Matthew Ledrew's Blog, page 48
February 22, 2017
Making Family by Jennifer White | Other Indie
[image error]Making Family is a 2016 contemporary Newfoundland novel by debut author Jennifer White and self-published via the Smashwords print-on-demand service. It tells the story of Rose, a lonely old woman who comes home one day to find a distraught teenager named Hannah, who claims to be her granddaughter, sitting on her front porch. Set in Newfoundland, this is a story of strong women. Hannah seeks out Rose when the unthinkable happens to her and she needs somewhere to turn. Her mother is unreachable and Hannah really needs a woman to talk to. Rose sets out to help her through a difficult time, but worries that Hannah will want nothing to do with her once she learns about the past – after all, it’s the reason Hannah, her father, and brother never knew that Rose was still alive.
This novel is of a particular genre which I call “Newfoundland Generational.” Popularized after the multi-generational narratives of Bernice Morgan’s Random Passage and Waiting for Time, the Newfoundland Generational stories focus on family as the center of life on the island and its culture. These stories — rather than focusing exclusively on one character — mainly focus one the generational ties (or lack thereof) between characters. Such is the case with Making Family, which tells the story of four generations of the starring family: Rose, Mary, Hannah, and the fourth generation around whom the plot revolves.
This novel does a lot with the “Newfoundland Generational” staples, drawing equally from the inspirations of the local talent that came before it as the popular contemporary fiction of the age. It’s endemic of Newfoundland contemporary fiction at this moment in time, as fiction writers grapple with influences both from our culture and the outside world.
[image error]I love taking the Freudian method of dream analysis and applying it to literature. Quick/Dirty rundown: you take the part of the book that bothered you the most, then spin the analysis so that that is what the book is about. At least, what it’s about for you.
What bothered me about this novel early on was a certain unreality to the characters other than Rose, who is post protagonist and narrator. Dialog and descriptions of characters other than herself fall victim to unrealism: Hannah describes herself as an “average everyday teenager,” which no teenager does (they, like most people honestly, tend to ossolate between having too high or too low an opinion of themselves). There’s also a point where a character is drugged and disrobed while unable to consent, and Rose questions at one point if a sexual assault took place (chapter eleven). This implies a view in which sexual assault only occurs after penetration: if she was disrobed, it was a sexual assault.
These contradictions and inconsistencies pile up until I realize this isn’t a reliable narrator, at which point the title of the novel takes on a new meaning: Rose is Making Family in the same way we make the past — through the distorted lens of our own opinions, politics, and fears.
Once you recognize your narrator as unreliable in a story told in the first-person, everything from that point on comes into question. In Chapter 12 when a traumatized child is left, by her father, in the care of his estranged mother-in-law without the mother’s knowledge or consent, I don’t follow Rose’s cue to see this as a good and necessary act — I see it as a kidnapping. The same is true of the revelations about Rose’s past and her own parent’s relationship. When her father strikes her clinically depressed mother in Chapter 20, this — and the consequences of it — aren’t seen through the eyes of someone we can trust. They are approached with the bewilderment of someone who doesn’t understand the relationship she has to her mother, her child, or her first lover, as is shown repeatedly.
When Mary isn’t brought into the picture and won’t forgive Rose for months at a time, it’s around this time that I wonder what exactly led to her estrangement from Rose, and I notice thematic changes from earlier in the novel: when Hannah’s brother, Josh, abruptly changes his Halloween costume from a Hobo to a Zombie — transforming from a romantic folk-hero into a parasitic monster in the form of a man.
It’s all this combined that leads me to believe that what this story is about — to me, in my reading of it — is actually the breakdown of the family, making the title tragically ironic and the image of the empty chair on the cover an apt one. This is a story about generational failures, compounded upon each generation like interest, until the novel’s climax. And viewed from that lens, it is a must-read indictment of the lack of self-awareness in the traditional Newfoundland family at this juncture.
