CALLS FOR SUBMISSION

WFNB member Frederick Mundle is publishing an anthology of the work of previously published NB poets, and is hoping for 80 submissions from writers like you! He’s looking for at least one of your already published poems, the name of the journal, magazine, article or book in which it was published, along with the date of the publication.  Your poem will appear in a journal (title to be identified) which will highlight participating NB poets.  This is a pilot project which can be ready to go into print by Christmas depending upon the number of respondents and how quickly they can respond.  For further information contact Fred at babalabean@hotmail.com.    

Sunspot Lit’s open call: Supernova

Sunspot Lit’s open call for very long fiction, CNF, poetry and graphic novels closes August 31. Accepting all genres and categories. See guidelines and submission form, along with the journal’s other open calls (including art), here: https://sunspotlit.submittable.com/submit.

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Let your ideas leap off the page! The Fiddlehead's 2026 Fiction Contest is currently open for submissions! The best story will receive the $2000 prize and be published in Issue 310 of The Fiddlehead. This year's contest is being judged by Giller Prize longlisted author Kirti Bhadresa! You can find all our guidelines for submission here. Deadline to submit: September 1. 

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Calls for Submission from Lilac Arch Press

All About Christmas—an upcoming anthology about how we celebrate the season. We’re looking for short stories, essays, poetry, artwork, and photography that show how different people find meaning in the Christmas season. Yes, we want to see beauty, joy, and beloved family traditions. But, we also want to hear about the time you ruined the turkey and had to order take-out, the first Christmas without a loved one, or how you manage to deal with the stress of juggling too many to-do lists. Life can be messy and chaotic and that’s okay. We want to celebrate it all. In the quiet of your heart, what does Christmas mean to you? How do you find inspiration and contentment this time of year? Submissions will be open until January 31 2027 and can be sent to submissionslilacarchpress@gmail.com

Hi-Lo Advent Book—Try your hand at crafting a short (250-500-word) holiday story for our hi-lo line for older adults. Hi-lo means high interest/ low reading level. Our hi-lo line can be enjoyed by anyone but is specially crafted for those experiencing cognitive impairments such as dementia. We are seeking heartwarming stories featuring older main characters. We are looking for stories that celebrate winter, the Christmas season, or the new year. Submissions close January 31, 2027 and can be sent to submissionslilacarchpress@gmail.com

For a full list you can visit our submissions page.

Warm Wishes, Denise Leduc

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Milton Park Publishing: Call for Projects — YA & Adult Fiction*

Diversité Artistique Montréal (DAM)’s publishing house, Milton Park Publishing, is seeking fiction manuscripts aimed at young adult (YA) or adult audiences, in English or French.

While this call for projects is ongoing and there is no hard submission deadline, our first review period will begin August 20th, 2026. In general, projects will be reviewed as they are received on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to submit your manuscript as soon as it's ready.

What We Are Looking For

We are interested primarily in commercial fiction, including fantasy, dystopian, romance, thrillers, women’s fiction, and general fiction. Ideally, your work does not exceed 180,000 words. Although we may in the future, we are not currently accepting screenplays, poetry, or short stories. We are accepting submissions from across Canada.

Note: We do not accept any work generated by artificial intelligence.

Selection Process

While projects are reviewed on an ongoing basis, each selected project must meet certain market-related criteria (distribution potential, fit with the target audience, commercial viability, among others) to ensure a successful launch for both the artist and the organization.

What We Offer

We support artists with the full range of services typically provided by a publishing house — editing, revision, art direction, production, distribution, and promotion — with a 50/50 revenue split. Our goal: to ensure artists genuinely benefit from the results of their work.

How to Submit

Queries should be directed to Katarina Dyck atmiltonpark@diversiteartistique.org. We only accept queries via email. Please paste the following materials into the body of your email: 

• Paragraph 1: Introduction
• Title and genre of your work
• An estimated word count
• A brief, general introduction

• Paragraph 2: Brief overview
• Brief synopsis (aka where you hook us!)

• Paragraph 3: Author bio
• Help us get to know you and your background a little better!

• OPTIONAL: Links to your website and/or previously published work

In addition to the above information, please attach the first ten pages of your manuscript to the email as a PDF. 

We look forward to discovering your stories!

*Note: We are not sure whether this organization is a hybrid press, or a non-profit trad, like its parent organization.

Milton Park Publishing: Appel à projets — Livres de Fiction Jeune Adulte & Adulte*

La maison d’édition de Diversité Artistique Montréal (DAM), Milton Park Publishing, est à la recherche de manuscrits de fiction, principalement destinés à un public jeune adulte (YA) ou adulte, en français ou en anglais.

Bien que cet appel à projets soit en cours et qu'il n'y ait pas de date limite stricte pour les soumissions, notre première période d'examen commencera le 20 août 2026. En général, les projets seront examinés au fur et à mesure de leur réception, selon le principe du premier arrivé, premier servi. Nous vous encourageons à soumettre votre manuscrit dès qu'il est prêt.

Ce que nous recherchons

Nous nous intéressons principalement à la fiction commerciale, y compris la fantasy, la dystopie, les romans d'amour, les thrillers, la fiction féminine et la fiction générale. Idéalement, votre travail ne doit pas dépasser 180 000 mots. Bien que cela puisse changer à l'avenir, nous n'acceptons actuellement pas les scénarios, la poésie ou les nouvelles. Veuillez noter que nous n'acceptons aucun travail généré par l'intelligence artificielle. Nous acceptons des candidatures de partout au Canada.

Ce que nous offrons

Nous accompagnons les artistes avec l'ensemble des services qu'offre normalement une maison d'édition — édition, révision, direction artistique, production, distribution et promotion — avec un partage des revenus à parts égales (50/50). Notre objectif : que les artistes bénéficient réellement des retombées de leur travail.

Processus de sélection

Bien que l'évaluation se fasse en continu, chaque projet retenu doit répondre à certains critères liés au marché (potentiel de diffusion, adéquation avec le public cible, viabilité commerciale, entre autres) afin d'assurer une mise en marché réussie pour l'artiste comme pour l'organisme.

Comment soumettre

Les soumissions doivent être envoyées que par email à Katarina Dyck à l'adresse miltonpark@diversiteartistique.org. Veuillez coller les documents suivants directement dans le corps de votre email :

• Paragraphe 1 : Introduction
• Titre et genre de votre œuvre
• Nombre de mots estimé
• Une brève introduction générale 
• Paragraphe 2 : Bref synopsis (c’est là que vous nous accrochez !)
• Paragraphe 3 : Biographie de l’auteur
• Aidez-nous à mieux vous connaître et à en savoir un peu plus sur votre parcours !
• OPTIONNEL : Partager des liens vers votre site web et/ou vos travaux publiés auparavant

En plus des informations ci-dessus, veuillez joindre les dix premières pages de votre manuscrit à l'e-mail en PDF. 

Nous avons hâte de découvrir vos histoires !

*Remarque : nous ne savons pas avec certitude si cette organisation est une maison d'édition hybride ou une association à but non lucratif, à l'instar de son organisation mère.

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A new independent literature magazine* is launching in New Brunswick. Weird River is looking for submissions in fantasy, horror and scifi with a deadline of August 15.  Contact editor Farley Chamberlain - weirdriver.magazine@gmail.com *Please note, as yet, there is no payment.

COMPETITIONS

 Writory  https://writoryofficial.com/international-poetry-contest

is a monthly international poetry contest — deadline the 25th of every month, low local-currency entry, a cash prize, and a certificate + judge score for every entrant. Because it never closes, it stays current on your listings all year, whichever month a reader finds them.

Since I first wrote, Writory is now listed on Duotrope, Christopher Fielden's competitions list, Poetry Ireland and Writing Corner — happy to send winner examples or anything you need for review.

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The 2026 Musicworks Electronic Music Composition Contest is open

For immediate release: The sixteenth Musicworks Electronic Music Composition Contest is now open. Please share the news with your readers, audiences, and communities. 

Our annual juried contest spotlights new musical talent from around the world, offering four cash prizes and opportunities to be heard and published. In 2025, we received 127 submissions from 17 countries, including Canada, the U.S. and U.K., Italy, France, Japan, and others.

First prize: $500, a composer profile in Musicworks in 2027, and the composition released on the accompanying Musicworks CD.

Second prize: $200 and composer coverage on musicworks|.|ca in 2027.

Third prize: $100 and composer coverage on musicworks|.|ca in 2027.

Marcelle Deschênes Prize in Electronic Music / prix Marcelle Deschênes pour la musique électronique: $300 and a composer profile in 2027. This prize is open to entrants who self-identify as female or non-binary. Learn about the prize HERE.

REQUIREMENTS 

Compose and submit an experimental piece in any electronic-music genre—acousmatic, electroacoustic, glitch, soundscape, intelligent dance music (IDM), turntable art, or video music. The contest is open to entries from anywhere in the world and from artists at any stage of their careers. Pieces must be previously unpublished (i.e. not released on a commercially available recording at the time of submission). 

Maximum length: 10 minutes.  

Accepted file types: MP3 or MP4 only. 

Contest entry fee: $30. Unlimited additional entries are $5 each. 

All entrants receive a one-year print subscription to Musicworks ($44–$59 value).  

Contest closes November 9, 2026

Prize details, eligibility, assessment criteria, rules and restrictions, and the entry portal can be found HERE. 

CANADIAN WRITERS' LISTING

CANARTA - Writers’ profile directory

CANARTA is a Canadian storytelling platform, and what it does is simple: it gives writers, and artists of all kinds, a place to introduce themselves as people. Not a ranking. Not a review. A portrait — work, process, the person behind the page — in their own words.

The word "emerging" at CANARTA means career stage, not age. The member of yours who is publishing for the first time at fifty-eight belongs here exactly as much as the one who just left a workshop program. What they share is that their story hasn't been told yet to the audience it deserves. You can check out this directory at canarta.net 

TRAINING PROGRAM

CATAPULT Arts Accelerator applications for the Fall 2026 Session are now open!

CATAPULT gives New Brunswick artists the tools to be prolific and build sustainable careers.

Over a 12-week period, CATAPULT participants receive training in fundamental entrepreneurial skills like business modelling, marketing, branding, financial planning, and exporting.

Guest speakers and facilitators for the CATAPULT workshops are drawn both from the business and professional art community. Participants also receive one-on-one coaching from the program coordinator and formal mentorships from individuals operating at the top of their field.

Please share in your networks and with anyone you feel would benefit from this program!

Timeline and Details:

In-person in Saint John at the ArtsLink NB office

Saturdays from September 12 to December 5

9am to 4pm

No class October 10th

Launch day: December 12

Deadline: Sunday, August 16, 11:59pm

FREE for ArtsLink NB members.

Happy summer, Members and Friends!

For those of you who are on the edge of your seat, wondering since last Inkspot if I managed to harvest enough cherries from my tree to make a pie, the answer is yes - and a little bit of jam, too. Special thanks to a couple of readers who suggested similar ways to keep the birdies away. 

My apologies that our event pages for the fall program are not yet open for registration. I took some time for vacation (much needed, I'm afraid), and because most other folks involved in the planning process are also vacationing, it’s hard to pin down times, places and venues.

But for now, I can tell you about a few fun and exciting things on the horizon. Once again, if any of you would like to host an Open Mic this fall in your community with the help of the WFNB, let me know. We have one Open Mic tentatively on the schedule for November in the beautiful St. Andrews, but nothing else is on the books so far.

September

The Writers’ of the Realm Literary Festival, Fredericton Inn, September 19

WFNB will be handling the cover charge of $2 at the door, and we will have an information table set up. We’ll be bringing branded t-shirts and mugs for purchase, and you can bid on a stack of the 2026 New Brunswick Book Awards winning books. Hope to see you there.

Word Travels –Thandiwe McCarthy in Fredericton (Date TBA)

Word Travels – September 27, Moncton, Linwood Barclay in conversation and book signing, venue and host TBA.

(In the WordSpring 2026 survey, I asked folks who their “wish list” speakers might be, and someone mentioned Linwood Barclay, the well-known Canadian author of thrillers and mysteries. It just so happens that he’ll be at the Cavendish Literary festival on September 26, and will be passing through Moncton on his way to another event in Halifax on Monday.)

