Hello Friends and Members 
Hello, Members and Friends! “By all these lovely tokens, September days are here,” writes poet Helen Hunt Jackson, “with summer’s best of weather and autumn’s best of cheer.”
Upcoming WFNB Events, News, and Requests
WordsFall is just around the corner!
WordsFall 2024 will take place the weekend of October 25 -27, and I hope you’ve taken a look at the schedule and plan to attend the whole weekend, or even just a workshop or two. It will be well worth it, and we’ve always enjoyed our time in Sussex in the past. We’ll be featuring our workshop leaders on social media in the leadup to the event. Don’t miss it!
New Brunswick Book Awards submissions are open.
If you have a book to submit to the 2025 NB Book Awards (there’s a new fifth award this year, if you haven’t heard), you have until December 1 to fill out a submission form and send us two copies of your book. There are always stragglers, but we do try to mail the books off to the judges by mid-December. Remember, the program costs nothing to enter, but the author must be a New Brunswick resident, and the book must have been published in the 2024 calendar year. Check out this page for more details.
Arts Atlantic Symposium in October
The Arts Atlantic Symposium, a production of ArtsLink NB, takes place October 18-20 in Moncton. During this time, the region’s top artists, performers, and industry professionals come together for three days of art installations, exhibitions, performances, workshops, and panels that celebrate the power of Atlantic Canadian art. The WFNB will be involved in the Arts Atlantic Symposium marketplace (read: trade show) at the Crowne Plaza Moncton on Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm.
I’d like to put together a gift basket for our table and sell raffle tickets with a winner to be drawn that day. If you have any NB books (signed by the author would be awesome!) to donate, or any other pleasing addition to a writing-related basket, please drop me a line at info@wfnb.ca.
Member News
In Memoriam: Helena Hook (1946-2024)
Photo: Seated at right is Helena with other participants at the 2022 WFNB Fall Writers’ Retreat
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Helena Hook, a cherished member of WFNB, who died peacefully on August 3rd in the palliative care unit at Saint John Regional Hospital, surrounded by her loving family.
Born on June 4th, 1946, in Athlone, Ireland, Helena emigrated to New Brunswick with her husband Stuart and their two children, Fiona and Ian, in 1973. The family settled on Darlings Island, where they were blessed with a third child, David. Later, they moved to Quispamsis, where Helena's love of nature bloomed in the form of beautiful, lush gardens surrounding their home.
Helena’s life was a canvas of vibrant colours, from her work at her Saint John business, Radiant Colours, to the vivid imagery in her poetry and prose. Her passion for writing and learning was unwavering. At the age of 60, she returned to university, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English. Her thesis explored the work of the late Irish poet and playwright Seamus Heaney, further connecting her to her Irish roots.
A devoted writer, Helena was a beloved member of the Seaside Scribes, a Saint John writing group who will miss her dearly. Her work was published in various anthologies and magazines, and her family memoir, Threads of Time, offers a touching tribute to her mother’s resilience. Set in the busy market town of Athlone in the 1950s and 60s, Threads of Time unravels the complex fabric of an Irish family and the enduring strength of its bonds.
Threads of Time is available on Kindle and in paperback on Amazon.
Helena’s obituary can be found here.
Chuck Bowie featured in the Canada Council National Public Reading Program.
As part of the Canada Council National Public Reading Program, WFNB member Chuck Bowie will be reading from his newest Suspense-Thriller novel, Lost in London. This is number 6 in the Donovan: Thief4Hire series.
Where: Dog-Eared Books, Unit 218, 281 Restigouche Rd, Oromocto, NB
When: Saturday, November 2, 2 pm – 4 pm
Heather Browne is offering a Creative Writing Course in Fredericton.
WFNB member Heather Browne once again leads a creative writing course in her community on Tuesday mornings beginning October 22 for 8 weeks in Fredericton. For details please email kathryn.baird@fredericton.ca
Shawn Lawlor releases his first novel.