Making Family is available in eBook format only on Kobo. This is a great debut novel with some interesting twists on the typical generational story — most of which I won’t spoil. I recommend it to anyone who has been waiting for a successor to the legacy of Bernice Morgan, as it continues those same themes of the dark secrets of familial bonds, but with a new generation. With family such an integral part of the Newfoundland cultural dynamic, these themes need to be examined at least once a generation, and Making Family may just be this generation’s voice.
‘Other Indie’ is a recurring series of articles on Engen Books in which authors highlight the best in independent publishing, in the hopes of helping readers break through the cluster of books they may not be sure about in an age when anyone can publish via digital formats. Engen Books is an independent small-press publishing company based in St. John’s Newfoundland and is proud to highlight the talent of independent authors not our own. Making Family is © 2016 Jennifer White. This review is © 2017 Matthew LeDrew. ‘Other Indie’ banner photo credit: Steve Lake.
#LOLAnl Writer’s Circle a Success!
[image error]The Writer’s Circle event hosted by the AC Hunter Public Library tonight was a great success!
Hosted as a part of the ‘Love Our Local Authors’ month going on all through February at the AC Hunter Public Library, the Writer’s Circle was a round table discussion with four of the indie writing community’s top talents: the person in charge of taking your submissions (Ellen Curtis), the author of Call of the Sea (Amanda Labonté ), the author of more than 15 novels (Matthew LeDrew) and Erin Vance, the author of Song of the Mockingjay and the revolutionary editor behind Sci-Fi from the Rock and Fantasy from the Rock!
The Writer’s Circle aimed to answer any questions about the writing and publishing process, from professionals with a combined 25 years experience in the competitive small-press market.
Engen Books would like to that the AC Hunter Public Library for hosting the event, as well as Amanda Labonté, Erin Vance, and Ellen Curtis for taking part!
Call of the Sea Giveaway!
Dying for a copy of Call of the Sea, the newest novel from Engen Books? Wait no longer! Amanda Labonté has listed the book on Goodreads as a Giveaway! Two lucky readers will win physical copies on March 13, 2017! Follow the link above to make sure you’re in the running for one of them! ❤
February 21, 2017
Tomorrow: Ellen Curtis at the #LOLANL Writer’s Circle!
Tomorrow at the Arts and Culture Center, local St. John’s author Ellen Curtis will be co-hosting the first Engen Writer’s Circle of 2017!
Hosted as a part of the ‘Love Our Local Authors’ month going on all through February at the AC Hunter Public Library, the Writer’s Circle is a round table discussion with four of the indie writing community’s top talents: the person in charge of taking your submissions (Ellen Curtis), the author of Call of the Sea (Amanda Labonté ), the author of more than 15 novels (Matthew LeDrew) and of course Erin Vance, the author of Song of the Mockingjay and the revolutionary editor behind Sci-Fi from the Rock and Fantasy from the Rock! The #LOLAnl event has already featuring amazing local Newfoundland talent, such as Glenn Deir, Victoria Barbour, Heather Reilly, and Kevin Major! The Writer’s Circle aims to answer any question you might have about the writing and publishing process, not matter what stage of the process you’re at, from professionals with a combined 25 years experience in the competitive small-press market.
Come and get answers to your questions, meet the authors of some of the province’s most thrilling genre fiction, gets books signed and learn the different avenues to success with writing! Admittance is free, although Arts & Culture encourages calling ahead to reserve seats at: 709-737-3950. The event will be 6:30pm-8pm on Feb 22 2017 at the Arts and Culture Center, 95 Allandale Rd, St. John’s, NL A1B 3A3. To join the Facebook event and get more information, click here.
Ellen Curtis is a writer and web TV personality born and raised in St. Johns, Newfoundland; whose aptitude for the written word began at a young age, when she began writing short stories, poetry, lyrics and novellas.
She was ‘discovered’ at a Sci-Fi on the Rock II writing panel in 2008, and her first collection of stories, Compendium, was published just over a year later in October 2009.
