Navigating the mystery of submissions

Recently a rejected author commented, “I don’t understand what you’re looking for.” Subsequent to that, I learned this particular author wasn’t in the minority. Allow me to elucidate from our submission guidelines: Non-fiction: All work must be solidly researched using primary references as a foundation. Canadian history: this covers a broad spectrum, from stories of national significance to regional, from community to individual. For example, biographies of notable Canadians the quirky and esoteric field…

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Dec 2010

By Lorina StephensPublishing, Views from the Old Stone House, writingComments Off

Five Rivers Signs Debut Author, Shermin Kruse

We’re very pleased to announce we’ve signed another debut author, Shermin Kruse, and acquired the publishing rights to her novel, Butterfly Stitching. The novel is an honest, at times heart-breaking, window into the world of Samira, an Iranian woman caught in the contradictory and eventually revolutionary world of 1979 Tehran. Ultimately a very female novel, we feel very strongly this story will resonate not only with women on a global scale, but people who struggle…

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Oct 2010

By Lorina StephensButterfly Stitching, Information, Publishing, Shermin Kruse, writingComments Off

Call for Submissions

Five Rivers Chapmanry is an independent micro-publisher of fiction and non-fiction, giving voice to new and established Canadian authors. Five Rivers is committed to bringing publishing back to uncompromising personal editors where it belongs, rather than focus-group marketing. We publish real books by real authors for real readers. We employ print-on-demand technologies as part of responsible management of environmental and financial resources: by printing only the books required, rather than warehousing thousands, we save…

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Sep 2010

By Lorina StephensInformation, Newsletter, Publishing, writingComments Off

Book Signing Guidelines

I developed the following guidelines for Five Rivers’ writers as a way of preparing them for book signing events. I thought perhaps some of you might find them of use as well. 1. Dress appropriately. Think casual business or professional boho. Studies prove people are attracted to a professional, good-looking person and will often rate a person’s performance or product higher based upon that appearance. Sounds unfair, but it is a fact. 2. Show up…

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Aug 2010

By Lorina StephensInformation, writing3 Comments

Five Rivers’ Ten Commandments for Writers

I really never thought I’d succumb to this, to the detestable rules and protocols that gird the publishing world to the point of encumbrance and ritual. But here I am, amazed there are so many unprofessional people out there hawking their writing like desperate merchants at a flea market.So here are some cryptic DON’Ts by way of advice to all would-be hopefuls knocking on Five Rivers’ publishing doors. 1. DON’T submit without reading our guidelines…

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Jun 2010

By Lorina StephensInformation, Publishing, Views from the Old Stone House, writing4 Comments