Hey, kids! It's Richard Scarsbrook's Blog!

My novels are now available as eBooks!!!!!

2012-02-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

At long last,
and by popular demand,
my novels
Cheeseburger Subversive,
Featherless Bipeds,
and
The Monkeyface Chronicles
are now available as
eBooks!

For KOBO users, click HERE!

For Kindle users, click HERE!

The books are also available on on Apple iBooks, Sony, etc!

Teachers and Librarians!
You can get the books at Follett, OverDrive, and Baker and Taylor.

Happy Electronic Reading!

Appearing at the Ontario Library Association's Super Conference, February 2, 2012!!!

2012-01-12T12:46:00.000-08:00

To my many librarian friends across the province - I will be appearing at the Ontario Library Association's 2012 Super Conference at the Forest of Reading Winners Showcase, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 9:05 AM, Thursday, February 2, 2012!

Click HERE for the details!

By the way, I love that this event is called the Super Conference! It makes me feel like I should show up in tights and a cape - but of course I would need an actual superpower to sell that look.

Librarians, of course, ARE superheroes, I think - The Protectors of Literacy and Democracy!!!

Two more students get published. . . in the same magazine!!!!

2011-12-22T16:12:00.000-08:00

My heartfelt congratulations to two superstar students
from my creative writing courses at
Humber and George Brown Colleges,
Julie McArthur and Dan Perry,
who both have stories published in the new issue of the excellent literary magazine,
The Nashwaak Review!

Check out the details HERE!

Both Julie and Dan took more than one of my courses, listed below.
Just saying.

Congratulations, Dan and Julie!

Get WRITING in the New Year! Take a COURSE!

2011-12-04T13:28:00.000-08:00

Question:

What do the following authors (and their stories) have in common?

Dan Perry's first published story appeared in The Nashwaak Review! Dan also has stories in (or forthcoming in) Broken Pencil, Hart House Review, The Nashwaak Review, echolocation, White Wall Review, and The Broken City!

Crystal Bourque's first published story, "I Bet She's Right", was published in Lies With Occasional Truth. Her SECOND published short story, "The Message", appears in The Right-Eyed Deer.

Julie McArthur's first published story, "Summer Sublet", was published in issue 21.1 of Other Voices Magazine. Her second published story, "Men and the Drink" was published as part of the Black Bile Press chapbook series.

Brad Weber's first published story, "Red Rubber Balls", appeared in The Dalhousie Review.

Diane Wilson's first published story, "Little Bird", was published in in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grieving and Recovery.

Jennifer Oliver's first published story can be found at The Glass Coin. Her story "Numbers" appeared the respected journal Descant.

Sean Speake's story "Only the Question", has been published at The Gloaming, and in their print edition as well.

Lilla Stewart has a story in the anthology Body Parts and Coal Dust, a collection of the best of The Whittaker Prize 2010. Jennifer and Sean also have work included in this anthology.

Yvonne Harriott's short story, "Soft Willie's Curse", was published in the US-based magazine Phati'tude.

Greg Linfield's first published short story, "A Night of Fine Art and Danson", was published in Black Heart Magazine.

Answer:

All of the authors noted above were published after taking one of my creative writing courses (noted below)!

AND, almost all of the aforementioned stories were developed in one of my workshops!

Fall and Winter 2011
Creative Writing Courses

SHORT STORY WRITING 1
at GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE

St. James Campus, 200 King Street East, Toronto
Tuesday Evenings, 6:15 to 9:15 PM
January 17 to April 3, 2012

Learn to write characters, action and setting, and discover the secrets to creating a great plot.
This is a structured but fun class that teaches the fundamentals of fiction and gently guides you through the process of writing a short story.

Register by clicking HERE!

*

WRITING FOR YOUNG ADULTS
at HUMBER COLLEGE

Humber College, Lakeshore Campus
3199 Lakeshore Blvd. West
Wednesday Evenings, 7 to 10 PM
January 25 - March 28, 2012

Do you have a book that you read as a Tween, Teenager, or Young Adult, which has resonated with you ever since?
Would you like to WRITE a book like that?
This course will help you create, revise, and edit your Young Adult (YA) stories or novel. You will learn to develop plot and theme, create convincing characters, write realistic dialogue,
and know what to do with your manuscript once it's ready for the world!

Register by clicking HERE!

*

CREATIVE WRITING KICK-START!
at HUMBER COLLEGE

A ONE-DAY WORKSHOP!
Humber College, Lakeshore Campus
3199 Lakeshore Blvd. West
March 20, 2012, 10 AM to 4 PM

Suffering from writer's block? Need some new ideas for stories? Spend one Saturday taking "Creative Writing Kick-Start" at Humber College, and you'll walk away with the beginnings of a bunch of new stories.

This one-day workshop is designed for aspiring writers in all genres who want to kick-start the creative process with fun and thought-provoking writing exercises and techniques that access imagination and inner wisdom.

Click HERE to sign up!

*

SHORT STORY WRITING 2
at GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE

St. James Campus, 200 King Street East, Toronto
Thursday Evenings, 6:15 to 9:15 PM
January 19 to April 5, 2012

In this supportive and honest setting, learn by critiquing and having your stories critiqued.
Commercial, literary and speculative/experimental short fiction are accepted!

Click HERE to sign up!

I hope to see you in January!

Congratulations to Greg Linfield!!!!!

2011-11-11T10:51:00.000-08:00

Yet another student from one of my creative writing classes has become a published author!

Congratulations to

Greg Linfield,

whose short story

"A Night of Fine Art and Danson"

(which he developed in my class Short Stories 1 at George Brown College)

is the title story in the current edition of

Black Heart Magazine!

You can read the story HERE!

(And you can find out about some other student success stories,
and about the courses they took, by clicking HERE.)

Remembrance Day Song

2011-11-09T12:41:00.001-08:00

This Friday, November 11, is Remembrance Day.

On Remembrance Day two years ago, I was thinking about the great debt that we all owe to those who worked, fought, and sacrificed for the future that is now our present, and I wrote a song called "The Greatest Generation" as a tribute to those often unsung heroes.

I recorded this song just last month, so, if you feel so inclined, please give it a listen this Friday at http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/Richard-Scarsbrook

If you like the song, instead of buying it from iTunes, put an extra dollar in the poppy box instead.

Be thankful, and remember.

My original songs "The Greatest Generation", and "Glass Half Empty" are AVAILABLE NOW!!!

2011-10-07T21:09:00.000-07:00

Studio recordings of my original songs

"The Greatest Generation"

and

"Glass Half Empty"

are

AVAILABLE NOW!

I am incredibly pleased with the sound of these tracks, and I hope that you will be, too!

(. . . and if you are, please tell your music-loving friends!)

You can download the tracks at:

iTunes

and

Amazon MP3

and

TuneCore

*

You can listen to the songs

FOR ABSOLUTELY FREE

CBC Radio 3

Both singles were professionally recorded at Toronto's Fire Escape Recording, Produced by Douglas Romanow.

I (Richard Scarsbrook) wrote the songs, sang lead vocals and played the harmonica.

Gary Craig played the drums and percussion.

Douglas Romanow played the keyboards and accordion.

Alex Vos played the acoustic and electric guitars.

Nicole Dinaut played bass and sang backing vocals.

Nicole Sigouin sang backing vocals.

Robin Penslar played the violin.

Happy listening!!!!

Appearing at WORD ON THE STREET KITCHENER, Sunday, September 25!

2011-08-29T07:14:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, September 25, 2011, I will be doing a

Reading / Author Appearance / Book Signing

at

Word on the Street Kitchener

NOON at the CTV Authors Tent

Victoria Park, Kitchener, Ontario

More details HERE!

See the entire festival schedule HERE!

See you there!

Toronto Public Libraries are STILL BEING THREATENED!

