Here’s the official list (and the official name of the prize):

The WeyMedia (Money Genius) Books for Young People Prize

Judge: Brian Henry

First Place: The Blue Jogging Suit (picture book) – Katherine Adlam, Peterborough, Ontario

Second Place: Annie Dobbler, Animal Cobbler (nonfiction graphic novel script) – Christina Foster, Fredericton

Third Place: Mortimer Murphy and the Best Science Project Ever (juvenile fiction) – Wendy Kitts, Shediac

Honourable Mention: The Wrong Book (picture book) – Christina Foster, Fredericton

It was an honour judging this contest – and difficult, as so many of the entries were fresh and brilliant. So, congratulations to everyone who entered!

Congratulations also to the winners of all the other awards (fiction, poetry, nonfiction, etc. – complete list here). Congratulations as well to everyone who entered the contest and to the Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick (WFNB) for arranging it – well done, one and all! ~Brian

See where else your fellow writers are winning accolades or getting short pieces published 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 of my upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and four-day retreats here.

CANSCAIP’s Writing for Children Competition

Deadline just a week away on May 31!

Every entry receives a written evaluation from a traditionally published CANSCAIP member volunteer reader. Entries advancing to the second round receive another evaluation, and entries on the shortlist receive evaluations from each jury member.

Four $500 cash prizes are awarded to the winning Middle Grade and Young Adult entries, and to the top two Picture Book entries. Two finalists in each category are also selected. The winners and finalists are given time to revise their entries before CANSCAIP submits them to Annick Press, Kids Can Press and Scholastic Canada for evaluations.

Writers retain full copyright of their entries.

Entries must be in English and can be fiction or nonfiction.

Picture Book: submit complete story up to 1,000 words

Middle Grade or Young Adult: submit first 1,500 words

Text only; no illustrations for all entries

Previously submitted entries may be resubmitted

Eligibility:

Canadian citizens or permanent residents over the age of 18.

Unpublished or self-published writers with no traditionally published books for any age, and not currently under contract with a traditional publisher.

Writers are eligible if prior publication is limited to articles or other content in collections or anthologies, textbooks, magazines or newspapers, legal or academic publications, etc.

Entry fee:

CANSCAIP Friends: $40 one entry, $70 two entries, $90 three entries.

Non-members: $50 one entry, $85 two entries, $105 three entries.

Want to become a Friend to get the lower entry fee? Join before you register.

Complete submission guidelines here.

The CBC Poetry Contest

Deadline in just eight days, on June 1 at 4:59 p.m. ET

Make sure you read the complete rules and regulations before submitting. If you are ready to submit, you may do so here.

The winner receives $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and their work will be published on CBC Books.

Four finalists each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and their work is also published on CBC Books.

The prize is open to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory of residence, whether living in Canada or abroad.

You can submit an original, unpublished poem or collection of poems. The submission will be judged as a whole and must be a maximum of 600 words (including titles). There is no minimum word requirement.

Work that has been published online or in print or recorded for broadcast is considered “previously published” and is not eligible.

While the competition is active, submit online by creating an account through Submittable. A fee of $25 (taxes included) for administration purposes is required for each entry.

Full contest rules here.

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The International Amy MacRae Award for Memoir

Deadline in 38 days on July 1, 2026

Memoir writing, or personal essay, is defined as a work of creative nonfiction that illustrates a personal experience using literary techniques and narrative devices such as dialogue, character, setting and scene.

Rather than simply recounting past events, successful memoir tends to offer a higher perspective on that past, use personal experience as an illustration of universal themes and/or endeavour to derive meaning, understanding or wisdom from the story it sketches. The quality of the writing is as important as the content of the story.

Note: Travel writing told from a personal perspective does qualify as memoir.

This is a prose competition, so poetic prose (or prose poetry) is eligible, but poetry that is not prose is better submitted to a poetry contest. (Still not sure if your work qualifies? If your work looks like poetry, then that is what it is.)

Submissions must be no longer than 2,000 words. There is no minimum word count requirement. An excerpt of a longer unpublished work is eligible, so long as it works as a stand-alone piece.

Entry Fee: $25 per submission, payable in the writer’s home currency (including AUD, NZD, GB£).

Proceeds from the contest are donated to Amy’s Living Legacy for ovarian cancer research.

Full contest details here.

Anthology Short Story Competition

Deadline in 38 days, on July 1, 2026

Anthology Magazine is a modern, inspirational and beautifully designed magazine that features luxury goods and services such as exciting travel destinations, fine interiors, the latest in fashion and beauty and the best in arts and culture… Because beautiful things belong in print.

With a combination of high-profile interviews, fabulous fashion spreads, exotic travel stories, and the latest from today’s most innovative practitioners across arts and culture, Anthology is at the forefront of current trends.

Anthology established its short story competitions to recognize and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication. Open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. There is no restriction on theme or style. Stories submitted must not exceed the maximum of 1,500 words.

Genre: Short Story
Entry Fee: €18 per entry
Deadline: July 31, 2026
Prize: First prize of €1,000 and publication in a future issue of Anthology: second prize of €250; third prize of €150

Full contest details here.

Anthology also offers awards for poetry, photography, cover art, travel fiction, flash fiction, and personal memoir – so whatever you’re writing, you might check them out here.

Event Magazine

2026 Non-Fiction Contest

Deadline in five months, on my birthday, October 15

Genre: Creative Nonfiction. Writers are encouraged to explore the form.

Prizes: $3,000 in total, plus publication in EVENT: $1,500 First Place; $1,000 Second Place; $500 Third Place.

Entry Fee: $34.95 per entry; includes a one-year subscription (or renewal) to EVENT and all applicable taxes and shipping

New Student Entry Fee: $19.95 per entry; includes a one-year subscription (or renewal) to EVENT and all applicable taxes and shipping

Full contest details here.

EVENT also accepts regular submissions

They’ll open for regular submissions in July and August (and then again in December and January.

Fiction: EVENT looks for compelling characters and voice, fresh plots, and narratives that move us. Full details and eligibility requirements on Submittable.

Poetry: They look for arresting imagery, polished language, emotional impact, and lyricism without pretension.

Reviews: Read sample reviews on their website for an idea of our format and style, and before writing or submitting, please contact their Reviews Editor at: eventmagreviews@gmail.com

Nonfiction: The creative nonfiction EVENT publishes mainly comes from their annual nonfiction contest (annual deadline: October 15). The 2026 contest is now open for entries. They’re looking for real-life experiences told as riveting narratives with distinct voices.

Submission guidelines here.

