Hello, members and friends.
If you’ve already had your time of rest and relaxation this summer, I hope it was full of beauty and inspiration for your current projects. If you are in the vicinity of current wildfires, I do hope that you, your family and your property remain secure. My vacation begins in just a few days, and I can’t wait for it. We’re headed somewhere hot, and while I’ve enjoyed the heat at home this summer, I do hope an abundance of rain will pour forth in our absence.
In the meantime, I’d like to remind you about our Brian Henry Writers’ Weekend, coming up at the end of September. Have you registered? There’s still lots of room to join us, but if you can’t attend this inspiring, yet out-of-the-way venue in person, I have added a zoom link so that you can watch the weekend proceedings from home -- for a very reasonable price. Check that out ASAP.
Fall/winter zoom sessions
Our monthly zoom professional workshops are all set for the fall and winter. Watch for the event registration pages later in the fall. Our leaders will be Joe Mahoney (Donovan Street Press), who’ll present the Indie Publishing Primer; Lee Thompson will teach Self-Editing; Chuck Bowie will explain How and Why to Write a Cozy Mystery; Elaine McCluskey will dive into fiction with Short Story Love; Wendy Kitts will talk about The Back Page – Pitching and Summarizing your work - elevator pitch, synopsis and query letter. Heather Browne will also teach a portion of her Writing Well series, and we may even hear from British romantic fiction writer, Melissa Addey, on The foundations of book marketing + unusual marketing moves. Stay tuned!
WordTravels
In lieu of a formal WordsFall this year, I’d like to set up a series of Open Mic events featuring a special reader or two through the fall and winter. If you have ideas about venues, locations, or featured readers, and are keen to help set up one of these events in your area, please drop a line to our email: info@wfnb.ca
Writers’ Services Reminder
Do you offer professional editing, writing, or publishing services that your fellow members could use? If you’re a WFNB member, we’re happy to list your contact information for free on our writers’ resource page here: https://wfnb.ca/Writers-Resources If you are willing to offer a discount to our membership, that would be a great perk, too.
That’s it for me. Enjoy the remaining days of August, and I do hope some of them are cool and rainy. All best wishes,
WordWorthy
Punctuation has been defined many ways. Some grammarians use the analogy of stitching: punctuation as the basting that holds the fabric of language in shape. Another writer tell us that punctuation marks are the traffic signals of language: they tell us to slow down, notice this, take a detour, and stop. I have even seen a rather fanciful reference to the full stop and comma as “the invisible servants in fairy tales – the ones who bring glasses of water and pillows, not storms of weather or love.” But best of all, I think, is the simple advice given by the style book of a national newspaper: that punctuation is “a courtesy designed to help readers to understand a story without stumbling.” Lynne Truss, Eats, Shoots & Leaves – The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation (2003, Gotham)
A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Summer is flying past at Mach 2 (Mach 3 with the Humidex), and we’ll soon be in “cozying up with a book season.” I just wanted to give a short update on my activities as your new president. First, let’s stress the word “new.” The biggest hurdle I’ve overcome so far involves the online banking arrangements for our accounts; with Rhonda’s help, and that of the bank officer, I’m now good-to-go. Speaking of Rhonda, she and I were privileged to attend the unveiling of New Brunswick’s first Project Bookmark Canada plaques in honour of our own David Adams Richards. I’d also like to recognize our Secretary, Sandra Bunting, who took part in this unveiling ceremony in Miramichi.
I’m looking forward to our first Board of Directors meeting in September with our new BoD, that will take place after the next issue of InkSpot, so you likely won’t hear from me before then. Conversely, if you want to drop me a note, you can do so here: The Writers' Federation of New Brunswick - Email member
On Editing
This isn’t a rhetorical question, as you’re welcome to reply with your thoughts. What is the single most important investment in your publishing path? For me, the answer is editing. It is the magical process that turns a fair manuscript into a good one, or makes a good one even better. I won’t cite titles or authors, but there have been works I’ve read that could have been so much better with the right editor. While self-published authors are faced with the challenges of funding editors and traditionally published authors aren’t, that’s not to say some “trads” are perfectly edited either. My own published trilogy, scrutinized by several editing rounds, alpha and beta readers (my street team) still has six typos in the three books. Suffice to say, the “100% solution” is rare indeed; it’s still worth aiming for. If you don’t know where to look for such help, check out this link on our WFNB Web Page: The Writers' Federation of New Brunswick - Writers’ Resources and put the proper polish on your manuscript. – Don Bourque
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Rebecca Carrigan (pen name, Becca Blue) is a writer, filmmaker and storyteller from Lincoln, whose work blends emotional depth with a touch of the supernatural. She founded Sakura Blue Studios as a multimedia studio that offers publishing, photography, film and design services. Becca also offers workshops and one on one training sessions. For more information, visit her website www.sakurabluestudios.ca, and also find her at Facebook.com/sakurabluestudio E: Sakurabluestudios@gmail.com
Leah Driscoll (pen name LeVraie Bellemère) writes biography, creative nonfiction, and poetry from her home in Summerfield, and is putting the finishing touches on a memoir at this time. Welcome, Leah!
Joshua Izzard writes fantasy, fiction, horror, poetry, science fiction, songwriting, spiritual and suspense from his home in Oromocto. Welcome, Joshua!
Using his varied career background in science and tech, Michael McCool writes speculative fiction full-time from his home in Edmundston. (Glad to have a new member from that part of the province!) He writes in the genres of fantasy, nonfiction, science and science fiction, speculative and technical. Welcome, Michael!