October

Word Travels event - Thandiwe McCarthy reading and speaking about his new book in Fredericton, date and venue TBA

Word Travels event – Drawing for Writers with Jon Claytor- October 17, St. Martins, (tentatively @St. Martins Country Inn) - jonclaytor@gmail.com (maximum of 20 participants, lunch provided)

Word Travels event – Two workshops on October 31:  How and Why Atmosphere has a Place in Novels with Luke Beirne, and How to Write Noir/Crime fiction with Francis-Adrien Morneault, at The Write Cup Café and Bookstore, Market Square, Saint John

November

Online workshop – Researching your Next Novel, with Chuck Bowie, November 5 at 6 pm

Open Mic – St. Andrews (Date and venue TBA)

Pages in the Province - The WFNB will also have a table at Pages in the Province at NBEX, November 7, as will many of you. Hope to see you there!

December

No events booked in December so far, but we are planning ideas for an online workshop. Details soon.

January

Online Saturday Series – Building Up our Sensory Writing Muscles with Sandra Phinney - Jan 9, 16, 23, and 30 – (Maximum 8 participants)

February

Writers’ Retreat – Weekend of February 19

In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying some beach time in this hot weather (punctuated by brief bursts of rain) and that you are also finding time for your writing. I’m looking forward to seeing many of you soon!

Cheers,

Rhonda

WordWorthy

On writing science fiction: “Your job is not to be blandly acceptable to everyone. The people who ‘hated it’ are not your readers. Know who you are. Know your target audience. Say something meaningful, something new and original.” Robert J. Sawyer, WordSpring 2026 keynote address

President’s message

A new week, a new month, coming off the NB Day long weekend. I hope everyone is making the most of the summer; it goes by so quickly. Blink, and youth will be returning to school, and authors from all over NB will be setting their sights on the Writers of the Realm Literary Fair in Fredericton. Hats off to Rebecca Carrigan for putting this extravaganza on and I look forward to seeing many of you there. After this relaxing summer, your Board of Directors will be getting back to work, looking for ways to make our community more vibrant. Reach out to any of us if you have some great ideas, availability to act on said ideas, or just say "hi". We're here for you.

Don Bourque, President, WFNB

Welcome, New Members

Louise Chase – Louise is a returning member, who writes for children, as well as creative nonfiction and poetry from her home in beautiful St. Andrews. She is also organizing an Open Mic for St. Andrews in November, date and venue TBA. Welcome, Louise!

Gary Crosby – (pen name, The Sapper) https://dwcarving.com/ Gary is a mixed-media artist from Oromocto whose artistic repertoire spans a variety of mediums, including woodcarving, epoxy, pyrography, and acrylics. HE writes fantasy, fiction, nonfiction, suspense and short stories. Welcome, Gary!

James Katan – James is a retired librarian from Campbellton who enjoys photography and poetry. Welcome, James!

Samuel McGraw – https://lestresartsdacadie.com/produit/la-tourette-et-moi/ Samuel is a Francophone Canadian who writes both autobiographical and fictional works. He published the biography La Tourette et moi at the Salon du livre de Dieppe and has also released fiction titles like The Last Impaler and Devil Hitman. Bienvenue, Samuel!

Stephanie Peters – Welcome to the WFNB, Stephanie!

Lida Mae Tiongzon – Lida Mae is currently studying organizational management at Crandall University, and writes memoir from her home in Dieppe. Welcome, Lida Mae!

Member News

Lynn Davies is happy to announce that her new picture book, “The Graveyard Cat” will be published this September 29. The book tells the tale of a spunky cat with neither a name nor a home who hangs out in a graveyard and meets a hungry fox and a curious kid.  The book, wonderfully illustrated by Jillian Thalman, is available for pre-order at your favourite bookstore or directly from Nimbus Publishing at 1-800-646-2879 or customerservice@nimbus.ca

Congratulations, Lynn!

***

Harold Skaarup is delighted to announce that he’s built two books for our museum in Fredericton:

1) Canadian Expeditionary Force & Militia Cap Badges: York Sunbury Historical Society Fredericton Region Museum Collection

-A reference book for the Canadian Army cap badges held in the York Sunbury Historical Society, Fredericton Region Museum collection. In addition to photos, this book includes brief summaries of the units they represent, along with the Accession Numbers for the artefacts as utilized by the museum to guide the visitor to the specific badge being researched.

2) Canadian Second World War Cap Badges: York Sunbury Historical Society Fredericton Region Museum Collection

The Fredericton Region Museum boasts an impressive collection of cap badges and medals. Operated by the York-Sunbury Historical Society, our rich holdings date back over 90 years, to when the Society was first established in 1932. From the very outset, cap badges and medals occupied an important interest for local collectors, who through the years have generously donated their prized holdings to the museum. The assemblage of cap badges featured within this publication covers the time period of the Second World War. It represents a concerted effort, on the part of several museum volunteers, to gather together a substantial number of our military badges. All are now safeguarded in the Fredericton Region Museum. We invite you to visit the museum to view these historic badges for yourself.

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Basic Bruegel Editions is pleased to announce the publication of three new chapbooks:  ́  by poet Thibault Jacquot-Paratte;     by artist Bruce Barber; and  - - , a collaboration between Valerie LeBlanc and Daniel H. Dugas. The books were launched in Memramcook on April 19, 2026, at the Dans en l’air studio, where LeBlanc and Dugas had recently completed an artist residency.

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Fresh off his dark fantasy series, the Baneseeker Chronicles, S. C. Eston returns to cyberpunk with his next project: a special edition of Deficiency, collecting all four Garadia short stories plus new behind-the-scenes material.

About the Story: On the arid world of Garadia, Keidi and Artenz have everything a citizen could want, until a friend's sudden disappearance cracks open the perfect image of Prominence City and pulls them into a fight against the corporations that control it.

Deficiency is an award-winning cyberpunk thriller (2021 Wishing Shelf finalist, BookView Gold Medalist) that unfolds over a single, relentless 24 hours — often compared to Blade Runner and Elysium.

About the Project: For the first time, the complete novel and all four Garadia short stories (Logbox, A Friend, A Dream, and Red Stars) are collected in one definitive hardcover volume, with a striking new blue-toned cover and exclusive extras, including a minute-by-minute timeline used during the writing of the story. Backers can even become a Champion of Garadia, with their name included at the very beginning of the special edition hardcover.

Launching August 2026 — click "Notify me on launch" to be there on day one! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sceston/deficiencyse?ref=35mqlk

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Samuel McGraw would like to present the French version of his book, La Tourette et Moi. Find the book here.

La Tourette et moi est le témoignage authentique de Samuel J. McGraw, qui raconte son parcours avec le syndrome de Gilles de la Tourette. De son enfance à l'âge adulte, il partage les défis, les préjugés et les épreuves qu'il a dû surmonter, tout en montrant qu'il est possible de bâtir une vie malgré les obstacles.

À travers son histoire, l'auteur souhaite sensibiliser le public au syndrome de Gilles de la Tourette, offrir de l'espoir aux personnes vivant avec cette condition ou d'autres difficultés, et rappeler que chacun possède la force de persévérer face à l'adversité.

À propos de l'auteur

Samuel J. McGraw est un auteur canadien francophone de Dieppe, au Nouveau-Brunswick. Il écrit des œuvres autobiographiques et de fiction. Il est notamment l'auteur de La Tourette et moi, ainsi que des romans The Last Impaler et Devil Hitman. Vivant lui-même avec le syndrome de Gilles de la Tourette, il utilise l'écriture pour sensibiliser le public à cette condition et partager son expérience. Son parcours a été présenté à Radio-Canada OHdio et dans Acadie Nouvelle, où il explique comment l'écriture l'a aidé à surmonter les défis liés à son diagnostic.

En anglais:

About the Book

La Tourette et moi (Tourette and Me) is the true story of Samuel J. McGraw's journey living with Tourette syndrome. From childhood to adulthood, he shares the challenges, misunderstandings, and personal struggles he faced while learning to accept himself and persevere through life's obstacles.

More than a memoir, this book aims to raise awareness of Tourette syndrome, encourage understanding, and offer hope to anyone living with a disability or facing difficult circumstances. Through honesty and resilience, Samuel shows that even life's greatest challenges can become a source of strength.

About the Author

Samuel J. McGraw is a French-Canadian author from Dieppe, New Brunswick. He writes both autobiographical and fiction works, including La Tourette et moi, The Last Impaler, and Devil Hitman. Living with Tourette syndrome, he is passionate about raising awareness and helping others better understand the condition through his writing. His story has been featured by Radio-Canada OHdio and Acadie Nouvelle, where he spoke about his experiences with Tourette syndrome and how writing became an important part of his journey toward acceptance and resilience.

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Indigo Books Fredericton location will be  hosting Author Heather Browne Sunday/ August/ 23^rd from 12:00 to 3:00PM. featuring a second Edition of her short story collection : A Moose In The Dark."

Happy July, Members and Friends.

I make no bones about it. I think every day of the year should be a brilliant Saturday in July. Today is pretty good too, even though it’s a Monday. I’m typing on the deck, while surveying my little dominion of one-tenth of an acre.

Except for the wind. The wind is a real pain.

I’ve got this cherry tree, you see, a Montmorency. I planted it five summers ago, and I’ve been waiting all this time for enough cherries to make one pie. That’s all I ask, just one pie.

And this year, I think it’s gonna happen – unless the damn birds eat them all.

The stupid blue jays and blackbirds and morning doves are feasting on my not-quite-ripe cherries, and oh, I hate that.

(Don’t feel too sorry for the birds, nature lovers. There are two bird feeders on my property – one at the front, and one at the back- and they are full All. The. time. )

The same six or eight birds hang out on the rooftops, swoop down and eat from the feeders constantly until they are empty - spring, summer, winter, fall. They are fat, freeloading birds.

Good for them - but they can’t have my cherries. I want a pie.

Short of standing guard at my tree and whacking away at them with a broom, what do I do? We bought a few nets and managed to cover my growing tree, connecting them with clothespins.

This method worked quite well last night, as it was a peaceful evening. It was quite a lot of fun to sit here and watch the birds unsuccessfully dive-bomb the nets, only to be thwarted. They squawked with indignity as they flew away.

I felt like Wile E. Coyote!

Not so today.

 A gusty wind is blowing through our wind tunnel of a backyard, which has accommodated the birds by lifting up the nets like a parachute and sailing the whole thing across the yard.

Not to be deterred, we picked the nets back up, placed them over the tree again and staked them down. We’ll see how long it lasts. At least we tried, and if I don’t get to keep enough cherries for dessert, at least there’s the grocery store.

How’s your summer going, writers?

By August Inkspot, the fall event schedule should be up and running. First up will be the Writers of the Realm Literary Festival in Fredericton on September 19, and the WFNB will be there, taking part in the festivities. They are also looking for various volunteers. For more information, check out: https://www.sakurabluestudios.ca/fantasy-book-ball-2026

We are also planning a few Saturday WordTravels workshop and reading events around the province, as well as our fall/winter online workshop schedule. Stay tuned, and in the meantime, enjoy the sun and write well!

WordWorthy

 “Can you do this? Yes. But be prepared to put in the time. My first attempt took 200 hours. It’s still worth doing - Your own voice is a connection with the audience.” Joe Mahoney, Record your own Audiobooks, WordSpring 2026

Welcome New Members

Leslie Sloat joins us from Maugerville. Welcome Leslie, and we hope to meet you at a fall event.

Sebastien Legault writes essays and poetry from his home in Fredericton. Welcome, Sebastien!

Member News

Leo LaFleur is pleased to announce that his novel, Downey (Galleon Press, 2026) is now available for pre-order! Get it here: https://galleonbooks.ca/direct-orders/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTB8ndleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETI4QW5FOFh0QmsyaFo2a0JQc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHki1wU8kEJ-UG95wlmH9EzM81wQV6J7gURyQ80d4DgcXIpdZMnv9dkPIbxEl_aem_oXok5aunVIncUZto4s6uRA

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Brent Mason is pleased to announce that his short story collection, The Root Cellar (Galleon Press, 2026) is also available for preorder! Get it here: https://galleonbooks.ca/direct-orders/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTB8ndleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETI4QW5FOFh0QmsyaFo2a0JQc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHki1wU8kEJ-UG95wlmH9EzM81wQV6J7gURyQ80d4DgcXIpdZMnv9dkPIbxEl_aem_oXok5aunVIncUZto4s6uRA

***

James Mullinger and his son River have written a children’s book! It’s being published this Fall by Pottersfield Press, and it’s all about a mini doodle named Willow. Willow is shy and insecure, and struggles to connect with other dogs. But through a series of exciting adventures, Willow finds her place in the world and learns how to feel confident and overcome shyness in social settings. Available for pre-order here: https://jamesmullinger.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d497f6a30b7b430261da53302&id=ba9eb998f0&e=bf4daa3b10

***

Congratulations to Jen Selk, for being shortlisted on the 2026 Whistler Independent Book Awards for her poetry collection, Landmarks & Beacons! Finalists will be announced August 5. More on the shortlisted winners here: The Whistler Independent Book Awards, sponsored by The Writers’ Union of Canada and in partnership with the Whistler Writing Society, is pleased to announce the 2026 Shortlist (listed alphabetically by author surname).