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

Manuscript evaluations

As a book editor, my job to help you make your manuscript as good as it can be. That’s what I’m trained to do. I work with all sorts of fiction and personal stories for adults. In kid lit, I work on everything from board books, to picture books, to middle grade and young adult books, both fiction and nonfiction.

My aim is to tell you what’s working, what’s not, and to explain how to make your manuscript live up to your vision.

For a manuscript evaluation, I’ll have a long Zoom meeting with you to discuss your work’s strengths and weaknesses and to explain what you need to do to develop it to its full publishing potential.

In addition to the evaluation itself, I’ll mark up your manuscript with detailed comments in the margins and on the backs of pages so that you can see exactly where you’re doing something right and where you could make your work stronger, and how to fully develop your manuscript so it’s the very best it can be.

In addition to full manuscripts, I’m also happy to help with shorter projects, such as writing query letters, working with you on your picture book(s), or strategizing on aspects of your manuscript or ideas. But that, I can do throughout the year. In the summer – starting in June – I have time to work on several complete, novel-length projects.

So, if you’d like a spot for your manuscript on my summer schedule, please let me know – as soon as possible, while those spots on my schedule are still open.

What previous clients have to say:

“Brian’s the real deal. He isn’t just an inspiring teacher – he’s plugged into the publishing world! He got me an agent who sold my first novel, to publishers around the world. My 13^th novel, The Awakening – a YA urban fantasy – hit number 1 on the New York Times bestsellers list.”

~ Kelley Armstrong, Aylmer, Ontario (Currently, Kelley has about 60 books published)

Hello, Brian. I’m writing to thank you for your help and advice in both tweaking the manuscript and crafting the query letter for my novel, THE NAME’S GEORGE. I’ve had four requests for the full manuscript as well as one request for a partial. I’m thrilled and hopeful that I can write you again soon with news that I’ve secured an agent. Thanks again and all the best,
Shauna Clinning, Oakville, Ontario [P.S. Shauna did get an agent.]

Brian, You helped me re-work my query letter. Before that, I’d queried dozens of agents, and guess how many of them asked to see my manuscript? None. After you helped me rewrite, I sent my new query to six agents and all of them asked to see my full manuscript. It was like I discovered the secret password. Thank you so much,
~ Sohan S Koonar, Windsor, Ontario.

“Brian Henry is a skilled query doctor – I’ve had a look at some queries he’s worked on with authors. He took a query that would have been an immediate “Pass” and transformed it to a compelling query that made me want to read the book right away. I highly recommend Brian to any author who is struggling with getting manuscript requests and needs to take their query to the next level.”

~ Michelle Johnson, Literary Agent and Founder of Inklings Literary Agency

P.S. If you want to know how to write a query that’s gets a yes from an agent, you can also come to one of my “How to Get Published” workshops. See here.

Rates:

For very short works: Query letters and picture book manuscripts

$80 per hour, plus hst. Assume it will take me about an hour to read and to write in suggestions and edits or to rewrite your query, as needed, and then (included in that time) I’ll email you your edited work and we’ll chat on the phone about it.

For short works, to 52 pages (13,000 words): $55, plus $5 per page.

For example, four 5-page short stories costs:

Each story: $55 + 5 x $5 = $80 + 13% hst = $90.40

For longer works, over 52 pages: $210 + $2.00 per page.

For example, a 200-page manuscript costs:

200 x $2 + $210 = $610 + 13% hst = $689.30

Note: Rates are based on standard length manuscript pages of 250 words. To calculate the number of standard size pages, multiply your word count by 4 divided by 1,000; that is, every 1,000 words counts as 4 pages. For example, a 100,000-word manuscript is 400 standard length pages; a 50,000-word manuscript is 200 standard pages.

Also, add 30 cents per page (includes hst) to partly cover the cost of printing your manuscript and mailing it back to you.

The easiest and cheapest way to send your manuscript is to email it as an attachment.

And the easiest way to pay is by Interac e-transfer or go old-school and mail your cheque separately.

To reserve a place on my summer schedule, email me at: brain.henry123@gmail.com

Intensive Creative Writing

Offered online at 2 different times:

Tuesday evenings 6:30 – 9:00
First readings emailed June 30.
Classes: July 7 – August 18 (or to Aug 25 if the class fills up)

Wednesday afternoons 12:30 – 3:00
First readings emailed July 2.
July 8 – August 19 (or Aug 26 if the class fills up)

Note: We also have an online “Writing Personal Stories” course this summer on Tuesday afternoons, July 7 – Aug 18. See all upcoming classes, workshops, and retreats here.

Intensive Creative Writing is not for beginners; it’s for people who are working on their own writing projects. You’ll be asked to bring in several pieces of your writing for detailed feedback. All your pieces may be from the same work, such as a novel in progress, or they may be stand-alone pieces, such as short stories or essays. You bring whatever you want to work on.

Besides critiquing pieces, the instructor will give short lectures addressing the needs of the group, and in addition to learning how to critique your own work and receiving constructive suggestions about your writing, you’ll discover that the greatest benefits come from seeing how your classmates approach and critique a piece of writing and how they write and re-write. This is a challenging course, but extremely rewarding.

Instructor 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 called Toronto Metropolitan University) and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Saskatoon to Toronto to Saint John. But his proudest boast is that he’s has helped many of his students get published.

Read pieces about ~ or inspired by ~ Brian’s retreats, courses and workshops here (and scroll down).

Fee: $256.64 + hst = $290

To reserve your spot, email: brain.henry123@gmail.com

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

“Writing Personal Stories”

Online: Tuesday afternoons, 1 – 3 p.m.
July 7 – August 11 (or to Aug 18 if the class fills up)
Offered on Zoom and accessible from anywhere there’s internet

Note: We’ll also have two online “Intensive Creative Writing” courses this summer, on Tuesday evenings, July 7 – August 18 (or to Aug 25 if the class fills up) and on Wednesday afternoons, July 8 – August 19 (or Aug 26 if the class fills up)

If you’ve ever considered writing your personal stories, this course is for you. We’ll look at memoirs, travel writing, personal essays, family history – personal stories of all kinds. Plus, of course, we’ll work on creativity and writing technique and have fun doing it.

Whether you want to write a book or just get your thoughts down on paper, this weekly course will get you going. We’ll reveal the tricks and conventions of telling true stories, and we’ll show you how to use the techniques of the novel to recount actual events. Weekly writing exercises and friendly feedback from the instructor will help you move forward on this writing adventure. Whether you want to write for your family and friends or for a wider public, don’t miss this course.

We’ll also have a published author as a guest speaker for this course.

Instructor 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 Toronto Metropolitan 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 published.

