The Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia (WFNS) is seeking a creative, skilled, and innovative leader to oversee WFNS's fundraising, strategic, programming, and operational activities. A demonstrated passion for the arts, in particular the literary arts, is a must for this senior leadership role. This is a four-day-per-week, permanent position with a salary range of $52,000 – $58,000. The position is based in WFNS's Halifax office. Applications will be received until 5pm (Atlantic) on May 8, 2023. Check out details at https://writers.ns.ca/jobs/executive-director/

For Immediate Release

Shortlisted Titles Announced for New Brunswick Book Awards

April 11, 2023 – The Writers' Federation of New Brunswick (WFNB) and The Fiddlehead have announced the shortlisted titles for the 8th annual New Brunswick Book Awards. The winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony on Saturday, June 3, as part of WFNB’s annual WordSpring writing festival in Saint John.

The program will celebrate books published in the 2022 calendar year in the poetry, fiction, nonfiction and children’s picture books categories. The finalists are as follows:

Mrs. Dunster’s Award for Fiction
Judge:  Leslie Greentree is an Alberta-based artist and is the author of four books. She has won CBC literary competitions for short fiction and poetry, and the Sarah Selecky 2013 Little Bird short fiction competition.

Valerie Sherrard, A Bend in the Breeze (DCB Cormorant), Miramichi

Meghan Rose Allen, The Summer the School Burned Down (Indie-published), Sackville

Lee D. Thompson, Apastoral: A Mistopia (Corona/Samizdat), Moncton

Alice Kitts Memorial Award for Excellence in Children’s Writing
Judge: Alma Fullerton is an award-winning PEI author- author/illustrator, whose books have been nominated and/or have won awards including the Governor General Finalist 2008 and many others.

Kelly Cooper, Midnight and Moon (Tundra), Belleisle Creek; illustrated Daniel Miyares

Jennifer McGrath, Pugs Cause Traffic Jams (Kids Can Press), Hillsborough; illustrated by Kathryn Durst

Masen Grasse, Trucks (Monster House Publishing); illustrated by Alexia LePage

The Fiddlehead Poetry Book Prize
Judge: Weyman Chan of Calgary has written six books of poetry and was a finalist for the 2008 Governor General's Award for his second book of poetry, Noise From the Laundry.

Amber McMillan, This Is A Stickup, (Wolsak and Wynn), Fredericton

Michael Pacey, Wild Apples: A Dialogue With Thoreau (Pottersfield Press), Fredericton

Sue Sinclair, Almost Beauty: New and Selected Poems (Goose Lane Editions), Fredericton

Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick Nonfiction Award
Judge: Rowan McCandless is an award-winning writer from Winnipeg whose work has appeared in various anthologies and journals. A finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award in nonfiction, Rowan is also a co-winner of the Eileen McTavish Sykes Award for Best First Book (2022). 

James Mullinger, Brit Happens* Or Living the Canadian Dream, (Goose Lane), Rothesay

Mark Anthony Jarman, Touch Anywhere to Begin (Goose Lane) Fredericton

Jon Claytor, Take the Long Way Home (Conundrum Press), Sackville

The New Brunswick Book Awards are open to traditionally published and self-published authors who have lived in the province for three of the last five years, including the award year.

The book awards program represents a partnership between the Writers’ Federation, which for more than 35 years has passionately supported the development of home-grown writers at all stages of development, and The Fiddlehead, Canada’s oldest literary magazine, which has nurtured New Brunswick's literary culture for more than 75 years.

Congratulations to all the nominees!

April 27th is poetry day in Ireland. WFNB board member Sandra Bunting is inviting Atlantic Canada poets to write a poem, playing with the theme Message in a Bottle or anything to do with Ireland. One suggestion is for poets to learn new things about Ireland and write about them. It can be a take on Irish modern society, reimagining works of the great Irish writers, mythology, descriptions of its stunning landscape or something our two countries have in common. Try to keep away from the stereotypes and the Hollywood portrayal of Ireland and the Irish. Play and have fun. Experiment. Come up with something new or perhaps you have something that would fit. I am making arrangements for the poems to be delivered in Ireland (unfortunately not in a physical bottle) and to be read by Irish poets. More details to come. Deadline: March 31 Send to sandra.bunting@gmail.com.

ATTENTION BOOK LOVERS & READERS. Exciting News! THE GREATER MONCTON RIVERVIEW DIEPPE BOOK FAIR is happening. Mark the date in your calendar - April 22nd 10am - 4pm. Over 30 Authors and their books all in one place. Please SHARE with all your friends. Visit our website and meet the authors. New listings everyday. https://gmrdbookfair.blogspot.com/

On Thursday, February 23, Marianne Ward leads the free Editors Canada webinar "Working With an Editor: An Overview for Writers."

This is your last call to register! 

Presenter: Marianne Ward
Date: Thursday, February 23, 2023
Time: 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT
Length: 1.5 hours
Language: English
Level:  Introductory
Type: Informational
Price: Free

Have you always been a little mystified about what it is editors do, or even terrified at the prospect of working with one? This webinar breaks down the editing process (the stages of editing) and describes the relationship between editor and author. Bottom line: there's nothing to fear!

Can't make it this time?

We're pleased to announce this webinar will be recorded and posted on our YouTube channel.

Recordings of many of our recent webinars are now available for sale. When you buy an Editors Canada webinar recording, you'll receive a video file to watch at your leisure on your computer or mobile device. The file is yours to keep, so you can watch it again and again.

Visit our webinar recordings page to see what's available now. We're adding new recordings regularly and some are available for a limited time only, so be sure to check often.

Train online with Editors Canada

Looking for more opportunities to get your training online? Visit our webinars page to learn about our webinar season and meet our topnotch instructors.

