Broken Keys Publishing's Blog, page 2

Sun & Moon Review

Great Review of Sun & Moonfrom Ariel Chart'sMark Antony Rossi!

Ngaro's Sojourney - Ottawa's 2020 Book of the Year Nominee

Ngaro's Sojourney, Faces of Ottawa Awards' 2020 nominee for Book of the Year!Want your copy?Coles - Billings Bridge (ask for Rhona or Trish)email Broken Keys Publishingwill be available in ebook in the new yearWant to nominate or vote for Book of the Year?Voice in here at 2020 Faces of Ottawa Awards!

Cover Story: ADCoMS

Years ago I had made the conscious decision that any and all covers of works of poetry I might publish would include a self-portrait.A Dark Corner of My Soul: Selected Poetry, would be no different. The pen and ink sketch of the damage skull that graces the cover is my own work, drawn in c. 1987, shortly after my mother's death.Although not blatantly nor obviously a self-portrait, it is a rendition of the condition I found myself in, at that time, and a very accurate reflection of this body of work's underlying theme. This collection's foreword (as credited on its cover) penned by Torontonian author, blogger and editor Lydia Schoch.Although a few reviews had criticized this cover and choice of colour, I must admit, these were deliberate acts. I was deliberately aiming to mimic the simplistic and limited lithographic technologies of 1887, close to Guy de Maupassant'sThe Horla's cover.There is little more of a story to tell. Soon entering its 3rd printing, the cover will be updated slightly, featuring a darker (and paisley patterned) background and a minor change of font sizes.

Honorary Membership

I am happily surprised and honoured to have received an email inviting me to accept an honourary membership!"Canada Pakistan Affiliated Chambers of Trade encourages each chapter to grant honorary membership to dedicated community leaders. Because of your contribution in the field of English Literature, the members of CPACT-NCR are proud to offer you free Honorary Membership into our chapter."It is with great appreciation at being acknowledged as a dedicated community leader, and also being recognized for my contribution to the literary landscape of Ottawa.Words escape me. Thank you Uzma Khan and the members of CPACT-NCR.

Faux-Faces Cover #2: Humanitarians

Faux-Faces Magazine Cover #2: HumanitarianThese Faux-Faces cover are for little reason other than fun. However, in this case, I need to open with a disclaimer. On this particular cover I am nothing more than a backdrop, and wallpaper behind these incredible people. (Talk about being out of my league!)There are times and moments when the Faces of Ottawa Awards might seem like a group of well dressed, good looking, well groomed, people parading about like peacocks, patting one another on the back, celebrating their own “greatness.”I believe the Faces of Ottawa Awards can be so much more. I think it's time to talk about Ottawa's unsung heroes: about the silent influences that shape, heal and change our city. Heavy hitters than can effect change beyond our politicians and to greater pragmatic effect than our poets or writers. Their effects are deep and profound. Rather than wear capes they prefer to be cloaked in the humble robe of anonymity. But do not kid yourselves, these titanic influencers are superheroes. In a world where so many are eager to tear you down, these people raise others up.Gotham may have batman, but we have so much more!Brigitte Boulay Her organization We Live in the Shadows' endeavour is to raise awareness of our homeless plight in Ottawa and bring succour, food and aid. Through art, events and fundraising, Brigitte is a warrior and gives voice to Ottawa's voiceless. From the ground up, she will colour this city in its most potential way!Michael Lifshitz Found of Illumabilities, raising awareness of disabilities and seeing and promoting the potentials and dreams within each of us, this man uses the communal and soft edge of comedy to dig into these sometimes difficult topics. But a pacifist he is hardly! This guy rapels off fricken' buildings and raises money for Easter Seals! What's your superpower?Mylee Batista Founder of Ray of Light, bringing awareness and removing the stigma of mental illness, this young powerhouse is changing the face of Ottawa, one runway at a time! Never be surprised what one person can do!Tysen Lefebvre Where to start? What can I really say? His t-shirt last year said it all: “I raised a million dollars. What's your superpower?” Tysen's Mission to a Million for Make-a-Wish.So, I ask you to take a deeper reflection of these nominations and votes this year.Ottawa is a fantastic city. Well worthy of being celebrated. There are massive influences here and great good being done, and an even larger potential that lays ahead. Please take the time to vote.