Read reviews and other pieces about or inspired by Brian’s writing courses, workshops, and retreats here (and scroll down).

Fee: $257.52 plus 13% hst = $291

To reserve your spot, email: brain.henry123@gmail.com

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

5 Otter Literary

Toronto, Canada

https://fiveotterliterary.com/

5 Otter Literary is a full-service, international literary agency founded by long-time friends and publishing industry colleagues, Olga Filina, Casandra Rodgers, and Ali McDonald, who all previously worked together at The Rights Factory.

5 Otter represents literature across all audiences, categories, genres, and formats, for traditional publishing as well as audio, translation, and film/TV. This summer, all three agents will be open for submissions:

Ali McDonald – literary agent and partner

Ali has been an international literary agent for 15 years and has represented many award-winning and bestselling authors and illustrators. Specializing in children’s and young adult literature, she works on projects ranging from concept and novelty books, board books, picture books, early readers, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, and new adult fiction and nonfiction, to graphic novels for all ages.

Her clients include international bestselling author Laura Nowlin (If He Had Been With Me, If Only I Had Told Her, and This Song is (Not) For You), and critically-acclaimed author Matteo L. Cerilli (Lockjaw, Something’s Up With Arlo, Bad in the Blood, and Fathom Fall), among select others.

Ali will open for submissions this summer. In the meanwhile, get the jump on other writers; come and hear exactly what Ali’s looking and maybe get her critique of your query letter at our online “How to Get Published” workshop on June 13. Details here.

Cassandra Rodgers – literary agent and partner

Cassie has worked with a diverse group of clients on both adult fiction and nonfiction projects. Her clients’ books have been featured in publications such as Oprah, New York Times, and USA Today.

Focused exclusively on adult work, Cassandra is looking for upmarket commercial fiction, historical fiction, and suspense. On the non-fiction side, she is looking for fresh views on topics such as politics, history, science, finance, and sports. Inspiring and meaningful memoirs are always on her wish list.

Cassandra will open for submissions this summer.

Olga Filina – literary agent and partner

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.

Query Olga at: olga@fiveotterliterary.com

Include the first ten pages of your manuscript or your proposal in the body of the email. No attachments unless requested.

See 5 Otter Literary’s submissions page here.

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

The road was gravel. It twisted through tall, leafy, overhanging trees that created a tunnel-like effect. After the first kilometer, my cell phone binged. I checked. No Service. Really? I tucked it away.

The next eight kilometers took us farther into Algonquin Park and finally ended in a parking lot at the edge of the blue waters of Little Joe Lake. I got out of the car and followed the signs on the walking path through the woods to the lodge.

The initial shock of no cell phone reception was ... shocking. Add no tv, radio, wifi or even a clock. How will any of us writers survive in this archaic environment?

The reality of all that was not accessible wore off within minutes as the beauty and peacefulness of Arrowhon Pines Resort encapsulated me.

I was taken to one of the many log cabins tucked away in the forest. A giant bed with crisp white linens, private bathroom, a stone fireplace, veranda overlooking the water, roomies to share the beauty of the setting and the cabin (though certainly not my room), as well as the ups and downs of our writing projects – how perfect! I only checked my phone two more times to make sure it really had no reception.

Brian Henry, our writing mentor for the retreat, opened the session. Cheerful, quirky, enthusiastic, funny – the list goes on to describe his attributes but he’s probably already blushing so I’ll stop.

After the “fortune cookie” warm-up exercise, the room was a hub of voices and chatter and excitement. What a variety of storytellers! The energy flowed intravenously through the group and followed me back to my writing corner.

Coming from Calgary, I thought I might get the prize for the furthest distance travelled but since I only had to fly for four hours maybe the people that drove seven hours would get it. But there was no Furthest Distance Travelled prize. We were all winners.

Breaks from the writing sessions and private writing times were spent kayaking, hiking to the 400-year-old medicine tree, early morning coffee on the deck watching the mist rise, following the resident fox for photo ops or just walking without a destination in mind. Pure bliss.

And then there was the food, the amazing food of Arowhon! Add the camaraderie of all those writers in one location and you encounter unstoppable laughter, encouragement, support, understanding, some very tall tales and so many new friendships.

Another highlight of the retreat was the one-on-one mentoring sessions with Brian to discuss individual projects. Intuitive, enlightening – Brian was full of suggestions and ideas, offered support and encouragement and dished it all out with honesty, in confidence and with sincerity. This man has a thing about helping writers improve their voices and write their stories. How great is that?

When it was over and time to go back to the binging of cell phones and our normal lives, it was very hard to leave the hugs and the companionship of like-minded souls and one of the prettiest places to visit. Thank you Brian for making it all happen!

Note: For information about upcoming writers’ retreats at Arowhon Pines and other locations, see here (and scroll down).

To reserve a spot, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Barbara Wackerle Baker grew up in Banff, Alberta, and spends her free time racing up and down the Rockies trying to keep up with an active family of outdoor enthusiasts. Her passions include writing, photography, exploring landscapes and time with her grandchildren (the most beautiful grandchildren ever).

Three of her stories have found homes in Chicken Soup publications, a dozen others are in short story contest anthologies, one of her stories won the 2016 John Kenneth Galbraith Literary Award, and her short story “Life Support,” initially published in the Globe and Mail, was made into a short film that premiered at the Totonnto International Film Festival (here).

She’s also published three YA novels: Summer of Lies, What About Me? and Jillian of Banff XO (see here).

See more pieces about our writing retreats, or inspired by them, here.

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

Hi, Brian!

I’m excited to share the news that my book Death Scent is one of the five finalists in the Crime Writer’s of Canada category for best Unpublished Crime Novel.

As you know, when I joined the Thursday afternoon Intensive Writing group in Burlington, my characters Em and Doc were just twinkles in my mind’s eye! Thank you for all your help in bringing them to life. A huge thanks as well to Thursday’s writers, present and past, for your thoughtful suggestions and weekly encouragement.

Winners will be announced May 29th on the CWOC website. I can’t believe what great company I’m in! Next step – get published!

Barbara Stokes

Note: A new season of weekly classes will begin in July. In the meanwhile, see all my upcoming one-day writing workshops, and four-day retreats here. ~Brian

Hi, Brian.

I wanted to let you know that my novel Val’s Story, which had its genesis in your courses, is on the Crime Writers of Canada shortlist, in the unpublished category.

Thank you for teaching me not only the art and craft of writing, but the importance of being part of a community of writers, from whom I draw strength when the going gets tough. And thank you also for your words of encouragement, which helped me see that my writing may be imperfect but that was no reason to give up.