The book is available widely online, via Amazon globally, also Barnes & Noble in the USA. To support a local indie bookshop, there should still be copies at The Write Cup Bookstore and Cafe in Saint John. And folks can buy from Jen directly via her website: https://jenselk.com/books/ as well or contact her on IG @willandbequeath as well. 

***

Thandiwe McCarthy is pleased to announce the publication of Still Here: Preserving Our Legacy (Goose Lane Editions, July 28) confronts the false belief that Black history in New Brunswick is negligible. Co-created by historian Dr. Mary McCarthy-Brandt, photographer Gary Weekes, and poet Thandiwe McCarthy — a seventh-generation Black Canadian — it weaves historical documents, first-person stories, original poetry, and portraiture into an untold story of resilience and belonging and the lasting contributions of a community whose actions and influence have often been omitted from the public record.

The book arrives alongside a landmark summer: an exhibition opening at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery on July 18, and the Still Here Emancipation Celebration Festival, July 31–August 3, culminating in a mass photograph in front of the NB Legislature on Emancipation Day, August 1 at 2pm. Come stand in that picture — it belongs to all of us.

Support Black New Brunswick heritage

Order your copy here: https://gooselane.com/products/still-here 

Festival details and full schedule: https://stillherefestival.ca/

***

Got some fantastic news to share? An event you want everyone to attend? Send me the deets at info@wfnb.ca

Upcoming Events

Free Playwriting & Embodied Experience Workshop!

with NotaBle Acts Playwright/Dramaturg in Residence Jill Connell

Sunday, July 19, 2026                                                                             

12:00pm – 3:00pm

UNB Carleton Hall room 304

No charge

A workshop for creative writers and theatre-makers interested in exploring the form and structure of plays. We will use free-writing exercises to explore our experience of the world and the feeling of things (versus an objective or outside perspective about the “logic” of things). We will then look for an associated shape that might contain this experience in live performance and explore this via dramatic writing. We’ll share these aloud with each other, prioritizing availability over interpretation and experimentation over perfection.

All levels of experience are welcome. Please bring a notebook and pen. Limited spots available: email jill@itcouldstillhappen.com to register by July 17.

Jill Connell (she/they) is a playwright and theatre artist based in Tkaronto/Toronto. Her plays include The Supine Cobbler (published with Coach House Books), Arctic Ocean, HROSES: An Affront to Reason, The Tall Building and The Shark Tumour Collection. She runs the independent theatre company It Could Still Happen: a collective of interdisciplinary artists who create performances based on text, space and embodied practice. In March 2026, ICSH premièred their most recent work, The Herald, in partnership with Canada’s longest-running queer theatre, Buddies in Bad Times.

Jill is a graduate of the playwriting program at the National Theatre School of Canada and holds a Masters in English from the University of New Brunswick. The past few years, she is fortunate to teach performance and creative writing at Toronto Metropolitan University, the University of Toronto, Sheridan College, and Humber College. Jill has had four productions with NotaBle Acts, including her thesis play The Shark Tumour Collection, directed by Len Falkenstein (2006). She is thrilled to return to Fredericton after so long and grateful for the warm welcome.

Hello, Members and Friends:

There isn’t a lot of news this month related to competitions, submission calls, or event to share, which tells me that it’s summertime – time to slow down, breathe, enjoy the beach and the hot sun - and maybe get some actual writing done.

Before you do that, though, scroll down a little and you will see a long list of New Members. Our growing membership is in itself exciting to note, but it never ceases to amaze me how wide a variety of interests and experiences are reflected in our membership. Take the time to look up some of your fellow members’ work and appreciate all the great writing that is being produced here in our province.

To everyone who attended WordSpring (May 29 -31), I hope you enjoyed the event and found it both useful and informative. To everyone who helped make the weekend a success, thank you, and to everyone who responded to the survey, thank you.

The Annual General Meeting was held on June 11, and the board is thankful for the number of people who made the effort to attend and helped us easily achieve a quorum. Much appreciated, thank you.

With that, we present the new slate of executive and board directors:

Executive

Don Bourque President

Ana Larade Vice-President

Cat LeBlanc Treasurer (also serving her second year as Past-President)

Stephen Roney Secretary

Directors

Ramneet Kalra

Donovan Richard

Casey Shelley

Alison Taylor

Jordan Trethewey (pronounced Treth-ooo-eee)

Welcome to the new board and executive! There is plenty of strategic work ahead, but hopefully lots of fun and rewarding experiences, too.

Our programming for the 2025-26 season wrapped up today with an open mic in Saint John. Over the summer, we will be planning our fall/winter program of activities, as well as next year’s WordSpring in Moncton. If you have ideas for guest speakers to invite to key events in upcoming seasons, locations for Open Mics, or topics for professional development workshops, please contact me at info@wfnb.ca. In the meantime, enjoy the sunshine, and I hope you have a restful and restorative summer.

Cheers,

Rhonda

WordWorthy:

“Endings are impossible…That said, write two or three endings: one that is expected, one that is surprising, and one that is experimental. Good endings tend to be bittersweet - in other words, some things are resolved, but life goes on with its problems...” Lesley Choyce, The Craft of Fiction, WordSpring 2026.

Welcome, New Members

Ani Baratram – Ani writes in the genres of Nonfiction, poetry and spiritual from Saint John. Welcome, Ani!

Luke Francis Beirne –(lukefrancisbeirne.com) is an author and journalist with CBC. He was born in Ireland and now lives in Saint John. He is an author of three books: Saints Rest, Blacklion, and Foxhunt. His genres are fiction, historical fiction, journalism and freelance writing.

Emmanuelle Claus-Jackson -  (https://substack.com/@mannysabina) Emmanuelle Claus-Jackson is a multidisciplinary artist residing in Fredericton, New Brunswick. They have one self-published poetry book titled Oceanbrained, and have had poems published in online magazines and video formats. They also write plays, with their debut play titled "Playground" being a winner of the 2023-2024 Braver Stages Festival at St. Thomas University. Emmanuelle writes
Creative nonfiction, Non-Fiction, Photography, Playwriting, Poetry, and Young Adult. Welcome, Emmanuelle!

Evan Cook – No details on Evan, but we welcome him!

Angella Cormier – (www.ancorcreativesolutions.com and www.mysteriousink.ca) is a writer from Moncton who is also a is a multimedia designer with over twenty-five years of experience in the field. She has published four books, as well as five short stories in the Seasonal Paths and Elements anthologies. She has also been published in a poetry collection. She is currently working on two novels and many short stories. She loves the genres of Fiction, Horror, Poetry, Mystery, Thrillers, and general Short stories. Welcome, Angella!

Dan Culberson – Dan’s genres are Essays, Photography, Playwriting and Poetry. Welcome, Dan!

Kristina Drake - www.kristinadrake.ca Kristina is a poet, writer and editor living off the beaten path in New Brunswick and Hungary, and writes in a wide variety of genres: Blogging, Corporate, Creative nonfiction, Editing, Essays, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Copywriting, Website copy, Freelance, Travel Writing. Welcome, Kristina! Check out Kristina on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18579042.Kristina_Drake
And Substack: https://silentquestions.substack.com/

Jocelyn Fraser -  Welcome, Jocelyn!

Jordan Greer – (deadlanguagefilms.com) Jordan is a writer and filmmaker. His work includes commissioned feature scripts, independent films, and extensive story editing. He owns and operates a film production company, with over a decade of experience in the industry. Jordan writes essays, plays, poetry, and screenplay. Welcome, Jordan!

Kevin Andrew Heslop – (kevinandrewheslop.com) is the author of several books of non-fiction and poetry, and also writes in a wide variety of genres: Comedy, Creative nonfiction, Editing, Essays, Journalism, Memoir, Non-Fiction, Playwriting, Poetry, Screenplay, Flash/Micro fiction, Travel Writing. Welcome, Kevin!

D Bruce Hughes – writes memoir and nonfiction from his home in Douglas. His first memoir, A Stroke of Luck (Purple Porcupine Publishing, 2025) was shortlisted for a WFNB Nonfiction Award in the 2026 NB Book Awards. Welcome, Bruce!

Vaughn McIntyre – (pen name Vaughn McIntyre) Vaughn is retired in St. Andrews, and published Cruising the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas on 50 Words a Day (Independent, 2024). Welcome, Vaughn!

Wendy Moore - Over the span of a 35-year career Wendy developed communication strategies for information technologies, publishing, broadcasting, government, advertising agencies and performing arts. These days, Wendy is retired, and now writes for pleasure, including poetry and a novel in progress. Her specialities are Corporate writing, Editing, Fiction, Poetry, Technical writing, and Website copy. Welcome, Wendy!

Devangana Sharma – Is a student member, having won third place in the Sheree Fitch Prize for Teen Writers in the 2026 NB Writing Competition for her piece, Between Red and Green. Welcome, Devangana!

Scott Stephens – Scott took second place in the Alfred.G. Bailey Prize for poetry manuscript in the 2026 NB Writing Competition. He writes poetry and songs from his home in Shediac, and has two publications: Literary Heist, and Harbinger Asylum. Welcome, Scott!

Carl Stymiest – (pen name Karel Joseph) Is a retired teacher, born and raised in New Brunswick, but living in Vancouver, BC. During his varied teaching career, Carl managed to author no fewer than fourteen published titles. He writes in the genres of  Editing, Essays, Historical Fiction, Memoir, Photography, Poetry, Travel Writing. Welcome, Carl!

William Toner – Is a musician and a writer who focuses on Fantasy and Science Fiction from his home in Grand Bay – Westfield. Welcome, Bill!

Jordan Trethewey https://jordantretheweywriter.wordpress.com/ is a new member of our board of directors. He’s a poet from Fredericton with several published collections, and enjoys a wide variety of writing interests: Children's, Corporate, Creative nonfiction, Editing, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Journalism, Non-Fiction, Playwriting, Poetry, Science Fiction, Technical, Copywriting, Website copy, Freelance, Spoken Word, and Short stories. Welcome, Jordan!

Member News 

Dina E Cox is pleased to announce the launch her new poetry collection, “What Holds,” at Gallery 78 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Thursday June 25^th at 7 p.m. Maritime-born and bred, Dina, who taught English at Fredericton High School before moving to Ontario, is delighted to bring her poetry home to her native province, and to share it in such an inspirational setting as Gallery 78. “What Holds” was published in December 2025 by Aeolus House, and is Dina’s second collection of poetry.

***

Pat Carlson will be doing a book signing and reading on July 14th at 6:00 p.m. in Dalhousie New Brunswick. At the Restigouche Regional Museum, 424 Williams St. The former Courthouse.

Anyone wishing to pre-purchase can do so at pennedbypat.ca It takes about two weeks for delivery.

***

Robbi Ann Gunter is pleased to announce the publication of "Bad Luck in Cairo", a short story presented as a parable. She recently read from the work at the WFNB Open Mic in Fredericton.

Inspired by a class exercise in Heather Browne's "Writing Well" series and a zine-making workshop at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre, Robbi combined her love of writing and graphic design to create a zine-inspired paperback publication.

While fictional, "Bad Luck in Cairo" explores perception, blind spots, and the unseen ways our lives affect others.

Learn more about Robbi and her work at https://linktr.ee/robbi.ann

***

Kathy Mac is pleased to announce that she was one of 50 writers featured in celebration of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia’s 50^th birthday. Here is the feature: ️ Kathy Mac has published three poetry books (with Roseway Publishing), two on writing (with Wording Around), and one of essays (with Wolsak and Wynn). She retired from teaching Creative Writing at Saint Thomas University in Fredericton, NB, and now lives near Kjipuktuk in the territory of the Mi'kmaq. Swipe for more on Kathy's work and inspirations—and her recommendation of Open Book Coffee (Halifax | @openbookcoffee).

