The 2025 Prairie Horizons Conference for writers of Kid Lit

 

CANSCAIP Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Writers Guild present:

    The 2025 Prairie Horizons Conference

       “Don’t Drop Out: Speak Out, Stand Out!”

            ~ for writers of Kid Lit

Friday May 16 – Sunday, May 18, 2025
Park Town Hotel, 924 Spadina Crescent E, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Map here)

If you want to write for young people, Saskatoon is the place to be this spring. The line-up of speakers includes Picture Book author Lana Button who will be giving the keynote address, Emma Sakamoto managing editor of Groundwood Books, middle grade author and Governor General Awards finalist Kristy Jackson, and me, Brian Henry of Quick Brown Fox. Plus, many other children’s publishers, authors and an illustrator.

Talks and panels include everything from “How do I stand out?” to “How to craft a hook that stands out.” and “From boring to bling!” Plus, many others topics.

Emma Sakomoto, managing editor
Groundwood Books

Participants will also have an opportunity for a One-on-One Manuscript Evaluation. Brian Henry, Ed Willet of Shadow Paw Press, Deana Driver, publisher of DriverWorks Ink, and Emma Sakamoto of Groundwood Books will evaluate manuscript. Brian can also help you out with your query letter. (And I’m also okay with looking at your synopsis, the start of your nonfiction proposal or whatever else you want feedback on.)

Register for the conference and (optional) your manuscript evaluation here.

Conference Schedule at a glance:

Friday, May 16

4:00 – 5:00 pm Early Arrival Walking Tour Option “Discover the History and Arts of Downtown Saskatoon” (meet in lobby at 4pm for those joining us)

6:00 – 6:45 pm Registration – Cedar Room

6:45 – 7:00 pm Opening Remarks

7:00 – 8:15 pm “How Do I Stand Out?” – Publishing Panel: DEANA DRIVER, EMMA SAKAMOTO, EDWARD, WILLETT, BRIAN HENRY (MODERATOR)

8:15 – 8:30 pm Break (**Cash bar, Hot Appetizers provided**)

8:30 – 9:30 pm “Speak Out! in Spoken Word” - KHODI DILL (author/performer)

Saturday, May 17

 **Coffee and snacks provided throughout the day; Lunch provided**

8:30 am – 5:15 pm One-on-One Evaluations of Manuscripts (pre-register and pre-scheduled throughout the day) 

8:30 – 9:30 am “Why Should I Speak Out?” The Moral Imperative of Speaking Out on Injustice and Racism – CORT DOGNIEZ (author/storyteller)

9:30 – 10:00 am Break (coffee and snacks provided throughout the day)

10:00 – 11:00 am “Make Your Work Stand Out!” Marketing Panel – authors: LANA BUTTON, VICTORIA KOOPS, DIANNE YOUNG, ALICE KUIPERS, MAUREEN ULRICH (MODERATOR)

11:00 am – 12 pm “How to Craft a Hook that Stands Out!” – ALICE KUIPERS (author)

12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch (provided)

1:00 – 2:00 pm “Comic Relief: How to Create Compelling Narratives Through an Illustrative Medium” – RHAEL MCGREGOR (illustrator)

Dana Church signing her latest book,
The Monarch Effect

2:00 – 3:00 pm “I Want to Speak Out, but I Don’t Know How!” Tips and Tricks for Writing Nonfiction – DANA CHURCH (nonfiction author)

3:00 – 3:15 pm Group Photo

3:15 – 4:00 pm Break

4:00 – 5:15 pm “Characters That Speak Out and Stand Out” – Creating Outstanding Diverse Characters Panel – authors VICTORIA KOOPS, CORT DOGNIEZ, KRISTY JACKSON, ADAM POTTLE, MARY BISHOP (MODERATOR)

5:15 – 7:00 pm Supper (not provided, *limited space reserved for attendees in Park Town dining*)

7:00 – 8:15 pm KEYNOTE: LANA BUTTON (author)  “There Are Seven Audiences for Your Story—Let’s Captivate Them All!”

8:15 – 8:30 pm Break (Cash bar, Snacks provided)

8:30 – 9:30 pm “It’s Your Turn to Stand Up and Speak Out” - Open Mic – DIANNE YOUNG (MODERATOR)

Sunday, May 18

**coffee and muffins provided**

9:00 – 10:15 am “Stand Out – Take Your Text from Boring to Bling” – Brian Henry

10:15 – 10:45 Conference Wrap-Up

11:00 – 11:30 am CANSCAIP PRAIRIE HORIZONS AGM (CANSCAIP members)

More about the conference and the speakers at the CANSCAIP Saskatchewan website here.

Register for the conference and (optional) your manuscript evaluation here.

Author Kristy Jackson & Brian

Brian Henry has been a book editor, writer and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. A former instructor at Ryerson University (now known as TMU), he now teaches weekly writing courses and one-day workshops online and in-person in the Toronto area and leads weekend writing retreats. He’s also the author of a children’s version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Tribute Publishing). 

But Brian’s proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get published and launch their careers as authors, including Kelley Armstrong, Erin Silver, Jennifer Mook-Sang, and Saskatoon’s GG finalist, Kristy Jackson. Lana Button, the keynote speaker for the Prairie Horizons Conference still comes to Brian’s workshops, but now as a presenter, rather than as an attendee.

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

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

Get your opening pages critiqued, learn how to write a query that gets a yes, have your query re-written, and much, much more at the Windsor International Writers Conference

The Windsor International Writers Conference presents…

ROUNDTABLE No.1 – Your Opening Pages

Friday, July 10, 2020
9:45 – 11:40 a.m.

The in-person conference has been cancelled, but may be replaced by an online conference. Revisit this space for updates or check out the conference website here. 

Ambassador Bridge Holiday Inn, 1855 Huron Church Road, Windsor, Ontario  (Map here.)

Every Wicked Man by Steven James,
a key note speaker at the conference

Brian Henry will lead a table at this session. Each writer presents 5 pages and receives critiques from the leaders and their peers. (Timer and staff at each table. Presenters must provide copies of their work for every person at the table.) Approximate time per person will be 10-15 minutes . Last fifteen minutes will either be a wrap-up by the leaders or they answer questions.

This Roundtable is part of the Windsor International Writers Conference, Friday, July 10, through Sunday, July 12. 

See the conference schedule here and registration here.

Writing Query Letters that Get a Yes

Saturday, July 11, 2020
Time to be announced
The in-person conference has been cancelled, but may be replaced by an online conference. Revisit this space for updates or check out the conference website here. 

Ambassador Bridge Holiday Inn, 1855 Huron Church Road, Windsor, Ontario  (Map here.)

If you want to get the attention of an agent or a publisher, you need to craft a good query letter. Using real life examples, this seminar shows you how to do it. There isn’t just one way to write a successful query, and your query doesn’t have to be perfect; it just needs to persuade an agent that you’ve got a book that they can successfully pitch to a publisher.

This seminar is part of the Windsor International Writers Conference, which runs Friday, July 6, through Sunday, July 8. 
See the conference schedule here and registration here.

And as a bonus, book a short one-on-one consult with Brian to make your query perfect. Just ask when you book your spot at the conference.

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 has helped many of his students get their first book published and launch their careers as authors.

Read reviews of Brian's workshops, classes, and writing retreats here (and scroll down).

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