Hello, Members and Friends.

WordSpring is right around the corner, and I hope you plan to join us this year! The lineup should be fun and interesting, and as writers, it’s always great to learn, socialize and network together. There’s still room for you, if you’d like to attend.

In the meantime, we await the results from a couple more judges from The NB Writing Competition before we can announce results, but we expect them soon. Winners will be contacted by phone or email, and a news release will be posted to social media immediately following. Hopefully we can hear several of the winners read at the literary soiree at WordSpring, on Friday, May 29.

Once again, also for members only: mark your calendars for the Annual General Meeting, which has been set for Thursday, June 11 at 7 pm. The meeting notice and event page will go out to all members in the next couple of weeks. With a rising membership, we will require at least 42 members to reach quorum (notice the missing “n”), although you can give your proxy vote in writing to an attending member, including the president.

We are holding two more open mics before we break for the summer, one in Fredericton on June 9 hosted by Rebecca Carrigan of Sakura Blue Studios, and one in Saint John on June 13, hosted by Julia Wright. I think there are still a few more spots available!

Fundraising Committee –The WFNB would like to strike a fundraising committee that could focus on creating sustainability and financial growth for our organization, which is now a registered charity. If you have expertise or interest in this area, please contact the office. info@wfnb.ca

That’s it for me – I hope to see many of you at the end of the month!

Cheers,

Rhonda

WordWorthy

“I was thrilled to know that you could write about where you lived.” Ann Brennan, co-founding member, speaking of her introduction to writing, in the early days of the WFNB.

President’s Message

Hello, fellow writers! We have an exciting month, having just conducted another Open Mic, this time in Shediac. Keep watching for other dates and locations. We also have WordSpring coming up at the end of the month, which promises great value for all who attend. Coincident to the weekend will also be the NB Writing Competition Literary Soiree and the NB Book Awards!

We’ve also created a way you can promote your membership in our Federation, in your email signature block, and/or as a decal to dress up your book covers. The design can be found in our members-only section, (login with your username and password, then go to the members-only section and scroll down and click the pink button “Member Email Signature.” )

If you choose to print decals, we ask that they be 2.5 cm (1 in) round, with laminate.

Finally, with the AGM coming up in June and 3-4 vacancies forecast on the Board of Directors, now is a great time to get more involved with the governance of the WFNB. As Past President, Cat LeBlanc would love to hear from you as the Nominating Committee Chair.

Longer days and shorter nights, let’s get busy!

Welcome, New Members

Judy Barr – is a new author from Saint John, who’s recently published her first novel, The Gospel of Bug. After a career in chemical engineering put her in many extreme environments, along with a prolonged battle with cancer, Judy concluded that despite its flaws, life is still worth living. This appreciation informs her writing. Welcome, Judy!

Jamie Campbell –(pen name, JM Campbell, website, jmcampbell.net ) has had a long career working as a publisher and editor from his home in Fredericton. But his first love is writing, and he recently finished his sixth novel, The Angel of Sallow Cove. Jamie is a short story writer, poet and ghostwriter for autobiography and business topics for The Wall Street Journal and Wired Magazine. Jamie also enjoys fiction, horror, mystery, and thrillers. Welcome, Jamie!

Julie DeMayer –is a retired high school principal. Julie has been a lifelong writer and dabbles in creative nonfiction, memoir, nonfiction, poetry, and spiritual from her home in Scoudouc. Welcome, Julie!

Amanda Evans - Amanda J Evans is a short story writer and novelist living in Saint John, New Brunswick, who has been published in numerous anthologies. She is affiliated with Write Now Saint John, Partridge Island Publishing Inc, The Write Cup Bookstore Café, Chapter-by-Chapter beta reading group, and The Beta Reading Book Club, through which she’s developed great connections with wonderful friends. Amanda enjoys working on fantasy, speculative fiction, and flash/micro fiction. Welcome, Amanda!

Sonya Hinds –Originally from Alberta, Sonya retired to New Brunswick, expecting to become a novelist, but instead discovered poetry. That is power of the word! Along with poetry, she loves fiction and historical fiction. Welcome, Sonya!

Paul F. McCarthy –Paul writes for children, as well as fiction, nonfiction, mystery from his home in Fredericton. Welcome, Paul!

Bonny Pond –Writes creative nonfiction from her home in Moncton. Welcome, Bonny!

Harold Skaarup –(www.SilverHawkAuthor.com ) Major (Retired) Harold Skaarup,CD3, BFA, MA, served as an Army Intelligence Officer with the Canadian Forces (CF) for 40 years, retiring in 2011.  Now living in Fredericton, Harold serves on the Board of Directors of the Fredericton Region Museum and as a volunteer tour guide with the New Brunswick Military History Museum. He has written a number of books on New Brunswick military history. He is a blogger, an illustrator, and focuses on nonfiction and technical genres. Welcome, Harold!

Joseph Van Landschoot –(pen name, Joe Van, website: https://thejoevan.com/) Joseph Van Landschoot is novelist and screenwriter. His script for “Agent Heads” won Best Original Story category at the Independent Shorts Awards in Los Angeles.  He writes fiction, romance, science fiction, speculative fiction, young adult, mystery, thrillers, and short stories. Welcome, Joseph!

Kate Wallace – (katewallace.ca) is a national award-winning journalist, essayist, filmmaker, and storyteller from Rothesay, whose work spans print media, brand storytelling, and filmmaking. A former arts reporter for the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal and executive director of ArtsLink NB, she founded Kate Wallace & Co., a one-woman copywriting agency. She is working on a memoir about ADHD, parenting, and personhood. Kate writes in the genres of corporate. creative nonfiction, essays, journalism, memoir, nonfiction, copywriting, website copy, freelance and travel. Welcome, Kate!

