Kathy Stinson as Editor and Mentor

I’ve done plenty of ‘shameless self-promotion’ here and would like to devote today’s post to the books of other authors I have had the pleasure to work with.

Rough Magic by Caryl Cude Mullin is not the kind of young adult novel I would ordinarily pick up and read, but when the managing editor at Second Story Press asked if I would like to edit it, I was so taken by the writing that I had to say yes. And so began the task of helping Caryl sort through the tangle of characters, points of view, and time lines so that her gem of a story would shine through. She dealt with comments, suggestions, and questions with great diligence and humour, and I hope I’ll have the chance to work with her again.

Kathryn Cole at Tundra Books was the editor of Bird Child by Nan Forler. I first met Nan in 1994 when she participated in a workshop I was leading in Toronto. I knew then that this was a writer whose work deserved a wide audience. She has since been in workshops I’ve led in Kitchener and Rockwood, and it was a real treat to see her first picture book launched last month.

Anna Kerz workshopped her junior novel, The Mealworm Diaries at the week-long workshop that Peter Carver and I offer in Nova Scotia each year. Similarly, Caroline Pignat workshopped her historical fiction novel, Greener Grass, there. These books, too, are getting rave reviews.

I had nothing to do with the first published books by Cheryl Rainfield and Erin Thomas, but they too have brought fine writing and acute critiquing skills to workshops I have led. Their books are part of HIP Books’ Dragon Speaker series.

I currently have two more manuscripts on my desk awaiting my editorial input – an adult novel and a children’s non-fiction. I’d better get back to work!

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Kathy Stinson is the author of the classic Red Is Best and the award-winning The Man with the Violin. Her wide range of titles includes picture books, non-fiction, young adult fiction, historical fiction, horror, biography, series books, and short stories. She has met with her readers in every province and territory of Canada, in the United States, Britain, Liberia, and Korea. She lives in a small town in Ontario.

Kathy Stinson

2 Comments

  1. Cheryl Rainfield on October 5, 2009 at 11:49 am

    Thank you, Kathy, for mentioning my book! I appreciate that. 🙂 I know Anna Kerz's and Erin Thomas' books are both beautifully written; I'll have to go check out the others.

    And I know you've helped many writers grow and blossom.

  2. Kathy Stinson on October 5, 2009 at 3:25 pm

    I do hope any writers who have participated in any of my workshops and didn't get a mention here will feel free to 'comment' by giving their books a plug, since this posting mentioned only the most recent successes. Best wishes for much success with The Last Dragon – and your upcoming titles, too.

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