Hello Members and Friends,
Our February-not-so-wintry edition of Inkspot is chock-full of information! Let’s get right to it.
Upcoming WFNB Event
The 2024 New Brunswick Writing Competition is now open. Remember that the competition is open to New Brunswick residents only--unless you are a WFNB member. WFNB members can participate from anywhere.
We’d like to encourage any teens, ages 13 to 18, to submit to the Sheree Fitch Prize for Teen Writers, and for all you closet screenwriters to submit your short screenplay to the Jane LeBlanc Screenwriting Award. Polish up those works-in-progress and send them in! Deadline is March 31.
Our last monthly professional development workshop for the season is with Beth Powning, who will present a three-hour workshop, touching on both memoir and historical fiction from her home in Markhamville. There’s only one in-person spot left, but you can still tune in via Zoom.
There’s still a few days left to register for the winter retreat at Villa Madonna on February 23-25. It’s a productive time for everyone, and an economical weekend, too. Don’t miss it!
We’re still working on venues and other details for WordSpring in Moncton this year, but we can tell you that the dates are May 31 - June 2. The New Brunswick Writing Competition Literary Soiree will take place May 31 at the Empress Theatre (above The Capitol), and the 2023 NB Book Awards will be held June 1, at the Moncton Press Club. Mark your calendars! The event page for this big weekend will be open by early March.
And finally, Kris is working hard at a new six-part podcast series that will soon be available for broadcast, and we hope will become a regular part of our programming, funding dependent. Stay tuned for more details about this great initiative, coming up soon.
That’s it for now. Stay warm, writers.
Rhonda
New Members
Katherine Adlam joins us from Ontario and writes in the genres of Children’s, Poetry, Flash/Micro fiction, and Middle Grade. Welcome, Katherine!
Christine Bédardjoins us from Quebec. Welcome, Christine!
Allison Billings is a writer from Rothesay who is interested in Biography, Creative non-fiction, Memoir, Poetry, and Flash/Micro fiction. Welcome, Allison!
Aidan Creaghan (pen name A.M. Creaghan ) is a writer from Fredericton who is looking to expand his skills and meet other people with a passion for writing. He writes in many genres: Creative non-fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Non-Fiction, Suspense, Young Adult, Flash/Micro fiction, Copywriting, Graphic Novel, Spoken Word, Middle Grade, Mystery, Thrillers, Short stories. Welcome, Aidan!
Sandra English Is a writer from Taymouth, who is working on a collection of poetry and short stories that goes back several decades. She is looking for advice with a view to publishing. She is interested in the genres of Creative nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry, Flash/Micro fiction, and short stories. Welcome, Sandra!
Sue Griffith (pen name Sue Nelson Buckley, Susan Lyn) is a new member from Saint John who writes in the genres of romance, young adult, and short stories. Welcome, Sue!
Paul Kasdan (pen name Bao Luo) https://www.schoolofunusualarts.com/
From his home in Saint John, Paul writes short stories that are both playful and serious and reflect on the central question of the meaning of life.
Joe Mahoney (https://joemahoney.ca/) Joe retired from a long career with the CBC in 2023 and now writes full time from his home in Riverview. He has published in the genres of speculative fiction, science fiction, fantasy and memoir.He is interested in a wide variety of genres, including: Blogging, Comedy, Editing, Fantasy, Fiction, Memoir, Playwriting, Science Fiction, Scriptwriting, Songwriting, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult, short stories. Welcome, Joe!
Jane Touchie writes creative nonfiction from her home in Gagetown. Welcome, Jane!
Laura Watson (http://www.laurakwatson.com/) is an artist and writer living in Sackville, NB in the Siknikt district of Mi'kma'ki. She acquired her BFA from Mount Allison University in 2015 and is currently Tantramar’s poet laureate. She makes zines, prints, and textile works that combine drawing and poetry and runs a monthly open mic for writers.She is interested in illustration and poetry. Welcome, Laura!
Member News
Don Bourque and Sarren Scribner will be featured authors at The Grand Author Takeover 2024
The Grand Author Takeover 2024 will take place at the Grand Hotel in Carleton Place, Ontario. This international book fair takes place from February 22nd-24th, beginning with a author panel at the Carleton Place Art Gallery on the 22nd, a VIP reception at the hotel the evening of the 23rd and an all-day book signing event on the 24th at this same beautiful venue.
Two WFNB members will be among the featured authors, Sarren Scribner (one of the event’s organizers) and Don Bourque. The WFNB will also be promoted there, as there are many NB ex-patriots in the National Capital Region. For 2024, the event has chosen First Book Canada as a supported beneficiary.
Congratulations to WFNB member Jacqueline Clydesdale
Jaqueline is one of the selected artists (writer) for the Winter 2024 cohort of the Catapult Arts Accelerator mentorship program administered by ArtsLink NB! You can meet all the artists and hear their pitches about their artistic practice at Launch Day on March 4th at 2pm in Saint John.
