Tag: Canadian writer

Interviews

Check-in with Alanna Rusnak

Pauline Shen

In this post, we’ll be hearing from writer, editor, and publisher Alanna Rusnak. She updates us on her writing and publishing projects, while also offering us a glimpse into her inspirations as well as challenges. If you missed our original interview, take a look here: Interview with Alanna Rusnak

Check out Alanna’s author bio:

Alanna was born in the wrong decade and dreams of abandoning everything to live in a van and travel across Canada. She’ll call it “a book tour,” but it’s really an excuse to unleash her inner hippie.

A collector of typewriters and John Travolta VHS movies, she believes life is too short to not indulge in the things that bring you joy and in keeping with that philosophy, she left a stuffy office job of 18 years to launch a full-time indie press out of a chicken coop on her childhood property.

An author of literary and speculative fiction, Alanna likes to play in dark spaces, but always leaves room for redemption. Her latest novel is about burning down the world in order to set things right.

Settled in West Grey as a four-year-old, it has always been her home and source of inspiration and she’s working hard to build bridges between the various arts communities. With no immediate plans to abandon this, she will certainly leave it all behind the moment her husband gets on board with the van-life idea.

Alanna it’s been two years since our last interview. What did 2025 look like for you in your multiple roles as a writer, editor, and publisher? What’s on the horizon for 2026?

It’s actually hard to look back and articulate everything that happened in 2025 because the publishing world requires eyes forward at all times. As a solopreneur, I am keeping many balls in the air and though I’m always tired. I’m also always invigorated by the exciting projects that are constantly on the go.

I made a big decision in 2024 to keep my submissions closed in order to nurture my existing roster, roll out the titles already in my queue, and focus on follow up titles from writers already in my catalogue. This has been a game-changer in terms of workload and time management. I was working on an unsustainable (but totally exciting) publishing calendar that demanded a title was released every month. From a financial standpoint, this makes sense; from a human perspective, something had to give. The de-escalation has given me space to more fully invest in myself as a writer, and I learned that I have to treat myself like a client in order to find a good balance.

Now that we’re in 2026, I’m just beginning to see the effects of that 2024 decision. And as things are feeling more manageable, I’m able to push out titles with more care and discernment.

Who are your mentors or role models in the business? Tell us about one person who has inspired or supported you in your journey as a publisher.

I love following other scrappy little indie outfits who, like me, have a heart for writers and a desire to see them succeed. I’ve built a nice relationship with the owner of Byzantium Sky Press out of Delaware and we are often trading tips and tricks back and forth, commiserating over AI, and celebrating one another’s accomplishments through emails, Instagram DMs, and Zoom chats. It’s refreshing to find people who don’t look at you as competition, but as comrades in the same battle for creativity.

Chicken House Press is a flurry of activity! Alanna, tell us about your authors’ forthcoming appearances and readings. How can interested readers support their work?

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Interviews

Interview with Dani Arieli

Pauline Shen

In this highly energized post, we’ll be learning a lot from writer, editor, and publicist Dani Arieli. She tells us about her passion for poetic language, describes her current work in progress, and offers heartfelt advice for new writers.

Check out her author bio:

Photo Credit: Nieram Arieli

Dani Arieli is a poet and author, Pushcart Prize nominee, and lover of weird, dark, and archaic literature. She has creative works featured in 7th-Circle Pyrite, Beyond Words, Lothlorien Poetry Journal, and more. She is the marketing and publicity specialist for At Bay Press, and is currently working toward her Honours Bachelor of Creative Writing and Publishing degree at Sheridan College.

During most writing sessions, her black cat sits atop her lap while she fervently taps away at her keyboard; she very much enjoys having a writing partner who can meow.

Dani, a Pushcart Prize nomination is a big deal—congrats! How did you process the nomination news and has this changed how you view your own writing?

First of all, thank you for the kind words of praise! When I received the E-mail detailing my nomination, I can tell you right now—I practically froze. I was in sheer disbelief, as the story which had been nominated, Across the Marsh, was my second-ever short-story publication, as well as my first-ever online publication. Of course, with this nomination, came the rather terse realisation that this is now the bar. So, with my current W-i-Ps—be it short-story or manuscript—I find myself constantly, and rather erratically, poring over my writing as I convince myself this, too, is Pushcart-worthy… And hopefully, they are! But, the pessimist in me says otherwise. All I know is that my life’s purpose feels tied to usurping this bar.

At what point did you realize you had a passion for poetic language? In what ways did your coursework at Sheridan College help you move forward to pursue writing as a career? What additional supports did you have along the way?  

Two words: My professor. I entered into my first-ever Poetry class/seminar in my early years at Sheridan College, and I knew nothing about the art of poetry. When I first presented my ‘poem’ to my professor, I was ready to listen to some minor substantive edits regarding syntax and word choice; but when my professor began to point out the facets of my poem that were, really, there without rhyme or reason (why did you choose to centre your text? why is this section in italics? is ‘purple’ truly the only way you can describe this object?), it became quickly apparent that my poem was simply… words. These selections from the English language did not occupy a rigorous or intended place within the poem! So, I began to think about ways to describe certain feelings, thoughts, ideas, people, places, struggles, desires, fears, depravities—until the abstract and subjective nature of my musings began to spread across the page like blood from a slick lesion. Now, and especially in my manuscript, I find myself resorting to poetic language when describing exposition; and, speaking of my manuscript—as I am writing from the depraved and infamous mind of France’s notorious sadist, the Marquis de Sade—poetic language seems only fitting for such mad musings. There is a haunting beauty in the poetic language, and my professor helped me realise this during that single class at Sheridan.

