It’s been a few weeks since my last post, which was mostly a disheartening insight for my readers into the financial health of my writing career. But let it not be thought I’m all controlled rage and simmering angst around here. Quite the opposite, actually. My days are filled with quiet creation and industry. When not managing the administration of our glass business, which is what pays the bills around here, I’ve been working steadily…
There is what looks like a useful and interesting new portal which connects Canadian authors with book clubs across Canada: The Authors Book Club. Founded by writers David Albertyn and Ann Y.J. Choi, The Authors Book Club aims, in its own words, “to create an online community for authors and readers and to promote engagement between them”. The Club also hopes “to be a resource for book clubs in Canada and to connect them with authors”. Worthy goals…
Reflections on 2019 It has been an eventful year at Five Rivers. We published the last two novels by Dave Duncan, Pillar of Darkness, and the final novel in the King’s Blades series, The Ethical Swordsman. We also released in audiobook the first in that series, The Gilded Chain, skillfully narrated and produced by Austin Vanfleet. It was bittersweet, but also hopeful because Dave’s work lives on. In an irony that follows so many individuals involved in the arts, Dave’s…
First the shock wave In the past few weeks there has been a bit of a tremour run through the small press world in Canada, particularly in the SF&F community. First it started with discussion of lack of payment and royalty statements from one Alberta publisher, along with complaints of unfulfilled contracts, lack of communication, dismissive attitude. Then the bomb hit about an Ontario small press publisher which specialized in horror and dark fiction with…
Read the Guidelines! So you think you’ll try your luck with Five Rivers this year. The first imperative: READ THE GUIDELINES! Yes, I know that was all in caps. It’s in caps because I’m hoping you’ll actually pay attention to those guidelines. You have no idea how many submissions cross my desk, briefly, which demonstrate clearly the author hasn’t bothered to check out Five Rivers’ guidelines. Or if they have, think their work is so…