Since then she has risen to become one of Engen’s lead authors, working of high-profile projects such as the Infinity series of adventure novels, become the editor of the From the Rock anthology series, and continuing in her own endeavors.
In her spare time she enjoys reading, art, music and spending time near the ocean.
Ellen Curtis is the author of 5 works published through Engen Books and its partners, including novels and short-form stories.
Novels
Infinity by Ellen Louise Curtis and Matthew LeDrew
Series: Infinity, #1
The Pitch: Faced with a destiny he’s uncertain of, the enigmatic Victor must bring together four unique people with very special abilities… or face the tasks ahead alone. Guaranteed to excite!
The Tourniquet Reprisal by Ellen Louise Curtis and Matthew LeDrew
Series: Infinity, #2
The Pitch: There is a man living in Atlanta Georgia that people don’t talk about, but everyone knows he’s there. He arrived a year ago and turned a gaggle of uneducated and uninterested youth into a force to be reckoned with; something to fear more than any demon or violent act: something new.
Exodus of Angels by Ellen Louise Curtis and Matthew LeDrew
Series: Infinity, #3
The Pitch: Theo returns to the mental institution called Black Springs to help a young girl who has been trapped there while at the same time hunting for a cure for the beleaguered Leigh Blackheart. At the same time, Victor and Jaycee Victor and Jaycee venture to a palliative care unit in Los Angeles which holds a dark secret. Exploring themes of responsibility, the bounds of friendship, and assisted suicide, this installment is not be be missed.
Short Form – Single Author
Compendium by Ellen Louise Curtis
Series: Infinity (prologue), Compendium, #1
The Pitch: Delve deeper into the world of Engen Books than ever before with Compendium, the breakout novel by all-star author Ellen Curtis.
Featuring The Tourniquet Revival, Falling into Fire and At Midnight, The Dawn; plus a new introduction by the author!
Editor
Sci-Fi from the Rock by Ellen Louise Curtis and Erin Vance
Series: From the Rock, #2016
The Pitch: Nineteen short stories written by an eclectic mix of some of the best science-fiction and fantasy authors in Atlantic Canada, some of them award-winning veterans and some of them new to the craft for the first time. Edited by Erin Vance and veteran science-fiction author Ellen Louise Curtis, this collection features the heartfelt, creatively charged, astonishing fiction that showcases the talent and charm Atlantic Canada has to offer. Featuring the work of Kenneth Tam, Scott Bartlett, Jay Paulin, Alison House, & many more!
Click for more information and purchase options
Short Form – Anthology
Light-Dark by Ellen Louise Curtis
Series: Infinity (prologue), Black Womb (prologue), Benedict Forecasts (prologue)
The Pitch: Eight new stories from within the Engen Universe, featuring the talents of Jay Paulin, Andrea Edwards, Matthew LeDrew, Sarah Thompson & Ellen Curtis!
What the Wild Things Read by Jay Paulin
Series: Ink’d Well Charity Books, #1
The Pitch: Local creators collaborate in the name of charity to show how kids see the world in their clever, truthful, warped and unique way. Net proceeds benefit Free the Children. Great for all ages, and fans of Looney Tunes.
February 18, 2017
Gettin’ in the Mood (for Writing)
I find it easiest to write when I’m inspired or when I’m bored. If I’ve thought of a really cool/interesting scene, then I have to write it as soon as possible or I risk forgetting about it. If I’m bored, then my brain goes into thought-overdrive and comes up with a bunch of scenes and ideas, and since I have nothing better to do, I might as well write them down.
But what about when I’m not inspired or bored? What about when I need to write something, but the words just aren’t coming? How do I make myself write? What’s my secret?
Most of the time: music.
The right music can help put me in the “mood” of what I’m writing, which makes it easier for me to fall into the world of the story. A few months ago I was working on a fantasy short story* and I found that listening to the Lord of the Rings soundtrack made it much easier to find the tone of the story, which made it easier to write and edit.
