new Catholic publisher & book about writing

A fairly new Catholic publisher is Milwaukee-based Wiseblood Books: http://www.wisebloodbooks.com/. They’re not open to queries now but could be later. They publish new editions of classics, also previously unpublished books. One of the latter is THE CATHOLIC WRITER TODAY by Dana Gioia, http://www.wisebloodbooks.com/dana-gioia.html [thin book, price $5]. One reviewer says “It sets a mighty finger on the scales of literature: on the one side what matters and lasts, and on the other what’s shallow and doesn’t....Its arguments about Catholic literature could be applied to American writing in general.” I guess we may assume they also apply to Canadian writing.

 

Elma Schemenauer, author of 75 books published in Canada and the USA, editor of many more, elmams@shaw.ca, http://elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca/, http://www.elma03.com.

 

literary agents open to submissions

Roz Foster at the Dijkstra Agency is interested in literary and commercial fiction, literary sci-fi, and literary YA. Also non-fiction in current affairs, design, business, cultural anthropology/social science, politics, psychology and memoir.
Contact: E-query:roz@dijkstraagency.com and paste a one-page synopsis, brief bio, and the first 10-15 pages of your manuscript in the body of the email.

Emma Patterson of Brandt and Hochman. Seeking: Literary and commercial fiction, upmarket women's fiction, historical fiction, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, memoir, food writing, and YA and MG fiction and nonfiction. Would also love to find a great new MG novel.
Contact: Email at epatterson@bromasite.com with a basic query letter. A few pages of the work can also be pasted into the body of the email.

Emily S. Keyes at Foreword Literary is looking for all types of young adult and middle grade books. Not knock-offs or trend chasers. Also looking for commercial fiction which includes fantasy & science fiction, women’s fiction, new adult fiction, along with pop culture and humor titles.
Contact: queryemily@forewordliterary.com with the query and the first ten pages pasted into the body of the email.

Jessice Negron at Talcott Notch Literary is seeking all kinds of YA and Adult fiction, but leans toward science fiction and fantasy, romance, and thrillers. Contact: E-query jnegron@talcottnotch.net. Address your query to Jessica. After you cut and paste your query letter into the email, also include the first 10 pages of your manuscript. Remind them if you receive no response within 4 weeks.

William Boggess of Barer Literary. Seeking: Southern fiction. Likes story collections. In nonfiction, literary memoir, popular science, narrative history, and smart sports writing. Not interested in practical nonfiction (cookbooks, diet books, how-to), YA, or genre romance/thrillers/fantasy."
Contact: Email query to submissions@barerliterary.com and note the query is for William. A query letter, short synopsis, or the first chapter pasted into the body of the email are welcome, but please no attachments.

 

Caitlen Rubino Bradway of LKG Agency is seeking middle grade and young adult fiction. In teen novels, especially sci-fi/fantasy, but open to anything as long as it doesn’t have zombies. Contact: crubinobradway@lkgagency.com.
The agency also is looking for nonfiction, both practical and narrative. We specialize in women’s focused how-to such as parenting, lifestyle, health & nutrition, and beauty, but open to a lot of nonfiction genres. More on website http://lkgagency.com/.
Nonfiction queries should be sent to lkgquery@lkgagency.com (Please mention any publicity you have at your disposal in your query letter).

 

 

Elma Schemenauer, author of 75 books published in Canada and the USA, editor of many more, elmams@shaw.ca, http://elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca/, http://www.elma03.com.

 

title inspiration

Are you casting about for a title for your book? Some recent kids’ books have good ones. Here are a few of my favorites. One of them might inspire someone.

Middle Reader
Counting By 7s, by Holly Goldberg Sloan (Dial)
Flora and Ulysses, by Kate DiCamillo, K.G. Campbell (Illus.) (Candlewick)
The Mouse With the Question Mark Tail, by Richard Peck, Kelly Murphy (Illus.) (Dial)
Picture Book
Crankenstein, by Samantha Berger, Dan Santat (Illus.) (Little, Brown Children's)
The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt, Oliver Jeffers (Illus.) (Philomel)
Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, by Peter Brown (Little, Brown Children's)
Warning: Do Not Open This Book!, by Adam Lehrhaupt, Matthew Forsythe (Illus.) (Paula Wiseman Books)

 

 

Elma Schemenauer, author of 75 books published in Canada and the USA, editor of many more, elmams@shaw.ca, http://elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca/, http://www.elma03.com.

 

opportunity: poetry about Mandela, etc.

I know nothing about this but some of you may want to check it out.

 

Cherry Castle Publishing seeks poetry submissions regarding an anthology dedicated to Nelson Mandela, scheduled for publication in 2015. The anthology will explore and celebrate the life of the late anti-Apartheid freedom fighter in poetry. Submit up to five previously unpublished poems at Songsforapassbooktorch@gmail.com. All work submitted should have some relationship to Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela, the Mandela family, and/or the past and present fight for racial justice in South Africa.

Payment will be in the form of one contributor’s copy. Please direct questions to editor@cherrycastlepublishing.com. The submission period for this anthology is currently open ended.

 

Elma Schemenauer, author of 75 books published in Canada and the USA, editor of many more, elmams@shaw.ca, http://elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca/, http://www.elma03.com.

 

opportunities: nonfiction on remodeling, hunting, fishing

Remodeling is a monthly magazine covering residential and light commercial remodeling. The magazine pays $1 per word for nonfiction pieces of 250-1,000 words. Prospective writers should query with published clips.

Gray's Sporting Journal is a unique hunting and fishing title in that it covers the topic with a more literary slant. This magazine publishes 7 times per year and pays $600-1,000 for fiction and nonfiction. Potential contributors should submit the complete manuscript via e-mail.

 

 

 

Elma Schemenauer, author of 75 books published in Canada and the USA, editor of many more, elmams@shaw.ca, http://elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca/, http://www.elma03.com.

 

"new" book by J.R.R. Tolkien

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt announced it acquired U.S. rights to J.R.R. Tolkien's previously unseen translation of "Beowulf." The work, entitled "Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary," will be edited by Tolkien's son, Christopher Tolkien, and is slated for a May publication. The translation is the first book from Tolkien since "The Fall of Arthur."

 

Elma Schemenauer, author of 75 books published in Canada and the USA, editor of many more, elmams@shaw.ca, http://elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca/, http://www.elma03.com.

 

bad reviews for novels

Getting bad reviews for your novel? The novels mentioned in the following article by Sean Hutchinson are ranked among the greatest of the 20^th century though some early reviewers didn’t like them: http://mentalfloss.com/article/55592/really-harsh-early-reviews-20-classic-20th-century-novels. Maybe they’re wrong about yours too.

 

Elma Schemenauer, author of 75 books published in Canada and the USA, editor of many more, elmams@shaw.ca, http://elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca/, http://www.elma03.com.