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/

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. 

"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.

Join us for "How to Get Published" with literary agent Olga Filina

“How to Get Published”

An editor & a literary agent tell all

Sunday, February 8, 2026
9:15 a.m. – 1:00 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. Olga 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 Olga Filina is a Literary Agent and Partner with 5 Otter Literary.

Olga brings over twenty years of book industry experience to her work as an agent. From bookseller and buyer at national and independent bookstore chains, to director of literary festivals, library board member, publishing consultant, independent editor, book reviewer, and founding member of the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents, Olga has the specialized knowledge to find the best direction for her clients’ work.

Olga is currently looking for literary and book club fiction, historical fiction, crime, mystery, and suspense novels. She also wants prescriptive nonfiction projects, and memoir with exceptional writing focusing on underrepresented voices.

In Kid Lit, she is looking for middle grade fiction with memorable characters, contemporary YA, and nonfiction across all categories.

For 2025/2026, Olga is living in Vietnam and sees the sun 12 hours sooner than we do in Toronto, which is why this workshop is being held in the morning rather than the afternoon.

Note: 5 Otter Literary has taken on participants from four previous workshops Olga and I did together. 5 Otter landed Matteo L. Cerilli a two-book deal with Tundra, the Penguin-Random House's imprint for kid lit (see here), a middle grade novel to Harper (see here) and a two book YA deal with Bloomsbury US (see here); Kristy Jackson a two-book deal with Harper-Collins (the second book Touching Grass, just came  out see here); 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: $45.13 + 13% hst = $51 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 Brian’s upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and weekend retreats here. 

Join us for “How to Get Published” with Marie Lamba of the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency

Werewolf Hamlet by Kerry Madden-Lunsford
represented by Marie Lamba

“How to Get Published”

With literary agent Marie Lamba of the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency 

Sunday, September 7, 2025
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. Marie 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 Marie Lamba is a senior literary agent with the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency (JDLA), a New York City–based full-service literary agency founded in 2001 and named one of the top 25 literary agencies in the country by Writer's Digest.

The seven agents at JDLA represent children’s literature for all ages – picture books, middle-grade, and young adult novels – and also represent high-quality adult fiction and nonfiction in a wide range of genres. JDLA is also proud to represent illustrators, as well as screenwriters for both television and film. For more on the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency, see here.  

Besides being a literary agent who represents both fiction and nonfiction for adults and for children, Marie is herself an author. To date, she’s published five books: the young adult novels What I Meant...  (Random House), Over My Head, and Drawn, and the picture books A Day So Gray  (Clarion) and Green, Green  (Farrar Straus Giroux). 

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: $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. 

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/

New date for "How to Get Published" workshop with literary agent Bridgette Kam

Once Upon a Sari by Zenia Wadhwani
represented by Bridgette Kam

“How to Get Published”

An editor & a literary agent tell all

Saturday, June 21, 2025
Saturday, May 31, 2025
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. Bridgette 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 Bridgette Kam is a literary agent with Westwood Creative Artists. WCA is one of Canada’s largest literary agencies and also one of the oldest and most respected. The staff includes six full-time literary agents. Clients include Rohinton Mistry, Gina Buonaguro, Joanne Levy, Dennis Block, Kate Jenks Landry, Judy Anny Sadler, Linda Trinh, Alan Doyle, Thomas King, and Yann Martel. 

Bridgette joined WCA in 2019 after interning at McClelland & Stewart. She represents authors across three main areas: book club or upmarket fiction, nonfiction, and kid lit (middle grade, YA, and picture books). She’s looking for outstanding books in all these categories.

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 Windsor 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: $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. 

You're invited to "How to Get Published" with Canadian literary agent Rachel Letofsky

The Dutch Orphan by Ellen Keith
represented by Rachel Letofsky

“How to Get Published”

An editor & a literary agent tell all

Sunday, December 1, 2024
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. Rachel 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 Rachel Letofsky is a literary agent with CookeMcDermid. One of Canada’s larger agencies, CookeMcDermid was founded in 2017 when two preeminent literary agencies, The Cooke Agency and The McDermid Agency, amalgamated, combining nearly 50 years of experience.

CookeMcDermid is a full-service literary agency representing authors in many genres in Canada, the United States, and throughout the world. This includes literary, commercial and speculative fiction; a broad range of narrative nonfiction; health, wellness and lifestyle resources; as well as middle-grade and young adult books. These books have been adapted into major motion pictures and translated into over 60 languages. 

CookeMcDermid sells directly into Canada, US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and India, and translation rights in conjunction with 35 co-agents around the world. CookeMcDermid also has an in-house film/tv division that sells these rights directly, or works with associates to do so, in accordance with the needs of the project.

Rachel Letofsky specializes in children’s literature (middle-grade and YA, fiction and nonfiction), narrative-driven nonfiction and literary, commercial, contemporary and historical fiction for adults.

Rachel is actively seeking ground-breaking and heart-breaking middle grade and YA titles in all genres. She is drawn in equal measure to works with a whimsical nature or a grounded, gritty edge, though in either instance, unforgettable characters and original concepts are a must.

Rachel also has a soft spot for exquisite literary fiction and thought-provoking, high-concept speculative fiction. In nonfiction, Rachel is looking for narrative-driven memoirs, and anything quirky, life-affirming or mind-blowing.

Also: “Brian, As a bit of a scoop for you and your attendees … I am actively seeking thrillers now (a genre I hadn’t traditionally represented) and looking specifically for historically based true crime (but not commonly known and previously well-covered cases), nonfiction too these days, and I really want to find a fun Jewish Rom-Com too!”

Rachel is on X (formerly Twitter) at @rachelletofsky

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 Windsor 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: $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. 

You're invited to "How to Get Published," an online workshop with literary agent Gordon Warnock

The Off Season by Amber Cowie
represented by Fuse Literary

How to Get Published

An editor & a literary agent tell all

Sunday, July 21, 2024
1:15 – 5:00 p.m. Toronto time
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. Gordon 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 Gordon Warnock is a founding partner at Fuse Literary, a full-service literary agency based in the Silicon Valley, with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Dallas, and Halifax. Fuse has seven agents, four of whom are currently accepting queries.

Gordon represents New York Times bestsellers and debut authors alike, seeking to amplify historically marginalized voices and grow sustainable, long-term writing careers with an eye on actively creating change in the publishing industry and the culture as a whole. 

He's interested in both fiction and nonfiction for adults, young adults, and middle grade.  He’s looking for fresh concepts that excite him before he even starts reading and tension-filled prose that won’t let him stop. 

His fiction list focuses on high-concept suspense, book club women’s fiction, and literary fiction for adults as well as graphic novels for adults, teens, and tweens. He’s interested in a variety of nonfiction and wants projects in which the book is part of something larger, of which you are the expert, the one best fit to bring it to the page.

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 Windsor 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 & reflections on Brian's classes, workshops, and retreats here.

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.