Join us with Gaby Sheiner, a new agent with a major U.S. agency

Margaret Atwood is one of many
major authors represented by CAA

"How to Get Published"

 ~ With literary agent Gaby Sheiner
       of Creative Artists Agency 

Sunday, September 27, 2026
1:15 – 5:00 p.m. Toronto time
Offered online and accessible wherever there's Internet

If you've ever dreamed of becoming a published author, this workshop is for you. We’ll focus on the process of submitting to an agent or publisher, and show you exactly how to write a query letter that will get a “yes.” Bring all your questions. Come and get ready to be published!

Special Option: Participants are invited to prepare a draft of a query letter you might use to interest an agent or publisher in your book. You don't need to prepare anything, but if you like, email me a draft of your query prior to our workshop. Gaby and I will critique several queries, perhaps half a dozen, so everyone can see what works, what doesn’t and how to improve your query. Do remember that agents come to these events wanting to hear what you’ve got. ~Brian

Guest speaker Gaby Sheiner works in the publishing department at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), where she represents authors across fiction and nonfiction. 

On the fiction side, she represents commercial and upmarket authors and is always on the lookout for buzzy book club fiction, thrillers and suspense, romance, and family sagas. 

On the nonfiction side, she is particularly interested in cookbooks and lifestyle, psychology, memoirs, and books by experts with distinctive perspectives and authority in their fields. 

Gabby began her career at CAA in 2023. She is from Toronto, Ontario, and is a graduate of Tufts University.

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 Saskatoon to Toronto 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.  

See reviews of and works inspired by Brian's classes, workshops, and retreats here.

Fee: $46.90 + 13% hst = $53 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. 

Note: To get new posting delivered to your Inbox as they go up, go to the Quick Brown Fox Substack and subscribe: https://brian999.substack.com/

Evolving schedule of writing classes, workshops, and retreats

2026

Writing Retreats

Fall Colours Writers' Retreat at Sherwood Inn on Lake Joseph in Muskoka Sunday, Oct 18 – Thursday, Oct 22. If you want a spot, sign up as soon as possible!
Details here. 

Spring Writers' Retreat at Elm Hurst Inn and Spa in Ingersoll (southwest Ontario) Friday, April 23 – Monday, April 26, 2027. Details here.

***

Writing Workshops

Online: “How to Get Published” with Gabby Sheiner, of Creative Artists Agency. Sunday, September 27. Details here.

In-person: Writing Kid Lit – a free workshop
Saturday, Oct 3, Merritt Branch Library, St. Catharines, Ontario. Details here. 

***

Fall Writing Courses

In-person “Intensive Creative Writing”
Thursday afternoons 12:30 – 3:00 p.m.
First readings emailed September 10
Classes: Sept 17 – Nov 26 (no class Oct 22) and we'll extend it to Dec 3 or 10 if the course fills up. 
Burlington Anglican Lutheran Church
3455 Lakeshore Rd, Burlington, Ontario.
Details here. Full, but email if your interested.

Online “Intensive Creative Writing”
Your choice of two different classes:
Tuesday evenings, Sept 15 – Dec 1 (or to Dec 8 if the class fills up)
First readings emailed September 8
Wednesday afternoons, Sept 16 – Dec 2 (or to Dec 9 if the class fills up)
First readings emailed September 9
     Details here.  Full, but email if your interested.

Online “Advanced Creative Writing”
Friday mornings, Sept 18 – Dec 3 (or to Dec 11 if the class fills up).
First readings emailed September 11.
  Details here.  Full, but email if your interested.

Online “Writing Personal Stories”
Tuesday afternoons, Sept 29 – Nov 17 (or to Nov 24 if the class fills up). Details here.
Still space available in this course!

Online “Welcome to Creative Writing”
Monday evenings, Oct 26 – Dec 7 (or to Dec 14 if the class fills up). Details here. 
Still space available in this course!

