In Support of Canadian Publishing (list) by Leanne Dyck

How readers and writers can keep Canada in books.

What can you do to keep that maple leaf waving?

Writers...

-set your stories in Canadian places
sea to sea to sea
We have 10 beautiful provinces and 3 amazing territories. The world wants to hear about them. Let's tell our stories.
Your Canada:  Geography


-use Canadian words like "skookum" and "toque"
-use Canadian terms like "keep your stick on the ice"
Canadianisms

-use Canadian spelling "tire" and "neighbourhood"
Canadian, British and American spelling

-what's it like to be disabled in Canada--a visual minority, an ethnic minority, a person of faith, gay, straight, an angry old white guy? Tell your story. Your fellow Canadians want to hear it.
Government of Canada
Country Guides:  Canada

-give your characters Canadian names
Canadian baby names that show off your national pride
Top 100 baby names in Canada for 2016

Readers...

-buy books written/published in Canada


-support Canadian authors by attending author readings and visiting author websites
The Writers' Union of Canada:  Member Directory

-review Canadian books

To read all my reviews, please click this link. It will take you to my book reviews page.

Marketing 101 (short story) by Leanne Dyck

Once upon a time, I owned a craft supply store on the small remote island I still call home. I filled that store with...

quilt batting, thread in many colours and even a few bolts of fabric for quilters
knitting needles and yarn for knitters
paper, scissors and stickers for scrapbookers
an assortment of beads and  precious stones for jewellery makers
crayons, faster plaster, markers for children
and the list goes on and on...

I sat in the shadows with my knitting and waited for my customers to find me.

Island residents trickled in throughout the year but they were joined by tourists in the summer.

One day, he came in and walked up one aisle and down the other. I didn't recognize him and thought he must be a tourist.

"Wow, I'm really impressed by the diverse collection of merchandise." From his accent, I knew he was an American. "You've done very well." His smile wasn't out of pity or mockery. It was genuine. This stranger was proud of me. "If this was my store everyone within a 10 -- no -- 100-mile radius would know where to find me and what I had for sale."

What I thought at the time was, Americans are good at marketing.

What I do now is, pull that memory out each time I want to hide in the shadows. 

I don't think authors should say, "I have a book. Did you know that I have a book? Wow, my book is so good. Have you heard about my book?"

Hmm, nope.

Marketing is about making connections. 

I connect with readers by saying, "You like to read. Well, on my blog, I review books and share my writing."

I connect with writers by saying, "You want to build your author career. So do I. On my blog, I share what I'm learning about the publishing industry."

Thank you, Mr. American tourist, for coming into my store that day. You taught me to take pride in what I do. And you taught me to share it with those who can benefit from it.

*about the photos:  they were taken by me of my knitting but not in my store.

More...

How to get over your fear of self promotion 

Picture Books in Canada

Orca Book Publishers

Established in 1984, Orca Book Publishers is a Canadian-owned children's book publisher that publishes Canadian children book authors. 

Orca Book Publishers submission guidelines

Sharing my author journey

Sometimes magic happens...

What's wrong with writing multi-genres? by Leanne Dyck

"Down that road, I go." by Leanne Dyck

My muse dances and I follow. I write picture books for children and short story collections for adults. I just gave my novel for young adults to my first reader. (Hurray!) To me, writing across genres is like trying all the flavours in a ice cream shop and not gaining weight. 

But...

Oh, so now your writing in (new genre), Leanne

-literary agent

The emotion behind her words wasn't lost in her email. She was clearly frustrated. How could she package me when I didn't fit in any box? I wasn't surprised when she refused to represent me.

Or...

Everyone is mixing and mingling, the host steers someone in my direction. "This is Leanne. She writes."

"Oh, what genre do you write?" The someone asks.

"Fiction for adults and..." as I continue the list, "someone" has a weird look on her face. And I wonder am I boring, confusing or frustrating her. If I could simply say, "I write mysteries," she'd be able to walk away with a name and a genre. What can she do with the armful of information I've just unloaded on her? I fear the answer is nothing.

But I have to continue to dance with my muse.

I wonder, how do established multi-genre authors handle these situations?


Next post: Sunday, August 21 (around 5 PM PST) 
You've read about my experiences (and fears). What does an established multi-genre author think?
Please visit this blog next week when my special guest will be award winning multi-genre author Maggie de Vries.

Update:  Thanks to author such as Maggie de Vries, I've learned that it's okay to follow your heart. That it's okay to be a multi-genre author. And I've learned to say, "I write fiction for adults and children."

Photo by Leanne Dyck

Picture Books in Canada

Children's literature courses at the University of Winnipeg

Field of Children's Literature

Picture Books for Children

Canadian Children's Literature

A few years ago, I took a children's literature course at the University of Winnipeg and learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Photo by Leanne Dyck

Sharing my author journey...

Last Tuesday, a Facebook post invited Mayne Island writers to

Thank you

(Google image)

I created this blog on October 10, 2010. Can you believe that it has been two years? Thanksgiving gives me an opportunity to show my appreciation. This year I'm thankful to you--my blog readers. You've taught me so much. Namely, that it's amazing how much we can accomplish when we work together. 

We can reach new heights...
Type 'the sweater curse blog' into Google. What pops up? What's the first thing you see? Yup, this blog. : )

We can improve my craft...
With time, effort and someone to write to my writing has improved so much. Thank you for visiting this blog. You keep me motivated. 

We've developed a community...
I've followed you from blog to blog. And I've learnt that the blogosphere is an exciting place full of interesting people. Scroll through my blog roll. I know you'll find something of interesting.

Thanks to you, I'm finding my wings. With your support, I can't wait to see how high I'll soar. 

Conceive. Believe. Achieve. Receive.

Happy Thanksgiving
***
Next post: Submitting:  to literary agents and book publishers progress report