Are you considering writing your memoir? Is your story ready to come to life in book form? 

This 90-minute panel from the University of King’s College Master’s in Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Nonfiction program will illuminate the possibilities of memoir, perhaps inspiring you to pick up that pen! 

Join our MFA alumni Pauline Dakin, Sue Harper, Jason Schreurs, and RC Shaw for a session on memoir writing on February 12. 

Register via the link below.

https://ukings.ca/events/its-time-to-write-your-story/

Are you considering writing your memoir? 

Is your story ready to come to life in book form? 

This 90-minute panel from the University of King’s College Master’s in Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Nonfiction program will illuminate the possibilities of memoir, perhaps inspiring you to pick up that pen! 

Join our MFA alumni Pauline Dakin, Sue Harper, Jason Schreurs, and RC Shaw for a session on memoir writing on February 12. 

Register via the link below.

https://ukings.ca/events/its-time-to-write-your-story/

WFNB member Dr. Gerard Collins will be reading from The Hush Sisters at the central branch of the Saint John Public Library on Feb. 24 at 3 PM.

The following day, Feb. 25, 10:30 AM to 1 PM, he's offering a workshop entitled "The Art of Storytelling".

The reading is sponsored by the Canada Council for the Arts, through The Writers Union of Canada. Gerard is an award-winning novelist and short story writer who has read from his work and taught writing classes at the Louisiana Book Festival and Newcastle University in the UK, among others. For more information on Gerard, visit his website: www.gerardcollins.ca.

To register for the Saturday workshop, contact the author at: gerardcollins@gerardcollins.ca. Workshop fee is $85.

Admission for the Friday afternoon reading is free, and all are welcome.

February 1, 2023 – Ottawa – The Speaker of the Senate, the Honourable George J. Furey, and the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Honourable Anthony Rota, announced today the appointment of Marie-Célie Agnant as Canada’s new Parliamentary Poet Laureate, effective January 1, 2023. Ms. Agnant is the 10th poet to hold this office, succeeding Louise Bernice Halfe – Sky Dancer. Marie-Célie Agnant was selected by the Speakers from a short list of candidates submitted by the Selection Committee, chaired by Dr. Heather Lank, Parliamentary Librarian, and composed of Raymond Théberge, Commissioner of Official Languages; Leslie Weir, Librarian and Archivist of Canada; and Jesse Wente, Chair, Canada Council for the Arts (represented by Joanne Larocque-Poirier, Chief of Staff and Corporate Secretary). Born in Haiti, Marie-Célie Agnant has lived in Quebec since 1970. Active in the literary scene for 27 years, she has a substantial body of work for which she has won awards both within Canada and abroad. She has published three books of poetry, including Femmes des terres brûlées, which won the 2017 Alain-Grandbois poetry award from the Académie des lettres du Québec. Through her poetry, she explores themes, both timeless and contemporary, such as equality, justice, solitude, the status of women and racism. Quotes “Through her powerful writing and her social and community engagement, Ms. Agnant conveys the importance of a more equitable and supportive society— especially to young people. Indeed, several emerging writers have acknowledged the influence of Ms. Agnant and her work.” – The Honourable George J. Furey, K.C., Speaker of the Senate “Ms. Agnant’s work extends well beyond the words themselves. She demonstrates her humanity and commitment to the cause of oppressed people. Her writing radiates justice and resistance, gives readers courage, moves them and prompts reflection.” – Honourable Anthony Rota, Speaker of the House of Commons “I’m very eager to make the most of this new experience by extending a hand to children and leading them toward the enchanting realm of poetry. Thank you for this opportunity.” – Marie-Célie Agnant, 10th Parliamentary Poet Laureate The Parliamentary Poet Laureate Program Federal legislators created the position of Parliamentary Poet Laureate in 2001 to build awareness of the reading and writing of poetry. Pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, the Parliamentary Poet Laureate may perform a range of duties, including composing poetry, particularly for use in Parliament on important occasions; sponsoring poetry readings; advising the Parliamentary Librarian on enriching the cultural holdings of the Library’s collections; and performing related duties at the request of the Speaker of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Commons or the Parliamentary Librarian. Biographical notes and a photo of Marie-Célie Agnant are available online.

If this is your year to dedicate time and energy to your writing, join professional, award-winning authors Dr. Gerard Collins and Janie Simpson on a small group, 11-day writing retreat in London and the Cotswolds, March 18-28 or April 10-20.

With only eight rooms available, space is very limited on this 11-day retreat, where you can enjoy the blooming warmth of an English spring before the tourist season begins. In London, you’ll stay at the Mad Hatter Hotel near ancient pubs where Dickens, Johnson, Twain, Yeats, Tennyson, and Orwell visited, wrote, and set stories. Then, it’s off to the Cotswolds and the luxurious Abbots Grange manor house, built in 1320 and voted the best B&B in Britain.

This intimate retreat is built for writers of all genres and experience levels, and as writers themselves, Gerard and Janie get it: writers want a thoughtful blend of plenty of alone time for writing as well as literary-focused short tours and group readings and workshops, and that’s how they structure Go and Write! retreats.

Based in New Brunswick, Janie and Gerard have been hosting writing retreats since 2016. Gerard, originally from Newfoundland, has won and been nominated for many awards and has taught university English literature for over two decades – Gerard will conduct workshops and meet with you one-on-one to discuss your writing. Janie, a graduate of the UNB’s English program, is the chief administrator for Go and Write! and is, herself, an award-winning fiction writer and poet.

Costs start at $4,995 CAD. Visit https://goandwrite.ca/london-cotswolds-spring-2023/ for more information and to register.