Music is also great in helping drown out the voices – I mean, distracting my brain. Sometimes I find it difficult to focus, so I need to distract part of my brain so that the other part can concentrate. That’s why I need the right music, because the wrong music will distract all of my brain and nothing will get done. It’s also why I can never watch TV or movies while I write (the visuals are super distracting).
The music changes for each story, depending on the plot and the characters. One story works best with Muse; another Imagine Dragons. Another story requires a mix of Joan Jett, Garbage, Pat Benatar, Hole, and Nine Inch Nails. The fact that each story uses a different playlist actually helps me focus on one particular story and not want to jump around to something else.
The downside to this process is that it might take a while to get the playlist figured out. Sometimes the music is obvious, but other times I might spend more time than I should trying to find the right sound – time that could be spent writing. Although I’d probably get just as distracted by the internet or Netflix or even making a family tree. (I definitely spent 2 hours working on an Erikson family tree last month, just for a casual one-line mention in something I was writing. I regret nothing.)
It can take a bit of effort, but that one moment when you find a song that fits perfectly with a scene or a character… It’s the best**.
______
*This story can be found in Fantasy From the Rock, launching April 2017!
**There’s a scene in Chapter 18 of The Six Elemental which is set to “Run” by Snow Patrol. The song has to be cut a bit, but I’ve got the movement and lines all timed perfectly. So if this book ever gets made into a movie, someone had better work on getting those rights.
February 17, 2017
Cinders review by Amanda Labonté
[image error]“Set in the extreme heat of a Los Angeles summer, Cinders fairly sizzles with mystery and crime drama. With great attention to detail, Matthew LeDrew tells a tale that deals not only with good and evil, but also the gray area in between. Weaving through multiple perspectives, the story culminates in a satisfying conclusion that leaves the reader wanting more from these characters. A great addition to any thriller library.”
[image error]Amanda Labonté lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland, where she gets much of the inspiration for the characters and places about which she writes. Though she knew she wanted to be a writer since the eighth grade, it was many years before she finally walked into a creative writing class and found a new home. As the co-owner of an educational business and mother of two she spends much of her day with kids of all ages. They give her some of the best reading recommendations.
February 16, 2017
Minor Event Time Update | Writer’s Circle #LOLAnl
The Writer’s Circle event hosted as a part of #LOLAnl will be from 630pm -8pm on Feb 22 2017 at the Arts and Culture Center, not from 6pm8pm as originally advertised on this site. previous references to this have been changed. Apologies, it was a clerical miscommunication. The event will be at 95 Allandale Rd, St. John’s, NL A1B 3A3. To join the Facebook event and get more information, click here.
February 15, 2017
Matthew LeDrew at the #LOLANL Writer’s Circle!
[image error]In just 7 days at the Arts and Culture Center, local St. John’s author Matthew LeDrew will be co-hosting the first Engen Writer’s Circle of 2017!
Hosted as a part of the ‘Love Our Local Authors’ month going on all through February at the AC Hunter Public Library, the Writer’s Circle is a round table discussion with four of the indie writing community’s top talents: the people in charge of taking your submissions (Ellen Curtis), the author of Call of the Sea (Amanda Labonté ), the author of more than 15 novels (Matthew LeDrew) and of course Erin Vance, the author of Song of the Mockingjay and the revolutionary editor behind Sci-Fi from the Rock and Fantasy from the Rock! The #LOLAnl event has already featuring amazing local Newfoundland talent, such as Glenn Deir, Victoria Barbour, Heather Reilly, and Kevin Major! The Writer’s Circle aims to answer any question you might have about the writing and publishing process, not matter what stage of the process you’re at, from professionals with a combined 25 years experience in the competitive small-press market.
Come and get answers to your questions, meet the authors of some of the province’s most thrilling genre fiction, gets books signed and learn the different avenues to success with writing! Admittance is free, although Arts & Culture encourages calling ahead to reserve seats at: 709-737-3950. The event will be 6pm-8pm on Feb 22 2017 at the Arts and Culture Center, 95 Allandale Rd, St. John’s, NL A1B 3A3. To join the Facebook event and get more information, click here.