2011-08-08T20:03:00.000-07:00

True democracy depends on a literate, informed population!

http://ourpubliclibrary.to/threat/

Speak out for Public Libraries (and democracy) here:

http://ourpubliclibrary.to/

If you happen to be an author, do it here:

http://ourpubliclibrary.to/take-action/authors-speak-out/

Democracy is government by the people, for the people.
If the people don't stand up for it, who will?

Stand up for Democracy! Stand up for the Toronto Public Library!

2011-07-24T08:13:00.000-07:00

A literate population is essential to any true democracy.

Free public access to information, ideas, and culture, regardless of social or economic standing, helps ensure a literate population.

Eliminating libraries, or making them accessible only to those who can afford them, is a blow against true democracy.

The cost cutting agenda of Toronto City Council could target the Toronto Public Library within weeks.

Local branches could be closed, and some or all of the Library’s operations could be privatized.

Read more about it HERE, at EXAMINER.COM, where the threat to child and teen literacy is explored.

Then, add your voice to the over 20,000 who have signed the petition to protect the Toronto Public Library HERE, at OURPUBLICLIBRARY.TO!

Support democracy - stand up for your local public library!

. . . and, to show to show how serious I am about this, here is a recap of the little speech I gave at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre in May 2011, just before being awarded the 2011 White Pine Award for The Monkeyface Chronicles:

I mean it even more now.

The West Cork Literary festival / The 2011 Fish Anthology Launch in Bantry, Ireland

2011-07-14T08:01:00.000-07:00

If you read my earlier post about my literary adventures in Dublin, I think I made a pretty good case for Ireland as possibly the most literature-friendly country in the English-speaking world.

My trip to Bantry, to participate in the West Cork Literary Festival and the Launch of the 2011 Fish Anthology, confirmed that the Irish love their writers, and their writing.

(Cover Art by Max Brooker)

This was my view of Bantry, and Bantry Bay, from my hotel room window. Nice, eh?

After arriving on Tuesday evening, I met with the other authors present for the Fish Anthology launch at the legendary local pub, Ma Murphy's. After that, I strolled over to the Maritime Hotel to participate in the "Bedtime Stories" Reading Series. There was an incredible turnout for such a late-evening event; the readers were passionate and entertaining, the audience fully absorbed.

(Photo by Tom McCarthy)

For a full description of this event, by journalist and super nice guy Tom McCarthy, click HERE.

After the readings followed a VERY late night of conversation and beverage consumption (Writers, talking and drinking? I know, I know, you're shocked. . . who has ever heard of such a thing?).

The late night didn't stop me from getting up early to accompany my new friends, first-time (but not last time, methinks) author Kirsty McCormack, well-known (and well-spoken) Irish Poet Mary O'Donnell, and her husband Martin (all pictured below) on a walk to explore Bantry House (also pictured below).

And then, that evening, the Main Event - the launch of the 2011 Fish Anthology, with readings from many of the authors with stories or poems included in the book, including yours truly.(Photos by Andrew Holman)

Although the poems and stories included in the anthology are in fact quite delicious, I was not preparing to (ravenously) devour the book, as the photo above might suggest.

Here are all of the authors who read at the launch! Wonderful, talented people, every one of them.

(Photo by Andrew Holman)

From left to right - me, Brian Turner, Kelly Holman, Ken Taylor, Michael McCarthy, Richard Bond, Jenni Lawson, Stephanie Scott, Marie Altzinger, Kirsty McCormack, Joanna Bury, Clem Cairns (Editor Extraordinaire!), Jean Tuomey, Cecile Callan, Caroline Green, Mary O'Donnell, Robert Portious, and Kita Shantris.

It was both inspiring and humbling to have my work selected to appear in a volume with so much excellent writing. Go order a copy of this book now! You will not regret it.

It was also incredible the number of people who showed up to celebrate the launch of this book. St. Brendan's Church was PACKED with literary fans. The next day, people on the street stopped me to talk about the book launch and the readings from the previous night, which both moved and inspired me.

So, thank you Bantry, thank you Dublin, thank you Ireland, for showing me that there are places in the world where literature still matters.

(Photos, unless otherwise credited, by Richard Scarsbrook, 2011)

Literary Inspiration in Dublin!

2011-07-11T12:33:00.001-07:00

This past week, I traveled to the
West Cork Literary Festival in Bantry, Ireland,
to read from my work and participate in the official launch for the
2011 Fish Anthology. . .
but more about that in an upcoming post!

*****

The first part of my trip was spent in
Dublin,
arguably
The Center of the (English-Speaking) Literary Universe!

A tall claim? Here is some evidence:

At the Dublin Writers Museum, the following literary treasures were on display:

- An 1804 edition of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels,
then known as Travels Into Several Remote nations of the World, by Lemuel Gulliver

- A private 1920 printing of W. B. Yeats' "Easter, 1916", one of only 25 copies

- A signed 1930 copy of James Joyce's Ulysses

- A first US Edition (933) of George Bernard Shaw's
The Adventures of a Black Girl in Her Search for God, banned in Ireland

- Opening Night Programs from Oscar Wilde's Lady Windemere's Fan and An Ideal Husband, Sean O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars,
and Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot

- Samuel Beckett's telephone (with built-in mute button!)

- And my single favorite item in the collection, a letter to G.B. Shaw,
requesting an autograph to be auctioned for charity, signed
"Please do not crush me utterly, Yours Truly, WL Kerby",
which Shaw returned to the sender, inscribed,
"Sorry to crush you; but I never autograph books or anything for sale. G. Bernard Shaw"

A hand-written manuscript by W.B. Yeats, in the National Library of Ireland.

Yeats' Nobel Prize citation, in the National Library of Ireland.

Statue of James Joyce, near The Spire on O'Connell Street

The James Joyce Bridge

The graves of Jonathan Swift and "Stella", in St. Patrick's Cathedral

Statue of Oscar Wilde, in Merrion Square

Oscar Wilde quotes (and an unintentional self-portrait)

Oscar Wilde's childhood home, opposite Merrion Square

Trinity College, where most of the aforementioned Dublin authors taught or were educated

Poet's Corner at The Bachelor Inn

Irish Literary Inspiration, Part One: The Guinness Factory

Irish Literary Inspiration, Part Two: The Old Jameson's Distillery

Irish Literary Inspiration, Part Three. . .

(All photos in this posting by Richard Scarsbrook, 2011)

The Proust Quiz at OPEN BOOK TORONTO!

2011-06-15T11:12:00.000-07:00

The most fun interview I've done in a while -

The Proust Quiz
at
Open Book Toronto!

*
As explained at the Open Book Toronto website,
"The Proust Questionnaire was not invented by Marcel Proust,
but it was a much loved game by the French author and many of his contemporaries.
The idea behind the questionnaire is that the answers are supposed to reveal
the respondent's 'true' nature."

Hemingway! Italian sports cars!

Miss America! Shamrock Shakes!

*

Go read the whole interview here:

http://www.openbooktoronto.com/news/proust_questionnaire_with_richard_scarsbrook

*

And here, as mentioned at the beginning of the feature,
is a photo I took in April of this year of Proust's grave at Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris:

Richard Scarsbrook and The Featherless Bipeds LIVE at THE GREEN DOOR CABARET!

2011-05-19T10:15:00.000-07:00

By popular demand,

after the success of the literary/musical show from my book launch for
The Monkeyface Chronicles
at The Rivoli last year,

THE FEATHERLESS BIPEDS

are putting on another

literary/musical hybrid show

at the

Lower Ossington Theatre's

fantastic new venue,

THE GREEN DOOR CABARET!

(100 Ossington, Toronto)

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 10:30 PM!

From the Lower Ossington Theatre's website:

"Toronto author and performer Richard Scarsbrook's work has been described as ranging from "Stark and haunting. . . deeply involving. . . exquisitely lyrical" to "laugh-out-loud-funny". Come celebrate his recent 2011 White Pine Award win with this one-night-only literary/musical show, featuring funny and dramatic readings from his prize-winning books, plus performances of his originals songs (plus a few sweet covers), backed by his fabulous band, The Featherless Bipeds!"