Anne Burlakoff

Here’s the full list of finalists for Best Unpublished Crime Novel manuscript written by an unpublished author (Sponsored by ECW Press with a $500 prize):

Anne Burlakoff, Val’s Story

William Hall, The Less You Know

Francis K. Lalumière, Lens Flare

Barbara Stokes, Death Scent

Isabelle Zimmermann, Blistered

Good luck to all the finalists (but especially to Barbara and Anne)! ~Brian

For information about Crime Writers of Canada, see here, and for information about their annual Awards of Excellence and specifically about their award for Best Unpublished Crime Novel, see here.

For information about submitting to ECW Press, see here.

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

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

Second Story Press

120 Carlton Street
Suite 412
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5A 4K2

https://secondstorypress.ca/

Second Story Press is a Canadian feminist press. It was founded in 1988 by Margie Wolfe, but in 2025, Phuong Truong became the new owner. Second Story’s list spans adult fiction and nonfiction; children’s fiction and nonfiction, board books and picture books to young adult. They continue to look for stories that feature strong female and queer characters and that explore themes of social justice, human rights, equality, and ability issues.

Second Story is committed to finding authentic voices, and like everyone else, they seek to publish creators from communities who have been traditionally underrepresented in books. “These include (but are not limited to) works by creators who are Indigenous, Black, people of colour, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.”

Second Story focusses on Canadian authors (either citizens or permanent residents of Canada who are currently living in Canada), and almost all their authors are women. They do not publish poetry, short story collections, traditional romance novels, rhyming picture books, or books with anthropomorphized animals. Second Story Press does not accept any submissions that have been created using artificial intelligence.

Note: If you’re interested in meeting an agent and in getting published, don’t miss our upcoming online “How to Get Published” workshop Saturday, June 13, with literary agent Ali McDonald of the 5 Otter Literary Agency and author Kristy Jackson. Details here.

In addition to your query letter, include a brief biography, a brief summary of your book, and why you’re the best person to write it. For all juvenile work, identify the intended audience or age range for your book.

Consider how your book fits into Second Story’s list, how it’s different from similar or competing titles published by Second Story or any other press, and how your book fits into the marker; i.e., who is it written for? Include a C.V. with information about any relevant work, previous publishing credits, and academic history (where applicable) particularly for nonfiction.

If you don’t have any publishing credits, don’t worry. Second Story happily publishes new authors.

Include a synopsis of your work (500 words maximum).

For adult fiction and nonfiction and for books for children and teens send the first three chapters.

For children’s picture books, please send the entire manuscript. You do not need to include illustrations if you are not a professional illustrator.

Note: Second Story publishes a lot of picture books for the 6–8-year-old age group, in addition to some picture books for the more usual 3– -year-old age group, which is the more usual target for picture books.

Email your submission to: submissions@secondstorypress.ca

Format the subject line thus: ADULT/JUVENILE FICTION/NONFICTION, AUTHOR NAME, PROJECT NAME; e.g.: Juvenile nonfiction, Erin Silver, What the Kids Did

Books for teens are classified as juvenile. For all juvenile books, specify the intended age range in your query letter.

Your query letter may be in the body of your email, but attach your C.V., synopsis, and sample chapters as a Word document or a PDF.

Please note that it can take a period of 7–10 months to receive a response.

Illustrators:

Second Story accepts portfolios only from Canadian illustrators. Send samples of your work and a C.V. either by mail or by e-mail to: illustrators@secondstorypress.ca

Please put Attn: Illustrator’s Portfolio on the package or in the subject line.

See full submission guidelines for writers and illustrators here.

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

Hi, Brian.

Thank you so much for arranging such a lovely reading event. I loved hearing so many great pieces.

[Our Author Reading Day was this past Saturday – what a wonderful afternoon! If anyone has a nice party room at their condo or other suggestion of where we might have our next reading day, please let me know ~Brian]

As promised, here’s the book trailer Plumleaf Press recently released for my upcoming picture book Nahliya and the Lady,

Please share :-)

Thank you for all that you continue to do.

Treslyn

Note: You can read more about Nahliya and the Lady and pre-order your copy here.

For information about submitting to Plumleaf Press, see here.

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

Come support your fellow writers

A dozen of your fellow writers will each be reading a short selection of their work. Come on out and show them some love!

Saturday, May 2
1:15 – 4:00 p.m.
Meadowvale Community Church
2630 Inlake Court, Mississauga, Ontario (Map here.)

We’ll have coffee for you, and everyone is invited to bring a snack to share – just snacks, but I suspect you’d be well advised to have a very light lunch 😊

Doors open at 1:15 p.m.

The actual readings will start by 2:00 and we’ll go to about 4:00 p.m.

If you’re coming, send me an email to let me know: brain.henry123@gmail.com

(Yes, the odd spelling of the email is correct: b-r-a …)

Put “Reading Day” in the subject line

Share

For future reading days, we need a venue!

Perhaps you have a nice party room in your condo building (which is somewhere in the west GTA) or your church has a hall we could use for free (or for a nominal cost).

Please send me an email to let me know: brain.henry123@gmail.com

(Yes, the odd spelling of the email is correct: b-r-a …)

Please put “Venue” in the subject line.

Thank you!

~ Brian

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

Hi, Brian:

Hope you and the family and dogs are well. I just wanted to share that my short story “The Wow of the Pow” has been accepted to the upcoming Beaver Moose Canoe anthology being published by Lintusen Press. It will be published this summer. It’s the story of what happens when two hockey fans try to work a spell to ensure a win for the Leafs.

Thank you.

Lenore Butcher

For more about Lintusen Press, see here.

And check out Lenore’s books here.

Hi, Brian.

I’m supposed to be doing my taxes, but I just received an exciting email that is leading me on another path this afternoon.

I’m thrilled to announce that my TV sitcom pilot, Moosekeg County FM, is a Quarter-Finalist in the ISA Emerging Screenwriters Comedy Screenplay Competition!

Thanks for cheering me on in all my writing endeavours.

Dianne Koebel-Pede

Hi, Brian.

I would like to begin by extending my deepest gratitude to you for editing the second edition for my children’s book, Penelope the Miner.

Since the second edition came out, so much has been happening with my book. Penelope has travelled to different parts of Canada, Australia and the USA. This spring it is going to Egypt and South Africa.

And now, I have some exciting news for you, that has received media recognition. Here I go...

Young Mining Professionals (YMP/ Toronto) plans to bring mining and metals education to elementary schools using Penelope the Miner. With financial sponsorship from the Ore Group, 1,000 Penelope books will be shipped to elementary schools in different parts of Ontario and Quebec.