***

Jennifer Shelby is delighted to announce the publication of her speculative short story collection, Borrowed Wings and other stories. This collection is the terrestrial counterpart to the collection of her published work being archived at the south pole of the Moon as part of the Lunar Codex Polaris Archive. Borrowed Wings and other stories collects 22 of Jennifer's published short stories and 4 brand new tales where wonder walks hand in hand with hope. Here is the universal book link: https://mybook.to/Borrowed-Wings

***

Ramneet Kalra's book Stranded Immigrant, first published in Fredericton NB, has now been published in India. Stranded Immigrant is one of the ten top recommended books for summer reading in The Hindu, a leading Indian newspaper, with approximately 247,000,000 readers.

https://www.thehindu.com/brandhub/pr-release/best-10-recommended-book-for-summer-2026/article70978448.ece

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/brandhub/pr-release/best-10-recommended-book-for-summer-2026/article70978484.ece

***

Kevin Andrew Heslop is a new WFNB member, a NB Film Co-op member, and host of the twice monthly NBFC Screenwriters’ Café . He’s passing through Saint John for a book signing and book launch on Tuesday, June 16th—4pm at the Library and 6pm at The Write Cup—and he’d love to cross paths with Saint John writers, as perhaps you’ll be able to work together on a book, film, television, or theatre project someday! 

25% of all book sales will go to CHCO-TV and The Courier in St. Andrew’s, and another 25% to be divvied up among actors reading a couple of vignettes from a theatre adaptation of the book. He has three of six actors committed at this point, so if you or someone else might be wiling to join, let Kevin know!

***

Happy Publication Day to Valerie Sherrard and ABSOLUTELY NO BODY PARTS!

Valerie Sherrard #IReadCanadian #kidlit #publicationday

Newsy Bits

Request for Beta Reader: Franky Corcoran, a playwright and aspiring author from Miramichi, New Brunswick, has written a new draft for a crime novel, his first. Franky is looking for a beta reader to provide feedback on his draft. If anyone is interested in helping Franky, please contact him by phone at (506) 624-3315, or his email, fcorcoran10@yahoo.com

***

With Allan Hudson taking a step back from producing the Greater Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe Book Fair (GMRD), and seeing as no one wants GMRD to close its doors, we're happy to announce that GMRD will continue into 2027 and beyond!

A huge thank you to Allan for trusting us enough to hand over the reins!

So, who are we exactly? We're a team of three dedicated book dragons with a love of New Brunswick and the bookish community here. Let us introduce ourselves! First, there's Tharis, owner and operator of Fabled Books, a consignment service for authors. Second, there's Lou Spaccio, author of Tails of Us and seasoned freelance book editor at Sunflower Chronicles. And lastly, say hello to Katherine Bogle, author of over 20 titles and talented cover designer.

All three of us are thrilled to continue Allan's wonderful legacy. We don't plan on changing much, besides how we market. Our plan is quickly building with each passing day and we hope to have you with us at our first time hosting GMRD. It'll be the 5th annual celebration and we hope to make it one to remember!

With that being said our 2027 date is May 1st!

More information will follow as soon as it's available, including the sign up form. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reply to this email.

Warm Regards,

​GMRD Coordinators

gmrd@gmrd.ca

Hello, Members and Friends.

WordSpring is right around the corner, and I hope you plan to join us this year! The lineup should be fun and interesting, and as writers, it’s always great to learn, socialize and network together. There’s still room for you, if you’d like to attend.

In the meantime, we await the results from a couple more judges from The NB Writing Competition before we can announce results, but we expect them soon. Winners will be contacted by phone or email, and a news release will be posted to social media immediately following. Hopefully we can hear several of the winners read at the literary soiree at WordSpring, on Friday, May 29.

Once again, also for members only: mark your calendars for the Annual General Meeting, which has been set for Thursday, June 11 at 7 pm. The meeting notice and event page will go out to all members in the next couple of weeks. With a rising membership, we will require at least 42 members to reach quorum (notice the missing “n”), although you can give your proxy vote in writing to an attending member, including the president.

We are holding two more open mics before we break for the summer, one in Fredericton on June 9 hosted by Rebecca Carrigan of Sakura Blue Studios, and one in Saint John on June 13, hosted by Julia Wright. I think there are still a few more spots available!

Fundraising Committee –The WFNB would like to strike a fundraising committee that could focus on creating sustainability and financial growth for our organization, which is now a registered charity. If you have expertise or interest in this area, please contact the office. info@wfnb.ca

That’s it for me – I hope to see many of you at the end of the month!

Cheers,

Rhonda

WordWorthy

“I was thrilled to know that you could write about where you lived.” Ann Brennan, co-founding member, speaking of her introduction to writing, in the early days of the WFNB.

President’s Message

Hello, fellow writers! We have an exciting month, having just conducted another Open Mic, this time in Shediac. Keep watching for other dates and locations. We also have WordSpring coming up at the end of the month, which promises great value for all who attend. Coincident to the weekend will also be the NB Writing Competition Literary Soiree and the NB Book Awards!

We’ve also created a way you can promote your membership in our Federation, in your email signature block, and/or as a decal to dress up your book covers. The design can be found in our members-only section, (login with your username and password, then go to the members-only section and scroll down and click the pink button “Member Email Signature.” )

If you choose to print decals, we ask that they be 2.5 cm (1 in) round, with laminate.

Finally, with the AGM coming up in June and 3-4 vacancies forecast on the Board of Directors, now is a great time to get more involved with the governance of the WFNB. As Past President, Cat LeBlanc would love to hear from you as the Nominating Committee Chair.

Longer days and shorter nights, let’s get busy!

Welcome, New Members

Judy Barr – is a new author from Saint John, who’s recently published her first novel, The Gospel of Bug. After a career in chemical engineering put her in many extreme environments, along with a prolonged battle with cancer, Judy concluded that despite its flaws, life is still worth living. This appreciation informs her writing. Welcome, Judy!

Jamie Campbell –(pen name, JM Campbell, website, jmcampbell.net ) has had a long career working as a publisher and editor from his home in Fredericton. But his first love is writing, and he recently finished his sixth novel, The Angel of Sallow Cove. Jamie is a short story writer, poet and ghostwriter for autobiography and business topics for The Wall Street Journal and Wired Magazine. Jamie also enjoys fiction, horror, mystery, and thrillers. Welcome, Jamie!

Julie DeMayer –is a retired high school principal. Julie has been a lifelong writer and dabbles in creative nonfiction, memoir, nonfiction, poetry, and spiritual from her home in Scoudouc. Welcome, Julie!

Amanda Evans - Amanda J Evans is a short story writer and novelist living in Saint John, New Brunswick, who has been published in numerous anthologies. She is affiliated with Write Now Saint John, Partridge Island Publishing Inc, The Write Cup Bookstore Café, Chapter-by-Chapter beta reading group, and The Beta Reading Book Club, through which she’s developed great connections with wonderful friends. Amanda enjoys working on fantasy, speculative fiction, and flash/micro fiction. Welcome, Amanda!

Sonya Hinds –Originally from Alberta, Sonya retired to New Brunswick, expecting to become a novelist, but instead discovered poetry. That is power of the word! Along with poetry, she loves fiction and historical fiction. Welcome, Sonya!

Paul F. McCarthy –Paul writes for children, as well as fiction, nonfiction, mystery from his home in Fredericton. Welcome, Paul!

Bonny Pond –Writes creative nonfiction from her home in Moncton. Welcome, Bonny!

Harold Skaarup –(www.SilverHawkAuthor.com ) Major (Retired) Harold Skaarup,CD3, BFA, MA, served as an Army Intelligence Officer with the Canadian Forces (CF) for 40 years, retiring in 2011.  Now living in Fredericton, Harold serves on the Board of Directors of the Fredericton Region Museum and as a volunteer tour guide with the New Brunswick Military History Museum. He has written a number of books on New Brunswick military history. He is a blogger, an illustrator, and focuses on nonfiction and technical genres. Welcome, Harold!

Joseph Van Landschoot –(pen name, Joe Van, website: https://thejoevan.com/) Joseph Van Landschoot is novelist and screenwriter. His script for “Agent Heads” won Best Original Story category at the Independent Shorts Awards in Los Angeles.  He writes fiction, romance, science fiction, speculative fiction, young adult, mystery, thrillers, and short stories. Welcome, Joseph!

Kate Wallace – (katewallace.ca) is a national award-winning journalist, essayist, filmmaker, and storyteller from Rothesay, whose work spans print media, brand storytelling, and filmmaking. A former arts reporter for the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal and executive director of ArtsLink NB, she founded Kate Wallace & Co., a one-woman copywriting agency. She is working on a memoir about ADHD, parenting, and personhood. Kate writes in the genres of corporate. creative nonfiction, essays, journalism, memoir, nonfiction, copywriting, website copy, freelance and travel. Welcome, Kate!

Member News

Paul Burns is delighted to announce the publication of his young adult novel, The Druid and The Dragon, by Donovan Street Press, in September, 2026. The Druid and The Dragon represents the first New Brunswick author published by Donovan Street Press (publisher is WFNB member Joe Mahoney) and the first to be discovered at a WFNB Pitch the Publisher event in 2025. Paul is a life-long reader of science fiction & fantasy, and has a great affinity for spaceships and dragons. Paul's first two books, "Owen and the Dinosaur" and “Emily Finds a Dragon” were for younger readers; the latter was nominated for the Hackmatack Children's Choice Award. Donovan Street Press Inc. is a boutique publishing house headquartered in Riverview, New Brunswick. We specialize in high-concept, genre-bending science fiction, fantasy, literary fiction, and memoir.

***

Francis-Adrien Morneau is pleased to announce that his book, The Light of Faded Stars, has been made a finalist for the CANREADS Book Review in Adult Fiction. The award ceremony takes place in Toronto May 30 (WordSpring weekend!) “A fresh take on the classic detective story, The Light of Faded Stars blends mystery with a powerful exploration of memory, regret, and connection. Told through the fragmented reflections of a dying detective, it delivers as much emotional depth as it does intrigue.” (CANREADS Book Review – Judges, Finalist in Adult General Fiction) 

***

Michael Simon is excited to announce that he has signed two more book deals, this time with Aethon Books for Books Four and Five of his First Command series, Fourth Wave (releasing May 12) and Fifth Horizon, to be released in 2027. Thanks to my agent, Michelle, at Storm Literary and the fantastic team at Aethon.

***

Zev Bagel’s SHEDIAC LAUNCH of Sopworth’s Foibles takes place May 15 at the Shediac Art Gallery, 59 Ohio Road, 5 to 7 pm.

Events

WRITERS’ OPEN MIC

Sunday, May 31st, from 3:00 - 4:30 pm, at 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, songs, short stories, comics, novels, essays, stand-up comedy, etc. Or just come to listen.

 

CALLS FOR SUBMISSION & AWARDS

The Seaboard Review of Books* is launching a monthly fiction department, and we’re looking for submissions from new, emerging, and established writers from around the world – previously published or unpublished. All genres are welcome, so long as the stories are driven by character, theme, and language—which you can interpret as you see fit. We’re looking for stories no longer than 4,000 words. Unfortunately, we don’t have the budget to pay writers at this time, but we promise to give you a warm and helpful editing experience (if required), and we’ll promote your work like we wrote it ourselves.  Send your stories to seaboardfiction@gmail.com. Include a cover letter with a short bio outlining any past publications, and send files that are compatible with Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx, etc.).

*Please note this opportunity is unpaid

***

Unlock your story! The Fiddlehead's 2026 Creative Nonfiction Contest is currently open for submissions! The best creative nonfiction essay will receive the $2000 prize and be published in Issue 309 of The Fiddlehead. This year's contest is being judged by award-winning essayist Brian Braganza! You can find all our guidelines for submission here. Deadline to submit: June 1. 

***

Dave Greber Freelance Writers Book and Magazine Awards 2026 Competition

Dave Greber Freelance Writers Book and Magazine Awards for Social Justice Writing

There are two separate awards. The book award is set at $5,000 and the magazine award is set at $2,000. Since the awards can be given before publication and book and magazine publishing timelines can differ, so do the requirements for each award. What is a Freelance Writer?