(Blush.)

This edition of The Featherless Bipeds features Alex Vos on Guitar, Catherine Harrison on Bass, Ruth Wahl on Keys, Nicole Sigouin on Vocals, Robin Penslar on Violin, and Blair Purdy on Guitar! Woo-HOOO!

A portion of the proceeds from the show will go toward helping the Lower Ossington Theatre continue excellent projects like The Toronto Youth Theatre. Just saying.

Go get your tickets

HERE

!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations to Crystal Bourque!

2011-05-18T08:03:00.000-07:00

Crystal Bourque's SECOND published short story, "The Message", has been published in The Right-Eyed Deer.

Crystal's first story, by the way, was published in Lies With Occasional Truth, on of my personal favourite Lit Mags.

BOTH of Crystal's stories were developed in one of my Creative Writing Classes!

Way to go, Crystal!!!

CONGRATULATIONS, YVONNE!

Guest Appearance in Toronto Youth Theatre's "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" this Saturday!!!!

2011-05-17T11:28:00.000-07:00

So, I've been asked to do a
"Celebrity Guest Appearance"
in the
Toronto Youth Theatre's
presentation of
"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"
this Saturday, May 21, 7:30 PM
at the Lower Ossington Theatre
(100 Ossington Avenue, Toronto)

Okay, I'll wait for you to stop laughing at the idea of me doing a "Celebrity" anything. . .

Have you caught your breath? Good.

Now, go get your tickets at

http://www.lowerossingtontheatre.com/shows

***

And, speaking of the
Lower Ossington Theatre,
they also run a Music and Variety Show series called
THE GREEN DOOR CABARET,
at which I will be performing with the fabulous
Featherless Bipeds
on Saturday, June 17 at 10 PM. . .

. . . so, SAVE THE DATE!!!

(Detais TBA right here on this blog!)

Thistledown Press Changes Distributors!

2011-05-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

Attention booksellers (and readers) who want new copies of my 2011 White Pine Award winning novel, The Monkeyface Chronicles!

(. . . and my other award-nominated Thistledown titles, Cheeseburger Subversive and Featherless Bipeds. . . )

Effective immediately, Thistledown books will be distributed by UTP (University of Toronto Press).

The University of Toronto Press Distribution represents more than 70 book imprints for distribution in Canada, the United States, and around the world. UTP maintains facilities in Toronto with more than 60,000 square feet of warehouse space, and a Buffalo, New York, location for expediting U.S. shipments.

Thistledown is looking forward to working with UTP and expect that our reach and delivery of books will be substantially improved.

Thistledown is also pleased to announce that they have retained Kate Walker & Associates for sales representation in Canada.

Kate Walker & Company Ltd. is a national sales agency with representatives working across Canada. They are Canada’s only national commissioned rep group for this market and have been in existence for over fifty years. They represent 30 distinctive Canadian, U.S. and international publishers.

Thistledown is anticipating a close working relationship with Kate Walker & Company and expect that this move will have a very positive effect on sales.

The White Pine Award in the News!

2011-05-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a great article about the White Pine Awards at The Examiner, written by YABookShelf (dot com) creator Melissa Montovani - http://www.examiner.com/young-adult-fiction-in-toronto/red-maple-award-and-white-pine-award-2011-winners-announced

. . . and here is another at CBC News - http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/books/story/2011/05/12/forest-reading-awards.html?ref=rss

. . . and yet another, by Angela Hickman, at The National Post - http://arts.nationalpost.com/2011/05/12/ontario-library-associations-forest-of-reading-winners-announced/

. . . and here is a list of the winners in each category at the OLA's official site (Congratulations to you all!) - http://accessola.com/ola/bins/content_page.asp?cid=92-4165

The Monkeyface Chronicles WINS the 2011 White Pine Award!

2011-05-13T12:14:00.000-07:00

First off, let me say that it was an honour just to be nominated for the White Pine Award. I mean, look at the other authors on stage with me: Governor General's Award winner Wendy Phillips, bestselling suspense writer Linwood Barclay, multiple-award-winner Alan Stratton, crowd favourites Alyxandra Harvey and Rosemary Boll, 2011 White Pine Honour Book Winners Don Calame and Courtney Summers (Congratulations to you both!), and the much-loved Natale Ghent, who ran a terrific creative workshop with me on the morning of the awards ceremony. The only nominated author who couldn't make it to the ceremony was Alice Kuipers, who was about to give birth at any moment. . .

When prize nominees say that it is "an honour just to be nominated", they REALLY mean it in this case. The White Pine Awards are part of the Ontario Library Association's Forest of Reading Program, which involves a staggering QUARTER MILLION YOUNG READERS from across Ontario! It means that their books will be read by a lot of enthusiastic students, which is an amazing reward in itself.

And, personally, the White Pine Awards represent two things that matter very much to me: Literacy and Democracy. (See below.)

Like The Monkeyface Chronicles itself, the award announcement itself had a twist ending!

(I guess I had that coming. . .)

My heartfelt thanks to Meredith Tutching, Teresa Gawman, Lisa Marie Williams, and everyone else at the Ontario Library Association who help make the Forest of Reading Program happen, Geoffrey Taylor and everyone at Harbourfront, my friend and White Pine contact Elizabeth DeMarco! Also, shout-outs to Axel Soos, who introduced me at the ceremony, our hilarious MC, Sabrina Jalees, design contest winner Elaine Yuan, who created the beautiful award plaque, and my assistant for the day, and Stephanie L, my assistant for the day, who brought me pens when mine dried up, brought me bag when I left it behind, and so on. . .

After the ceremony, I signed two iPhones, a yellow converse sneaker, the leg of someone's jeans, and even a few books!

What a great day!

Congratulations to Yvonne Harriott!

2011-05-06T07:56:00.000-07:00

Yvonne Harriott's short story, "Soft Willie's Curse", (which she developed in one of my creative writing courses at George Brown College) has been published in the US-based magazine Phati'tude.

Check it out HERE!

And you can check out my most recent course offerings HERE!

CONGRATULATIONS, YVONNE!

Kisses for Oscar Wilde

2011-04-30T09:07:00.000-07:00

Photos by Richard Scarsbrook

Springtime in Paris

2011-04-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

Photos by Richard Scarsbrook

Name in Lights!!!!!

2011-04-30T07:22:00.000-07:00

From my appearance yesterday at the Author Festival at Prince Edward Collegiate in Picton, Ontario:

Just as good as Broadway, as far as I'm concerned!

And, yes, co-starring Natale Ghent and Marina Cohen. (Allison Van Diepen was mentioned in lights on a separate "marquee".)

Thanks to Teacher-Librarian Sue Markle and "Books and Company" owner David Edward Sweet for making it happen!

"The Third Ring" Wins an Honourable Mention in the 2011 Fish One-Page Story Competition!

2011-04-30T07:08:00.000-07:00

My very (very) short story,"The Third Ring" was selected by Chris Stewart for an Honourable Mention in the Ireland-based 2011 Fish One-Page Story Competition. There were over 1,100 entries, so I'm pretty happy

The story will be published in the annual Fish Anthology this July.

Find out more HERE.

2011 WHITE PINE AWARD Event at Harbourfront Centre - MAY 11 !!!!

2011-04-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

As many of you are aware, my latest novel, The Monkeyface Chronicles, is on the short list for the Ontario Library Association's 2011 White Pine Award. It is a terrific list of books and authors, and I am honoured that one of my books has again made the list!

The winner will be announced on Wednesday, May 11, 1 PM, at the West Jet Stage at Harbourfront Centre. . . and you can be there! Get your tickets HERE!

Nine out of ten of the White Pine-nominated authors will be in attendance! Over 3500 readers are expected to attend, making this the biggest White Pine Awards event yet!

See you on May 11!

Maybe my favourite review line about The Monkeyface Chronicles yet. . .

