Kudos to Theresa, Margaret, Janice and Julie, plus Lorraine needs Beta readers

Dear Brian,

I’m so pleased to send you this update: my first book deal! Thank you so much for all your classes, some of which I took more than once as I was learning to write and learning about the publishing industry. The work you do is so valuable to writers!

I attached my Publisher’s Marketplace announcement below.

Many thanks!!

Theresa Therrien

Note: If you’re interested in getting published, join us for “How to Get Published” with guest Olga Filina, literary agent and partner with 5 Otter Literary, Sunday, February 8. Details here.   

Hi, Brian.

I am looking for Beta Readers to help me take my character-driven low-key crime novel Mid-Life Margaret to the next level. I have been workshopping components of this novel in classes since 2016 and I think it is finally time to cut her loose. 

The manuscript is 90,000 words, set in Hamilton and focuses on Margaret as she experiences neighbourhood challenges that she can’t seem to ignore. 

At this point I would be grateful for readers who will look at the whole story and let me know what’s working and what’s not. 

I would be happy to answer questions and provide more information and the manuscript to anyone interested in reading and providing feedback.

If you might like to be a Beta reader for me, please email me at: lorraineyoung@cogeco.ca

Thank you.

All the best,

Lorraine Young 

 

Hi, Brian.

I'm so excited to tell you that two pieces of mine have been accepted for publication. "I am a Stone" appears in the current issue of The Zodiac Review and "Hidden Places" will be published in the upcoming issue of The Summerset Review, out on the 14th of December – here.

I workshopped both of those pieces in your Friday Intensive Creative Writing Course. I received invaluable feedback received from you and the class participants, which helped me make them so much better. Thank you!

All the very best,

Margaret Ries

Note: Check out all the weekly classes starting in the new year here.

 

Hi, Brian:

I hope you are well. 

Just sharing the news that I had a second story picked up by the Globe and Mail First Person section.  

Thank you for all your support!!!

Janice Locke

You can read Janice’s essay, “My apple cores brought nature to my doorstep – then some bigger guests arrived” in the Globe and Mail here. Or read an earlier version of the same essay on Quick Brown Fox here.

For information on submitting a First Person essay to the Globe and Mail (and a few other great places to submit), see here.

Hi, Brian.

A few years ago, I participated in one of your Creative Writing groups. At the time, I shared parts of a feminist thriller I started writing in 2019. However, after several years of querying, I gave up, set it aside and began to work on other things. 

All that changed early this year when the American president and his billionaire friends decided to dismantle democracy, starting with women's rights. All of the news headlines could have been lifted from my six-year-old manuscript, Make No Mistake: The Novel.

I knew I needed to get that novel out to readers as quickly as possible (it is a story of resistance and hope) and so I released Make No Mistake initially on Substack as serial fiction. A bit of an unorthodox approach, but Substack offered the ideal platform, allowing me to share a few chapters at a time, and build readership.

I also turned it into a podcast (on Substack, Apple and Spotify). Within two months, I published it as a paperback and e-book (Indigo, Barnes & Noble, Amazon). 

The comments and feedback from readers (over 1,500 on Substack) and listeners (over 4,100 downloads) was both immediate and enthusiastic. 

The novel has been nominated for the Eric Hoffer Book Awards, and selected by a number of book clubs across several provinces as their next read. It's been fun joining the book clubs in person or online for their discussions.

None of this would have been possible without the feedback and encouragement from your Intensive Creative Writing group.

As a way of thanking you, I want to share with you the Acknowledgement page from the paperback. I hope my words convey my appreciation for your contribution to this writing journey.

Julie Wise

See where else your fellow writers are getting short pieces published here (and scroll down).

See new books by your fellow writers here (and scroll down).

If you’ve had a story (or a book!) published, if you’ve won or placed in a writing contest, if you’ve gotten yourself an agent, or if you have any other news, send me an email so I can share your success. As writers, we’re all in this together, and your good news gives us all a boost. Email me at: brain.henry123@gmail.com

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

You're invited to an art exhibit

Hi, Brian.

