Competing against both large and indie publishers, in a field of 68 entries, C.P. Hoff’s charming and deliciously madcap novel, A Town Called Forget has been longlisted for the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour. C.P. Hoff is the nom de plume of Connie Penner, who Connie grew up as a gypsy. Well, she could have been a gypsy if her family could have afforded the wagon. Her parents were pragmatic and raised her not to…
The poster pretty much says it all. But let’s recap: Five Rivers’ double book launch at When Words Collide, August 13, at Calgary Delta South, is open to the public; two of our best releases ever, by C.P. Hoff, and D.G. Valdron. One a madcap and endearing story that will have you laughing out loud. The other a dark journey into madness, and a battle between the profane and the sublime. Six copies of each title…
One of the most effective tools a writer has at her disposal is sharp, natural dialogue, conversation which flows as freely as the spoken word. All too often, a writer feels the necessity to describe either who is speaking, or how they speak, rather than allow the tension of the moment, and the character development up to that point, to work for them. Consider the following: Aunt Lily smiled and poured the tea. “What’s your…
What is it about a story of fiction that sweeps you away? Aside from other key elements, I’m pretty sure it’s a fully developed character who speaks to you from the page or screen. It’s that character’s voice that whispers to you in your sleep, who disturbs you at work, during your commute, who becomes so real sometimes you ache for conversation with that person, you cry if they die, or crow when they triumph….
Connie Penner, author of the debut novel, A Town Called Forget, took some time to talk to us about the novel and her process. Q: Whatever inspired you to come up with the title A Town Called Forget? CP: There is a little French town, not far from where I was born, the spelling is the same but the French pronunciation is different. I thought it was a delightful name for a story. Although the landscape…