Cover Story: The Refuse Chronicles

Where to begin with The Refuse Chronicles' covers?Lets begin with older concepts covers and their evolution.This old draft attempted to incorporate piano elements from The Symbiot over a backdrop of Ottawa's Parliament hill (which features in one of the chronicles.)Shabby looking, unfinished and unprofessional, it lacked the elements I was searching to capture as well as the black and gold/yellow motif the Symbiot-series was finding itself forming into.On a summer vacation to Gaspe, while passing through the Quebec town of Sainte-Flavie, there is the Centre d'Art Marcel Gagnon (featuring the work of Canadian artist Marcel Gagnon).On the St. Lawrence, where the fresh water changes to salt water lies an outdoor exhibit and grand piece of artwork. TitledLe Grand Rassemblement (The Grand Gathering), it features numerous statues appearing to meander out into the waters. At high tide they disappear. At low tide they appear as seen below: This photograph was pretty much definitive. While securing the museum's and artist's permission, there would be little further decision to this cover's final artwork.However, with The Refuse Chronicles' introduction to parallel universes and alternative timelines, ideas and concepts for my next novel, Ngaro's Sojourney were already taking shape and form ( this next book's main character making an actual brief appearance in The Refuse Chronicles). If you look closely at these tribal totems or effigies, you will notice a female pregnant figure. This would actually become the precursor to the character Abela in Ngaro's Sojourney. (The closest 3 other figures being Memnosh, Miguel and Niko).The figure in the foreground actually being a totem of Ngaro himself. (Although The Refuse Chronicles is still in its first printing, it is not outside the realms of possibility that the carved wooden face of the cover of Ngaro's Sojourney might be colour matched, angled and imposed upon this figure in the 2nd printing of The Refuse Chronicles cover).But back to the final cover:The trail of smoke coming from over the horizon (photoshopped into this final cover) is actually from the 14th short story, Convergence's cover, its pillar of smoke from the naval battle that ensues visible over both horizons. And further, this photo of the French aircraft carrier - the Charles de Gaulle - is an actual photograph I took of this very same aircraft carrier in the port of Toulon on a Mediterranean vacation.

Faux-Faces Cover #1: Triple-Threat!

Faux-Faces Magazine Cover #1: Triple-Threat!Angela Holmyard Photography (Photographer)Mary Elin Moore (Promotional Model)Fatima Abeduljalil (Make-up Artist)What do these Faces of Ottawa Awards nominees have in common?Broken Keys Publishing's (nominated in the category of Media: Favourite Publisher) edition of Michel Weatherall's (nominated in the category of Music & Arts: Favourite Author) The Symbiot 30th Anniversary, The Nadia Edition (nominated in the category of Music & Arts: Book of the Year) features model Mary Elin Moore on its cover! (Photography by Angela Holmyard and hair and makeup by Fatima Abeduljalil)Just look at this cover!! You're looking at the product of 6 Faces of Ottawa Awards nominees' work!!~Vote ~ Share ~ Like ~ Repeat ~http://facesmag.ca/awards/Interested in knowing my choice of nominees? Here they are!!Favourite Politician (municipal): Laura Dudas Government Relations Specialist: Ravi Verma Favourite Catering Company: CMB Catering Favourite Pizza: Merivale Pizza Favourite Graphic Designer: Diana Rickard Coote Max Keeping Humanitarian Award: Tyson Lefebvre Favourite Not-for-profit: Ability First Ottawa Favourite Financial Advisor: Nana Al Favorite Volunteer Organization: HumansPeace Favourite Volunteer of the Year: Brigitte Boulay Favorite Lawyer: Monick Grenier Favourite Organizer/Promoter: Jarrod Goldsmith Favourite Audio/Video Entertainment Co: Bytown Video Productions Favourite Comedian: Michael Lifshitz Favourite Entertainer: Aiona Marián Favourite Promotional Model: Mary Elin Moore Artist of the Year: Danielle Allard Favourite Author: Michel Weatherall Favourite Dancer: Stuti Mukherjee Favourite Painter: Marin Mitrasinovic Favourite Tattoo Artist: Milena Fusco Favourite Tattoo Parlour: New Moon Tattoo Book of the Year: Ngaro's Sojourney Favourite Hotel: Brook Street Hotel Favorite Spa: Nordik Spa-Nature / Chelsea Favourite General Contractor: Randy Devine Favourite Photographer: Angela Holmyard Favourite Wedding Photographer: @Fronx Photos & Media Favourite Dental Assistant: Sheila Po Favourite Nutritionist: Darpan Ahluwalia Favourite Massage Therapist: Katie DeWolf Favourite Natural Wellness Company: Twillow Lifestyle Community Group Favourite Optician: Sylvie Demers Favorite Social Service Worker: Christina Ranieri Favourite Entrepreneur of the Year: Nana Al Favourite Receptionist: Ashley McCarthy Favourite Radio Station: CKCU-FM Favourite Radio Personality: Codi Jeffreys Favourite TV Personality: Dylan Black Favourite Emcee: Javier Clavelo Robinson Favourite Videographer: Andrew Mesley Favourite Publisher/Publishing House: Broken Keys Publishing Favourite Limo Company: East Coast Limos Favourite Residential Cleaner: Top Dog Cleaners Favourite Model: Mylee Batista Favourite Designer: Rebecca Rowe Favourite Makeup Artist: Fatima Abeduljalil Favourite Hair Stylist: Nelson Renouf Favourite Barber Shop: Kings Own Barbershop Favourite Salesperson: Evan Malamud Favourite Real Estate Agent: Erin E. Fry~Vote ~ Share ~ Like ~ Repeat ~Stay tuned!New Faux-Faces covers on their way!! New Faux-Faces covers on their way!!

