Category Archives: Writing

Author Alissa Grosso Answers 25 Questions

By Richard | Published April 13, 2011

I dare anyone NOT to like author Alissa Grosso. In fact, I double dare you. It is just not possible. Admittedly, we don’t know each other in the real world, so I’m wondering if my online friends see her in the same way that I do — as someone who is exceedingly kind, open and [...]

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25 Questions with Author Catherine McKenzie

By Richard | Published April 10, 2011

Author Catherine McKenzie Catherine McKenzie was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. A graduate of McGill University (B.A. ‘95 in History (Hons)) and McGill Law School (BCL & LLB ‘99), Catherine practices law in Montreal. Her first novel, Spin, was published by HarperCollins Canada in January, 2010. It debuted at #15 on the Globe & [...]

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Wine Tasting 101

By Richard | Published March 6, 2011

Serious wine tasting begins with a leap of faith. If you’d rather remain a vinous agnostic, stop reading now, and you’ll save some money, and probably be a little less cool. But honestly, I hope that you’ll stay, for I believe that becoming a good wine taster is an important skill in life. It’s important [...]

Also posted in Food & Wine, Wine Tasting 101 | 8 Comments

Authors, Promotion, Branding, and Websites

By Richard | Published February 28, 2011

As a writer, I’m lucky because I’ve also spent time in the web design community, so I know just how important a website is in creating a brand, an identity. Writers who have agents, and writers who expect they’ll be able to land an agent, need to start thinking about it now. I’ve been running [...]

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With Apologies to Robert Frost (Updated)

By Richard | Published February 25, 2011

A road diverged in a wood and I — well, to be honest, I don’t really want to take either path. At the moment, both seem equally fraught. It might be a case of life imitating art. In the Secrets of the Hotel Maisonneuve, one of the central characters, 72-year-old Mrs. Nguyen, looks back at [...]

Also posted in Life | 9 Comments

The Starving Artist

By Richard | Published February 21, 2011

I had a busy weekend, and finished the sixth revision of my work-in-progress, The Secrets of the Hotel Maisonneuve. With good reason. This morning, I submitted my complete manuscript to three literary agents, bringing the number of agents who have read — or are reading — the middle-grade adventures of Jacob Jollimore to six. I [...]

Also posted in Author, Author, Authors and Promotion, Nova Scotia, Politics | 2 Comments

The Slings and Arrows of Outrageous Fortune

By Richard | Published February 16, 2011

Would we be friends in the real world? It’s an interesting question. I value my online friendship with author Tracy Clark because she’s warm, witty and vivacious. If you spend even a few minutes enjoying her online company, you’ll be be smitten. But I expect we see the world differently. As a climate change activist, [...]

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Let’s Have A Writers’ Retreat in Iceland

By Richard | Published February 13, 2011

Inspired by Iceland Video from Vimeo. Via Kristina and Loobylu

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Dark and Stormy Night — A First Line Contest

By Richard | Published February 7, 2011

Brenda Drake is running a best first line contest that features some pretty cool prizes. What you ask? Weronika Janczuk (pronouned Veronica) from D4EO Literary Agency will be offering critiques in the following denominations. Prizes from Weronika: 1st place — a critique of the first 50 pages + query 2nd place — a critique of [...]

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By The Numbers: Literary Agent Query Stats

By Richard | Published January 23, 2011

Tell someone that you’re an aspiring author, and that you’ve written a book, and they immediately want to know when they can buy it. When you explain that it’s not quite that simple, and then chronicle the convoluted steps that take one from creation to hardcover, they’re shocked. Their look suggests you’d have a better [...]

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