The following quote is from the Northern Miner newspaper in a recently published article, that explains the initiative:

“This is about reclaiming the narrative on metals and mining,” said Stephen Stewart, a director of YMP and chairman of the Ore group. We want young Canadians to understand how critical this industry is, not just for jobs and economic development, but for the infrastructure, healthcare, clean water and fresh air that we all depend on.”

This story began when Stephen Stewart went into his child’s kindergarten class last year to read Penelope the Miner and witnessed how captivated the youngsters were. Stephen appreciated that I’ve spent decades of work educating young people about mining and its role in northern communities. He saw my passion for writing a children’s book, to help children better understand where everyday materials come from and how mining underpins modern life.

Like me, Stephen realized that by the time students reach university, many have formed opinions about mining or haven’t considered it at all. Penelope the Miner aims to change that for youngsters.

When I was a child, I didn’t know anything about mining, even though I was raised in Schefferville, a mining town in northern Quebec. After completing my university studies in Montreal, I only discovered what a geologist was, when I moved to Chibougamau for my first teaching job. The very place where I met my husband, a geologist. Penelope the Miner, aims to have young children learn about career options such as geology well before university.

I could never have dreamed about getting 1,000 books distributed to elementary schools in Ontario and Quebec, without this generous sponsorship.

Lenna Rhodes

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

Summer Serenity Writing Retreat

Sunday, August 30 – Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Arowhon Pines Resort
Arowhon Pines Road
Little Joe Lake, Algonquin Park
Ontario, Canada

Note: We also have a retreat coming up this June at Arowhon Pines in Algonquin Park. Details here.

Stretch out your summer and give yourself the time to write – four days of instruction, inspiration and creativity. Award yourself with time away from distractions, with no dishes to do and wonderful food at every meal, as you sit with your feet up and write in the most beautiful wilderness setting in Ontario. This is where the Group of Seven got its inspiration (Tom Thompson is buried just a couple of lakes over); it’s a wonderful place for you to find your inspiration, too.

The retreat will feature both instruction and guided writing exercises, plus one-on-one critiquing and coaching from Brian. You’ll also have lots of time to relax, rejuvenate, and reconnect with your creativity.

All writing levels welcome. Whether you are just beginning or have a novel in progress, please join us.

The retreat will be limited to ten or eleven participants. This will mean plenty of one-on-one time with the instructor.

The setting: Arowhon Pines is a peaceful, quiet resort nestled in the woods on Little Joe Lake inside Algonquin Park. There are no motorboats on the lake, except for the resort’s own pontoon boat which takes guests on occasional wildlife tours.

The resort is without TV and is far from the roar of traffic. The cry of a loon is the loudest noise you’re likely to hear all day.

Rates include charming accommodation (rooms have a mix of queen beds for one person or couples or twin beds for two people rooming together, and a private bathroom of course, and each cabin has a lounge with fireplace to share with your fellow writers).

Three all-you-can-eat gourmet meals per day are provided, featuring an abundance of fresh food prepared by master chefs and an inspired kitchen staff. (Bring your own wine or beer!)

All activities included. When you’re not writing or for spouses who accompany you, there is plenty to do: canoe or kayak a series of lakes or hike trails to see wildlife (moose, loons, beaver, turtles, fox, deer), swim in the lake, sail, stand up paddleboard, play tennis or pickleball, enjoy a sauna, and simply relax.

For indoor activities there is a games room with table tennis, shuffleboard, books, and board games. Your stay also includes access to all Algonquin Park programs and activities including a car pass for you to fully enjoy the park.

Check-in isn’t until 3 p.m., but guests can arrive in the morning to fully take advantage of the facilities (though the meals included in your package don’t begin until after check-in time, so lunch on Sunday is extra if you arrive early). Each guest will have a day pass for Algonquin Park.

The formal retreat will begin late Sunday afternoon. On Wednesday, we’ll have our last formal get-together in the morning. Check out time is at 12 noon p.m. Then enjoy lunch while the bellhops load the car. But once you’ve eaten, don’t feel you have to rush off!

Participants are welcome to bring spouses, partners or friends, as there will be plenty to do while you’re writing – canoeing, kayaking or sailing, swimming, pickleball, reading and just plain resting and unwinding, enjoying the wilderness.

Read about a stay at Arowhon Pines here, and scroll down for more pieces about or inspired by retreats at Arowhon.

Instructor 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 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.

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

Seminar fee:
For the full 4-day, 3-night retreat: $243.36 plus hst

Accommodation fee (including accommodation and food, plus use of all the resort’s facilities):
$637 per night for single booking; $1019 per night for double (i.e. $509.50 each), plus 15% service charge (in lieu of tipping), then plus 13% HST.

Book early – space is strictly limited! Full receipts issued.

For more information or to register, email: brain.henry123@gmail.com

If you have questions or need more information about the accommodations,
phone the resort: 1-866-633-5661

Who can attend the retreat?

Everyone interested in developing their writing skills is welcome to attend, whether you’re aspiring writer or an accomplished author or simply enjoy writing as a hobby. There is no requirement for you to have been previously published or even to have an intention to publish.

I’m a poet / playwright / other writer. Is this retreat for me?

The retreat is open to anyone who enjoys writing. Instruction will focus on narrative writing; i.e., stories, whether fiction or memoir. But if you’re an essayist or poet or whatever, you’re entirely welcome.

Should I bring my work in progress?

Yes! If you have an on-going writing project, bring it with you. Bring more than you expect to get to; you’ll have lots of time for writing. Besides, you may want to switch projects or share a project that’s just started or one that’s all done, except for reading it to a small, appreciative audience. If you’re not currently working on anything, don’t worry, we’ll get you writing.

Should I bring my laptop?

Yes, if you prefer to work on your laptop. If you prefer to work on paper bring that. Or go crazy and bring both your laptop and your notebook. Bring everything you might want.

Can you cater to specific dietary requirements?

Yes, just let the staff at Arowhon Pines know beforehand about your needs.

I want to stay longer or arrive early. Is that possible?

Yes, absolutely. There is plenty to see and do in the park, and Arowhon Pines is a lovely base from which to explore. Arowhon will keep the same rate throughout your stay.

Is there cell phone reception and WIFI?

Arowhon Pines is an island of luxury, but in the midst of wilderness, so spotty cell phone at best and no WIFI, though there are landlines and there’s access to the resort’s Internet connection. (Contact the resort for details.) But be sure to have your writing projects on your laptop or on paper when you come, not stored in the Cloud.

How about alcohol?

Arowhon does not serve alcohol, but guests are welcome to bring their own wine, beer or whatever to have with meals or back at your cabin or wherever. (Though do note that Hemingway’s advice to write drunk, mostly produces drivel.)