I value your newsletters, and I’m glad more and more people are appreciating you. I wanted to let you know I have two pieces in the upcoming Toronto Heliconian Club's April visual arts show, A Portrait by Any Other Name.

Both my pieces are based on my memoir of my high school teaching years that we were working on in the Friday morning class (and that I confess I’m still editing). The show's free of charge, and open to the public on Saturday, April 6, 2-5 pm, and Wednesday, April 10, 4-7:30 pm, at 35 Hazelton Avenue, Toronto, Ontario (Map here).

I hope to seen lots of people there.

Best as ever,

Ellen Michelson

Note: Our upcoming courses “Welcome to Creative Writing” (see here) and “Writing Personal Stories” (see here) still have spaces. 

Ellen

A Portrait by Any Other Name

Heliconian visual artists were invited to contribute visual portraits of any subject in any media, to confirm the genre’s relevance in an age of selfies and AI.  All club members were invited to contribute pen portraits, or character sketches, to the exhibit as well. The work on display may originate from encounters between the artist and herself, her subject or her imagination. 

Visitors are encouraged to think about portraiture’s potential for reflecting essence and ideas. In the words of the artist, Eileen Powers:

"At its most universal, a portrait is the essence of the subject, but that subject is not limited to people; a portrait can be any reflection of an essence or idea."

Join us for the Reception on Saturday, April 6, 2 – 5 pm.

A second public opening is on Wednesday April 10, 4 – 7:30 pm.

View the exhibit through April by appointment: email rentals@heliconianclub.org to arrange a time.

The show runs from April 4 to May 1, 2024. Admission is free.

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

To see where else your fellow writers are having success, see here (and scroll down).

Beta reader wanted and kudos to Jane – Also, if you have some good news to share, let me know!

Hi, Brian.

As I ready the first draft of my new novel for submission, I find myself in need of a beta reader. I will happily critique a fellow writer's work in return. Here's a quick summary of my story, working title, GRIDLOCKED:

Amidst the fervour of the 1960 presidential election between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, three women from different walks of life unite to take on the stodgy crossword world. 

Sharp-minded but lonely Nina, an Italian-American housewife who served as a cryptanalyst during the war, is obsessed with constructing crosswords that bend brains. It's just too bad New York's finest daily newspapers refuse to publish tough puzzles by women like her.

Carmen, an ambitious not-quite middle-aged widow from Spanish Harlem with dreams of becoming a crossword editor at the newspaper where she works, can't break through the glass ceiling. Once a blessing, her looks and sex are holding her back.

Billie-Mae, a young domestic worker from Brooklyn, yearns to solve crosswords that reflect her youth, race, and experiences. At the same time, impressing the Ivy-league boy she's fallen in love with wouldn't hurt. Through their collective determination, these three women band together to overcome the barriers they each face and to ignite change in the modern crossword world.

GRIDLOCKED comes in at 85,000 words and will appeal to fans of Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus or The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis. 

If this story sounds like something you'd like to help see the light of day, please contact me at shaunaclinning@gmail.com

Many, many thanks!

Shauna

Hi, Brian:

For your information, I'm a finalist in The Fiddlehead fiction contest, and the winner will be announced this month. My story, “Missing,” was workshopped with your Friday morning intensive class last year.

Jane Finlayson

For information about submitting to The Fiddlehead and their annual contests, see here.  

I you’re interested in writing contests, consider getting The 2024 Canadian Writers’ Contest Calendar. See here.

And check out where else your fellow writers are getting published. See here {and scroll down}.

If you need beta readers or have good news to share …

If you’ve had a story (or a book!) published, if you’ve won or placed in a writing contest, if you’ve gotten yourself an agent, or if you have any other news, send me an email so I can share your success. As writers, we’re all in this together, and your good news gives us all a boost. 

Also, be sure to let know if you're looking for a writers' group or beta readers; a notice in Quick Brown Fox, will help you find them. 