2011-03-11T08:56:00.001-08:00

From the Senator O'Connor College School's 2011 White Pine Award review page:

"It is a profound novel and an amazing page turner about human values
in which every reader finds a bit of Monkeyface in him/herself."

- Anna Szumilas, Teacher Librarian, Senator O'Connor College School

You can read the entire review HERE.

Pizza and Prose at the Milton Public Library!

2011-03-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

Are you a young writer from the Milton area?

Meet other young authors from Milton, eat some pizza, and enjoy a workshop from me, White Pine nominated author Richard Scarsbrook.

This is a great way to get ready for the library's Put Pen to Paper contest this summer!

Registration is limited to 20.

Here are the details:

Dates: Thursday, March 17
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Beaty Branch
Ages: 12 to 18
Register: Call 905-875-2665 ext 3263

More info: http://www.mpl.on.ca/teen_reads.php

See you in Milton!

Another credit for The Indifference League!

2011-02-17T10:46:00.000-08:00

I just received word that a short-story version of the chapter "The Statistician" from my upcoming novel The Indifference League has made the long list in the Ireland-based 2010 Fish Short Story Prize.

The shortlist will be announced in two weeks, and the winners on March 17.

Fingers crossed. . .

Small World.

2011-02-16T12:25:00.001-08:00

Three more of my Creative Writing Students GET PUBLISHED!!!

2011-01-21T07:12:00.000-08:00

Three more of my former creative writing students, Jennifer Oliver, Sean Speake, and Lilla Stewart, have just been published!

Jennifer Oliver’s first published story can be found at The Glass Coin. Her story “Numbers” which she developed in my class Short Stories 1 at George Brown College, will appear in the next issue of the respected journal Descant.

Sean Speake’s story “Only the Question”, which was workshopped in my Short Stories 1 class at George Brown College has been published at www.thegloaming.com, and in their print edition as well.

Lilla Stewart has a story in the anthology Body Parts and Coal Dust, a collection of the best of The Whittaker Prize 2010. Jennifer and Sean also have work included in this anthology.

Jennifer, Sean and Lilla join Crystal Bourque, Julie McArthur, Brad Weber, Dan Perry, and Diane Wilson on the list of writers who have published their first story after developing their fiction in one of my writing classes at George Brown and Humber Colleges.

Congratulations to you all!

The Monkeyface Chronicles is ahead of the Justin Bieber biography in the Amazon.ca Kids/Teens Top 100!!!!!!!!!

2011-01-10T12:55:00.000-08:00

Yes, you read that correctly.

Today The Monkeyface Chronicles is ranked #49 on the Amazon.ca Top 100 Kids/Teens Books list - ahead of the Justin Bieber biography (#57).

This trend may not last long (especially since Amazon updates the list hourly), but for now I am more than slightly happy. You smile, I smile, indeed!

And when my book inevitably drops out of sight, at least I have the comfort of knowing that I can sing in key without using Auto-Tune to correct my pitch. . .

Two More of my Creative Writing Students GET PUBLISHED!

2010-12-30T09:03:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to two more students from my Creative Writing classes at George Brown and Humber Colleges, who have had their first stories accepted for publication!

Dan Perry's story is forthcoming in The Nashwaak Review!

Diane Wilson's story "Little Bird" will appear in February in the anthology Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grieving and Recovery.

Congratulations Dan and Diane!

(And, if you're interested in signing up for one of the writing courses I'll be teaching this january, just go to http://www.richardscarsbrook.com/classes.html.)

Yet another great review of The Monkeyface Chronicles - this time in WHAT IF? Magazine!

2010-12-20T11:49:00.000-08:00

I just read 15-year-old Priya Raina's review of The Monkeyface Chronicles in What If? Magazine. It is as balanced, comprehensive, and well-written as any of the "adult" reviews I've seen so far.

Here is a clip:

"Richard Scarbrook creates a frighteningly honest world where bullying and misfortune follow the protagonist throughout his life. . . I recommend The Monkeyface Chronicles to teens that enjoy interesting plot twists and coming-of-age stories. Scarbrook has constructed a small town where hate, love, and determination build Philip’s character and transform his outlook on the world."
You can read the whole review HERE.

What If? is a Canadian magazine written, designed and edited by teens. I HIGHLY recommend it.

So you want to put a copy (or three) of THE MONKEYFACE CHRONICLES in the stocking of your favorite reader(s)????????

2010-12-06T06:42:00.000-08:00

It has come to my attention that some of you out there would like to pick up a copy (or three) of my latest book, The Monkeyface Chronicles, to give to the reader(s) on your Christmas list, or maybe to curl up by the fire and read yourself. HOORAY!

It has also come to my attention that there doesn't seem to be a SINGLE COPY of The Monkeyface Chronicles available for sale at a Chapters or Indigo store anywhere in Toronto! And this appears to be true for other locations in Ontario as well. BOOOOOOOOOOO!

I thought that when a product sold out, a savvy retailer would order more units of the product. . . especially when the book is up for The 2011 White Pine Award, and has been gathering terrific reviews!

What to DO????????

Well, if you want a copy (or three!) of The Monkeyface Chronicles, I suggest that you try your local independent book store!!!!!!! I am sure that they would be happy to sell you a book (or three).

If that doesn't work, try Amazon, I guess.

Ho ho ho!

New Interview with Rob Baxter in "The Teaching Librarian" Magazine!

2010-11-08T12:08:00.000-08:00

Rob Baxter, Teacher-Librarian extraordinaire at Langstaff School, recently conducted a terrific, insightful interview with me for The Teaching Librarian magazine.

We covered such topics as character and setting, teen "issues", book censorship, "Young Adult" literature, and my current (and next!) novel.

You can read the interview HERE - it begins on page 36.

Good Times at BookFest Windsor!

2010-11-08T08:41:00.000-08:00

This past week I was back in the stomping grounds of my childhood and teen years for BookFest Windsor!

Some highlights:

- I read from my latest book, The Monkeyface Chronicles, and participated in a panel discussion called "Growing Pains" about writing for teens, with the fabulous Susan Juby and Tim Wynne-Jones, two of the best and most successful authors of YA books in the country. It was an honour (and a lot of fun!) working with them. Local celebrity Percy Hatfield did a great job as the panel moderator.

- I gave presentations at the Windsor Public Library, Roseville and David Maxwell Schools in Windsor, Amherstberg Public School (in Amherstberg, of course)and Jack Miner Public School in Kingsville. All of the audiences were terrific, and asked very insightful questions. I think I may have been hit in the face by volleyballs in each of those school gymnasiums as the token Uncoordinated Tall Kid on the Ruthven Public School volleyball team. . . but my memory is a bit hazy.

- I read from my latest book in a classroom where my thirteen-year-old self enjoyed cutting and drilling. Wait! Don't get the wrong idea! In grades 7 and 8, we were bussed once every two weeks to Jack Miner Public School, to take our beloved Technology and Design Courses (AKA "Shop and Home Ec"). The program has been since canceled, though, and that great shop room with the drills, jigsaws, and sanders is now a regular grade eight classroom (with lots of electrical outlets in the ceiling).

- Also in Kingsville, I had lunch at The Chuckwagon, which was a favorite hangout when I was a student at Kingsville District High School. When I mentioned the Chuckwagon on Facebook, I imediately got over a dozen responses from former KDHS freinds. And, yes, I did have the famous fries 'n' gravy - with Souvlaki for the protein component (see, the Home Ec teacher at Jack Miner taught me well!)

- The Vice Principal at Jack Miner is originally from Wallaceburg, Ontario, and she once visited the place where I got the idea for the chapter from Featherless Bipeds that I read to some of her students in the former shop classroom noted above. Yes, it is a small, cool world.

This year's BookFest had a distinctly local vibe, with many current and former Windsor and Essex Country residents on the roster of authors in attendance. I myself grew up in Olinda, Ontario, a speck on the map (albeit a lovely little speck!) near Windsor.