Can I bring my spouse?

Certainly. Just let them know you’ll be spending most of your time writing, (though you will have some free time every day), and make sure they enjoy superb food, beautiful wilderness, and relaxing on the deck or the dock or out on a canoe as they glide past a moose munching on water lilies.

For more information about the resort, visit their website here.

For more information or to register, email: brain.henry123@gmail.com

To book your accommodation at Arowhon Pines, phone toll free: 1-866-633-5661
And be sure to tell them you’re with the writing retreat!

Or you can book on-line here. ~ But be sure to also phone and tell them you’re with Brian’s writing retreat!

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

Debra’s figured out the keys to the Universe. She’s practically an expert. Basically a physicist. Where attention goes, energy flows. What you focus on expands. She’s pirated every book and workshop by Hicks Goddard Dispenza Zenkina Frances Hay Hill. Her trailer park comrades don’t realize it, but she’s a fuckin’ genius and doesn’t belong in a place like that. Not with people like them.

Debra’s got enviable pin legs and her C-cups are dynamite. Lady’s a dazzler. A pleasure to behold. She’s the vibration of her dream home. She’s a lilac jacuzzi and a four-poster waterbed. The energetic match to a 1970 cherry red Buick Skylark. Atomic mirror for a dusty rose velour jumpsuit, sapphire piñata, scorpion-shaped fountain that eternally flows with champagne and never needs to be cleaned.

Leaning back in her plastic chair smoking a Pall Mall, she spies a storm on yonder. Debra intuits it’s not just a natural disaster. She conjured it. Been practicing the Law of Attraction for weeks. A cyclone of yearning hurtles towards Camelot Toe Trailer Park at 88 miles an hour. Just like she scripted. Visualized. 369’d. Defined and declared. Everything she desires is nearly upon her.

“I fuckin’ told ya!” she screams. Ciggie half-spent, dangling from her frosted lips as she stands up, the lawn chair near snapping from the enthusiastic thrust of her thirty-five-year-old hindquarters. The soundtrack of Debra’s Best Life is an arrangement of airborne metal torpedoing single-pane windows, screeching tires on gravel and sticker-covered guitars percussively slapping vinyl siding.

“Debbay, you shitstain bimbo!” JibJab hollers, tossing beers, tobacco products and binders indiscreetly bursting with his favourite porno mags into the back of his rusty Chevy. “There’s a fuckin’ tornado headed straight for us!”

A tornado of everything Debra desires.

JibJab shakes his greasy head and spits out a hunk of chaw, going back for one last box of phlegmorabilia. His brother, Biggy Bag, ropes his prized possessions - poorly taxidermied roadkill and a papier mache beer fridge sculpture of their mother - into his matching rust-bucket.

Small minds. They couldn’t possibly understand Debra’s vision; quantum shifting out of a bunkie, wedged between Jib Jab the jumbo jack-off’s trailer and Biggy Bag’s converted car-zebo, into an aspirational micro-mansion subdivision. Transcendental she-bologna in a negative energy manwich, no more. Their jealousy won’t stop her.

She glides into her shanty and gracefully removes her prized mermaid costume hanging on the collapsed clothes rack. Dress for the job you want. Dress for the life you desire. Be your future self now.

She exquisitely experiences abundance and freedom as she stuffs herself into a shimmering emerald tail and pink plastic shell bra. Deliciously embodies orgasmic lightness as she accentuates the look with a stunning zirconia shrimp necklace, places shimmering pins in still-processing just-permed hair, which burns from the anticipatory sweat. Twelve hours until it’s safe to get wet or suffer the frizziness. Sometimes one is limited by three-dimensional reality. She wasn’t expecting today to be Manifestation Day.

But

You

Must

Trust

Divine

Timing.

Debra leaves behind her old life, and heads towards the squall with open arms. The constrictive mermaid tail slows her roll, thwarts her rapidity. Hipping and hopping won’t get her anywhere. It’s always toughest right before you get what is meant for you. Darkest before dawn.

“What would you have me do, Cosmic Daddy?” she yodels into the deluge. She struggles for a moment, but the Universe always provides a solution.

“Rip it!”

She follows the signs and tears the mermaid tail seam with her bare hands.

“I said rip it out of here! You dumb fuckin’ bitch!” Biggy Bag yells from across the way. “Get your pimply ass outta the park, that twister’s gonna eat you!”

Debra snorts. “You see fear, I see opportunity.”

And opportunity is headed straight for 32 Nirvana Ave in Camel Toe Estates, her dream home; the one with the big pool and peach bricks. The owners are long gone, it’s Debra’s now.

She runs straight into the superstorm. Her vision board’s coming to life. Sucked up in the interstellar swell. Spinning and twirling; a siren in a frothing sea. Her fantasy smells like grass and sulphur. She barely registers the gravel lacerating her frosty flesh or the microwave that smashes her hip bone or the nail sticking out of her thigh. Obstacles are simply tests. The injuries are a sign that Debra’s about to break through her upper limits.

Everything she yearns for is within reach.

A brand new Macbook careens into her welcoming arms.

Shovel.

Deluxe lawnmower.

Hotdog.

This is the moment before the moment she has it all.

Wind stops. Mid-air, everything freezes.

Debra savors the milliseconds as the clouds part and the sun breaks through, kissing her skin like pieces of broken glass.

And then she’s falling.

Into the Universe’s bountiful breast.

She strikes water, sinking to the bottom of 32 Nirvana Ave.’s impressive in-ground pool.

Debra’s perm is ruined!!!!

She didn’t think this through. The chlorinated water fills her lungs and everything stings. For a moment she doubts the megacosm, but any manifestor worth their salt knows that’s the kiss of death. Never doubt or limit what comes through. Debra will attract a hairdresser later. She’ll co-create some oxygen now.

Mesmeric ribbons of red casually engulf her; a symphony of disembodied fish dancing for their Mermaid Queen.

The Universe isn’t done, though. More gifts fall from the sky. Just for Debra.

Her dream car.

Titanium rake.

Spinning clothesline.

Imported trees.

Terra cotta roof tiles.

They’re all hers.

Larissa Thomas is a writer, artist, Enneagram aficionado and tarot reader toiling melodramatically in an endless pocket of tornado manifestations in Ontario. She’s currently working on an illustrated collection of strange tales. Subscribe to her Substack for work-in-progress here.

For more short stories, poetry, and essays by you fellow writers see here (and scroll down).

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

Hi, Brian.