Faces of Ottawa Awards 2020

It is that time of year again! The Faces of Ottawa Awards are once again upon us!~Vote ~ Share ~ Like ~ Repeat ~http://facesmag.ca/awards/I am up for three categories and would greatly appreciate your nominations and votes!Favourite AuthorBook of the Year: Ngaro's SojourneyFavourite Publisher: Broken Keys Publishing~Interested in my voting list and choices?Here they are!Favourite Politician (municipal): Laura DudasGovernment Relations Specialist: Ravi VermaFavourite Catering Company: CMB CateringFavourite Graphic Designer: Diana Rickard CooteMax Keeping Humanitarian Award: Tyson LefebvreFavourite Not-for-profit: Ability First OttawaFavourite Financial Advisor: Nana AlFavorite Volunteer Organization: HumansPeaceFavourite Volunteer of the Year: Brigitte BoulayFavorite Lawyer: Monick GrenierFavourite Organizer/Promoter: Jarrod GoldsmithFavourite Audio/Video Entertainment Co: Bytown Video ProductionsFavourite Comedian: Michael LifshitzFavourite Entertainer: Aiona MariánFavourite Promotional Model: Mary Elin MooreArtist of the Year: Danielle AllardFavourite Author: Michel WeatherallFavourite Dancer: Stuti MukherjeeFavourite Painter: Marin MitrasinovicFavourite Tattoo Artist: Milena FuscoFavourite Tattoo Parlour: New Moon TattooBook of the Year: Ngaro's SojourneyFavourite Hotel: Brook Street HotelFavorite Spa: Nordik Spa-Nature / ChelseaFavourite General Contractor: Randy DevineFavourite Photographer: Angela HolmyardFavourite Wedding Photographer: @Fronx Photos & MediaFavourite Dental Assistant: Sheila PoFavourite Nutritionist: Darpan AhluwaliaFavourite Massage Therapist: Katie DeWolfFavourite Natural Wellness Company: Twillow LifestyleFavourite Optician: Sylvie DemersFavorite Social Service Worker: Christina RanieriFavourite Entrepreneur of the Year: @Nana AlFavourite Receptionist: Ashley McCarthyFavourite Radio Station: ckcu-fmFavourite Radio Personality: Codi JeffreysFavourite TV Personality: Dylan BlackFavourite Emcee: Javier Clavelo RobinsonFavourite Videographer: Andrew MesleyFavourite Publisher/Publishing House: Broken Keys PublishingFavourite Limo Company: East Coast LimoFavourite Residential Cleaner: Top Dog CleanersFavourite Model: Mylee BatistaFavourite Designer: Rebecca RoweFavourite Makeup Artist: Fatima AbeduljalilFavourite Hair Stylest: Nelson RenoufFavourite Barber Shop: @Kings Own BarbershopFavourite Salesperson: Evan MalamudFavourite Real Estate Agent: Erin E. Fry~Vote ~ Share ~ Like ~ Repeat ~At this stage of the game, nominations can be made once per day, per IP address. (So, your phone, your home wifi, work wifi, Timmies' wifi, Starbucks....the list goes on!)