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE AWARDS, FREELANCE WRITERS MUST:

Submit work related to the area of social justice

Work a minimum of 70% of their time as a self-employed freelance writer

Be a continuing resident of Canada

Check out https://www.greberwritingaward.com/

***

Applications Now Open for the 2026 Whiting Foundation Nonfiction Grants for Works-in-Progress

The Whiting Foundation (whiting.org) is proud to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Nonfiction Grants for Works-in-Progress. These grants of $40,000 are awarded to writers in the process of completing a creative and deeply researched work of nonfiction. Projects must be under contract with a publisher located in the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada.

Since 2016, more than 80 writers have received these grants, which are designed to encourage original and ambitious projects by giving recipients the additional means to pursue exacting research and devote time to composition. Successful applicants are at a crucial point mid-process, after significant work has been completed but when extra support can make a difference in the ultimate shape and quality of the work.

The Whiting Foundation welcomes applications for works of history, cultural or political reportage, biography, memoir, science, philosophy, criticism, graphic nonfiction, and personal essays, among other categories. Self-help titles, historical fiction, textbooks, books primarily for a scholarly audience, and books for young readers are not eligible.

Applications are due by May 31, 2026. For a full list of application requirements, a list of previous winners, and to apply, please visit whiting.org/writers/creative-nonfiction-grant/about.

Any questions regarding applications should be directed to awards-grants@whiting.org.

Our Canadian Poetry Collection

We publish both carefully restored editions of significant Canadian works and contemporary modern Canadian poetry. Our Canadian Poetry Reprint Collection spans:

• Major Confederation Poets — the founding voices of Canada’s national literary identity
• Post-Confederation Poets — voices that extended and enriched the Confederation tradition
• Late Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian Poets — rich works from the turn of the twentieth century
• The Restoration Period — verse from a transformative era in Canadian literary history
• The Vaudeville School — a distinctive strand of performance-rooted Canadian poetry
• Modern Canadian Voices — contemporary works from today’s Canadian literary landscape

Our catalog includes 117 titles, all available in beautiful, affordable paperback editions. The complete catalog is attached for your reference.

Open Call for Manuscript Submissions

We also warmly welcome manuscript submissions for review through our website. If you have members — emerging or established — working on poetry manuscripts and seeking a Canadian publishing home, please do pass this invitation along. We are especially interested in work that contributes to the continuing story of Canadian poetry, in any of its many traditions and voices.

Submissions can be sent through our website at www.ronaldpfrye.com, or by reaching out to Susan Frye directly, susan@ronaldpfrye.com

***

Sequestrum is excited to announce two new themed calls: Family and Place! Family welcomes stories that explore the bonds that shape us, exploring the endless ways family can ground us, fracture us, follow us across time. Place invites work rooted in setting, where landscapes both natural and constructed become inseparable from the self. Whether you’re tracing the ties that bind or mapping the spaces that hold us, we look forward to reading your work.

Family submission details are here: https://sequestrum.org/themed-submissions-family

Place submissions are here: https://sequestrum.org/theme-place

And as always, our general submission guidelines are here: https://www.sequestrum.org/submissions

Hello, Members and Friends of the WFNB.

Our Fall and Winter online sessions have been completed, but there are a couple more Open Mics ahead – one in Shediac on May 7, and one in Saint John on June 13. This is a great opportunity to share your work and chat with other writers. We are looking at dates and venues for Fredericton, so stay turned. If you have suggestions for locations and places to hold Open Mics, drop us a line.

And in between those two events, don’t forget to about WordSpring. We have a great lineup of workshop leaders and our venue is the Crowne Plaza Harbourview, with the exception of the New Brunswick Book Awards, which will take place at Lily Lake Pavilion.

At the end of WordSpring, on Sunday afternoon, we will hold another Pitch the Publisher Session, organized and emceed by Saint John WFNB member, Andrea Kikuchi. We have lots of time to get through all pitches, so no one will be left behind. We know this was an issue last year. This event is free and open to the public, but you must pre-register and submit your pitch prior to the event. There will be a very strict time limit of 7 minutes maximum. Your seven minutes will be broken down as follows:

a 2 minute elevator pitch, a 1- minute reading from your piece, then 4 minutes for responses by the panel at 1 minute each.

Please submit your pitch to info@wfnb.ca on a word document or pdf and include:  Author name, Title of Manuscript, Genre, Word Count, Comparable Titles, and Why are you the person to tell this story? 

We had a record number of submissions for the NB Writing Competition – thank you to all who submitted this year. The judges are working hard and will return their results in mid-May. If you place in the competition, we will contact you directly, but the news release will be issued shortly after all results are received. Winners and finalists will be asked to attend the literary soiree on May 29 at WordSpring in Saint John, to read from their winning pieces.

Finally, for members only: mark your calendars for the Annual General Meeting, which has been set for Thursday, June 11 at 7 pm. The meeting notice and event page will go out to all members, soon. With a rising membership, we will require at least 41 members to reach quorum, although you can supply a proxy vote in writing to the president.

Hope to see some of you in May. Cheers,

WordWorthy

“The front cover intrigues, but the back cover sells. Independent authors worry more about the front than the back, but the back cover is essentially a free ad. It leaves the reader wanting more. It must reflect the book’s genre, voice and tone. Be engaging, but brief. The back cover should be designed to grab attention, to hook readers and draw them in with a cliffhanger or a question, so that they can decide, ‘is this book for me?’ “

Wendy Kitts, during the online workshop, Bios, Book Blurbs and Back Cover Copy, March 28, 2026

Welcome, New Members!

Marcus Alexander is an artist from Saint John where he writes and illustrates in many genres including comedy, fantasy, fiction, historical fiction, horror, illustration, romance, science fiction, screenplay, songwriting, suspense, mystery, thrillers, and short stories. Welcome, Marcus!

Maria Bourgeois Originally from Newfoundland, Maria Bourgeois is a multi-disciplinary artist from Rothesay with a strong background in theatre (performance, direction, and playwriting), writing and music, and sometimes uses other mediums. Since 2016 she has changed her focus to writing fiction and creating music. Welcome, Maria!

Pat Carlson of Fredericton wrote a biweekly column in the Daily Gleaner for seven years, addressing political issues relating to mental health, poverty, and addictions. Now, through her writing and handcrafted creations, Pat continues to share stories that matter and items made with heart, bringing her decades of compassion and creativity to every project. She recently released a memoir entitled In the Company of Men. Welcome, Pat!

Jamie Campbell  (pen name JM Campbell - jmcampbell.net) Born and raised in Atlantic Canada, JM Campbell is the author of the Quinn Masterson Mysteries Distortions, For All the Children to See, and One Night in the House of the Creepy Santas, as well as The House That Jack Built, Whispers in The Mist, The Angel of Sallow Cove, The Spore (2026), and Hide in Plain Sight (2026). Welcome, Jamie!

Richard Doiron (www.richarddoiron.com) Dubbed Canada's peace poet, Richard’s work has been in print for 62 years. From his home in Acadieville, he has been published in hundreds of anthologies, periodicals, personal books, and is the author of novels, biographical works, essays, and lyrics. Welcome, Richard!

Zoe Erichsen –Zoe is a horse riding coach and owner of Rohirrim Farm on Royal Road. Welcome, Zoe!

Jennifer Hanson – Welcome, Jennifer, a writer of fantasy!

Michelle Hebert  (michellehebertwrites.com) writes fiction and creative nonfiction from her home in Halifax, NS, although she grew up in the Tantramar area. She combines her social work and writing skills to offer services for writers. This includes supporting memoirists as they write about difficult subjects, helping writers struggling with imposter syndrome or writer's block, and guiding writers to go deeper into themselves and their stories. Find out more at her website, michellehebertwrites.com

Sonya Hinds is a new writer, originally from Alberta, who has discovered that since retirement she is a poet. She thought she was going to be a novelist, but that is the power of the word! Sonya is interested in fiction, historical fiction, and poetry. Welcome, Sonya!

Michelle Hoeckel-Neal(https://sites.google.com/view/michellehoeckelneal) is a student member who writes fiction, poetry, flash/micro fiction and short stories from her place of study in Fredericton. Welcome, Michelle!

Jordan MacKenzie(pen name Rinn Skyborn - https://authorrinnskyborn.com/) writes stories that are shaped to unsettle, provoke, and endure. Across novels, short stories, and poetry, Rinn navigates the shadows of the human experience—examining resilience, fracture in fantasy, fiction, horror and thrillers. Welcome, Jordan/Rinn!

Pauline Milner (https://pminkslinger.blogspot.com/) lives in a restored farmhouse surrounded by animals and nature in Lower Millstream. She worked full-time as a freelancer for more than 25 years writing over a broad array of topics, but pivoted to concentrate on my own writing. Her ongoing writing projects include short stories, three original screenplays, poetry, a chapbook and a children's book. Welcome, Pauline!

Faith Nason (https://a.co/d/00xJHQCX) recently published The Missing Memories of Faith, and is interested in the genres of Memoir and Nonfiction. Welcome, Faith!

Joyce Procure – Welcome, Joyce!

Carolyn Rigley writes memoir, poetry and short stories from her home in Miramichi. Welcome, Carolyn!

Mark Robinson (http://www.shittyleaders.ca/) is the author of The Shitty Leadership Series, a collection of direct, unfiltered books that challenge how leaders think, behave, and—more often than not—avoid accountability. He writes creative nonfiction, essays, nonfiction, website copy and short stories. His work focuses on leadership and non-leadership topics with the typical dry sarcastic humour that may cause reflections and increased self-awareness. Welcome, Mark!

Jen Selk (http://www.jenselk.com/) resides on the unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik
known as Fredericton, NB. A former journalist widely published in print media, Jen focuses on creative nonfiction, essays, fiction, journalism, poetry and spoken word. Welcome, Jen!

Chelsea Stevens writes creative nonfiction, journalism, memoir, nonfiction, poetry and songs from her home in Dumfries. Welcome, Chelsea!

Liz White writes comedy, screenplays and short stories from her home in Riverview. Welcome, Liz!

Member News

Carolyn Avery is pleased to announce the publication of Froggy in the Jar, now available on Amazon. Congratulations, Carolyn!Link here:

When the fridge is left open,
Froggy jumps inside.
There are colourful jars to explore.
Things get sticky and messy.
Have you seen Froggy in a jar?

***

Warren Redman (pen name, Zev Bagel) is pleased to announce the publication of his novel, Sopworth’s Foibles (Merlin Star Press), the second in the Bright and Breasy cozy mystery series. He will be reading on Tuesday, April 21, from 5-7 pm at the Moncton Press Club

***

Pat Carlson is pleased to announce the publication of In the Company of Men. The book  can be purchased through her webpage,  www.pennedbypat.ca Congratulations, Pat!

***

Sherry Coffey is delighted to announce that she is the winner of the 2025 Deborah Wills Chapbook Competition for her manuscript Foraging. Her manuscript will be produced by the High Marsh Press and students from Mount Allison University's printmaking program. The chapbook  will be published in late April or early May 2026. Big congratulations, Sherry!

***

WFNB member Ramneet Kalra organizing an online Storytelling (Poetry and Photography) Workshop on April 18, 2026 at 4 pm – it’s coming right up! Participants can contact Ramneet to register by using this email:ramneet.kalra@gmail.com

***

Forrest Orser’s invites everyone to visit his new website - http://forrestorser.ca/ - where you will find all of Forrest’s published stories and poems.

***

Mike Simon is excited to announce the deal for Book Three of my Extinction series: Resurgence. Mike thanks his agent, Michelle at Storm Literary Agency and the fantastic team at Podium Entertainment.

EVENTS

The Frye Festival, The Frye Festival takes place April 24 to May 3, 2026, and is the largest literary event in Atlantic Canada. This bilingual celebration of books, ideas and the imagination is presented in the Greater Moncton region, in neighbouring communities, and, in the case of school visits, all over the province.. Check out all the events and how you can participate at https://www.frye.ca/

***

WRITERS’ OPEN MIC
Sunday, April 26th
3:00 - 4:30 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, songs, short stories, comics, novels, essays, stand-up comedy, etc. Or just come to listen.