I hope you are doing amazing. I wanted to reach out to you to say thank you for all of your support and teachings. I just finished writing my first book, I’ll Do It Myself, Dammit … Signed, Your Nervous System. And I am having a book launch:

Saturday April 11
5:30 pm to 8 pm.
Hypnosis Training Canada 4373 Mainway, Burlington Ontario
(On the corner of Mainway and Corporate Drive in the Keltour Controls Building)

Spaces limited. RSVP here.

So grateful to have been able to learn and now am an author.

Tree

I’ll Do It Myself, Dammit … Signed, Your Nervous System by Tree Ryde

Blending personal experience with deep somatic wisdom, “I’ll Do It Myself, DammIt” sheds light on the silent signals of burnout, what is triggering you, and how you can leverage self-reliance when it comes to your emotions. This is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of their internal world, emotions, nervous system — and a path toward healing.

Tree gives people actionable things to experience so they can create everlasting change. Laura Berlijawsky from Neighbour to Neighbour says “It’s not just a one read, it’s a book people will come back to, like a cookbook with life’s little recipes.

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

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

This is what antizionism looks like. Within the space of a week, three Toronto synagogues were shot up. In the same week, antizionist gangsters also shot up the Old Avenue Restaurant in Thornhill, owned by Esther Bakinka, a well-known Jewish activist. Their message couldn’t be clearer: speak against Jew-haters at your peril.

But it’s 2026. Here in Canada, shooting up a Jewish business because it’s a Jewish business, isn’t sensational enough to make the mainstream news.… Read the rest here.

On a lighter note …

Happy Passover and happy Easter to all who celebrate!

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Hi, Brian.

Thrilled to announce that my latest book, Thirty Feet Under, has just been published by ECW Press. It’s a tale of lost kings, mad emperors, international smugglers and an FBI Art Crimes Team that will stop at nothing to track down the missing treasures of an ancient empire. Publishers Weekly wrote that “this screen-ready adventure offers a welcome dose of escapism.” It’s available in many stores and through all your favourite online retailers.

Thanks!

Bill (William) Wodhams

Note: For information about submitting to ECW Press, see here.

If you’re interested in getting published, join us for an upcoming “How to Get Published” workshop with a literary agent as the guest speaker. See here.

Thirty Feet Under, a mystery by William Wodhams

For readers of Dan Brown comes a thrilling tale of lost kings, mad emperors, international smugglers, and an FBI Art Crimes Team that will stop at nothing to track down the missing treasures of an ancient empire.

When a museum in Italy is robbed and the guard murdered, the Carabinieri Art Squad ask for Kate Taylor’s help searching for the thieves. After working in the FBI Art Crimes Team for years, doing little but updating files and computer work, she is thrilled to work on a real case.

Yet there’s something unusual about their request. It’s a small, unremarkable marble sphinx that was stolen — why would the Carabinieri care? Still, she’s looking forward to some excitement and adventure. Besides, Luca, the Carabinieri’s agent, has big, beautiful eyes.

Kate finds out the sphinx is the key to unraveling one of the greatest mysteries in archeology: the lost tomb of a legendary king. Before long, she’s searching for suspects in an international smuggling ring. People are dying. She doesn’t know who she can trust, including Luca. And time is running out: Kate has two weeks to solve a 3,000-year-old mystery before its treasures are looted and vanish forever.

Back in New York, Paul Klugman is about to give up his dream of becoming a dealer of ancient art. Then he gets a call from an eccentric art collector that will change his life forever. He soon finds the success and wealth he’s always wanted, but the price is higher than he ever expected. And the truth is buried deeper than the artifacts.

Available from Chapters / Indigo here.

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

Note: 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

Writing Personal Stories

~ A weekly class dedicated to the pleasures of writing your stories & thoughts

Online: Tuesday afternoons, 1 – 3 p.m.
April 14 – June 16 or to June 23 if the class fills up. No class April 28 or June 9
Offered on Zoom and accessible from anywhere there’s internet

If you’ve ever considered writing your personal stories, this course is for you. We’ll look at memoirs, travel writing, personal essays, family history – personal stories of all kinds. Plus, of course, we’ll work on creativity and writing technique and have fun doing it.

Whether you want to write a book or just get your thoughts down on paper, this weekly course will get you going. We’ll reveal the tricks and conventions of telling true stories, and we’ll show you how to use the techniques of the novel to recount actual events. Weekly writing exercises and friendly feedback from the instructor will help you move forward on this writing adventure. Whether you want to write for your family and friends or for a wider public, don’t miss this course.

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Our guest speaker will be Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt, author of the critically acclaimed memoir Peacekeeper’s Daughter.

Tanya holds an MA in English Literature from McGill University and an MFA in Creative Writing from UBC. These days, she lives in Quebec’s Eastern Townships with her husband and four children. She was born in Germany to French-Canadian parents and grew up on various army bases across Canada, from Quebec’s North Shore to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

When she was twelve, her family moved to Tiberius, Israel, where her father served as a United Nations peacekeeper on the Golan Heights. When war broke out with Lebanon, Tanya and her family moved to Beirut, where they lived for seven months, at the height of the Lebanese civil war.

Tanya’s journal from 1982-1983 became the seeds of her memoir, Peacekeeper’s Daughter

Peacekeeper’s Daughter is both a coming-of-age story and an exploration of family dynamics, the shattering effects of violence and war, and the power of memory itself to reconcile us to our past selves, to the extraordinary places we have been and sights we have seen.

You can read an excerpt from Peacekeeper’s Daughter here, It’s available through the publisher, Thistledown Press here or order it through your local bookstore – see here.

Tanya has also published two volumes of poetry with Shoreline Press: Chaos Theories of Goodness (here) and The Hospitality of Trees (here). Her collection of short memoir pieces, Carrying War, will be published by Dundurn Press in August 2026 (here).

Tanya’s also published numerous poems, stories, and essays and has been nominated for many, many awards. A partial list includes:

2025 – Finalist, Fiddlehead Creative NonFiction Contest for “Sabra Chronicles”

2024 – Winner, Vita Poetica Writing and Art Contest for “Maria Lactans”

2022 – Runner-up, McNally Rand Booksellers/Prairie Firs CNF Contest for “5972, 12^th Avenue, Rosemont”

2021 – Finalist, Quebec Writers’ Federation Mavis Gallant Prize for Non-Fiction for Peacekeeper’s Daughter: A Middle East Memoir (Thistledown Press, 2021)

2021 – Winner, 2021 Doula Support Foundation’s Birth Story Contest (2nd place) for “Winter Rose”

2020 – Winner, The New Quarterly’s Edna Staebler Award for Personal Essay (2nd place) for “Terrorist Mythologies”

2019 – “Terrorist Narratives” (first published in Malahat Review) selected and published in Best Canadian Essays of 2019 (forthcoming)

2018 – Finalist in CANSCAIP’s 2018 Writing for Children Awards for “All Alone, War Pigeon” (picture book category)

Currently, Tanya is working on some books for children and a novel for adults about American expats in Beirut called Birdsong Hollow.

