All is quiet on the home front this June, Members and Friends.
I haven’t received many notices about activities, competitions, etc. happening in June, but please check previous issues for announcements about competitions that may still be running.
I hope that you will take the opportunity to rest, recharge and refuel during what is expected to be a glorious summer.
- What a great WordSpring we enjoyed at the Crowne Plaza in Fredericton two weeks ago. I hope that if you attended, you received information and/or inspiration to fire up your writing projects well into the summer and fall.
- Members, it’s Annual General Meeting time. WE NEED YOU TO ATTEND next Thursday night, June 19 at 7 pm! We need a minimum of 39 members to attend to achieve quorum. We have no major issues that require voting, so it will be a straightforward one-hour session via zoom.
Saint John area poets: Sign up now for the Anne Simpson workshop happening June 28 at the Saint John Arts Centre from 2 to 4 pm. Looking forward to this interesting and interactive event, led by a well-respected Nova Scotia poet!
Welcome, New Members
Zelma Aird – From Fredericton, Zelma is interested in photography and writes flash fiction, short stories and travel writing. Welcome, Zelma!
Lisa Downing – From Grande Digue, Lisa writes poetry, and also writes for children. Welcome, Lisa!
Crystal Gauvin
Cheyenne Kean-Lemery—Writes flash fiction, middle grade and travel
Gary MacDonald
Francis Adrien-Morneault –Francis is a multi-award winning indie author and French teacher from Rothesay, interested in fiction and short stories. Welcome, Francis!
Jennifer Rankin—Writing under the pen name J.K. Rankin, Jennifer writes fiction, suspense and thrillers from her home in Fairfield. Welcome, Jennifer!
Janie Upham—Writes creative nonfiction, memoir, copywriting, and freelance work from her home in Fredericton. Welcome, Janie!
Zachary Vanthournout—hails from Fredericton Junction and writes fiction, science fiction and nonfiction. Welcome, Zachary!
And we welcome three Sheree Fitch Prize-winning students:
Quinn Mallaley Ryan
Nadirah Enitan-Adelakun
Mallory Pitzner
Member News
Physician (and WFNB member!) Michael Simon is happy to announce that the fourth book in his First Command series, in which an old alien nemesis returns to shatter the peace and send the human race to extinction, will be released later this year (Imprint: Aethon). Congratulations, Michael!
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Lisa Thompson is pleased to announce the publication of her video, Tales of the City, in Books and Pieces magazine. Check out her piece here https://bnpmag.com/2025/05/24/tales-from-the-city-by-lisa-thompson/
Events
Happening tomorrow, June 14!
The Fiddlehead is excited to launch Issue 303 with a special virtual event!
Join them on Zoom for an evening of readings by spring issue contributors, plus selected poems by the late Robert Gibbs, read by the editorial team.
To attend, email thefiddlehead@gmail.com with your name to receive the Zoom link. See you there! The event is free and open to all, with ASL interpretation available.
COMPETITIONS, CALLS FOR SUBMISSION
Sequestrum Literary Magazine
Themes: Time, Nature, & Optimism
Final month for three themes: Time, Nature, and Optimism! You can find details below, but in short, we're after your most ambitious, imaginative writing. Bend time, take us somewhere lush or barren, leave us with a glimmer of hope. Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or some combination thereof. We’re eager to read your best. Deadline 7/15.
Nature submission details are here: https://www.sequestrum.org/themed-submissions-nature
Optimism submissions are here: https://www.sequestrum.org/themed-submissions-optimism
Time Submissions are here: https://www.sequestrum.org/theme-time
That's it for me. Enjoy the rest of June!
Cheers,
WordWorthy:
"For I’ve come to realize that struggle for the benefit of others – for goodness, kindness and simplicity, as Leo Tolstoy has reminded us, is always in its own right a sanctification, and when seen is always recognized as something akin to joy." David Adams Richards, June 2, 2025.
