The E-Exclusive
in which we ask our writers to talk to us about anything but writing
Our Featured Writer: Anne Fleming
The New Quarterly is the place to read great fiction, poetry, and writing about the craft. But have you ever wondered what else, besides their craft, is on our writers’ minds? We went to Anne Fleming with this assignment: talk to us about anything you want―and we mean anything, from the state of the planet to the contents of your refrigerator―with two conditions: one, that it be grounded in your personal experience, and two, that it NOT be about writing. Anne kindly obliged by telling us about why she loves the ukelele--the story involves trombone practice, her mother's diary, a summer camp counsellor gig, an ex-girlfriend, and "a novel of the twentieth century". Curious? Read it here . TNQ Trivia: Read it and win!
TNQ Super Terrific Trivia Question: What is the name of the novel Anne reads about six or eight times? And, is there any novel you've read this many times? (Of course there's no wrong answer to the second one and it's totally optional -- we're just curious.)To enter, send us an email at orders@tnq.ca. All responses will be entered in a draw for a free one-year’s subscription to TNQ! (Already subscribe? Use your win to renew, or give it to a friend!) The answers, and names of our winning contestants, will appear in our next e-newsletter.
And the Winner is...
Upcoming Events
Though The New Quarterly has not planned any public events for the current year as yet, a number of events involving our writers are on the horizon, so please put these on your calendars in the meantime!
The Listener's Tale
Date: February 6th
Time: 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: University of Waterloo, Environmental Studies Building 2, Room 2002
Storyteller Dan Yashinsky takes a tour of oral tradition, both old and avant-garde, by exploring the listener's perspective and experience. The trail will include visits to Bolton Camp, the Arabian Nights, Boccaccio's Florence, the ecology movement, and Dan's work as one of the pioneers of the contemporary storytelling renaissance.
Dan Yashinsky is the author of Suddenly They Heard Footsteps - Storytelling for the Twenty-first Century. In l979 he founded the Toronto Festival of Storytelling. He has performed and taught at festivals around the world. In l999 he received the Jane Jacobs Prize for his work with storytelling in the community. The current issue of The New Quarterly features Dan's installment in our Falling in Love with Poetry series, "Chaucer By Heart." Get your copy at the event if you don't already subscribe!
The National Magazine Awards
Every January, The New Quarterly has to decide which of the many pieces we've published in the previous year to submit for National Magazine Awards, given for the most "excellent" work across 40 categories (fiction, poetry, essay, magazine cover art, etc). The decision process is excruciating because we can only afford to make 15-20 submissions because there is a cost of $85-$150 each depending on the category. Assembling the requisite photocopies, tear-sheets, and electronic copies in the correct order for each nomination is usually at least a day's work for our Managing Editor and a kind volunteer. The competition is steep (each category being, ahem, flooded with quality submissions from our much richer counterparts in the consumer magazine world) so it is all the sweeter when one of our writers makes it to the top! The award (and prize) goes to the writer, but the distinction is shared with the publication.
Please keep your fingers crossed for The New Quarterly's nominees; the short-list in each category will be announced on the National Magazine Awards website May 1st. If any of our writers make it, we will be sure to let the bells ring out and banners fly!
What's in Issue 109:
For Some Unknown Reason and Anyhow
The way our Winter issue came together is still a bit of a mystery to our editors. In this issue, "for some unknown reason and anyhow", Anne Fleming defends the (long) short story and contributes two wonderful examples of her own, Dave Margoshes walks the tightrope between memoir and fiction in three new short stories, poet Robyn Sarah pauses for breath, Mark Callanan worries about Mr. Weatherbee, and Billeh Nickerson enriches our Word Power. Elsewhere in this diverse issue, new short fiction from Jean Van Loon, Laura Boudreau, and Ben Hart, and poetry by Angela Long, Marilyn Gear Pilling, Glen Downie, and Jason Guriel. For a sneak peek inside this issue, please click here .
P.S. A Letter from Managing Editor, Rosalynn Tyo
As our regular e-newsletter readers know, this note is usually written by Kim Jernigan, Editor of The New Quarterly. Not to worry, she will be back--I'm just pinch-hitting while she spends some time with her family across the border.
First things first: Kim and I are very proud to announce that The New Quarterly has won a three-year grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The funds will allow us to hire a part-time Circulation Assistant to help me with the always-somewhat-dauntingly-large task of running the 'business' side of The New Quarterly. If you think you might be the right person for this job, please click here to find out more. We're accepting applications until January 30.
Second: thank you to everyone who has completed our readership survey. If you have not done it yet, please do it now --truly, it takes about 5 minutes, depending on how quick you are at the keyboard, and if you answer the bonus question you get a FREE issue! As many of you know, TNQ is a small not-for-profit, and we've been thinking hard about where best to spend our time and money. Naturally, we want to spend them on the things our readers care about most - so please, take the survey and tell us what they are!
Third: a special issue of The New Quarterly is in the works. Diane Schoemperlen is guest editing The Lists Issue, for which she is "looking for lists of all kinds: fiction, poetry, inventories and catalogues, found lists, shopping lists, to-do lists, and any other kind of list you might like to share with us." For more information on how to submit your list(s), please click here.
And last but not least: I would be remiss as Managing Editor if I failed to point out the incredible deals with which we're ringing in the new year. Get one FREE bonus issue with a one-year subscription for just $29, or two FREE bonus issues with a two-year subscription for just $49. Click on the ad below to subscribe online.