Instructor 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 called Toronto Metropolitan University) and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Saskatoon to Toronto to Saint John. But his proudest boast is that he’s has helped many of his students get published.

Read reviews and other pieces about or inspired by Brian’s writing courses, workshops, and retreats here (and scroll down).

Fee: $257.52 plus 13% hst = $291

To reserve your spot, email: brain.henry123@gmail.com

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

In the spring of 2024, I went on adventure and learned to let go. I was headed for a writing retreat in Port Carling, Ontario – Muskoka country – but with a few threads to pick up along the way.

Brian Henry, long time editor and writing coach, hosted the retreat at the lovely Sherwood Inn on Lake Joseph. To get there, I flew from my home in Whitehorse, Yukon, to Toronto. In a nostalgic moment, I stayed the night at what used to be called The Bristol Place Hotel, now The Westin, on the airport strip. For

ty-six years earlier, I had stayed there for my honeymoon. I was curious to see if the hotel had weathered the years any better than my marriage, which had not done well at all! When I entered the lobby, I discovered that I did not remember the place. A bit like that first marriage, I thought, as I settled into my room. All the best to let things go.

A luxurious bed looked inviting, but I had a terrible sleep, fretting about a dozen things that have long escaped my memory. Primarily, I was nervous about meeting up with my brother who was driving me to my destination early in the morning.

Beyond a few texts every year, I had not spoken with him in a long time. I hoped we might enjoy catching up in person, but I knew he was not in a great head space due to recent personal trauma. I was determined to stay positive.

At seven am, I gave up trying to squeeze out anymore sleep and made my way down to the lobby in hopes of finding a decent cup of coffee. After a minute of searching, I located the coffee shop crammed into the back corner of the lobby like an afterthought.

The lineup was long. The food display case was next to bare, and the lone person working was run off her feet. Exhausted from travel, I zombied my way into line and waited my turn.

As I approached the order station, I spotted a goldfish bowl on the counter. Sad place for a fish, I thought. No choice but to endlessly swim in circles, never getting anywhere, never moving on.

Fortunately, there was no fish trapped in the bowl, just a jumble of cards. They were the sort of card you get at a florist shop to message the recipient of your floral thoughts. Beside the bowl was a jar of pens and a stack of blank cards.

Instructions read as follows:

Leave a happy thought!

Take a happy thought!

While waiting for my coffee, I picked up a pen and card and considered what I might write. I have never been good at this sort of thing – like writing a message in a greeting card. I never know what to say. At that moment, my coffee arrived and instead of leaving a happy thought, I took one.

Seeing my brother pull up, I stuffed the card into my back pocket and climbed on board. By the time we travelled for an hour, we had worn out our topics of choice and tumbled into silence.

On the upside, we were beyond Toronto and past Barrie. The further north we drove, lakes and rocks took over from urban housing and shopping malls. Ah Muskoka! As a child, I spent many summers embracing the chilly waters of Mary Lake at Port Sidney. Now, I could feel my lungs opening to the fresh air.

Over the years, I had all but forgotten the jewel green of springtime leaves and how sunlight sparkles on the water. White clouds graced the sky and reflected across the glassy surface of the lake, a perfect mirror image. A spring breeze blew up, and watercraft tethered to docks bobbed in the surf, straining at their ropes like dogs’ strain at their leashes. Boat houses dotted the shore.

And of course, here and there, a Muskoka chair (Adirondak chair if you’re not from Ontario) sat perched on a lakeside rock looking to the horizon. All it needed was an occupant in the requisite Tilly hat, pen and paper ready. A cup of coffee and a resting hound would complete the picture.

The Sherwood Inn was welcoming and warm. Nestled into a lovely, treed setting, it sat on the edges of Lake Joseph. I have a thing about older architecture and was not disappointed. Dark green shutters stood out against the white building and in the evening, the interior lighting cast a warm and welcoming glow. I could hardly wait to explore after checking in.

Tired from the journey, I went to my room where I was delighted to find a private bathroom, a writing desk, a comfortable bed, and a cozy seating area. The window looked over a large deck and beyond that to the lake.

With time before the retreat started, I changed into more comfortable clothing to have a snooze, hopeful I would awake feeling renewed and refreshed. As I dropped my jeans on the chair, the card from the coffee shop fell out of my pocket. This was the message:

Lily Elliot

You

Are

Lovd

Loved

Based on the writing, it was hand-printed by a child of six or seven years of age. I could imagine her standing there, elbows on the counter and her tongue held in just the right position to form the letters.

As we travel through each day, we never know how the little things we do or say are going to impact the world around us. Somewhere along her journey, young Lily left a note for a stranger to tell them they were loved.

My lucky day! I really treasure that she felt no need to get a new card and start over because of a spelling mistake. Lily knew. Mistakes are okay. Everyone makes them. We move on.

And in that moment, with Lily’s lesson in mind, I moved on. Three blessed days of writing in a beautiful place lay ahead of me. The food was delicious, beautifully presented, beautifully seasoned, and bountiful. Great service is always a pleasure, and it was in abundance. To be able to share this time with others who love to write – and Brian who loves to help and encourage – was the best tonic ever.

But a note to Lily; wherever your travels have taken you, I wanted to say a heart-felt thank you. I don’t know how I ended up at the same coffee shop as you and I don’t know how you came to write this card, but I have it now. It is tucked into my bedroom mirror.

Now, no matter what is going on in my world, every time I look at your card and your message, I feel lighter in spirit. I recall those beautiful spring days I spent at the Sherwood writing retreat in Muskoka, investing my time in the things that matter, and learning to let go of the things that don’t.

Anne Louise Pittens lives in Whitehorse, Yukon, with her husband Michel and Gryphon – a Swiss Mountain Dog who hates the cold. With almost a full retirement recently upon her, Anne is spending her time writing, shovelling snow and shivering to produce a little extra heat. Occasionally she can be found scrolling through old photos of Mexico and Costa Rica. The Yukon is a magical place and welcoming to every person who cares to give it a try.

See more pieces about or inspired by Brian’s retreats, workshops and classes here.
Note: Our next writing retreat at Sherwood Inn will be a fall colours retreat, Oct 18 - 22, 2026. Details to come.

For more essays, short stories, and poetry by you fellow writers see here (and scroll down).

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

How to Get Published

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.

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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: brain.henry123@gmail.com

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