Don’t forget, #YYC peeps: I’m the “Mentor in the Loop” for January at the Alexandra Writers Centre Society. That means I’m available THIS COMING WEEK – STARTING TOMORROW for drop-in consultations on writing, editing, and general writerly business… I’m also doing scheduled Blue Pencil (extensive story edit one-on-one meetings) and mentor meetings (times still available for a few days), and two workshops! Come on down Tuesday afternoon to learn how to infuse your work with poetic magic, and swing by Wednesday night to ANTHOLOGIZE! And find out how to put together an anthology, Coffin Hop Press style!!! Details and times at http://www.alexandrawriters.org/what-we-offer/courses/ under MENTOR IN THE LOOP/JANUARY #YYCBOOKS at #AWCS

Normally today is the day I post my Remembrance day essay that I had written several years ago. You can still go read that HERE. But today, I thought I would be a little more personal and utilize the technology we’ve used our freedoms to build, and speak more from the heart.

I hope you all enjoy your long weekend, if you have one.
Remember. Reflect. Respect.
And more than anything, be kind to each other. It’s a dark and dangerous world out there. Shine a light on all those shadowed places.

Anyone in the hometown Calgary area who is interested in a few hours of fun, yet detailed learning in the realms of writing and publishing, there’s still a few weeks to sign up for my upcoming courses with the Alexandra Writers Centre Society – Just click here or on the title of any of the classes for more information and to sign up now on the AWCS website! See you in class, Mister Spicoli!

Mystery Doesn’t Always Mean Murder (10 Seats Available)

Wednesday, November 15, 2017   7-10 PM

Learn how to craft a mystery without killing off the cast. From Sherlock Holmes and Sam Spade to modern classics like Gone Girl, mystery doesn’t always have to revolve around the sin of sins.

The Simple Art of Murder (7 Seats Available)

Wednesday, November 22, 2017  7-10 PM

Learn Raymond Chandler’s surefire system for crafting literary mysteries that thrill and entice.

Elmore Leonard’s Ten Simple Rules (10 Seats Available)

Wednesday, November 29, 2017  7-10 PM

Learn Elmore Leonard’s ten rules of writing the potboiler mystery and how those same rules can be applied to everything from Westerns to Romance, and all points in-between.

It Was A Dark And Stormy Night (10 Seats Available)

Wednesday, December 6, 2017  7-10 PM

Setting the stage for mystery through a more layered use of scene and description.

And now you can get signed up for my January classes!

I’ll be the designated Mentor in the Loop for January, and I’ll be spending the entire week of January 13 – 18 at the Alexandra Centre, doing Blue Pencils, Drop-In Mentoring sessions and more, as well as my patented full-day Publish? Or PUBLISH? Workshop, which you can sign up for now!

Publish? Or PUBLISH? – 10 Seats Available

Saturday, January 13, 2018  10 AM – 3:30 PM

The paths and pitfalls on the road to publishing – traditionally, or otherwise – from an Author/Editor/Publisher who has seen it all, and lived to tell the tale.

SIGN UP NOW!