Interior Authors Group 2021 Christmas Social in Shanghai Mandarin Restaurant, Kamloops

 

writerly news for November 2021

-Thoughts on different ways of structuring a memoir. tinyurl.com/uc8ethr5

-Ensemble is a Canada-based travel magazine open to queries from writers. Info here. http://www.ensemblevacations.ca/about-us.html

-Writing about adversaries in fiction. Good, comprehensive article here. tinyurl.com/2xne55nn

-Writing a "good" fight scene. https://nybookeditors.com/.../how-to-write-a-convincing.../

-The Chicago-based magazine Christian Century is open to queries & submissions from writers. https://www.christiancentury.org/submission-guidelines

-CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL pays for stories & poems it uses, & invites submissions on a wide range of topics. https://www.chickensoup.com/story.../possible-book-topics

-If you're not going to promote your book, why did you write it? Article here. tinyurl.com/wy5wea9b

-Ways to add surprise to your story. tinyurl.com/pwvn2

-Off Assignment is a literary magazine open to articles about up-close-&-personal-experiences in off-the-beaten-track places anywhere in the world. Submissions info here. https://www.offassignment.com/write-for-us

writerly news for October 2021

Happy autumn! Here's news regarding marketing your writing and art, also three articles about the craft of writing.

 

-Red Deer Press of Markham, Ontario is open to submissions of children's books & books for adults. Info here. https://www.reddeerpress.com/red-deer-press-submissions

 

-Kids Can Press of Toronto publishes picture books and fiction and nonfiction for young readers. Currently Kids Can is seeking:

Non-rhyming picture books for ages 3 5, 3–7, and 4–8

Nonfiction for ages 5–8, 7–10, 8–12, and 10–14

Early fiction for ages 6–9

Graphic novels (fiction and nonfiction) for all ages.

Full guidelines. https://www.kidscanpress.com//writers

 

-As well as inviting submissions from writers, Kids Can Press is also interested in hearing from illustrators. Illustrator guidelines here. https://www.kidscanpress.com//illustratorsKids

 

-The Antigonish Review of Antigonish, Nova Scotia is a paying market for poetry, fiction, cover art, non-fiction of various kinds. Submissions information here. https://antigonishreview.com/index.php?option=com_content...

 

-The Fiddlehead is based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. They consider submissions of poetry & various kinds of fiction & non-fiction—6000 words or less. For more information, use your browser to search for The Fiddlehead submissions.

 

-Newish publisher Arouca Press of Waterloo, Ontario publishes conservative/traditional Catholic books. They're not open for submissions right now, but may be later. Worth keeping in mind if you write that kind of thing. http://aroucapress.com/manuscript-submissions

 

-History Magazine of Niagara Falls, New York and Ajax, Ontario is open to queries regarding proposed articles about 2000 words long. They also publish trivia articles 450-500 words long. They pay 8 cents a word. Submissions guidelines are here. https://www.history-magazine.com/anotes.html

 

-Indian Life/Intertribal Christian Communications is based in Winnipeg, MB & Pembina, ND. They say: "We are a bi-monthly Native North American newspaper whose purpose is to present good news of what's happening across Indian Country." 20% freelance. Welcomes new writers. Pays on publication. Buys first rights. No reprints. Responds within six weeks. For more, see https://tinyurl.com/acyfm6vz

 

-Can you write about motorbiking and/or cycling? Here are some possible markets. tinyurl.com/58cpfr92

 

-Vox is a general interest publication covering a range of subjects — from policy and politics to culture and tech to science and health. Submissions guidelines here. https://www.vox.com/.../how-to-pitch-vox-pitching-guidelines

 

-Zoomer magazine is a Canadian periodical for people age 45-plus. Zoomer magazine and Everything Zoomer website invite writers and artists to submit pitches. We read all submissions but will only contact you if we're interested in publishing your material.

Email submissions to: p.muggeridge@zoomermag.com

 

-How to find the theme of your non-fiction book. tinyurl.com/yw4t7awc

 

-How can you convey emotion in your writing? https://tinyurl.com/fpccckrb

 

-Tell us what it's not. Good article about writing effective descriptions. https://tinyurl.com/49fnns6t

 

Photo courtesy of Esther Martens of Elbow, Saskatchewan

 

 

 

 

novel FIFTEEN DOGS by Andre Alexis reviewed by Elma Schemenauer

Andre Alexis's novel FIFTEEN DOGS is about what happens when fifteen dogs gain human intelligence/consciousness while still retaining dog intelligence/consciousness. Greek gods Apollo and Hermes grant them this "gift" to try to find the answer to this question: Would dogs be happier or unhappier if they were more like human beings?

It's an interesting question and I liked the book, which is set in various familiar-to-me parts of Toronto—High Park, the Beaches, Kingston Road, etc. I especially enjoyed the poetry created by one of the dogs, Prince. Here's an example from page 29 of my copy of the book:

Beyond the hills, a master is

who knows our secret names.

With bell and bones, he'll call us home,

winter, fall or spring.

Sadly, most of the other fifteen "gifted" dogs don't appreciate Prince's poetry. It gets him into serious trouble. Ultimately this is a sad book, but it's also entertaining, insightful, and thought-provoking.

Author Andre Alexis was born in Trinidad. He has lived, written, and won major writing awards in Canada for many years.