Matthew holds an Honours Degree in English from the Memorial University of Newfoundland with a minor in Anthropology and studied Journalism at College of the North Atlantic in Stephenville, Newfoundland. He has worked with Transcontinental Publishing as well as student-youth magazine The Troubadour.
He has written sixteen novels for Engen Books, Black Womb, Transformations in Pain, Smoke and Mirrors, Roulette, Ghosts of the Past, Ignorance is Bliss, Becoming, Inner Child, Gang War, Chains, The Long Road, Cinders, Sinister Intent, Infinity, The Tourniquet Reprisal and Exodus of Angels.
Since 2007 he has traveled all over Canada promoting his work as well as teaching seminars on writing and publishing. He also helps young Newfoundland authors become published through Engen Books.
Matthew LeDrew is the author of 17 works published through Engen Books and its partners, including solo novels, co-operative novels, and short-form stories.
Author – Sole Contributor
Black Womb by Matthew LeDrew
Series: Black Womb, #1
The Pitch: Fifteen years ago, something happened in Coral Beach, Maine that resulted in the death of a seventeen-year-old boy today. Now four high-school students must try to solve a mystery almost two-decades old… before the killer picks them off one by one.
From the Author: “I wrote the original version of this book when I was just sixteen years old, and even ‘published’ it in a guerrilla-like fashion by printing it off and selling it as part of an entrepreneurial course. As such it has been through many iterations, both prior to and since its legitimate publication. Scenes have been added, scenes have been taken away. It remains among the most suspenseful, and influential, Engen books.”
Transformations in Pain by Matthew LeDrew
Series: Black Womb, #2
The Pitch: When two girls are assaulted and one is hospitalized, the residents of Coral Beach must put their shared tragedies behind them and stop the man responsible, as well as unlock the secrets behind the true nature of the Black Womb…
From the Author: “The second edition of this title (pictured to the left) has the disclaimer ‘mature content’ stamped on its back, and with good reason: this is among the most viscerally upsetting of the original Black Womb books. And with good reason: we needed to state early on that even though monsters exist in the Engen Universe, man is the real monster. Despite its subject matter, it remains one of my favorites of the original ten-book Black Womb series.”
[image error]Smoke and Mirrors by Matthew LeDrew
Series: Black Womb, #3
The Pitch: The approaching execution of Adam Genblade brings closure to the men and women of Coral Beach… until people start showing up dead in the same manner they did when he was at large. Now his victims are forced to keep him alive in order to get their answers… or accept that it may not have been him to begin with.
[image error]Roulette by Matthew LeDrew
Series: Black Womb, #4
The Pitch: As the teen suicide rate in Coral Beach starts to climb astronomically fast, Xander travels to Los Angeles to fight his most terrifying adversary yet… and learns that the only thing worse than looking for release… is finding it.
Ghosts of the Past by Matthew LeDrew
Series: Black Womb, #5
The Pitch: Black Womb’s story continues as the town of Coral Beach faces its most awesome threat when one of Engen’s past mistakes is unleashed upon the unsuspecting populous. Friends and enemies unite to fight a common enemy… but will even that be enough?
Ignorance Is Bliss by Matthew LeDrew
Series: Black Womb, #6
The Pitch: Black Womb’s story continues in Black Womb: Ignorance is Bliss. After being set through the ringer one too many times, Xander decides that his personal life with Julie Peterson needs a little more attention… which is bad news for Coral Beach, because a new villain has come to town with his sights set on one person: Adam Genblade.
Becoming by Matthew LeDrew
Series: Black Womb, #7
The Pitch: For months Xander Drew has been doing his level best to keep the streets of Coral Beach clean, and now it’s time for the forces of darkness to strike back… all at once.
