Lorina Stephens

writer, editor, artist

Lorina Stephens 2021

Over the past 40 years I’ve worked all sides of the publishing desk: journalist, ghost-writer, author, editor, publisher. I have four novels, two collections of short fiction, and three non-fiction books in publication.

In the past I’ve filled the following positions:

  • freelance journalist and columnist Orangeville Banner
  • freelance journalist and assistant editor Orangeville Today
  • freelance journalist The Canadian Author and Bookman
  • freelance journalist and assistant editor Country Estate Magazine
  • publisher and editor Five Rivers Publishing
  • co-edited with Susan MacGregor, Tesseracts Twenty-Two: Alchemy and Artifacts.
  • juror for the 2025 Sunburst Award.
  • editor for On Spec Magazine

In tandem with that, I’m an artist, primarily painting landscapes in watercolour, although I do venture into oils, ink, and pencil.

Apparently I also get my hands dirty in the garden.

Mostly I’m an introvert. You won’t find me at in-person conventions, galleries and trade shows. On social media mostly I lurk. If you really want to know what I’m about, read my work, study my paintings, or hire me as an editor or instructor. It’s that simple. If you’re curious, email me at: lorina@fiveriverspublishing.com or look me up on Facebook.

Editorial Services

As an editor, I’d be pleased to offer you the benefit of my publishing experience to assist you with the development and structure of your novel or book, or simply copy-editing services.

My rates run $50.00 per hour, depending on the complexity of your project. An average manuscript of about 80,000 words usually takes about 40 hours for a developmental edit, less for a copy-edit. Payment terms are negotiable.

I’m also available for virtual speaking and teaching engagements.

If you’re interested, email me a query outlining your needs, and from there we can discuss how to proceed.

Lorina as an Artist

As an artist I’ve been painting from the age of 14 when I studied under Dorothy Milne Eplett. Although I am comfortable working in oils, acrylics, pastels, pencil, ink, I work primarily in watercolour. The challenges of that particular medium, and the ability to create luminosity in this demanding and technical art form, is something which fascinates me.

Throughout the years I’ve been pleased to complete the Georgian College Visual Arts programs in watercolour and oils, as well as workshop with Neil Broadfoot, Kai-Liis McInnes, Helen Bird, and Pauline Holancin, to name a few. It saddens me that all these remarkable artists and mentors are now gone. I remember their dedication, skill, and mentorship very well.

My subject matter throughout these many years remains pretty much the same: Canadian landscape, with a few inspired by our trip to England in 1987.

Short Story Publications