Member News

Paul Burns is delighted to announce the publication of his young adult novel, The Druid and The Dragon, by Donovan Street Press, in September, 2026. The Druid and The Dragon represents the first New Brunswick author published by Donovan Street Press (publisher is WFNB member Joe Mahoney) and the first to be discovered at a WFNB Pitch the Publisher event in 2025. Paul is a life-long reader of science fiction & fantasy, and has a great affinity for spaceships and dragons. Paul's first two books, "Owen and the Dinosaur" and “Emily Finds a Dragon” were for younger readers; the latter was nominated for the Hackmatack Children's Choice Award. Donovan Street Press Inc. is a boutique publishing house headquartered in Riverview, New Brunswick. We specialize in high-concept, genre-bending science fiction, fantasy, literary fiction, and memoir.

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Francis-Adrien Morneau is pleased to announce that his book, The Light of Faded Stars, has been made a finalist for the CANREADS Book Review in Adult Fiction. The award ceremony takes place in Toronto May 30 (WordSpring weekend!) “A fresh take on the classic detective story, The Light of Faded Stars blends mystery with a powerful exploration of memory, regret, and connection. Told through the fragmented reflections of a dying detective, it delivers as much emotional depth as it does intrigue.” (CANREADS Book Review – Judges, Finalist in Adult General Fiction) 

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Michael Simon is excited to announce that he has signed two more book deals, this time with Aethon Books for Books Four and Five of his First Command series, Fourth Wave (releasing May 12) and Fifth Horizon, to be released in 2027. Thanks to my agent, Michelle, at Storm Literary and the fantastic team at Aethon.

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Zev Bagel’s SHEDIAC LAUNCH of Sopworth’s Foibles takes place May 15 at the Shediac Art Gallery, 59 Ohio Road, 5 to 7 pm.

Events

WRITERS’ OPEN MIC

Sunday, May 31st, from 3:00 - 4:30 pm, at Bill Johnstone Memorial Park Activity Centre - 70 Main Street, Sackville, NB

The Writers’ Open Mic is a free monthly event open to all. Come out and read your poems, songs, short stories, comics, novels, essays, stand-up comedy, etc. Or just come to listen.

 

CALLS FOR SUBMISSION & AWARDS

The Seaboard Review of Books* is launching a monthly fiction department, and we’re looking for submissions from new, emerging, and established writers from around the world – previously published or unpublished. All genres are welcome, so long as the stories are driven by character, theme, and language—which you can interpret as you see fit. We’re looking for stories no longer than 4,000 words. Unfortunately, we don’t have the budget to pay writers at this time, but we promise to give you a warm and helpful editing experience (if required), and we’ll promote your work like we wrote it ourselves.  Send your stories to seaboardfiction@gmail.com. Include a cover letter with a short bio outlining any past publications, and send files that are compatible with Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx, etc.).

*Please note this opportunity is unpaid

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Unlock your story! The Fiddlehead's 2026 Creative Nonfiction Contest is currently open for submissions! The best creative nonfiction essay will receive the $2000 prize and be published in Issue 309 of The Fiddlehead. This year's contest is being judged by award-winning essayist Brian Braganza! You can find all our guidelines for submission here. Deadline to submit: June 1. 

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Shirley Dunn, Award Developer, 606 52 Ave SW, Calgary, T2V 0B4 587 897 3377 dunnss@telusplanet.net

Brent Gushowaty, Associate Award Developer, brentg.telus.net

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Applications Now Open for the 2026 Whiting Foundation Nonfiction Grants for Works-in-Progress

The Whiting Foundation (whiting.org) is proud to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Nonfiction Grants for Works-in-Progress. These grants of $40,000 are awarded to writers in the process of completing a creative and deeply researched work of nonfiction. Projects must be under contract with a publisher located in the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada.

Since 2016, more than 80 writers have received these grants, which are designed to encourage original and ambitious projects by giving recipients the additional means to pursue exacting research and devote time to composition. Successful applicants are at a crucial point mid-process, after significant work has been completed but when extra support can make a difference in the ultimate shape and quality of the work.

The Whiting Foundation welcomes applications for works of history, cultural or political reportage, biography, memoir, science, philosophy, criticism, graphic nonfiction, and personal essays, among other categories. Self-help titles, historical fiction, textbooks, books primarily for a scholarly audience, and books for young readers are not eligible.

Applications are due by May 31, 2026. For a full list of application requirements, a list of previous winners, and to apply, please visit whiting.org/writers/creative-nonfiction-grant/about.

Any questions regarding applications should be directed to awards-grants@whiting.org.

Our Canadian Poetry Collection

We publish both carefully restored editions of significant Canadian works and contemporary modern Canadian poetry. Our Canadian Poetry Reprint Collection spans:

• Major Confederation Poets — the founding voices of Canada’s national literary identity
• Post-Confederation Poets — voices that extended and enriched the Confederation tradition
• Late Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian Poets — rich works from the turn of the twentieth century
• The Restoration Period — verse from a transformative era in Canadian literary history
• The Vaudeville School — a distinctive strand of performance-rooted Canadian poetry
• Modern Canadian Voices — contemporary works from today’s Canadian literary landscape

Our catalog includes 117 titles, all available in beautiful, affordable paperback editions. The complete catalog is attached for your reference.

Open Call for Manuscript Submissions

We also warmly welcome manuscript submissions for review through our website. If you have members — emerging or established — working on poetry manuscripts and seeking a Canadian publishing home, please do pass this invitation along. We are especially interested in work that contributes to the continuing story of Canadian poetry, in any of its many traditions and voices.

Submissions can be sent through our website at www.ronaldpfrye.com, or by reaching out to Susan Frye directly, susan@ronaldpfrye.com