And what a roster of authors!
This was the third BookFest Windsor I've attended as an author, and it was possibly the best one so far! Hats off to Lenore Langs and her team for producing yet another successful literary event. Here's to many more!

The Monkeyface Chronicles is on the Short List for the 2011 White Pine Award!!!!!

2010-10-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

The Monkeyface Chronicles
has been short-listed for
The Ontario Library Association's White Pine Award!

I'm overjoyed that The Monkeyface Chronicles was selected this year! And I'm in great company, too; the other books on the list are terrific choices, and I feel honoured to be on a list that includes Allan Stratton, Linwood Barclay, Wendy Phillips, Natale Ghent, Alyxandra Harvey,
Rosemarie Boll, Courtney Summers, Don Calame and Alice Kuipers! Check out the complete short-list HERE. And you can take a look at my "White Pine Nominee" Bio HERE.

My first book, Cheeseburger Subversive, was nominated for the 2005 White Pine Award, which had a great effect on its continuing popularity. Thanks again to the Ontario Library Association!

The White Pine Award reading program offers high school-aged teens at all grade levels the opportunity to read the best of Canada's recent young adult fiction titles. 10 books are short-listed for the prize, then the most popular book is then selected based on student voting across the province. True democracy! I love it!

The Monkeyface Chronicles is "Highly Recommended" by CM Magazine - Four out of Four Stars!

2010-09-10T07:32:00.001-07:00

The Monkeyface Chronicles

has received another excellent review,
this time from the highly regarded

CM Magazine.

Here are a couple of quotes from the review:

"The multi-layered, engrossing, complex tale reveals a unique coming-of-age novel
peopled by characters whose strengths and weaknesses form a framework for the plot twists"

"In remarkable, keenly observed detail, (Scarsbrook) excels at capturing
ordinary and extraordinary moments of life in a tale to engage and entertain readers of any age."

" ****/Four Stars"

"Highly Recommended."

Reading at Word on the Street Vancouver, Sunday, September 26!

2010-08-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

Sunday, September 26, 2010
4:00 PM

Reading from The Monkeyface Chronicles
at
Word on the Street Vancouver

at the "Teens" Tent,
Homer Street, Library Square, Vancouver, BC!

Click HERE for details!

Reading and Workshop at The Eden Mills Writers' Festival, September 19 and 20

2010-08-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

Sunday, September 9, 2010

I'll be reading from
The Monkeyface Chronicles
at
The Eden Mills Writers Festival
Eden Mills, Ontario

For more about this event, click HERE!

*

Monday, September 20, 2010

I'll be running a
Creative Writing Workshop for Teens
(with Pasha Malla, Cordelia Strube, and Sandra Sabatini)
at
The Eden Mills Writers Festival
at
Camp Edgewood
Eden Mills, Ontario

For more information about this event, and to register, click HERE!

Reading and Workshop at WORDSTOCK Collingwood, Saturday September 11!

2010-08-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, September 11, 2010, from 3 - 4:30 PM
I presented a
Reading from The Monkeyface Chronicles
PLUS
A Creative Writing Workshop
at
Wordstock Collingwood

What a terrific festival!
From the opening night gala to the dozens of free events on Saturday,Wordstock was so well promoted and organized, a participant would never have known that it was the festival's inaugural season.

Hats off to all of the wonderful people who made this festival happen.
I want to go again next year!

Click here for more details:
http://www.wordstock.ca

Interview on The PEAK FM

2010-08-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

On August 24, 2010,
John Nichols
interviewed me about
my books, my bands,
and my upcoming appearance at
WORDSTOCK Collingwood
on
The PEAK 95.1 FM. . .

And HERE IT IS:

"Come in here, dear boy, have a. . . rosé?"

2010-08-17T12:27:00.000-07:00

This is a Cotes de Provence rosé I tried while visiting a little French town called Tavernes for the wedding of my good friends Barry and Lisa:

In addition to being named after one of my favorite bands, it also tasted pretty good. And look! It even won a gold medal for something.

"Oh by the way, which one's Pink?"

Another Great Review for The Monkeyface Chronicles!

2010-08-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

"Richard Scarsbrook's third novel for young adults demonstrates his versatility with a very powerful and dramatic story. . .

There are many dramatic and unexpected twists in this novel, but there is also a liberal amount of humour and irony, which keeps it both entertaining and readable. . .

Fans of the author's previous works will not be disappointed."

RECOMMENDED

Canadian Children's Book News, Summer 2010

The Saskatchewan Festival of Words

2010-07-20T13:55:00.000-07:00

I just spent four very rewarding days at the Saskatchewan Festival of Words in Moose Jaw.

This is one of the best festivals that I've attended - large enough to be celebratory, small enough to feel collegial and intimate. The Saskatchewan Festival of Words should be on every book-lover’s must-do calendar!

Here is the entrance of the Moose Jaw Public Library, where I did all of my readings. Nice, eh?

I had the privilege of sharing the stage twice with Graphic Novel writer Mariko Tamaki, who wrote the incredible graphic novel Skim, which I LOVED! Every detail is perfect. It was a privilege to work with such a great presenter and cool person.

Another highlight for me was talking with Jack Hodgins, author A Passion for Narrative (which I recommend to all of my creative writing students). I just started reading his latest novel, The Master of Happy Endings, which is terrific so far. When I grow up, I want to be like Jack.

On Sunday, I read with author Dianne Warren, who shared a vivid and thoughtful reading from her book, Cool Water. I had to run to the van to catch my flight home immediately after our readings, but Dianne's book is on my shopping list.

A pub called Bobby’s Place became a sort of home away from a home for a number of authors at the festival. Its location about a foot from the Anglican church would probably make me a more devout attendee of Sunday Mass. The energetic Mayor of Moose Jaw, Glen Hagel, conscripted a team of authors for Trivia Night team at Bobby’s – we came in second. (As a perpetual “runner-up” for literary prizes, I guess I’m kind of used to this.)

The next books on my reading pile are from festival friends Thomas Trofimuk (Waiting for Columbus), Rhea Trebegov (The Knife Sharpener's Bell), Pasha Malla (The Withdrawal Method), Alice Kuipers (The Worst Thing She Ever Did), Judy Fong-Bates (The Year of Finding Memory) and Steven Galloway (The Cellist of Sarajevo). And if Performance Poet Sean McGarragle had a book, I’d read it, too. . . instead, I’ll have to catch him on stage again soon.

I live in a city with a population of over two and a half million people, and when you host a literary reading there, sometimes you're lucky if half a dozen people show up. Moose Jaw has less than 40.000 inhabitants, and yet rooms at every reading were often filled to capacity - and even with four different author events occurring at the same time!

Hats off to the board, staff, and volunteers who made this great festival happen.

New review of The Monkeyface Chronicles in Resource Links Magazine

2010-07-07T18:15:00.000-07:00

A new review of The Monkeyface Chronicles:

"This is a frenetic trip, and Richard Scarsbrook packs a wallop of modern day ills and Canadiana into 300 pages.

This page turner rocks and rolls, and if you’re interested in fundamental Christians, sex, hockey, Toronto, motorcycles, homemade porno, small town politics, dysfunctional families, profanity, wine, and cemeteries, then this is the book for you.

Scarsbrook is an excellent writer with great comic overtones. . . Philip is a very likeable protagonist who sometimes appears to be the only character in the book with his feet on the ground. He is totally appealing."

Rating: Good to Excellent

- Resource Links Magazine, Volume 15, Number 5

Interview on Daytime Toronto

2010-06-30T05:34:00.000-07:00

On June 16, 2010, Myrocia Watamaniuk interviewed me about my latest book,
The Monkeyface Chronicles,
on the TV show
Daytime Toronto.

And HERE IT IS:

Similar Things Together

2010-06-28T10:48:00.001-07:00

Photos by Richard Scarsbrook, June 2010.

Three great new reviews of THE MONKEYFACE CHRONICLES!