Email me for details at: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

To reserve a spot or for more details about any course, workshop or retreat, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Join us for the Muskoka Publishing Summit, with agents and publishers and me

The Muskoka Publishing Summit: From Manuscript to Market

Saturday, June 27
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
(Doors open at 8:30 a.m.)
Bracebridge United Church Auditorium
46 Dominion Street, Bracebridge, Ontario (Map here)

Writers, is this the year you finally take your manuscript to the next level?

Whether you’re dreaming of landing an agent, securing a publishing deal, self-publishing successfully, or simply learning how the publishing industry really works, this event is for you. Join literary agents, publishers, writing professionals, and industry experts.

The Line-Up of Speakers:

Sam Hiyate                 Literary Agent                          The Rights Factory

Helen Heller               Literary Agent                          Helen Heller Agency

Brian Henry                Book Editor/Writing Instructor       Quick Brown Fox

Jay Millar                   Publisher                                  Book Hug Press

Jenn Goulden            Publisher                                 Entourage Media

Jennifer Gordon        Printer/Publisher                   Marquis Publishing

Andrew Wagner-Chagazon        Magazine Editor   Dockside Magazine (and others)

Don Smith                  Magazine Editor/Founder    Unique Muskoka Magazine

Susan Salomonsson   CPA                             On the “business of writing”

Learn:

How to attract literary agents

What publishers are looking for

How to craft a compelling query letter

The realities of traditional, hybrid, and indie publishing

The business side of being an author

Plus:

Professional headshot opportunities

Silent auction featuring manuscript critiques and more

Networking with fellow writers and publishing professionals

I’m on at 9:00 a.m., talking about openings – how to hook your reader and get them dancing with you. Also, throughout the day, I’ll be doing one-on-ones, helping you with your query letter or opening page(s) ~Brian

Fee: Members: $35; Non-Members: $80

Lunch Included

Your manuscript deserves more than a desk drawer. Take the next step toward publication. To register simply email your contact info and e-transfer payment to info@muskokaauthors.ca

For more information, go to the Muskoka Authors Association Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/MuskokaAuthorsAssociation

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

Join us for a Kid Lit workshop with Patrica Ocampo, Senior Editor at Scholastic

Writing for Children & for Young Adults

~ with Patricia Ocampo, Senior Editor at                  Scholastic Books

Sunday, August 23, 2026
 1:15 – 5:00 p.m.
Online via Zoom and accessible wherever there’s Internet

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.

This is your chance to speak with someone within a publishing company in a small group setting and to pull back the curtain and see how it all works. Be sure to bring your questions – we'll have lots of time for interaction.

Special option: Participants are invited to submit the opening couple pages (first 500 words) of your children’s book or young adult novel (or up to 800 words if that gets you to the end of your picture book or to the end of your first chapter). Email your pages to me prior to our workshop.

Patricia and I will publicly critique about half a dozen submissions so everyone can see what works, what doesn’t, and how to improve your story-telling. Get your pages in early if you want to be part of this. If you’re not currently working on a children’s story, don’t worry, we’ll get you started. And, yes, if you want to submit to Scholastic, Patricia will be accepting queries from everyone who attends the workshop! ~Brian

Guest speaker Patricia Ocampo is a Senior Editor at Scholastic Canada. Scholastic Canada’s priority is publishing “kid picks” – books that children would spend their own money to read. Stories featuring Canadian culture, settings, and history are also a priority.

Patricia acquires fiction for babies, children, and tweens. She has a particular interest in laugh-out-loud stories – she’s forever looking for the Canadian Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging. Her favourite recent books that she developed are Way Off Track by Carl Brundtland (illustrated by Claudia Dàvila), Worm on the Job by Maureen Fergus (illustrated by Paul George Hammond), and Cat Shapes by Aidan Cassie.

