The Authors Book Club

Connecting readers and authors in Canada
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    • The Quotable Dennis Bock

      Posted at 12:21 pm by TheAuthorsBookClub
      Jul 18th

      This post was originally published on the 11th Floor Writers website on February 9, 2016. The bio has been updated.

      Dennis Bock has penned many highly acclaimed books, including The Ash Gardens. His novel, Going Home Again, was short-listed for the 2013 Scotiabank Giller Prize. Dennis’s newest novel, The Good German, was released in fall 2020.

      Dennis also teaches Creative Writing classes, including “Writing the Literary Novel: Master Class” at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies.

      When it comes to offering advice to aspiring and emerging writers, Dennis doesn’t pull punches. He’s honest and direct, and often says things that linger in our thoughts long after class has ended. As a token of our thanks to Dennis, we’ve compiled a list of our favourites to share.

      On storytelling

      “I’m a huge fan of something actually happening. Make your character do something.”
      “Always dramatize.”
      “Always create scenes.”
      “Mention all the people in the room at the outset of a scene.”
      “Don’t be obscure –mysterious or cagey is not attractive.”
      “Never rely on abstractions.”
      “Take the reader out of the story sometimes – don’t keep them stuck in the present.”
      “Be wary of putting too many plot threads.” (e.g.,“I’m confused,” said a character in one of our stories.
      “So am I,” replied Dennis.)

      On character

      “Send your character up a tree and have him figure out how to get down. This makes your story much more interesting.”
      “Don’t be afraid to take risks with your characters.”

      On the narrator

      “The narrator’s purpose is to give the reader a sense of what will happen, a sense there is a story, and a sense of urgency.”
      “The narrator recounts something when time has passed and can comment and add wisdom on the subject.” (Similarly, when introducing a new character).
      “The narrator knows the point of the book and should drop this in early on.”
      “Find the narrator’s voice to keep the story focused.”
      “Establish that the narrator is dead immediately.” (Only when your narrator is dead, of course!)

      On dialogue

      “Dialogue should be made up of only how the speaker thinks and talks. No information dumping and no stage direction. ” (i.e. “It’s 4:30,” he said.)
      “Don’t use dialogue to advance the story.”
      “Avoid non-words like ‘huh’ in dialogue.”

      On the reader

      “A reader will like a fighter, not a sufferer.”
      “You have to earn the reader’s confidence.”

      On writing

      “Keep on writing.”

      Posted in General | Tagged Canadian writer, Creative Writing classes, Dennis Bock, The Authors Book Club, University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, Writing advice, Writing tips
    • Spring 2021 Newsletter

      Posted at 3:00 pm by TheAuthorsBookClub
      May 24th

      More than a year later, we continue to reimagine ways to connect readers with authors living and working in Canada. We have encouraged virtual book club meetings and tried new and creative ways to bring people together, including our first “Book Tasting Event” co-hosted with The Soap Box Press. Authors Hannah Mary McKinnon, Victoria Hetherington, Cindy Aronson and Tamara Herman recommended food and drinks to pair with their books. They met with guests in private virtual rooms for this highly interactive experience.

      New Releases Highlights

      Early 2021 brought us new reads like the mysterious Son of Sherlock (Dorothy Ellen Palmer), the awaited Starr Sign (C.S. O’Cinneide), and the romantic comedy, Accidentally Engaged (Farah Heron).

      April was a big month! The crime-riddled thriller, Lucky (Marissa Stapley), the darkly funny Six Weeks To Live (Catherine McKenzie), and the empowering Hana Khan Carries On (Uzma Jalaluddin) were released.

      As always, April showers brings May… books! A bunch of new titles are hitting the shelves this month!  The exciting Lost Immunity (Daniel Kalla) and the romantic Letters Across the Sea (Genevieve Graham) are out now. New thrillers, You Will Remember Me (Hannah Mary McKinnon), and The Sister’s Tale (Beth Powning), are available on May 25, 2021.

      See our complete Spring 2021 Newsletter.

      Posted in Recommended Books | Tagged ann y.k. choi, Beth Powning, book clubs, C.S. O'Cinneide, canadian authors, Canadian novels, CanLit, Catherine McKenzie, Daniel Kalla, Dorothy Ellen Palmer, Farah Heron, Fiona Ross, Genevieve Graham, Marissa Stapley, New Releases, The Authors Book Club, Uzma Jalaluddin
    • Plots & Pandemic: Virtual Meet & Greet with Sonya Lalli

      Posted at 10:33 pm by TheAuthorsBookClub
      May 4th

      Join us on May 20, 2021, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. ET. We will begin with a short reading followed by a group discussion and Q & A.

      Register for this exclusive free event by emailing us at info@theauthorsbookclub.ca. Spacing is limited to 12 guests.

      Sonya is a Canadian writer of Indian heritage. She studied law in her hometown of Saskatoon and at Columbia University in New York, and later completed an MA in creative writing and publishing at City, University of London. Sonya has a black belt in taekwondo and loves travel, yoga, and cocktail bartending. She lives in Toronto with her husband.

      Visit Sonya’s website.

      Posted in Recommended Books | Tagged bookclubs, Canadian author, DiverseCanLit, Sonya Lalli, The Authors Book Club
    • Plots & Pandemic: Virtual Meet & Greet with Farzana Doctor

      Posted at 12:10 pm by TheAuthorsBookClub
      Sep 8th

      It’s September! We’re happy to host our next Plots & Pandemic Series event! Join us on Sunday, September 20, 2020, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EDT. Guests can interact with Farzana Doctor and with each other. We will begin with a short reading followed by a group discussion and Q & A.