2010-06-19T10:59:00.000-07:00

"This book is a wild ride! It starts with a kid who is picked on at school and doesn't fight back, so I was totally on board. Then it goes careening off in several different directions.

The story is both small, in the sense of having characters that are very real, and epic, in the scale of the story. It reminds me of the books of Paul Quarrington and John Irving, creating an over-the-top yet close-to-real world."

Ann Ewan, Author of Firedrake and Brondings' Honour

*******

"The Monkeyface Chronicles is a riveting read aimed at the YA crowd. It's a story of adolescent revenge played out against a backdrop of the extremes of modern life. The book is a real page turner and hard to put down. . . . If it were a TV program it would come complete with a warning about everything. But, oddly likeable."

Four out of Five Stars ("Really Liked It")

Anne Letain, from www.goodreads.com

*******

"A dark story about bullying with numerous twists, that still finishes with a hopeful yet bittersweet ending. It reminds us that no matter how messed up our families may be, often, they are are our strongest and most important bonds."

Four out of Five Stars ("Really Liked It")

Rachel Siegel, from www.goodreads.com

Two new poems coming up in Prairie Fire

2010-06-07T12:07:00.000-07:00

Prairie Fire is one of my favourite literary magazines, and I just got a call today informing me that they will be publishing two of my new poems, "Submission Guidelines" and "Spam Filter", in an upcoming issue.

I've spent most of my writing energy over the past couple of years on my new novel, The Monkeyface Chronicles, and my novel-in-progress, The Indifference League, so these were the first new poems I've written or submitted in quite some time. I am very pleased that they will be appearing in a magazine I respect so much!

UPDATE! Both poems will appear in the Spring 2011 issue of Prairie Fire, which will be out in April.

Highlights from TWUC AGM in Ottawa

2010-06-07T09:56:00.000-07:00

I just got back from The Writers' Union of Canada Annual General Meeting in Ottawa. It's the first one I've attended since becoming a member back when Cheeseburger Subversive came out. I don't know why I waited this long to attend one - what a rush!

Some highlights:

- Lunch at Zak's Diner with Sarah Roberts and her husband Eli. Sarah just won the 2010 Danuta Gleed Award for her amazing book Wax Boats. I joked that winning a $10,000 prize is the financial equivalent of selling 10,000 books, and she quoted me in her acceptance speech! When she is rich and famous and I'm still virtually unknown, at least I will have this to brag about.

- Had a "speed-networking" meeting with the wise and well-connected Hal Wake, Artistic Director of the Vancouver International Writers Festival. His speech, "The Flowering of CanLit: Can We Keep the Bloom on the Rose" was also quite inspiring.

- Enjoyed some enlightening late-night conversations with some of the Who's Who of Canadian Literature at one of the hotel room after-parties (thanks for the invitation, Hal. . . )

- The AGM Banquet featured a short, entertaining remembrance from (almost) every living former chair of the TWUC. Wow - talk about the Who's Who of Canadian Literature!

- Finally met Bill Freeman in person, whose book The Shantymen of Cache Lake was a favourite of mine in Grade Eight!

- Also finally met Susan Musgrave in person, who edited my second book, Featherless Bipeds, for Thistledown Press.

- Took in a great workshop on web media by Hugh McGuire, Jenny Bullough, and Nichole McGill. I joined Twitter today as a result.

- Enjoyed another thought-provoking workshop on Teaching Writing. A couple of (paraphrased) food-for-thought appetizers from the participants: "It's a story when something is transformed." (Catherine Bush) "Write the kind of stories that you want to read." (Tim Wynne-Jones)

- During a panel discussion about lit mags and small presses in Canada, the always witty Margaret Atwood talked about the history of the small press in Canada, and I was surprised to learn from John Barton (editor of the Malahat Review) that certain government incentives to magazines are limited to those with circulations over 5000, effectively eliminating these advantages for most literary and cultural magazines.

- Discovered that everyone who works at the TWUC office are cool, fun, and attractive (and, wow, can that Valerie Laws ever dance. . . and she loves Jackie Chan movies, too).

- Got signed copies of books from new friends Sarah Roberts, Heather Wood, and Jeanette Lynes. Can't wait to read them, starting tonight!

- Set a new personal record for wine consumed on a VIA Rail train with the encouragement of TWUC's lovely and talented Leanne O'Brien.

Follow me on Twitter!

2010-06-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

Yes, I just crawled out from under that metaphorical rock and joined Twitter.

If you would like to follow my posts, my Twitter page is http://twitter.com/richscarsbrook.

I had to take "@richscarsbrook" as my handle, good buddies, rather than the more intuitive "@richardscarsbrook", because the latter has more characters than Twitter will allow.

I wonder if this will influence how parents name their children?

"We can't name our baby Penelope-Anne Rosencrantz-Guildenstern!" Mommy cries. "It has too many characters for Twitter!"

"@AnnRose it is, then," Daddy sighs.

Another TV Interview on "Daytime" with Kasia Bodurka. . . this time about The Monkeyface Chronicles!!!

2010-04-30T14:01:00.000-07:00

On April 27, I was invited back to the TV show "Daytime" for another interview with the lovely and talented Kasia Bodurka.

We talked about my new book, The Monkeyface Chronicles (you knew I had a new book out called The Monkeyface Chronicles, right?)

Check it out HERE!

TV Interview about Comedy Writing on "Daytime" with Kasia Bodurka

2010-04-20T06:51:00.000-07:00

On March 30, along with my friend Elizabeth DeMarco (Teen Service Librarian at the Pickering Public Library), I made an appearance on the TV show "Daytime", and was interviewed by Kasia Bodurka about my April Fool's Day Comedy Writing Workshop at the library, and about comedy writing in general.

Click HERE to watch the interview!

I've been invited back to the show on Tuesday, April 27, to talk about my new book, The Monkeyface Chronicles.

If you're the Durham Region, you can watch the show live at 11 AM, or the "encore" showing at 4 PM. Otherwise, stay tunes for the interview to appear on the web!

Pictures and Audio Clips from The Monkeyface Chronicles Book Launch Extravaganza!!!!!

2010-04-18T10:03:00.000-07:00

The Song "Complicated", performed by me and The Featherless Bipeds:

A reading from the chapter "Brown is Not a Colour", from The Monkeyface Chronicles:

The Song "Hitting the Road", performed by me and The Featherless Bipeds:

The Song "Smog and Wire", performed by me and The Featherless Bipeds:

Thanks!!!!!!

2010-04-18T09:55:00.001-07:00

The Book Launch Extravaganza for my latest novel, The Monkeyface Chronicles, was a great success!

Thanks to everyone who made it such a special night!

Very special thanks to:

Everyone in my band The Featherless Bipeds - Craig Collett on Guitar, Alex Vos on Guitar, Catherine Harrison on Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Nicole Dinaut on Bass and vocals, Ruth Wahl on Keyboards, Robin Penslar on Violin, and Nicole Sigouin on vocals

Our fabulous MC Peggy Mahon

Jason Thompson Photography

Coll Audio for providing all the excellent gear

The Book Babes, Samantha Darcy and Nadia Childs

Todd and the rest of the crew at The Rivoli

Everyone at Thistledown Press

Thanks again!

Rich

Canadian Entertainment Icon PEGGY MAHON will be the host of the Book Lauch Extravaganza for THE MONKEYFACE CHRONICLES this Thursday!

2010-04-12T06:03:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to announce that Canadian Entertainment Icon PEGGY MAHON will be the host of the Book Launch Extravaganzafor The Monkeyface Chronicles THIS THURSDAY at the Rivoli in Toronto.

Peggy Mahon is an actress, singer, teacher, director and producer. She has appeared as a singer on several radio shows, on many albums and in many bands, has acted on just about every major stage in Canada, and has played many roles on TV. She currently fronts the jazz band The Peggy Mahon Trio.

Check out Peggy's incredible biography HERE!

Scroll down for more info about The Monkeyface Chronicles BOOK LAUNCH EXTRAVAGANZA!