Accessibility concerns and general questions can be directed to laurawatsonartwork@gmail.com. Follow the Writers’ Open Mic on Instagram at @writersopenmic for updates.

COMPETITIONS

PROVINCIAL

NotaBle Acts seeks entries for 25th annual Province-Wide Playwriting Competition

The NotaBle Acts Theatre Company is seeking submissions for its twenty-fifth annual provincewide playwriting competition. Contest winners will have their work featured as part of the 2026 NotaBle Acts Summer Theatre Festival, to be held in Fredericton, July 23-August 1.

New Brunswick playwrights have the opportunity to submit work in three main categories, one for 7-10 minute short plays, one for 30-60 minute one-act plays, and another for 10-20 minute site-specific plays. Two additional categories of the contest are specifically for young playwrights in New Brunswick Middle and High schools.

Winning playwrights will also receive a cash prize and script mentoring from a professional playwright.

The contest rules and guidelines, as well as instructions on how to submit scripts, are available at www.nbacts.com. Questions about the contest can be directed to lfalken@unb.ca or (506) 458-7406. The contest deadline is May 1st, 2026.

NATIONAL

CANSCAIP’s Writing for Children Competitionis now open for entries! Canada’s largest competition for children’s writers welcomes submissions from unpublished and self-published writers. The deadline for entries is May 31.

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

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.

Entrants must be over the age of 18, Canadian citizens or permanent residents, with no traditionally published books in any genre or for any age. Previously submitted entries can be re-submitted for the 2026 Competition.

Self-published writers are eligible to enter the Competition, but self-published books with an ISBN are not eligible as entries. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: https://canscaip.org/Submission-Guidelines

***

Call for submissions: 2026 RBC/PEN Canada New Voices Award

Unpublished writers are encouraged to submit creative nonfiction, journalism, short stories, or poetry collections for the RBC / PEN Canada New Voices Award. This annual award celebrates emerging talent in Canadian literature, and the winner will receive $3,000 CAD and mentorship from a Canadian author. There is no fee to submit.  Deadline: Thursday May 7, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Learn about eligibility and how to submit on the PEN Canada website: https://pencanada.ca/call-for-submissions-for-the-2026-rbc-pen-canada-new-voices-award/ 

***

The Montreal International Poetry Prize 2026 is now open for submissions. Enter your poem of 40 lines or fewer for a chance to win a cash prize of $20,000.

The Montreal Prize celebrates the craft of the stand-alone poem as a work of art. The biennial competition, open to poets from around the world, is a not-for-profit initiative hosted by the Department of English at McGill University. All entries must be previously unpublished and simultaneous submissions are permitted. An international jury will select sixty-five finalists and the winner will be chosen by the final judge Natalie Diaz, whose many honours include a MacArthur Fellowship, Lannan Literary Foundation Fellowship, and Native Arts and Culture Foundation Fellowship. All finalists will be published online and included in The Montreal Poetry Prize Anthology 2026.

Submission fees for first entries are $25 until the early bird deadline 1 May, and $28 after that until submissions close. Every additional poem is $20 at any time (all prices in Canadian dollars).

The final deadline is 15 May. We are looking forward to reading your work!

Submit at https://montrealpoetryprize.awardsplatform.com

For more information on the jury, past winners, and more, visit www.montrealpoetryprize.com

***

Whistler Independent Book Awards

Submissions to the 11th annual Whistler Independent Book Awards will open on March 1, 2026. All entries to the competition must be made through the online submission form, which will be available from March 1 —April 30, 2026. All information here: https://independentbookawards.ca/submissions-wiba/

***

The Icelandic Festival of Manitobais once again holding its annual Poetry and Short Story Contest

Details can be found on the poster attached or on the Icelandic Festival website. 

If you have any questions or need more information, please reach out. 

https://www.icelandicfestival.com/festival-events/contests/poetry-short-story-contest

Submissions

The Wild Spirituality Nature Devotional*  is calling for entries—reflections, poems, short stories, or moments of wonder born from your relationship with the living world. If you’ve ever felt the hush of a forest teach you something, or sensed the sacred humming through soil, stone, wind, or water, this is an invitation to let that experience speak.

This is playful, reverent, untamed spirituality—barefoot faith, mossy wisdom, awe without polish. Share what nature has revealed to you. Invite others to do the same. Your voice from the wild belongs here.

This devotional is a project that is being created only within the Ecosystem. The resulting devotional (book) will be available to the general public. The Ecosystem is a  social media platform on Mighty Networks dedicated to living from a place of love, interconnection, and justice for all beings. Membership is free. Join here

Devotional Entry Form

* (Please note that this is an unpaid opportunity)

Hello, Members and Friends.

With our final online workshop for the season coming up on March 28 (Bios, Book Blurbs and Back Cover Copy- a workshop with Wendy Kitts - there’s still room!), it’s nearly a wrap for our lineup of fall/winter programming. I hosted every single one, and I must say that I’m pleased at the variety and scope of the information made available to participants. Thank you to our speakers for developing such good information and sharing it so generously. I wish all writers much success with their ongoing projects, and especially those participants who have made new connections with other writers through these sessions.

Submissions are quite slow this year for the NB Writing Competition – especially in the screenwriting category - but the good news is that you still have just under three weeks to submit. There are eight categories to choose from, so now’s the time to practice polishing and submitting a manuscript!

There’s still room to register for three Open Mic sessions coming up (Moncton on March 18, Miramichi on April 11, and Shediac on May 7), so brush up your latest piece and let’s hear a five-minute excerpt at an upcoming event!

The second half of our podcast series will soon be underway, so make sure you subscribe to WordCraft, and watch social media for notification of more interesting and informative interviews.

Our WordSpring event page is ready for registration, so please think about how you might join us, whether it’s for the whole weekend, for the day on Saturday, or just a workshop or two. We are looking forward to gathering and enjoying workshops, open mics, and award ceremonies. Remember, the NB Book Awards is a free event, open to the public, on Saturday evening, May 30, at Lily Lake Pavilion. The cash bar opens at 6, and the award ceremony begins at  7 pm. The Book Award shortlist will be announced by social media promptly after all results have been received from the judges at the end of March.

WordWorthy

“When writing flash nonfiction, think in terms of distilling…boiling down. Constraints can actually free you. For example, we only get two cups of maple syrup from two gallons of sap. We are always telling ourselves stories, and we are using metaphors, whether we know it or not. Stories are all about moments” -- Sandra Phinney, Flash nonfiction mini-course, February 7, 2026.

Why not try a writing exercise today, courtesy of Sandra Phinney?

Sandra finds great success in writing nonfiction essays using prompts, and is looking forward to her latest essay collection, to be published later this year. She says that many of these essays were produced using prompts.  Sandra offered the following writing exercise during our flash nonfiction course in February:

Choose a clothing item you like to wear – a sweater, a hat, a coat, a pair of shoes, etc., old or new. You can use the clustering method (also called mind mapping or word association) to write down as much as you can about the item, and you will find that ideas will spring from the list. Can you find a personal story in this list? How does the piece of clothing make you feel? Can you add a fun educational aspect to your writing- a tidbit of history or science- to your story? E.G. “Where these boots have taken me,” or, “My favourite red silk scarf.” Write as much or as little as you like, and see where the process takes you.

That’s it for me! Until April, writers. Looking forward to birds chirping and snow melting.

Rhonda

Welcome, New Members

Carla Gunn is a Fredericton-based educator and writer. Her work has appeared in a number of publications, including The Globe and Mail, University Affairs Magazine, CBC radio and The Scales Project. Along with being short-listed for the Commonwealth Prize for best first book, her novel, Amphibian (Coach House Books), is published in six languages, has been adapted as a play (Downstage Productions), optioned for film (forthcoming) and was longlisted for Canada Reads 2020. Congratulations, and welcome, Carla!

Peter Hicks (pen name Andi Ellis) is a Fredericton-based writer and singer-songwriter whose creative life has spanned stages, studios, and the page. As the founder of New Brunswick’s Sleepy Driver, he’s built a celebrated catalog of roots-infused Canadiana across six albums. Writing has always been his constant—songs, poetry, and stories of every length. Peter writes comedy, fiction, poetry, romance, songs, suspense, and thrillers. Welcome, Peter!

Paul Lang (https://museimage.ca) This Shediac-based writer is interested in a wide array of genres: Children's, Creative nonfiction, Editing, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Illustration, Journalism, Memoir, Non-Fiction, Photography, Poetry, Website copy, Freelance, Spoken Word. Welcome Paul!

Ann McAllister is a retired teacher and musician active on climate and energy issues. Ann focuses on the genres of Memoir, Poetry, Songwriting, and Short stories. Welcome, Ann!

Member News

Valerie Sherrard is excited to announce her newest publication,  Absolutely No Body Parts. This complex coming of age story will be released in June, and is now available for pre-order:

https://www.cormorantbooks.com/Books/A/Absolutely-No-Body-Parts

***

Joe Mahoney has some excellent news to share. For the second time in less than a month, his company, Donovan Street Publishing, has received a positive review from Booklist. Actually, any review from Booklist is positive... they only review books they recommend. This time it's for David Gerrold's upcoming short fiction collection Shadows & Reflections: Diving in the Sea of Time. Here's a bit of what Booklist has to say: Fans of the movie adaptation of “The Martian Child” or Gerrold’s work on Star Trek will enjoy reading this collection of stories. — Terrence Miltner, Booklist. Congratulations, Joe, and author David Gerrold.

Hey, WFNB members – do you have news to share? A new publication, award or public appearance, for example? If so, send your news along to us and we’ll share it here!

RETREATS and COURSES

The Audible Indigenous Writers’ Circle 2026

@audible_ca is inviting emerging First Nations, Inuit and / or Métis writers to apply for the Audible Indigenous Writers’ Circle 2026. The program begins this summer, apply by April 13 here: audible.ca/ep/IWC #AudibleWritersCircle

***

2026 SAGE HILL Spring Fiction Colloquium

Dates: May 16 – 24, 2026 Instructor: Kevin Chong Location: In Person at St. Peter’s College, Muenster, SK
Application Deadline: March 28^th, 2026

This is a facilitated, in-person retreat for around nine writers. Successful applicants generally have some publication record and are working towards completion of a manuscript. Application is open to writers 19 years of age and older from Canada and abroad. Visit https://sagehillwriting.ca/writing-retreats/spring-colloquium/ for more information and to apply. Scholarships and bursaries available!  For details visit https://www.sagehillwriting.ca/adults/scholarships-bursaries.

***

2026 Sage Hill Summer Writing Courses

IN-PERSON COURSES
Location: St. Peter’s College, Muenster, SK
Dates: July 2 – 11, 2026
Fiction with Lauren Carter
Poetry with George Murray

ONLINE COURSES
Dates: June 30 – July 9, 2026
Emerging Prose with Conor Kerr
Emerging Poetry with Neil Aitken
Nonfiction with Jenna Butler
Playwriting with Vern Thiessen

Application Deadline: April 20, 2026
Application is open to writers 19 years of age and older from Canada and abroad. For more information and to apply, visit https://sagehillwriting.ca/writing-retreats/. Scholarships and bursaries are available for the spring and summer programs. For details visit https://www.sagehillwriting.ca/adults/scholarships-bursaries.

AWARDS

The 2026 WHISTLER INDEPENDENT BOOK AWARDS

Since 2016, the Whistler Independent Book Awards have proudly recognized excellence in Canadian self-publishing. To mark the beginning of our second decade, the WIBAs have some exciting new features to make the awards even more inclusive. The competition is now open internationally, to any self-published author writing in English. They’ve added a new Poetry category (in addition to Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Children’s). They have a significantly reduced entry fee and discounted fee for additional entries, and they will now publish a longlist in each category, to give public recognition to a greater number of authors. For full competition details and terms, and to submit your self-published book, please visit their website: www.independentbookawards.ca

Entries for the 2026 awards are open from March 1 to April 30, 2026.

WRITING GROUPS

NB Film Co-op Screenwriters' Café

All writers in New Brunswick interested in attending the New Brunswick Film Co-op’s Virtual Screenwriters’ Café, from the prolific producer to the screenplay-curious alike, are welcome to take part in one session at no cost, with recurring participation available to Film Co-op members at a price of $40 annually, on the second and fourth Saturday of every month, 12-2pm local, at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81728759226

For more details about the Screenwriters’ Café or to submit your script for collective review, drop us a line at INFO@NBFILMCOOP.COM. 