Be there for the single worst day of Xander Drew’s life. There are some things that nothing can prepare you for..
Inner Child by Matthew LeDrew
Series: Black Womb, #8
The Pitch: In the wake of the Tee’s attack on Coral Beach, Julie Peterson is hospitalized with life-threatening wounds to both body and soul. But the real threat comes from the hospital walls themselves, as a demonic presence makes itself known to Xander and his friends.
Gang War by Matthew LeDrew
Series: Black Womb, #9
The Pitch: The Tees, an homicidal gang evil men, has finally been taken down by Xander Drew. But his victory is short lived, as retired Tees are killed one by one. With a town full of suspects, anyone can be the culprit… including one of their own.
Chains by Matthew LeDrew
Series: Black Womb, #10
The Pitch: The Black Womb series comes to its shocking — and suspenseful — conclusion in “Chains.” Sociopath Derek Smith has been freed from prison and is roaming the back alleys of Coral Beach praying on the weak, and none are weaker than August Styles: a pregnant girl with Down Syndrome who has run away from home. Complicating matters further is the revelation that Xander does not have the control over his animal side he thought he did, and that perhaps the lines that divide his dueling natures are not as clear as he would have hoped.
The Long Road by Matthew LeDrew
Series: Black Womb (epilogue), Xander Drew (prologue), Infinity (related)
The Pitch: While on his journey of self-discovery he meets the American people — the real American people, not the ones he grew up learning about in class, and realizes that the world doesn’t work the way it does in his small town back home. The real world is harsh and wicked, but can also be soft and gentle — even loving. Xander Drew comes of age on the road, and sets his new direction.
Cinders by Matthew LeDrew
Series: Xander Drew, #1
The Pitch: Thomas Horton is a good cop. Focused and unyielding, he has one of the highest solved-case rates in Los Angeles, a city with the highest unsolved murder rate in the whole of the United States. Despite his record, his resolve is questioned by the appearance of a young man named Xander Drew: a man equally as focused and determined, but who refuses to operate within the confines of the rigid California legal system.
When the egos and obsessions of both men collide, Horton enters a violent and dangerous world he didn’t know existed beneath the veneer of order and structure that he has based his entire deductive method around, forcing both men to question everything they knew… until they are both threatened to be dragged down to a place where everything burns, until all that are left, are Cinders.
Author – Multiple Contributors
Infinity by Ellen Louise Curtis and Matthew LeDrew
Series: Infinity, #1
The Pitch: Faced with a destiny he’s uncertain of, the enigmatic Victor must bring together four unique people with very special abilities… or face the tasks ahead alone. Guaranteed to excite!
The Tourniquet Reprisal by Ellen Louise Curtis and Matthew LeDrew
Series: Infinity, #2
The Pitch: There is a man living in Atlanta Georgia that people don’t talk about, but everyone knows he’s there. He arrived a year ago and turned a gaggle of uneducated and uninterested youth into a force to be reckoned with; something to fear more than any demon or violent act: something new.
Short Form – Fiction
Light-Dark by Matthew LeDrew
Series: Infinity (prologue), Black Womb (prologue), Benedict Forecasts (prologue)
The Pitch: Eight new stories from within the Engen Universe, featuring the talents of Jay Paulin, Andrea Edwards, Matthew LeDrew, Sarah Thompson & Ellen Curtis!
More Sci-Fi from the Rock by Steve Lake
Series: Sci-Fi from the Rock, #2
The Pitch: Five new stories from Newfoundland’s best in science-fiction literature. Featuring stories by Darren Hann, Mark Todd, Justin Foley and Matthew LeDrew, plus the new sequel to the 2010 hit Legacy of the Full Moon, Vengeance of the Full Moon by Steve Lake. Pick up your copy today, you won’t regret it!