Email me at: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

***

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

 

Children's author Lana Button is available for school presentations

If you're a teacher, school librarian, or principal you want to have Lana in to give a presentation – or if you have child in kindergarten to Grade 6, talk to your child’s teacher about getting Lana in. I’ve heard her present many times and she’s great. ~Brian 

Lana Button is an early childhood educator and the children's author of 11 popular picture books. Her 45-minute school presentation describes the writing and editing process and incorporates social-emotional learning as she shares three of her books aloud, and then discusses empathy, resilience, and inclusion.

Lana's presentations have often been described as inspiring, educational and entertaining, and involve student participation, singing, movement breaks, and a question-answer period. She performs her books out loud while displaying illustrations on a large screen for every student to enjoy.

Two Presentation Options:

Kindergarten to Grade 3

Grade 4 to Grade 6 

Testimonials:

"Lana was an incredibly engaging presenter for our K-5 students and brought up many pertinent topics like wealth inequality and empathy through perspective-taking in student-friendly ways. She was able to connect to a whole gym full of students through her personal stories, picture books, and personality. I would highly recommend having her come talk at your school!"
  - Alexis Silvera, Teacher-Librarian, Crystal View Elementary, Victoria, BC

“Lana is a wonderfully engaging presenter.  She had our kindergarten students’ attention from the moment she began speaking as a result of her sunny disposition and charming manner of presenting to groups. -Amy Westbury, Teacher
- Librarian, Bruce Trail Public School, Milton, ON

“Lana's name and the excellence of her presentation still resonates strongly with ALL the students and staff!!”
  - Karen Upper, Library Technician, Sundridge Elementary School, Sundridge, ON

What reviewers have said about Lana's books:

Tough Like Mum

One of CCBC’s Best Books for Kids and Teens, Fall 2021
A Canadian Children's Book Centre Favourite Book of the Year (2021)
“Powerful in its vulnerability.” —Kirkus Reviews
"Powerful stuff." —Wall Street Journal
"This tender tale imparts that asking for help shows toughness, too." —New York Times.        

 Tayra’s Not Talking

... a beautifully illustrated empathetic story about inclusion for primary-age children who may have or will encounter instances of nonverbal communication.—CM Magazine

 Raj’s Rule for the Bathroom at School

CCBC’s Best Bet, 2020

"Button subtly and effectively conveys how actions related to anxiety might disrupt a child’s academic and social performance, but this read-aloud will resonate with any reader who has faced a fear."
— Publishers Weekly

 You can find lots more information about Lana and her books at www.lanabutton.com or through social media @lanabutton

Contact her directly for more information or to book at lanabutton3@gmail.com

Let's connect on Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok

***

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

Come read your work to an audience, Saturday, Oct 21, in Toronto at the Salon of the Refused

Hi, Brian.

I am organizing a literary event in Toronto and, at this point, I'm trying to recruit writers who might be interested in taking advantage of the opportunity to read their work. I've posted the details below. If you would have any way to connect Toronto writers with this opportunity, I'd be very grateful.

Wayne

Salon of the Refused

https://salonoftherefused.ca/2023/08/22/salon-of-the-refused-toronto/

You are invited to participate in a literary event that takes its inspiration from the 1863 Salon des Refusés. It is a celebration of writing that was initially rejected. It is also a celebration of marginalized communities who often feel rejected by mainstream society. 

If you have a poem or a work of micro-fiction whose value went unrecognized when you first submitted it to either a literary journal or competition, regardless whether it was eventually published or not, we invite you to give your work redemption in front of a live audience.

Saturday, October 21
 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Trinity-St Paul's, Memorial Room
427 Bloor St W, Toronto (Map here)

Time limit for each author: 10 minutes maximum

Word limit: Either a short work of under 1,500 words or an excerpt of similar length from a longer piece

If you are interested in contributing your writing to this event, please send email to the event organizer (Wayne Johnston) at wajohnst@uoguelph.ca

In your email, please include the following:

• Your name
• Your preferred method of contact (email or text)
• Title of the piece(s) you will read
• Brief bio statement
• How many supporters (friends and family) will be with you? (to ensure we don't exceed the space limitations)
• Would you like to sell and/or disseminate your work at the event?

Also, please attach to the email whatever it is you intend to read.

If you have any questions, please email me at wajohnst@uoguelph.ca

 ***

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