I’ve been sitting on this news for a couple of days, but now that I have a contract in hand I am very pleased to announce that my new collection of short stories, at this point entitled Vermin and Other Stories, will be published by Enfield and Wizenty this fall! I am so looking forward to working with this fine press.

I’m excited for tonight’s opening of Storied City: Early Calgary Through the Eyes of Writers at the Lougheed House. I can’t wait to see the show co-curator Shaun Hunter has put together, based on the idea of a literary dinner hosted by Lady Lougheed in 1923. The Calgary Herald ran an interview with Shaun this morning — read it here.

Storied City runs until April 26. Tonight’s opening is, sadly, sold out. But I will be there in an authentic 1920’s dress. Looking forward!

I had a great time at Airdrie Public Library last week meeting Airdrie writers, reading, and talking about the writing biz.  Thanks again to Chantal Patton at APL for the invite! And thanks to Phoenix Phillips, who interviewed Chantal and myself for this week’s episode of Here’s The Scoop on Airdrie. You can see it here.

Looking forward to starting off 2020 with a visit to Airdrie Public Library this Wednesday, January 8. Things will get started at 6:30, and I’ll be reading from my books and leading an open discussion. I understand there will also be refreshments! Come and join us for a fun evening.

Thanks to Susan Toy at Island Editions for this write-up!

I am happy to be involved with New Forum Magazine as part of the editorial collective. We are now open until Jan. 1, 2020, for submissions from Alberta writers, guidelines here. As well we are running a flash fiction contest for Alberta writers and will be open for entries until Jan. 1, 2020, rules here. So get those submissions and entries in! Looking forward to reading your work.

I’m very pleased that my short story “The Hardest Part” has found a home in online Canadian literary magazine Agnes and True, and is up for the reading as of now. Many thanks to  everyone at Agnes and True, especially editor Julie McArthur for her thoughtful edit. And while you’re there, stay and read some of the other contributions — I am honoured to join this fine slate of writers.

Got a first draft that needs some work? Looking for feedback and fellowship? Writing Beyond the Basics, my facilitated manuscript workshopping course, starts Sept. 18th, and runs at the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society on Wednesdays 12:30 – 3 PM for thirteen weeks. Register now before it fills up!

https://www.alexandrawriters.org/courses/manuscript-workshop-day/

FreeFall Magazine’s Jamal Ali caught with me for an interview last fall, and now you can read it here, on the FreeFall website. Thanks to Jamal and FreeFall — I always love talking libraries, writing and punk rock!

My contributor copies of Room 42.2 arrived today. I’m pleased to be in Room again (my story “Close to the Bone” appeared in Issue 31.2 back in 2008). This issue features work from many contributors, including winners of Room’s 2018 contest, as well as my story “A Good Long Life” and Jenna Butler’s story “The Magically Disappearing Woman”, which I am looking forward to reading. Looks like another fine issue!