Sci-Fi from the Rock Returns by Steve Lake
Series: Sci-Fi from the Rock, #3
The Pitch: Nine new stories from Newfoundland’s best in science-fiction literature. Featuring stories by Darren Hann, Mark Todd, Tara Murphy, Jay Paulin and Matthew LeDrew, plus the new sequel to the 2010 hit Legacy of the Full Moon, Shadow of the Full Moon by Steve Lake. Pick up your copy today, you won’t regret it!
Short Form – Non-Fiction
What the Wild Things Read by Jay Paulin
Series: Ink’d Well Charity Books, #1
The Pitch:
February 14, 2017
Zombies on the Rock: Outbreak | Paul Carberry
Thanks to the machinations of the Pharmakon corporation, a plague of zombies has descended upon the Earth! While the world at large prepares to fight off these undead invaders, the sleepy hollow that is the West Coast of Newfoundland thinks that its isolation makes it safe. Little do they know that there are Zombies… on the Rock!
Zombies on the Rock: Outbreak
Paul Carberry
[image error]
Purchase (eBook):
Apple iBooks
Barnes & Noble
Scribd
Kobo
Chapters Indigo
Smashwords
Purchase (physical):
Chapters Indigo
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Title Information:
ISBN:
978-1-926903-33-0
Release Date:
February 2017
Status:
Available
Book Type:
Paperback (5 x 8 in)
Cover Price:
Buy Local: $20 / EBook: $4.99
Page Count:
338
Related Titles
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Reviews
“[Carberry] draws in his readers from the first page, effortlessly providing the tension and fear necessary to create his terrifying apocalyptic tale.”
— Fiona Cooke Hogan, author of What Happened In Dingle
“This is an astonishing first novel from Paul Carberry. I read it over the course of two days, and in those two days my time was divided thusly: reading it, and wishing I were still reading it.” — Matthew LeDrew, author of Black Womb
February 12, 2017
Erin Vance at the #LOLANL Writer’s Circle!
[image error]In just 10 days at the Arts and Culture Center, local St. John’s author and editor of of Fantasy from the Rock Erin Vance will be co-hosting the first Engen Writer’s Circle of 2017!
Hosted as a part of the ‘Love Our Local Authors’ month going on all through February at the AC Hunter Public Library, the Writer’s Circle is a round table discussion with four of the indie writing community’s top talents: the people in charge of taking your submissions (Ellen Curtis), the author of Call of the Sea (Amanda Labonté ), the author of more than 15 novels (Matthew LeDrew) and of course Erin Vance, the author of Song of the Mockingjay and the revolutionary editor behind Sci-Fi from the Rock and Fantasy from the Rock!The #LOLAnl event has already featuring amazing local Newfoundland talent, such as Glenn Deir, Victoria Barbour, Heather Reilly, and Kevin Major! The Writer’s Circle aims to answer any question you might have about the writing and publishing process, not matter what stage of the process you’re at, from professionals with a combined 25 years experience in the competitive small-press market.
Come and get answers to your questions, meet the authors of some of the province’s most thrilling genre fiction, gets books signed and learn the different avenues to success with writing! Admittance is free, although Arts & Culture encourages calling ahead to reserve seats at: 709-737-3950. The event will be 6pm-8pm on Feb 22 2017 at the Arts and Culture Center, 95 Allandale Rd, St. John’s, NL A1B 3A3. To join the Facebook event and get more information, click here.
Erin Vance is an editor and a graduate of the Memorial University of Newfoundland English Honors Program.
Erin wrote her Honors thesis paper, Song of the Mockingjay
on exploring the nature of Katniss Everdeen’s agency in Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games series. She is creative, spiritual, and loves reading, writing, and anything to do with words.
Erin is the co-editor of the From the Rock anthology series, which highlights Newfoundland talent in genre writing.
Erin is an editor for Engen Books on a work-for-hire basis and is currently accepting proposals from more editing work in both copy and content from authors of all backgrounds and skill sets, subject to right-to-refusal and prices to be negotiated based on the amount of time each project is estimated to take. Potential authors wishing to work with Erin should write erinvance@engenbooks.com and allow up to four weeks for a response.