MEMBER NEWS
The annual Burnt Church Writers evening was held this year on July 31st in the Burnt Church Community Hall to a packed house. Sandra Bunting started off with advice to take time to play silly games this summer, with her poem 'An Ode to Cousins". She was followed by Malcolm Mc Connell, who read an excerpt from his latest memoir, a work in progress, about his travels in the 70s along the 'HippyTrail'. Next came Sandy Burnett who read from his book, 'A History of the Canadian Wildlife Service', a heartbreaking account of our disappearing wildlife. There was also an optimistic note, discussing the passion and dedication of those trying to preserve what's left. Jonathan Creaghan gave a philosophical argument on how a sense of peace trumps the much overrated concept of happiness. Johannes Bosma read an account from one of his memoirs and biographies of a teacher (from Burnt Church) who encouraged him artistically and actually inspired him to go into teaching. The evening ended with a treat. David Adams Richards, who summered in Burnt Church in his youth, read from his soon to be published book of essays - a selection that dealt with memories of Burnt Church. Richards was recently the recipient of a legacy award from the Writers Federation of New Brunswick in recognition of his large body of work and contribution to the literary heritage of New Brunswick. Also this summer he received an Honorary Doctorate in Letters from McGill University, where he also gave the convocation address to graduates. Finally, in July he was included in the Canadian Bookmark Project with a plaque in Miramichi showcasing his book, Friends of Meager Fortune.
Burnt Church is a small community on the bay north of Miramichi, adjacent to Esgenoopetitj First Nation and a gateway to the Acadian Penninsula.
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Erik Jingles is pleased to announce the publication of his classic fantasy-adventure, The Nomies and the Surface Protocol, available now on amazon.
Written for middle-grade readers, but appealing to much older readers as well, this story weaves its way across Canada, both above and below ground, in a race to save the world from an underground dictator.
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Riel Nason's follow-up to the bestselling picture book The Little Ghost Who Was A Quilt, is titled The Little Ghost Quilt's Winter Surprise. It is the second book in The Little Ghost Quilt series and will be published by Tundra Books (Penguin Random House Young Readers Canada) on August 26. Illustrations are by Byron Eggenschwiler. Kirkus Reviews says "This quietly lovely holiday tale underscores the true meaning of the holidays: friendship and togetherness." Riel will be having a local launch (in Quispamsis) and signings later in the fall. The book is available for Pre-order from your favourite independent bookseller, Indigo, Amazon, or wherever you buy books. Follow Riel on Instagram @rielnason
The Little Ghost Quilt's Winter Surprise - August, 2025
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It was beyond Dr. Amber Swan’s greatest dream to win in the "Inspirational Category" of the Next Generation Short Story Awards (https://shortstoryawards.com/winners.php?year=2025) for her piece, Herding Pigs. The Next Generation Short Story Awards' stated mission is to recognize and honor the best short stories in the world and celebrate and award the creative minds behind the words. Receiving an award and publication was tremendously shocking and encouraging for her, and she hopes that her little story will be an inspiration for others now!
Book a Table at the Fantastic Grown-Up Book Fair!
This Fall we are hosting another Fantastic Grown Up Book Fair on Sat Oct 11 10am-2pm in Mahone Bay, NS. This will be a satellite event in association with Booktoberfest (a WFNS event some of you may be familiar with) and as such will be co-promoted by the WFNS.
Details can be found at our website www.GrownUpBookFair.com .
In response to some of the feedback given after our first event in Truro (December 2023), there will be no fee for the public to enter and the event will run from 10am - 2 pm.
Additionally, there will be 2 free writing workshops and a reading hour of unpublished works for the public to attend (applications for writers/ authors to read at no cost on our website). With a lower rental fee we are able to offer tables for only $40.
COMPETITIONS
Here’s a reminder that The Fiddlehead's fiction contest deadline is September 2. Don’t miss it!
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The annual McNally Robinson Booksellers & Prairie Fire Writing Contests are on now!
Three contests:
Fiction, Poetry, Creative Non-Fiction
Prizes: $1250 cash
prize—per winner—per contest
Deadline: November 30, 2025
Check out prairiefire.ca/contests for all the submission details!
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The fifteenth annual Musicworks Electronic Music Composition Contest is now open.
The annual juried contest spotlights new musical talent from around the world, offering cash prizes and opportunities to be heard and published.
First prize: $500, a composer profile in Musicworks in 2026, and the composition released on the accompanying Musicworks CD.
Second prize: $200 and composer coverage on musicworks.ca in 2026.
Third prize: $100 and composer coverage on musicworks.ca in 2026.
Contest closes October 31, 2025
Prize details, eligibility, assessment criteria, rules and restrictions, and the entry portal can be found at: musicworksmag.myshopify.com/products/2025-musicworks-electronic-music-composition-contest
OPEN CALLS FOR SUBMISSION
Sunspot Lit’s open calls for very longform fiction, CNF, poetry and graphic novels close in September. Accepting all genres and categories; seeking exceptional craft from every voice. Guidelines and deadlines here: https://sunspotlit.submittable.com/submit.
WRITER IN RESIDENCE APPLICATION
The Saskatoon Public Library (SPL) is looking for a Writer in Residence, Sept 2026-May 2027 term.
The application can be found on their website: https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/about/careers/ or via this direct link: https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/isl/uploads/2025/06/WIR-Job-Posting_2026_27.pdf