      Register for this exclusive free event by emailing us at info@theauthorsbookclub.ca. Spacing is limited to 12 guests.

      Farzana is an author of four novels: Stealing Nasreen, Six Metres of Pavement, All Inclusive, and Seven, which was released in September 2020. Farzana was recently named one of CBC Books’ “100 Writers in Canada You Need To Know Now”. She is also an activist, part-time psychotherapist and amateur tarot card reader.

      Visit Farzana’s website.

      Follow here on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

      Posted in Recommended Books | Tagged ann y.k. choi, Canadian author, canadian novel, CanLit, david albertyn, DiverseCanLit, Farzana Doctor, Fiona Ross, The Authors Book Club
    • Authors, tell us a bit about yourselves … (more author interviews!)

      Posted at 10:00 am by TheAuthorsBookClub
      Sep 7th

      Check out our latest Author Interviews!

      Hannah Mary McKinnon
      Sister Dear
      Lisa de Nikolits
      The Rage Room
      Kelly S. Thompson
      Girls Need Not Apply
      Vanessa Farnsworth
      The Haweaters
      Brent Van Staalduine
      Boy
      See more videos!

      Visit our YouTube Channel to see more author events!

      Posted in Recommended Books | Tagged ann y.k. choi, author interviews, book clubs, Brent Van Staalduinen, canadian, canadian authors, canadian book clubs, Canadian books, CanLit, david albertyn, Fiona Ross, Hannah Mary McKinnon, KellySThompson, Lisa di Nikolits, The Authors Book Club, vanessa farnsworth, Youtube interviews
    • For your viewing pleasure!

      Posted at 11:30 am by TheAuthorsBookClub
      Aug 13th

      Our ongoing uncertain times have inspired us to get creative! We want to keep supporting authors and to find opportunities to engage them with readers.

      We are now on YouTube! Check out what we’ve been doing so far:

      • Plots & Pandemic: Interactive Meet & Greet for Authors and Readers
      • Virtual book club launches
      • Author Interviews


      As well, each of us has our own little space in our YouTube community:

      Ann’s Corner features videos for writers and readers interested in the writing world.

      Fiona’s Corner focuses on book clubs and the reading community.

      The Caledon Women’s Book Club with guest author Farzana Doctor

      David’s Corner will be a series of entertaining videos for writers. More info to come soon.


      Is there something specific you’d like to see? We’d love to hear your ideas. Is there an author from our list you’d like to see interviewed or featured in any of our events? Let us know. Email us at info@theauthorsbookclub.ca or comment below.

      Posted in Recommended Books | Tagged ann y.k. choi, book clubs, canadian authors, CanLit, david albertyn, Fiona Ross, online book clubs, Plots and Pandemic, The Authors Book Club, virtual book clubs, virtual book launch
    • Calling all book clubs!

      Posted at 11:25 am by TheAuthorsBookClub
      Aug 6th

      Post by Fiona Ross

      We have a volunteer team of four here at The Authors Book Club.  David and Ann represent the authors and (obviously) have knowledge and connections with the publishing industry.  Claire, our newest addition, is our creative tech troubleshooter.  Me, well, I am the book club “expert”.  I am supposed to get book clubs involved and connected to our authors, and well folks, thus far I don’t think I have done a very good job. Right now we have three book clubs signed up (and one of them is mine).  Now, while it is true it is hard to get fired from a job that is entirely voluntary, I am asking for your help.  PLEASE consider signing your book club up with us. A brief blurb about your club and a picture would be wonderful. See how the others have done it by visiting our Book Club Page.

      IF you sign up (I feel like I should be offering a set of knives or something) you will get advance notice of any of our free digital events and we will be starting a quarterly draw for a signed book from one of 50+ authors. 

      On a more serious note, we need to support authors and publishers in Canada if we want them to be around in the future, and we need your help.  Buy books by CanLit authors, preferably from a local independent book seller if possible.  However, you don’t need to spend a dime and you can still do lots to help.  Please consider the following:

      1.  Request a book from your local library
      2.  Write a positive review on Goodreads, Chapters/Indigo or Amazon.ca
      3. If you are on Twitter retweet out a book announcement (book birthdays are always on a Tuesday BTW)

      Check out our Summer Newsletter and our upcoming events. You can sign up your book club or ask any questions you may have by emailing us at info@theauthorsbookclub.ca.

      Hope to hear from you soon!


      Fiona Ross is teacher librarian and book club consultant with The Authors’ Book Club. From the time she read her first novel, Bimbo and Topsy by Enid Blyton at age 6, she was hooked on fiction.  Fiona is an avid reader, a teacher librarian, a current member of two book clubs and past chair of the Secondary Fiction Review Committee at the Peel District School Board.  She also serves on the planning committee at the Festival of Literary Diversity, (FOLD). Although her job demands lots of YA she occasionally tries to read a book aimed at adult readers. 

      Posted in Recommended Books | Tagged book clubs, canadian authors, Fiona Ross, readers and writers, The Authors Book Club, virtual book clubs
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    • For a list of Blog Posts, see the tab ‘NEWS, EVENTS, ETC.’

      • The Quotable Dennis Bock
      • Plots & Pandemic: Virtual Meet & Greet with Lee Gowan
      • Catching up with David Albertyn
      • An Interview With Ami Sands Brodoff
      • An Interview With Cathrin Bradbury
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