I hope to see you on Thursday!

The Monkeyface Chronicles BOOK LAUNCH EXTRAVAGANZA at the Rivoli, Thursday April 15!

2010-04-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

The Book Launch Extravaganza for THE MONKEYFACE CHRONICLES will happen on the evening of THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2010, at the legendary back room at THE RIVOLI (334 Queen Street West, Toronto)!

The party will feature hot-off-the-presses copies of THE MONKEYFACE CHRONICLES, short, exciting, dramatic readings (as opposed to the long, dull, monotone kind) from the book, interspersed with original songs by me (and a few selected covers), backed by the fabulous FEATHERLESS BIPEDS band! (Scroll down to meet the band!)

Check www.richardscarsbrook.com, for more info!

Email monkeyfacechronicles@gmail.com to get on the Guest List!

I hope to see you there!

The MONKEYFACE CHRONICLES cracked the TOP 100 at Amazon.ca today!!!

2010-03-26T08:55:00.000-07:00

Check it out HERE!

Buy a copy for yourself while you're there!

The Monkeyface Chronicles is AVAILABLE NOW!!!

2010-03-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

My latest novel, The Monkeyface Chronicles, is available RIGHT NOW at AMAZON.CA,
at the amazing low price of just $12.96!

What are you waiting for! GO ORDER ONE NOW!!!!!!

Paul Quarrington

2010-01-21T09:10:00.000-08:00

I was deeply saddened to discover today that one of my literary/musical heroes, Paul Quarrington, has passed away from lung cancer.

His books Whale Music, King Leary, Galveston, and Home Game are all favourites of mine. Each one of them made me laugh and made me cry, caused me to feel and caused me to think. Any one of these things can make a story great, but Paul's writing had it all.

Several years ago, when my first book was fresh off the presses, I found myself on the roster at the Windsor Book Fest. I was thrilled (and slightly intimidated) by the opportunity to meet one of my favourite authors, and I gladly stood in line to get Paul's autograph on his latest novel, Galveston. We had a great conversation about music, books, and film; he generously shared his time with every person who had lined up to meet him.

I tried to give him a copy of my book, but he insisted on buying a copy from the bookstore, and later that day he stood in my line to get me to sign it. It was such a classy thing for him to do, and that gesture of fellowship meant a lot to me.

Even after Paul was diagnosed with lung cancer and his health began to fail, he continued playing his music, writing new books, and living his life. His creative passion was an inspiration to anyone who wants to make music, write stories and poems, sculpt or paint or do anything else that adds beauty, meaning, and laughter to the world.

Celebrate Paul's life, and his work, by reading (or re-reading) one of his terrific books. I am going to start reading The Ravine today.

A New Story, A Rant, and a New Story by One of my Writing Students at Lies With Occasional Truth!

2010-01-20T10:27:00.000-08:00

My latest story, "CLOSE TO ZERO" (yet another adapted from a chapter from my recently-completed fifth novel, The Indifference League), can be read online now at LIES WITH OCCASIONAL TRUTH!

While you're there, also read the story "I Bet She's Right" by Crystal Bourque, who workshopped the story in one of my college creative writing classes.

If you click on the "Bonus Points" link at the bottom of the List of Authors, you can also read my first contribution to the LWOT Author Panel, which tackles the pressing issue of the day: "If you were to eliminate one piece of popular culture, what would it be?"

You can also check out an earlier story of mine, "Brown is Not a Colour" (adapted from my soon-to-be-released novel The Monkeyface Chronicles) in an earlier issue of LWOT (the issue pictured above) by clicking HERE .

If anything, click the link just to see LWOT's latest excellent retro-style cover.

The Monkeyface Chronicles NUMBER ONE on the charts? Let's make it HAPPEN!

2009-12-22T17:55:00.000-08:00

My fourth book The Monkeyface Chronicles, will be published on March 15, 2010.

It is already available to pre-order at most online and independent bookstores.

It has climbed as high as 1,224 in the sales rankings at www.amazon.com!

Join the Good Fight! Help push The Monkeyface Chronicles to NUMBER ONE by pre-ordering it today (at Amazon, at Chapters/Indigo, or at any Independent Bookstore!

The wonderful editors at Lies With Occasional Truth Magazine have already joined in to support the cause!

Thanks in advance!!!

Rich

I'll be joining the Lies With Occasional Truth Author Panel!

2009-12-08T12:26:00.001-08:00

In future issues of Lies With Occasional Truth, my favorite online fiction magazine, I will be participating in The LWOT Panel.

(And they are my favorite online fiction magazine for reasons other than putting my name on the cover of the Hundredth Anniversary Issue - see above.)

Basically, the editors at LWOT ask the same question of all the panelists and put the answers up on the blog or magazine. In their words, "Kind of like the Onion AV Club, only 1,000 times better."

Watch for future issues of Lies With Occasional Truth with my panel contributions.

In the meantime, you can check out a chapter-turned story from my upcoming book The Monkeyface Chronicles, which was first published in LWOT.

"Psycho Superstar" to be published in PRECIPICe Magazine!

2009-11-11T08:28:00.000-08:00

Yet another publication credit for material from my upcoming novel The Indifference League!

My story "Psycho Superstar" will be published in the next issue of PRECIPICe Magazine.

(And an interesting coincidence: My story "Bankrupt", which appears in the current issue of Matrix Magazine, features the same characters as "Psycho Superstar". The plot of "Bankrupt" concerns a Monopoly game that spins out of control. . . and the cover of the current PRECIPICe has a photo of a Monopoly game board on it. Synchronicity, indeed.)

My LitPop Prize-winning story "Bankrupt" in Matrix Magazine!

2009-11-04T05:42:00.000-08:00

Matrix 84 is now available at bookstores and magazine shops all across the land!

The issue contains my LitPop Prize-winning story "Bankrupt" (an excerpt from my upcoming novel The Indifference League), as well as lots of other great stuff!

And check out the cover - a city skyline made from staples! Cool.

The Richard Scarsbrook EDITING SERVICE!!!!!

2009-10-20T11:12:00.001-07:00

So you want to be a PUBLISHED AUTHOR!

You've got a great idea for a short story or novel.

You've written the first draft.

Now what?

What will you need to do to make the manuscript good enough to publish?

I CAN HELP YOU TAKE THOSE NEXT STEPS!

Several emerging writers with whom I have worked have seen their first publications in the past few months. Could you be the next?

Check out www.richardscarsbrook.com/editing.html for more details

OR

Email me at cheeseburgersubversive(at)hotmail(dot)com to explore the options!

Endorsements:

"Richard Scarsbrook edited two of my books, and I couldn't be happier with the results.
Richard hunts for the best part of your manuscript and finds it, then he helps you get rid of the redundant and unnecessary parts that might be dragging the story down.
When you are finished working together, you'll have a leaner and better story than when you brought it to him."

- Dan Murphy, Author of The Adventures of the Dispatch Rider
(Edited by Richard Scarsbrook).

*

"Through Richard's detailed revisions, I am able to identify what aspects of my writing need improvement.
He has a very dynamic, clear, and concise way of explaining why certain techniques work, and why others do not.
He is very approachable, and critiques in a way that is always constructive.
I highly recommend having Richard edit your writing, as his advice led to the publication of my first short story, "I Bet She's Right"."

- Crystal Bourque, Author of "I Bet She's Right",
publication forthcoming in Lies With Occasional Truth, 2009.

*

"Richard's keen observations, expertise and efficient style of editing have been invaluable to me.
He nurtured my abilities and gave me the confidence to begin submitting my stories soon after. My published stories "Men and the Drink" and "Summer Sublet" were both workshopped with Richard.
I continue to look to him for writing advice and highly recommend his editing service."