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Interviews

Interview with Jack Stilborn

Pauline Shen

In this post, we’ll be hearing from Canadian author Jack Stilborn. Check out his bio:

Jack Stilborn lives in Ottawa, Canada, and writes fiction and short stories. The Tyranny of Good Intentions, his debut novel about love, death and a great deal of politics on a condominium board, is now available from Chicken House Press.

Photo Credit: South March Studio, Kanata, ON

He showed early promise with a comic story that made a cousin laugh so hard she threw up. He was then deflected by studies (double major in political science and English literature at the University of Saskatchewan; politics and philosophy B.A. at Oxford University; PhD. with dissertation on the thought of Alexis de Tocqueville at Western University). After that came life as a policy research analyst (Parliament), intergovernmental affairs advisor (Ontario government) and public servant (Ottawa). He also enjoys cycling, kayaking and (recently) cold water swimming; family life (Alex, Jessica, Christine and partner Linda); participating on volunteer boards and lots of reading, especially literary fiction and history.

Jack, tell us how the concept for your debut novel The Tyranny of Good Intentions came about. What helped propel you forward to finish the manuscript?

I have served on several condo boards of directors, as well as other volunteer boards. I started doing this while still working on my long-term day job as a research analyst working for Parliament (federalism and parliamentary governance issues). At a certain point, the light went on and I realized how much of national political life is captured in relations and behavior on these smaller boards. I was propelled forward because writing was a pleasure for me, perhaps an escape. Also by curiosity about how Andrew, the protagonist, would deal with challenges that are part of democratic citizenship.

The novel’s protagonist, Andrew Walmer, suddenly finds himself roped into a microcosm of our own societal landscape. What difficulties did you experience while constructing the plot? Did you have doubts while writing the draft?

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Interviews

Interview with Carol Anne Shaw

Pauline Shen
Photo courtesy of Carol Anne Shaw

In this post, we’ll be hearing from Canadian author Carol Anne Shaw. Check out her author bio:

Carol Anne Shaw, resident of Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, is the author of the award-winning Hannah series, plus four young adult novels, and writing guidebook That’s Another Story: Writing with Heart.

For budding writers, the prospect of completing a full-length manuscript can feel hopelessly out of reach. Carol Anne, what advice do you have for writers who are just starting out with a book idea?

Oh, I love this question! And it makes me think of a famous quote by writer Gene Wolfe, who said, “You never learn how to write a book. You only learn how to write the book you’re writing.” So true! I thought once I had a book published, it would be easy street from that point on. Nope.

Writing every book has had its ups and downs, just like the one before it, but I’ve learned that that’s just the way it goes. The middle part is the hardest! That’s when the idea is no longer new and shiny, and it starts to feel like real work. My advice to writers just beginning would be, don’t overthink it. Don’t get hung up on editing or minute details. Just get the ideas down as they come.

If you’re stuck, write a random scene—one that will show up at some point in the novel. You can stitch everything together later on. And probably the most important thing of all? Turn off your phone, or put it in another room. Distractions will KILL your focus.

Carol Anne, share 3 ways you push through a plot snag.

Ew. Plot snags are beasts. Usually, I shut things down and go for a walk. Or, I write a random scene that I know I’ll be able to use in another part of the novel. That keeps my confidence up and the wheels in motion. The third “trick” might be opening a book by an author I admire and just familiarizing myself with how other writers weave stories. I learn so much from them.

In addition to writing, you give back to the community by speaking to groups of children. Your presentations have been described as “fascinating and inspiring.” What has been the most surprising part about giving these author talks? In what ways does this sort of public speaking differ from your previous experience as a high school visual arts teacher?

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Candid Talks, Writing

How to Choose a Literary Journal …for Submitting Your Work

Pauline Shen

If you’re writing for publication, you need to know where your work will fit. After you’ve written a short story (or poem, or nonfiction piece…), you’ll need to send it somewhere. But where? Do you simply send your work to any and all journals that have an open submission call?

Or should you devote some time to reading current literary journals? It is a good idea to look for the best fit for your writing, so you ought to consider reading a selection of journals first. Now wait… there are so many literary journals out there! So, to avoid being overwhelmed I’ve developed a system to help narrow the field when you’re just starting out. It goes like this:

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Writing

Balancing Writing Projects – How to PART TWO

Pauline Shen

How does a writer organize different projects? PART TWO

In PART ONE of this topic, we established what sort of projects a writer must balance in order to move forward in the profession. The full scope involves writing, but a significant amount of creativity and drive must go into levels of different projects, not just one. Even if you’re independently wealthy and have the luxury of just sitting down to type out your novel, there’s always the marketing side of things. So, you’d still need to devote time and energy to multiple projects in addition to your manuscript.

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Writing

Balancing Writing Projects – How to PART ONE

Pauline Shen

How does a writer organize different projects? PART ONE

First, let’s examine what is meant by “different projects.” Writers, effectively, are artists. It’s a craft that carries high risk in terms of outcome versus expenditure of time, energy and effort. In order to market anything in the artistic realm, the maker (in this case, writer) needs to consider the full scope of the endeavour. There’s a lot of talk from writers about the challenges of getting work done and whether “writer’s block” is indeed a real phenomenon. However, that’s just one aspect of the creative process. And it’s only a nugget of the profession overall. Does that sound strange? Let me explain.

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