Cover Story: Necropolis

One of the most striking covers of The Symbiot-Series, Necropolis' cover most certainly is the first book that grabs the reader's attention.This final cover, featuring the face of Pharaoh Nyarlathotep (the main antagonist of this entire series).This artwork is actually a photograph of a statuette of Osiris sitting (c. 664-332 BCE) located in Musée du Louvre, Paris, France. (Photograph by Rama, Wikimedia Commons,Cc-by-sa-2.0-fr)Staying with the series' black and gold/yellow colour scheme, this very nearly wasn't the final cover art.Nearly becoming its final incarnation, this draft cover featuring the rusted (and submerged) hull of the Japanese destroyed, The Yakayuki , from The Hunt: Symbiosys), replete with water droplets on its cover.This artwork would eventually find itself on Necropolis' back cover.Previous drafts and concept artwork were these:These were ultimately abandoned for various reasons: Too busy. Too revealing. Permission and copyright issues, etc.

Cover Story: The Symbiot

This version of The Symbiot's cover (30th Anniversary, The Nadia Edition) features local model Mary Elin Moore. This is an exemplar story about contacts and networking!Its original idea came about a year or two earlier, with the 30th anniversary since The Symbiot had originally been written, although no concrete finalize cover concepts had yet been imagined.With the March 30th launch of Ngaro's Sojourney (it being the first book of a new series), I thought it prudent and launch (or relaunch) the 30th Anniversary edition of The Symbiot alongside it.The original cover sported simply a blacked shadow on its right hand side.It was during the spring of 2018 in which I had been invited to be a celebrity judge of the Mr. and Ms. Multicultural Canada beauty pageant.At the event itself, during the interviewing stages, I was near floored and left virtually speechless when I first laid eye upon Mary Elin Moore. Not because of the striking beauty she is (and she definitely is!) but because of the fact that she looked identical to - what I had hitherto believed - was a fictional character which existed in my imagination alone.The evening went as all beauty pageants did. Mary Elin Moore became Ms. Multicultural Canada runner-up and won Ms. Photogenic 2018.In the small hours of the following morning, while having me coffee at Timmies, I had texted a few of the winning contestants, congratulating them on their successes! Mary Elin Moore and I continued a prolong text conversation and eventually became friends.It was shortly afterwards when I told her the previous story and asked is she would do me the honour of being the face of Nadia on the 30th Anniversary edition of The Symbiot.Another not so well known fact has to do with this book's sequel, The Hunt: Symbiosys (which is included in The Nadia Edition). The Hunt: Symbiosys had gone through two previous covers, neither of which I had ever been particularly fond of.Its first edition (the red cover) was a poor rendition of what I originally wanted but couldn't secure the painter's permission. This particular cover graced the 1st and 2nd printings.After going into its 3rd and 4th printings, the entire series colour scheme was unified to match, using a black and gold/yellow theme.This particular cover was used (the negative woman's face that of my niece), but it still didn't 'jive' or flow. It still struck me as an unprofessional hack-job and - at least to me - very amateur. Combining the first book, The Symbiot, with the sequel, The Hunt: Symbiosys, into one print edition circumvented the entire 2nd book cover issue.Added bonus: The Symbiot-series went from a 4 book series back into being a Trilogy once again! (And trilogies are quite easy to sell!)More added bonuses?I have been invited to be a judge at this year's World Multicultural Beauty Pageant!Please join us on November 30th for this spectacular event!