EVENTS

Canadian Freelance Guild’s Freelance Fridays

Whether you come to swap tips or just to hang out, Freelance Fridays are your place to unwind, connect, and start the weekend on a high note. WFNB members can attend CFG events at a cut rate – check out our code in our members’ only section of wfnb.ca

Best regards,
Canadian Freelance Guild

The Write Cup Bookstore Café in Saint John - Check out the full calendar in Community Resources under READ.

March 15, 2026 – 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Allan Johnson, author reading & signing

March 20, 2026 – 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Author reading and Children’s book writing workshop with Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail.

March 21, 2026 – 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Sara Moginot, author reading and Children’s crafty event.

March 22, 2026 – 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm: Conveying Emotion through Sensation workshop by Mandie Dufour

April 4, 2026 – 11:00 am – 4:00 pm: Micaela Ellis author signing and presentation

April 11, 2026 – 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Two Jordans!

April 18, 2026 – 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: New-Fangled Rose by Sue Sinclair

WRITERS’ OPEN MIC

Sunday, March 22nd
3:00 - 4:30 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, songs, short stories, comics, novels, essays, stand-up comedy, etc. Or just come to listen.

Accessibility concerns and general questions can be directed to laurawatsonartwork@gmail.com. Follow the Writers’ Open Mic on Instagram at @writersopenmic for updates.

SUBMISSIONS

There are two new calls at Sequestrum: Fables and Romance! Fables invites stories that weave magic with purpose, while Romance seeks work which shifts between risk and devotion, friction and fate. Whether you’re spinning a cautionary tale or crafting a confession, we hope to be enchanted. Deadline: April 15th.   Fable submission details are here: https://sequestrum.org/fable-theme Romance submissions are here: https://sequestrum.org/theme-romance And as always, general submission guidelines are here: https://www.sequestrum.org/submissions.

Hello, Members and Friends.

As the winter zooms by (the quicker, the better, please), the snow continues to fall as if it owns the place! Despite this, I hope you feel cozy and warm inside, and that your writing projects are humming along. If not, I hope any difficult or frustrating seasons in your life will be of short duration, so that your creativity can bloom again.

Please read through the newsletter for our list of writing competitions, applications for residencies, and upcoming events. 

We enjoyed a really great online short story workshop with Elaine McCluskey on February 8, and we have one workshop left on our fall/winter roster – that’s Bios, Book Blurbs and Back Cover Copy with Wendy Kitts. (Those are the little details that sell a book, amiright?) I am looking forward to attending the winter retreat next weekend (deadline is today), and if all goes well, we will set a date for another in 2027.

There’s another Open Mic in Moncton on March 18, and one in Miramichi follows on April 11. These are free events, but you must pre-register! Everyone who attended our first Open Mic in Moncton at Soeur Claudette really enjoyed themselves, so come on out, read, and connect with other writers in a convivial atmosphere.

And finally, our WordSpring 2026 page is now live, so check out all the fun events we have scheduled on May 29 – 31, 2026, and sign up for whatever you can. This year, we will hold all events (except the NB Book Awards) at the Crowne Plaza Saint John. The NB Book Awards will be held at Lily Lake Pavilion.

All the best this February,

Rhonda

WordWorthy

“Have Visceral Impact - A short story still must have impact even it if doesn’t resolve. The mistake that writers make is that they don’t go deep enough. You must go below the surface in the lives of your characters. Tap into an emotion or behaviour you have experienced. Use your own experiences and feelings when you write about your character. Go deep, even if it hurts…Do you want to leave the reader disturbed, satisfied, happy, angry? The story doesn’t necessarily need resolution, but it needs to have resonance. ”

Elaine McCluskey, Diving into Short Stories, February 8, 2026

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

February, complete with Valentine's Day and Family Day, is all about love. We are happy to share that love by providing tax receipts for donations beginning in 2026, thanks to receiving our status as a charitable organization. Now is the time to tap the shoulders of would-be patrons of the literary arts, so we can provide more support to New Brunswick writers. Give it some thought, in mind and heart!

WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS

Mike Bravener (mikebravener.com) writes children’s stories from his home on Richibucto Road. A professional entertainer and folksinger, Mike’s first children’s book, The Lumberjack Alphabet, was published in 2025 by Monster House. Welcome, Mike!

Andrew Fairweather lives in Waterville-Sunbury, where he writes in the genre of comedy, historical fiction, horror, spiritual, and short stories. Welcome, Andrew!

Cynthia Funkhouser writes creative nonfiction, memoir, poetry and website copy and pursues editing from her home in Saint Jacques. Welcome Cynthia!

Julie Kaniak writes essays, fiction, memoir, poetry and short stories from her home in Riverview. Welcome, Julie!

Ramneet Kalra writes poetry from a home base of Fredericton. Welcome, Ramneet!

Joëlle Richard graduated in 2025 from St. Thomas University’s creative writing program, and won STU’s DAR Prize for fiction. She writes in the genres of Editing, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Playwriting, Romance, Freelance, Short stories. Welcome, Joëlle!

Kimberley Steeves is a fantasy writer from Moncton. Welcome, Kimberley!

Tanya Tagieff (pen name Tasha Zima – www.tashazima.com) is the author of 12 romance novels, and writes them all from her home in Edmundston. Tanya will appear at Romance by The Sea 2026 book fair at Hammond Plains Community Center, NS, on May 3, 2026, from 2 - 6 pm Instagram - @romancebythesea2026  https://romancebytheseaevent.odoo.com/ Welcome, Tanya!

Cathy Verrault (pen names Cathy Verrault and Kathou), originally from Quebec, is now settled in Fredericton, and has had a long career writing in the children’s and youth genre, as well as creative nonfiction, fiction and historical fiction. You can check out all her French titles at www.editionsdelancre.com Bienvenue, Cathy!

MEMBER NEWS

Come out and hear Open to the Skies author, Jane Tims,  AND Puppet author, Robert Stutt, when they read from their novels at Westminster Bookmark in Fredericton on Sunday, February 22 at 3 pm.

WRITING COMPETITIONS

The Gilmer Prize 2026, hosted by Camel Literary Magazine, is open. Deadline is May 1, 2026. Start writing! Submit at camel.litmag@gmail.com

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If you are an unpublished author who lives in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia, submit a short story up to 1500 words to the Julia Stewart Memorial Competition! You must be at least 16 years of age to enter. Please read the submission guidelines on our website, www.jsmcontest.ca before entering.

Questions? jsmcontest@gmail.com The contest closes at midnight Atlantic time on July 5, 2026.Prizes include $2500 for first place, $1000 for second place, and $500 for third place. Entries fees will be donated to MS Canada and matched up to $1000 by the sponsor, Cedar Valley Investments.

***

The deadline for The Writers' Union of Canada Short Prose Competition for Emerging Writers has been extended! There’s still time to submit your stories. Help us spread the news!

Entries for the Short Prose Competition are now being accepted until Monday, February 23, 2026, 11:59 pm PST. This Competition aims to discover, encourage, and promote new writers of short prose in order to provide opportunity and exposure to developing writers.

Unpublished works of fiction and nonfiction up to 2,500 words in English are eligible, and writers may submit multiple entries. A $2,500 prize will be awarded to the winner, and the entries of the winner and eleven finalists will be submitted to three Canadian magazines for consideration. Writers must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. For complete rules and regulations, and to submit, visit writersunion.ca/short-prose-competition.

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The Tom Grass Spirit of Adventure Literary Prize, an annual international prize for emerging writers aged 25+.

The prize welcomes stand-alone fiction or non-fiction (1,500–3,000 words) and is particularly well suited to mature students and writers developing work alongside study. “Adventure” is interpreted generously — inner or outer, emotional, intellectual or lived — and entries are judged on literary merit and engagement with the general reader. Deadline is March 31. Details here:  https://www.tomgrassprize.com/

WORKSHOPS

Odyssey Writing Workshops Charitable Trust, a non-profit dedicated to helping fiction writers improve their craft, announces that the deadline to apply for their online educational program, Your Personal Odyssey Writing Workshop, is April 10, 2026. The Odyssey began in 2022, and provides an intensive, one-on-one workshop experience, customized for each individual student. For the 10-12 writers admitted in 2026, several scholarships are available, including the Fresh Voices scholarship for an outstanding writer of color, and the Walter and Kattie Metcalf Singing Spider Scholarship for a fantasy novelist who shows great skill and promise, the Quantum Entanglement Scholarship for an outstanding writer of science fiction, and more! https://www.odysseyworkshop.org/about-the-workshop/. 

***

Are you interested in developing your writing craft in Paris, France this summer? The American University of Paris’s Summer Creative Writing Institute features workshops in Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, and Poetry in the month of July.

Writers have the chance to write and share their work under the guidance of highly accomplished faculty members. At the same time, they’ll enjoy Parisian life and culture while immersing themselves in the city’s rich literary legacy. Each week, participants also attend evening readings and Q&A sessions with inspiring visiting authors.

WRITERS IN RESIDENCE

The Sable Island Institute is preparing to launch our 2026-27 Artist in Residence program. The Call for Applications will open mid-February.

SII's Artist in Residence program is an opportunity for artists to spend up to two weeks on Sable Island immersed in its landscape, history, and ecology, engaging in research to inform their artistic practice. Artists will be hosted on the island by Sable Island Institute's lead naturalist, Zoe Lucas. 

Please forward this information to your contact lists, and keep your eyes on our website www.sableislandinstitute.org , and our facebook (@SableIslandInstitute) and instagram (@sable_institute) accounts, where we will post the call including details about the residency and application process.

EVENTS

WRITERS’ OPEN MIC
Sunday, February 22nd
3:00 - 4:30 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, songs, short stories, comics, novels, essays, stand-up comedy, etc. Or just come to listen.

Accessibility concerns and general questions can be directed to laurawatsonartwork@gmail.com. Follow the Writers’ Open Mic on Instagram at @writersopenmic for updates.

***

Catherine Lee, Literary Arts Program Co-Manager at the Eastport Arts Center in Eastport, Moose Island, Maine, (the only one of the Fundy Isles that is not in Canada), is planning to host a gathering of area writers' groups in the spring. She wonders if there are any writers' groups in the St. Stephen-St. Andrews area to participate in a cross-border gathering if indeed there are writers' groups they could invite. Interested? Contact info@wfnb.ca for Catherine’s contact info.

***

Le Hub Shediac wants to connect with regional authors interested in promoting and selling their books in their space on Main Street Shediac opening this spring.

Their goal is simple: to create a welcoming place where local voices, stories, and books can be discovered, shared, and supported.

Whether you write:

• fiction or non-fiction
• poetry or essays
• regional history, memoir, or storytelling, they’d love to hear from you.

Opportunities include:

• in-space book display and sales
• visibility alongside local art and culture
• participation in readings or small events (optional) Lehubshediac@gmail.com

RETREATS AND WORKSHOPS

Go and Write! Retreats created by writers, for writers

Writing retreats offered by award-winning authors Dr. Gerard Collins and Jane Simpson, from New Brunswick, Canada. Participants include emerging and established writers of all genres.

For more information, visit www.goandwrite.ca and post a note to their contact page.

Springtime Writing in the Cotswolds

Retreat to Old Town Lunenburg, NS

Retreat to Kingsbrae - St. Andrews by the Sea, NB

Go and Write! Merry and Bright - Christmastime in the Cotswolds, 2026

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WFNB member Mike Thorn is offering three workshops through CSAC and the UNB Art Centre this winter.