Read, “The Imposter Author: Banish Author Impostor Syndrome
WFNB member Em Whelly is an author who has suffered from imposter syndrome. She has written a book about her journey with imposter syndrome. If you are feeling stuck in your own work, Em hopes this story will help you validate yourself and give you the self-confidence you so deserve. Check out the eBook : Whelly, E: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store
Gerard Collins is reading at the Halifax Public Libraries on Feb. 24.
There'll be tea and coffee and a cozy, intimate setup for the conversation in the best room in the library, in one of the most beautiful libraries you'll ever see. It would be so lovely to see some friends and acquaintances, and to make some new ones. Carol Bruneau is a great talent herself, and I'm looking foward to chatting with her about anything and everything related to the writing life. Nova Scotia, here we come! (This event sponsored by the Halifax Public Library and artsnb).
S.C. Eston would like to announce the publication of Spring Paths.
Sometimes, a compelling short story is all you need.
Let our tales of gods, ghosts, alien worlds, mystery, secrecy, love, loss, and horror get under your skin for a while.
Nine North Atlantic writers have collaborated to create this anthology, the third in a series of multi-genre fables that will entertain, possibly unsettle, and cause you to think about the present in which we live.
Curl up on the sofa and allow yourself to be lost in the pages of this fascinating book.
Newsy Bits
The Fiddlehead and Acadiensis are hiring!
The Fiddlehead: Studies in Canadian Literature, and Acadiensis are searching for a new Production and Marketing Coordinator to join their production team. Reporting to the Managing Editor, the Production & Marketing Coordinator coordinates the production of each issue of the three Faculty of Arts journals, including typesetting and layout, and acts as a liaison with the printers. Additionally, the coordinator will plan and market promotional events, as well as performing other administrative tasks as required for the journals. Applications can be made through the University of New Brunswick. The deadline to apply is February 22. Learn More.
Dernier rappel Appel d’offres: région hôtesse des Éloizes 2026
L'Association acadienne des artistes professionnel·les du Nouveau-Brunswick (AAAPNB) productrice des Éloizes, lance un appel pour sélectionner la région hôtesse de l’édition 2026 de cet événement artistique d’envergure! Qui peut soumettre une candidature?
Une municipalité dans les quatre provinces du Canada atlantique ou aux Îles-de-la-Madeleine peut soumettre sa candidature pour devenir la municipalité hôtesse des Éloizes.
La date limite pour soumettre une candidature est le 1er mars 2024. Tous les critères et directives pour postuler se trouvent dans l'appel d'offres.
Consultez ‘apple d’offres
Pour renseignements : Joëlle Tougas, directrice de production des Éloizes
506-852-3313, poste 228 | joelle.tougas@aaapnb.ca
Montréal novelist named inaugural writer-in-residence at The Hideout in PEI
Montreal-based novelist Christopher DiRaddo has been named the inaugural writer-in-residence at The Hideout in Prince Edward Island. Now in its fifth year, the Hideout Residency program welcomes writers, artists, and self-care practitioners from across Canada and internationally to PEI’s south shore each spring and fall. A new writer-in-residence component of the program is being launched to mark the fifth year anniversary of the Hideout residencies, with the goal of inviting prominent Canadian writers to visit the Island each year to engage in new work.
Created by writer Trevor Corkum (2022 Alfred G. Bailey competition judge) and psychotherapist Joshua Lewis, The Hideout offers retreat and vacation space to writers, creative folk, wellness practitioners, and visitors from across Canada and around the world. The Hideout is located on the scenic South Shore of PEI, a few minutes outside the village of Victoria-by-the-Sea. The Hideout Residency program was founded in 2020.
Winners of the Sixth Annual Pottersfield Prize for Creative Nonfiction:
Martin Bauman in first place for Hell of a Ride and Chris Harvey-Clark in second place for In Search of The Great Canadian Shark. Bauman’s top winning entry is a coming-of-age tale of a 7,000-kilometre solo bicycle voyage across Canada. The second-place winner is a first-hand account of diving research adventures with sharks and other exotic undersea creatures in Canadian waters. Both books will be published by Pottersfield Press in 2024.
Community Events
Moncton
festival FRYE festival
Do you like to cook, drive, meet female authors? We are looking for volunteers for the 25th edition of the FRYE Festival to be held from April 19-28, 2024
Here’s the form
Sackville
Writers’ Open Mic
Sunday, March 10th
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Bill Johnstone Memorial Park Activity Centre
70 Main Street, Sackville, NB
The Writers’ Open Mic is a free monthly event open to all. Come out and read your poems, short stories, comics, novels, essays, twitter posts, stand-up comedy, etc. Or just come to listen. Please wear a mask.
A projector will be set up for those with comics or other images or videos they want to share. Files can be brought on a USB or emailed in advance. Accessibility concerns, general questions, and image or video files can be directed to laurawatsonartwork@gmail.com.
