway’s advice to write drunk, mostly produces drivel.)

Can I bring my spouse?

Certainly. Just let them know you’ll be spending most of your time writing, (though you will have some free time every day), and make sure they enjoy superb food, beautiful wilderness, and relaxing on the deck or the dock or out on a canoe as they glide past a moose munching on water lilies.

For more information about the resort, visit their website here.

For more information or to register, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca 

To book your accommodation at Arowhon Pines, phone toll free: 1-866-633-5661
And be sure to tell them you're with the writing retreat!

Or you can book on-line here~ But be sure to also phone and tell them you're with Brian’s writing retreat!

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