Writing Horror Fiction: Step into the shadows and uncover the craft behind what truly frightens us! Join acclaimed horror author Mike Thorn for an immersive workshop on writing horror fiction. From building tension and atmosphere to creating characters that haunt the page long after the story ends. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, this session will ignite your imagination and help you bring your darkest ideas to life. Thursdays, January 29 - March 5 from 7 - 9 p.m. in the Community Room (CSAC) Writing Horror Fiction

Reading Like a Writer: Reading is arguably the most crucial practice for any serious writer. In this course, you will “reverse engineer” acclaimed short stories to determine how and why they work. You will use these stories as lenses into key aspects of effective fiction (dialogue, plotting, voice, character, etc.) The course will help you to identify the key features of various distinctive prose styles, and you will participate in guided writing exercises inspired by those styles. Wednesdays, February 11 - March 25 (no class March 4)
6:30 - 8 p.m. Reading Like a Writer

Novel Writing: For beginners and advanced writers alike, this course is for you. Whether you're plotting your outline or polishing that final draft, this course will offer an intensive workshop environment with the focus on breaking down the barriers to completing your novel. Writing will be the class focus, with a strong emphasis on sharing constructive feedback. Discussion topics will include, but not be limited to, narrative structure, character, plotting and pacing, and of course publishing. No materials required. Tuesdays, March 24 to May 12 (8 weeks) Novel Writing

Mike Thorn is a fiction writer and critic. He is the author of Shelter for the Damned, Darkest Hours, and Peel Back and See. His stories have been published in a range of anthologies, magazines, and podcasts, including Augur, Vastarien, NoSleep, and Tales to Terrify. His essays and articles have been published in American Gothic Studies, The Fiddlehead, The Weird: A Companion, American Twilight: The Cinema of Tobe Hooper, The Film Stage, and elsewhere. He holds his PhD in English from the University of New Brunswick, and he co-hosts the writing-themed Craftwork podcast with Miriam Richer.https://mikethornwrites.com/

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Canadian Freelance Guild workshop, live at 7 PM ET on THURSDAY, January 15, 2026 – Special Discount for WFNB members. Check the members only page on wfnb.ca for the discount code.

Register here: https://canadianfreelanceguild.wildapricot.org/event-6409751

Social media never sits still — and neither do the freelancers who depend on it. As algorithms shift, platforms rise (and fall), and audiences change how they engage, staying ahead of the curve can feel like a full-time job.

Join our panel of CFG experts — all working professionals who live and breathe this stuff — as they share insights on where social media is headed in 2026. We’ll explore what’s working now, what’s fading fast, and what new trends might reshape how freelancers market themselves, connect with clients, and build communities online.

Whether you manage client accounts or just want to keep your own socials sharp, this session will leave you inspired, informed, and ready to scroll into the new year with confidence. See more about the CFG at their website: https://canadianfreelanceguild.ca/en/

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Milkbag Magazine

Spring 2026: The Green Issue

"Green as in grass and leaves and money and greed and jealousy and new growth and old growth and mold and Kermit the frog and lights and go and envy and capitalism and environmentalism and hope and vitality and algae and pondscum and weed and weeds and peas and jolly giants and juice and renewal and spring buds and chlorophyll and inexperience and hope and avocados and forest and vegetal and arsenic and poison and green and green and green and green."

We pay our contributors as well as our contest winners via a profit share model, meaning we charge a small submission fee. However, contributors facing financial barriers are encouraged to reach out directly - fee waivers are handled on a case-by-case basis and priority will be given to historically underrepresented communities.

We accept submissions via our Duosuma portal where all submission guidelines can also be found. For even more information, please visit our website or reach out directly. 

MARITIME RESIDENCIES

The Hideout Scholarship deadline for Maritime writers is March 1

Applications are open for the 2026 Hideout residencies and the Susan Buchanan Hideout scholarship. Now in its seventh year, the Hideout Residencies welcome writers, artists, musicians, therapists, and self-care practitioners to Prince Edward Island’s south shore each spring and fall. Residencies are a week in length and allow for uninterrupted time to work on a creative project. In 2025, The Hideout welcomed residents and guests from 11 countries and all corners of Canada to create and restore. For more information about the Hideout Residencies, the application process, or the scholarship, visit www.thehideoutpei.com. 

In order to support Maritime writers and practitioners, the Susan Buchanan Hideout scholarship covering residency costs to an emerging or established writer or practitioner with financial need. Writers or wellness practitioners who identify as BIPOC or 2SLGBTQ+ are especially encouraged to apply. The scholarship deadline for 2026 is March 1.

Created by writer Trevor Corkum and psychotherapist Joshua Lewis, The Hideout offers retreat and vacation space to writers, creative folk, 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.

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Hello, Members and Friends.

I hope you enjoyed a lovely holiday season with your friends and loved ones, and that 2026 has opened up for you with hopeful energy.

Our online sessions have been well attended and interesting - there are more to come – so please check through the list on WFNB.ca to see if you’d like to participate in an upcoming workshop led by Heather Browne, Elaine McCluskey and/or Wendy Kitts. The Sandra Phinney mini online course on writing flash nonfiction is now full, but Sandra said she is considering doing a second session in the spring or fall, so I’ll pass on your names, if you’re interested.

There’s still lots of room to attend our February retreat at Villa Madonna. Not gonna lie – I’m looking forward to the peace and quiet this year – just me and my new project. If you’re looking for a weekend away to write, this is an economical and friendly way to do it. Lots of connections and conversations over meals.

Hey, don’t forget: The NB Writing Competition is now open. Check that piece one more time, and get it in. I hope you’ll participate this year. One change to note: The JL Screenwriting Award is now for NB residents only. (We normally allow WFNB members who live outside of NB to participate in all categories, but at the request of the sponsor, only NB residents may participate in the screenwriting category.) No other categories are affected.

Cheers,

Rhonda Bulmer, Executive Director

WordWorthy

“Why write a Cozy Mystery? Because I love to hang out with a cast of characters who are unique, in a charming setting. If you like the main character and friends, you can jump in at any place. But you need to draw people in with a puzzle. Focus on creating really good, fun plots. The more you write, the better you will do at striking a balance between the gravity of the crime, and the intricacies of writing about a community.”

Chuck Bowie, How and Why to Write a Cozy Mystery, December 6, 2025

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

All the best for 2026, everyone! We started off at a gallop, rushing a vote to amend our by-laws, bolstering our application to achieve Charitable Organization status. Thank you to everyone who made up the quorum for this rare, unscheduled vote. It simply couldn't wait for our AGM in June. Speaking of events near June, it's not to late to plan your attendance at WordSpring, being held this year in Saint John on the weekend of 29-30 May. I hope to see you there!

Don Bourque

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Debbie Brawn-Mitchell comes to us from Lambert’s Cove, and is interested in the genres of blogging, fiction,  historical fiction, young adult, middle grade, and short story. Welcome, Debbie!

MEMBER NEWS

Tony Hebert, memoirist, community volunteer and serial entrepreneur, is offering a free memory companion workbook designed specifically for older adults. It provides a gentle framework and storytelling without clinical language, performance expectations, or financial barriers. Entitled One Memory at a Time requires no training or facilitation certification, can be used individually or in group settings, is suitable for seniors with or without memory challenges, supports conversation, connection, and dignity and is offered free of charge, with no upselling or subscriptions. Unlike commercially driven memory products, One Memory at a Time does not frame aging or memory loss as a problem to be solved. Instead, it honours lived experience and emotional memory, making it especially suitable for senior centers, nursing homes, memory cafés, faith-based programs, veterans’ organizations, and family-support initiatives. “This project was never about outcomes or improvement metrics,” says Tony. “It’s about preserving connection and identity — without monetizing vulnerability.”

For more information or to request copies, contact tony@tonyhebert.com www.tonyhebert.com

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Art Moore invites you all to visit him when he signs copies of his most recent poetry release at Chapters in Moncton, on Jan 25^th from 2-4 pm.

NEWSY BITS

As part of the upcoming opening of Le Hub on Main Street in Shediac, a cultural book salon will take shape within the space.

The book salon will aim to: showcase regional writing in all its forms, highlight local voices, emerging and established, support literary creation connected to Acadia, New Brunswick, and neighbouring regions, and create a welcoming place for reading, reflection, transmission, and conversation.

This is not just about selling books, but about creating a shared space for stories, ideas, and culture. To join their newsletter list, contact here in the official language of your choice: lehubshediac@gmail.com

EVENTS AROUND THE ATLANTIC (COURTESY OF THE EDITORS’ ATLANTIC NEWSLETTER)

How to Self-Edit Your Novel (virtual) with Sarah Mian

Five-week workshop on self-editing fiction manuscripts to publication-ready standards. Virtual event – January 13 – February 10, 7:00pm More information here.

Conception Bay South Writer’s Group

Drop-in creative writing group for people with a passion for creative writing. Conception Bay South Public Library, Conception Bay South NL – January 14, 6:00pm More information here.

A Night at The Gallery – Open Mic!

Welcoming open mic for writers of all levels and genres. In-person sign-up for readers. The Gallery Coffee House & Bistro, Charlottetown PE– January 15, 7:00pm More information here.

Author Talk: Donald Murray Celebrates Hockey Day in Canada

Author talk on Howie Morenz and his impact on Canadian hockey culture. Halifax Central Library, Halifax NS – January 17, 2:30pm More information here.

PEIWG Writing Group

Monthly writing group for PEIWG members to share work and receive feedback. Bar1911, Charlottetown PE – January 17, 10:00am More information here.

Fiction Debug: Finding and Fixing the Most Common Writing Flaws

Eight-week workshop led by Sandra McIntyre focusing on common fiction and creative nonfiction writing flaws. Virtual event – January 21, 1:00pm More information here.

Foundations of Fiction (virtual) with David Huebert, Anne C. Kelly, & Jessica Scott Kerrin

Nine-week introductory fiction workshop covering foundational craft concepts and techniques. Virtual event – January 22 - March 19, 7:00pm More information here.

Family Literacy Day Celebration

Family-friendly celebration with crafts, activities, books, and snacks. Musquodoboit Harbour Public Library, Musquodoboit Harbour NS – January 24, 10:00am More information here.

Novel Workshop with L.P. Suzanne Atkinson

Two-day interactive workshop to help writers build and structure a novel manuscript.

Charlottetown Learning Library, Charlottetown PE – January 24, 1:30pm More information here.

Lyrics & Literature: Shivering Songs

Afternoon of stories and songs with New Brunswick musicians who have recently released books. Wilser’s Room, Fredericton NB – January 24, 2:00pm More information here.

A. J. B. Johnston Presentations for SCANS

Author presentations on writing life, Louisbourg, and Grand-Pré for SCANS courses. Location TBD (Halifax and Truro NS) – January 29, 1:30pm More information here.

Hibernation & Emergence: A Poetry Untensive (virtual) with Basma Kavanagh

Poetry intensive combining craft instruction, peer feedback, and professional development. Virtual event – February 1, 2:00pm More information here.

SAINT JOHN EVENTS

The Write Cup Bookstore Café

Check out all The Write Cup monthly events on their website: https://thewritecup.ca/events

January 17, 2026 – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Writing Exposition workshop by Keila Gallardo

January 18, 2026 – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Colin J. Friars: From Maine to Georgia, Highlights, Q&A, and book signing.

January 24, 2026 – 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm: The Rise of Little Bear by Joyce Rice Book Launch – author reading and Q &A

January 31, 2026 – 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: CJ Leavitt Travel Talks and author reading

February 12, 2026 – 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Chapter by Chapter meeting

This is a free event to get the first chapter of some of the books available at The Write Cup Bookstore Café.

February 22, 2026 – 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm: Saint John Voices

A literary open mic event. Sign-up is at 6:00 pm, and reading starts at 6:30 pm. We feature prose, poetry, and plays. Readers have 7 minutes to read their piece. Experts are available to offer feedback upon request.

February 26, 2026 – 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Chapter by Chapter meeting

FREDERICTON EVENTS

It's time to celebrate The Fiddlehead's Winter Issue! During FROSTival, join us on February 7^th from 2:00 - 3:00 PM for our hybrid launch on Zoom and at the Fredericton Public Library to enjoy an afternoon of readings by Ariadne Asho, winner of our 2025 Fiction Contest, alongside fellow Issue 306 contributors John McNeil and José Teodoro. To attend the readings virtually, email thefiddlehead@gmail.com with your name to receive the Zoom link.

The event is free and open to all, with ASL interpretation available. We can’t wait to see you there!

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1H4hte6zRo/

Bluesky post: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:yff5kmo524yeweht5qfcnc4l/post/3mcab3be6yk2h

COMPETITIONS AND AWARD PROGRAMS

Submissions are open for the 49th annual National Magazine Awards for Canadian print and digital magazines and to Canadian citizens or permanent residents whose work appears in eligible publications during the 2025 calendar year, both French and English.This year’s program features 28 competitive categories. If you’re planning to enter this year, now is a great time to begin. Final Submission Deadline: January 16, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST

Register online at: https://submissions.mediafoundation.ca/en/auth/login

SEE part 2, featuring Retreats and Workshops, Calls for Submission and Maritime Residencies