WFNB member Shawn Lawlor would like to announce his first novel release, entitled Boom Road, published by Galleon Books. It's also available through Chapters/Indigo, and through Amazon.
Synopsis: Jackie O'Connor is true to his word and expects one thing from others: to be true to theirs. Growing up in rural New Brunswick on the banks of the mystical Miramichi River, leading a straightforward life and working at the sawmill, Jackie doesn't demand much else from anyone.
But everything takes an unforeseen turn when he inherits a large sum of money. The world around him spins upside down - the dead come back to haunt him, and others seek to deceive him.
Navigating this new reality with his dog Ruby at his side, beset by urgent requests and shadowy friendships, Jackie paddles his canoe through spiraling circumstances and an ever-changing world, attempting to keep both his vessel afloat and his moral compass straight.
Barb Parker’s newest book launches in October.
Barb Parker is pleased to announce that her third nonfiction book, written from the heart with love and compassion, is due out in October. Don’t Leave Me is published by Word Alive Press in Manitoba. Barb’s first book, My Sister's Journey From Headache to Heartache, published in 2010, was voted top Reader's Choice of the Year 2013 by Salon Magazine. Her second book, The Choice - My Path My Destiny, was published in 2013, both by Essence Publishing in Belleville, Ontario.
Jennifer Shelby receives ArtsNB Creation Grant.
WFNB member Jennifer Shelby is delighted to announce that she was granted an ArtsNB Creation Grant to write a new novel entitled "A Binding of Story and Spellwork." Yay! Congratulations, Jennifer.
Also, in response to the warning about scams in the July inkspot, Jennifer thought our members might like to know about the Writer Beware blog which is such an important resource for writers to research companies who approach them.
Writer Beware is a branch of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Association (SFWA), so they are big enough to have legal clout and aren't afraid to speak up. It's also a fantastic place to report scams and feel a little less helpless in the face of so many writer predators out there.
Welcome New Members
Lauren Hoyt
Lauren Hoyt has a degree in journalism and works in the field of communications. A Grand Bay-Westfield resident, she writes in the genres of corporate writing, creative nonfiction, editing, fiction, journalism, nonfiction, and photography. Welcome, Lauren!
Linda Turner
Linda Turner is a new member from Amherst, Nova Scotia, and works in the genres of Flash/Micro fiction, Middle Grade, and Travel Writing. Welcome, Linda!
Finally, I’m always sad, even resentful, when my favourite season - summer - is over. But this time of year also has a charm of its own. Not everyone’s faces are glum – some kids look forward to seeing their friends and establishing a routine at school, with sports and activities. College students are settled back in their dorms and apartments, like my youngest son, who is anxious to complete the final year of his degree. And then there’s harvest time.Those of us who plant seeds in the spring are enjoying the fruits of our labour.
For example, my family helped me harvest our grapevines last weekend - the knavish birds had begun to steal them, but I’m stingy. I’ll make Grapefulness jelly for the first time since we moved to a new home a three years ago. It’s satisfying to hear that familiar *pop!* as the bottles seal.
As I write this, a different sort of season is ending at the WFNB.
Kris Windley, who has been serving as our program director for the last two years, is moving on to other things. I’m sure she’ll tell you more in her programming message, but on behalf of the board, I’d like to say thanks for her contribution to our organization. I will miss our discussions about long-term strategies, marketing expertise and new programming (like the first season of our new WordCraft podcast). She provided a fresh spark of energy during her time here, and I hope we’ll see her around at events from time to time.
That’s all for now. Cheers,
Rhonda
WordWorthy: I think that most of us want to offer the world something of quality – something that the world will consider “good,” or “important.” That’s really the enemy. Because it’s not up to us whether what we do is any “good.” And if history has taught us anything, the world is an extremely unreliable critic. You have to ask yourself if human creativity matters. Ethan Hawke – actor, writer, director.
