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!