Patricia has worked at Kids Can Press, Simon and Schuster, Annick Press, and HarperCollins. She was also a literary agent at Transatlantic Agency. Patricia served five years on the International Board on Books for Young People, including two years as president of the Canadian chapter. She teaches a course on editing books for children at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Chang School of Continuing Education.

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 called Toronto Metropolitan University). 

Brian’s led writing workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Saskatoon to Toronto to Charlottetown, 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 has helped many of his students get their first book published and launch their careers as authors.  

Read reviews and reflections on Brian’s retreats, classes and workshops here.

Fee: $46.90 + 13% hst = $53 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 four-day retreats here.

Join us for a free "Writing Kid Lit" workshop in St. Catharines

The St. Catharines Public Library presents: 

Writing Kid Lit – a free workshop

In person: Saturday, October 3
10 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Merritt Branch Library
221 Glendale Avenue, St. Catharines, Ontario
On the north side of the Niagara Pen Centre, next to the Dollarama (Map here)

This workshop is for adults (or teens) interested in writing Board Books, Picture Books, Chapter Books, Middle Grade books, or Young Adult novels, whether fiction or nonfiction, traditional text or a script for a graphic book. Whether 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.

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, and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Saskatoon to Toronto 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.  

See reviews of and works inspired by Brian's classes, workshops, and retreats here.

Register through the library website here.

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

Join us for “How to Get Published”

Author Kristy Jackson with her first two novels

How to Get Published

An editor, an author, and a literary agent tell all

Saturday, June 13, 2026
1:00 – 5:30 p.m. Toronto time
Offered online and accessible wherever there's Internet

If you've ever dreamed of becoming a published author, this workshop is for you. We’ll focus on the process of submitting to an agent or publisher, and show you exactly how to write a query letter that will get a “yes.” Bring all your questions. Come and get ready to be published!

Special Option: Participants are invited to prepare a draft of a query letter you might use to interest an agent or publisher in your book. You don't need to prepare anything, but if you like, email me a draft of your query prior to our workshop. Ali and I will critique several queries, so everyone can see what works, what doesn’t and how to improve your query. Do remember that agents come to these events wanting to hear what you’ve got. ~Brian

Guest speaker Ali McDonald is a Literary Agent and Partner with 5 Otter Literary. Starting in June all three agents at 5 Otter Literary will be open to submissions. 

In fifteen years as an international literary agent, Ali has represented many award-winning and bestselling authors and illustrators. While 5 Otter Literary represents authors writing for both adult and children’s markets, Ali specializes in children’s and young adult literature. She works on projects ranging from concept and novelty books, to board books, picture books, early readers, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, and new adult – both fiction and nonfiction – to graphic novels for all ages.

Her specialization has always been science fiction and fantasy for underrepresented and marginalized voices, especially queer voices, but she’s open to almost anything!

Her list is focused on books kids actually want to read. That frequently looks like genre fiction: humour, romance, action/adventure, magical realism, thriller, mystery, horror, and speculative fiction of any kind. Really though she just wants great stories with great characters.

She’s particularly drawn to high concepts, atmospheric settings, gorgeous prose, a strong emotional core, an underlying social or political commentary, unforgettable characters, and distinctive voices.

She’d really like a “puzzle” mystery for either middle grade or YA; a contemporary realistic young adult novel centering incarcerated teens; five-minutes in the future speculative fiction for middle grade or YA; survivalist stories; stories centred on horseback riding; short young teen plot-driven novels for reluctant readers; and spooky picture books.

Guest speaker Kristy Jackson is the award-winning children's book author of Mortified (HarperCollins 2024), which was shortlisted for a Governor General’s Literary Award, a Forest of Reading Award and more. Her second novel, Touching Grass (HarperCollins 2025) won the 2025 Northern Lights Book Awards Middle Grade Book of the Year, was chosen as the #8 Indigo Best Kids' Book of 2025, and more. 

Her next two books will also be middle grade novels: December Vacation (slated for 2027) and an untitled novel slated for publication in 2028, both with Simon & Schuster Canada.

Kristy is represented by Olga Filina of the 5 Otter Literary agency in Toronto. Her work draws inspiration from her Cree and German background and her long list of embarrassing moments. 

Kristy's been a proud participant in many of Brian's classes and workshops since 2020. She lives in Saskatoon and is a mother of two boys, a communications professional, and an active volunteer. 

At the workshop, Kristy will talk about “What I wish I knew about getting published” and will answer all your questions. 

Note: 5 Otter Literary has taken on participants from previous workshops.  Besides Kristy’s book deals, 5 Otter Literary landed Matteo L. Cerilli a two-book deal with Tundra, the Penguin-Random House's imprint for kid lit, a middle grade novel to Harper, and a two book YA deal with Bloomsbury US; Karina Kaushal who’s working on rom-coms; and Sue Kelly co-author, with Greg Murdock, of A is For Ancestor. ~Brian

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, and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Saskatoon to Toronto 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.  

See reviews of and works inspired by Brian's classes, workshops, and retreats here.

Fee: $47.79 + 13% hst = $54 paid in advance by mail or Interac

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

Note: Get new postings from Quick Brown Fox delivered to your In Box as they go up. Subscribe to my Substack here. ~Brian

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

Join us for a “Writing your life” workshop

Writing your life and other true stories

Sunday, April 12, 2026
1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Offered online and accessible wherever there's Internet

Have you ever considered writing your memoirs or family history? This workshop will introduce you to the tricks and conventions of telling true stories and will show you how to use the techniques of the novel to recount actual events. Whether you want to write for your family or for a wider public, don't miss this workshop.

Guest speaker Sue Williams lives in Guelph, Ontario, with her husband. She worked as an occupational therapist and never dreamt of being a writer. But, after a life altering experience, she found herself with a story she felt needed telling and set about learning how to tell it.

Sue’s memoir, Ready to Come About (Dundurn Press, 2019) is endorsed by Miriam Toews, New York Times best-selling author of Women Talking, and Cate Cochran, CBC Radio producer of The Sunday Edition. It has been promoted by The Globe and Mail, Canadian Yachting, Good Old Boat, and her professional magazine, Occupational Therapy Now. 

Ready to Come About has also been a staff pick at many independent bookstores, it’s been discussed in at least 42 book clubs to date, and it’s been released as an audiobook by Scribd (now Everand) and has been translated into Portuguese.

Sue has just completed a novel set in the largely invisible world of home care for which she is looking for a publishing home. 

You can read more about Ready to Come About at Dundurn Press 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, and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Saskatoon to Toronto 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.  

See reviews of and works inspired by Brian's classes, workshops, and retreats here.

Fee: $36.28 plus hst = $41

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

Note: Get new postings from Quick Brown Fox delivered to your In Box as they go up. Subscribe to my Substack here. ~Brian

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

"Writing your query letter," a free workshop in St. Catharines

The St. Catharines Public Library presents:

Writing your query letter – a free workshop

In person: Saturday, March 28
10 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Merritt Branch Library
221 Glendale Avenue, St. Catharines, Ontario
On the north side of the Niagara Pen Centre, next to the Dollarama (Map here)

If you've ever dreamed of becoming a published author, this workshop is for you. We’ll focus on the process of submitting to an agent or publisher, and show you exactly how to write a query letter that will get a “yes.” Bring all your questions. Come and get ready to be published!

Special Option: Participants are invited (but don't have to) to prepare a draft of a query letter you might use to interest an agent or publisher in your book. Brian will publicly critique a few queries, so everyone can see what works, what doesn’t and how to make it better.

Send your query to Brian at: brain.henry123@gmail.com

In the subject line, put: Query for March 28 St Kits workshop

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, teaches creative writing at Ryerson University, and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Saskatoon to Toronto 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.  

See reviews of and works inspired by Brian's classes, workshops, and retreats here.

Register through the library website here.
Just 20 spots available!

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