- Julie McArthur, Author of "Men and the Drink", Black Bile Press, November 2009
"20 Grit", Front & Centre, November 2009
"Summer Sublet", Other Voices, November 2008

*

"He is obviously an expert author. Everyone's work improves greatly under his teaching."
"Richard is very quick at providing tangible/useful/insightful input. . . He has a genuine passion. . ."
"He provided great examples to support all of his suggestions. I loved his energy. One of the best I have had in a while."
"He was extremely helpful and knowledgable. . . Also a very nice guy."
"How efficient and experienced he is at evaluating fiction."

- Professor Evaluation Comments from students of Richard Scarsbrook's course, "Creating Short Stories 1" at George Brown College, Toronto, 2009.

Read the original document here.

*

"The first story I had published, "Red Rubber Balls", was workshopped with Richard.
He has a great ability to make meaningful insights into your work even after one reading.
He'll point out some of the common mistakes you are making and will quickly pick up on what your style and tendencies are as well.
I anticipate continuing to look for Richard's assistance going forward."

Brad Weber, Author of "Red Rubber Balls",
published in The Dalhousie Review, 2009

Congratulations to Crystal Bourque!!!

2009-10-06T21:24:00.000-07:00

Yet ANOTHER a student from one of my Creative Writing classes has scored a publication victory!

Crystal Bourque's short story "I Bet She's Right" (which she developed in one of my classes at George Brown College) has been accepted for publication at Lies With Occasional Truth.

While you're waiting for Crystal's story to appear, you can kill some time reading my own past publication in the Lies With Occasional Truth, "Yellow to Blue" (a chapter in my forthcoming novel The Monkeyface Chronicles, which will hit the bookstore shelves in March 2010). Check it out HERE!

CONGRATULATIONS CRYSTAL!!!!!

A Commendation for "The Statistician" in the 2009 Seán Ó Faoláin Short Story Competition!

2009-09-04T06:11:00.000-07:00

Today I was informed that my short story "The Statistician", was awarded a Commendation by Philip O'Ceallaigh, judge for the 2009 Seán Ó Faoláin Short Story Competition, which is run by the Munster Literature Center in Cork, Ireland.

(Check out he Commendation HERE! )

"The Statistician" is another adapted chapter from my upcoming novel, The Indifference League.

"Bankrupt" WINS the 2009 Matrix LitPop Award !!!!!!

2009-08-17T14:23:00.000-07:00

Some VERY cool news!

I just found out that "Bankrupt", a chapter-turned-story from my recently completed novel The Indifference League, has WON the 2009 Matrix LitPop Prize!

The final judge for the competition was Heather O'Neill, author of the fabulous Lullabies for Little Criminals.

The other finalists (and their stories) were:

Carly Stewart, "Crazy Old Birds"
Kai Nagata, "The Sherman"
Joel McConvey, "Between the Pickles"
Sarah Mian, "Uncle Fowler's Lessons of Love"
Emmanuel Ekow Erskine, "The Dinner Guests"

Emmanuel, by the way, was a student in one of my creative writing courses, which is pretty cool.

Congratulations to Brad Weber, Julie McArthur, and Emmanuel Erskine!

2009-08-09T14:12:00.000-07:00

Three former students from my creative writing courses at George Brown College and Humber College have recently scored major victories in the publishing world.

Julie McArthur's first published story, "Summer Sublet", was published in issue 21.1 of Other Voices Magazine. Her second published story, "Men and the Drink" will appear soon in the Black Bile Press chapbook series.

Brad Weber's first published story, "Red Rubber Balls", has just been accepted to appear in an upcoming issue of The Dalhousie Review.

Emmanuel Erskine's story, "The Dinner Guest" was one of six stories to make the short-list for the 2009 Matrix LitPop Award. (Interestingly, my own story "Bankrupt" was also one of the finalists.)

All of the stories noted above were workshopped in one of my creative writing courses.

Congratulations, Julie, Brad, and Emmanuel!

Rich

PS - Want to sign up for one of these courses yourself? SEE BELOW!!!

Readings!!!

2009-06-25T04:33:00.001-07:00

The title chapter from Cheeseburger Subversive:

The chapter "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" from Featherless Bipeds:

The story "The Twilight Girl" from Destiny's Telescope:

Interviews on CBC Radio!

2009-06-25T04:31:00.001-07:00

Here is a recording of me being interviewed on CBC Radio's "Freestyle" in March 2007, about the stage adaptation of Cheeseburger Subversive, which toured Belgium and England:

And here is another CBC Radio interview, from the show "Here and Now", recorded in September 2003, about my first novel, Cheeseburger Subversive:

FEATHERLESS BIPEDS has been short-listed for the STELLAR BOOK AWARD!

2008-11-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

I just found out that Featherless Bipeds, the continuing rock 'n roll adventures of Dak Sifter, has been short-listed for

THE STELLAR BOOK AWARD!

Cheeseburger Subversive was nominated for the inaugural prize, so I'm very excited that it's sequel was nominated this year!

The Stellar Book Award is B.C.'s Teen Readers Choice Award. From November to April, teens read, rank, review, and discuss their favourite nominees.

You can check out the Stellar Book Award's official website here: http://www.stellaraward.ca/2008/

You can find out more about Featherless Bipeds, as well as my other books, at http://www.richardscarsbrook.com

Goodbye, Storyteller Magazine

2008-10-18T15:15:00.001-07:00

After fifteen years and over five hundred published short stories, Storyteller: Canada's Short Story Magazine, has published their last issue.

Storyteller published one of my first stories, which encouraged me to keep going, and which eventually grew into my first novel, Cheeseburger Subversive. Stories that turned up later in my books Featherless Bipeds and Destiny's Telescope also appeared first in Storyteller. I'm sure many other Canadian authors have similar stories about the magazine.

My heartfelt thanks to publisher Terry Tyo and Editor Melanie Fogel for keeping a good thing going for so long. Melanie is one of the most direct and thoughtful editors with whom I've had the pleasure to work, and she definitely knows a good story when she sees one.

Goodbye, Storyteller. Canadian short story lovers, both readers and writers, will miss you.

Celebrity BBQ Chef Ted Reader!

2008-10-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

Last night, celebrity BBQ chef Ted Reader came to my place to cook dinner for me and my friends. Ted is a super great guy, and everyone had an excellent time!

( <--- That's me on the left, holding a copy of Ted's cookbook Everyday Gourmet Grilling, and Ted on the right with copies of my three books of fiction, Cheeseburger Subversive, Featherless Bipeds, and Destiny's Telescope)

How, you ask, did I manage to get Ted Reader to come over to cook for us? Well, back in the summer, Toronto's NOW Magazine had a BBQ Recipe contest, and for fun I entered the recipe for the burger I had made for lunch that day. I unexpectedly won the contest, and received a Napoleon Ted Reader Signature Series Grill (upon which which I've cooked something every day since I got it), and a great all-BBQ dinner, cooked by Ted himself!

Here is my recipe - go ahead, try it at home:

Holy Trinity Hamburger

Good things come in threes – wine, women, and song, for example – and I believe this rule applies to food as well. When I cook, I like to have a bit of sweet, a bit of spice, and a “midrange” flavour to hold it all together.

Ingredients:

Medium ground beef
Small multigrain flatbreads
Minced Garlic
Black pepper
Hot Grainy Dijon Mustard
Mango Chutney
5-year-old cheddar cheese (sliced or shredded)

1. Hand-pack as many burger patties as you need. Spice the meat with minced garlic and black pepper, and put a few dollops of Dijon mustard and mango chutney in there to help bind the meat together. Go fire up the grill.

2. When the burgers are cooked to your liking on one side, flip ‘em, and toss the flatbread on the top rack. When the flatbread is toasted to your liking on one side, flip ‘em, then place a liberal amount of five-year-old Cheddar (the midrange flavour) on the burger patties. When everything is cooked and the cheese has started melting, stack each of the patties between two rounds of flatbread. Slather one flatbread with Hot Grainy Dijon Mustard (the “hot”) and the other with Mango Chutney (the “sweet”). Top with tomato, pickle, lettuce, if you must.

3. Enjoy your first burger with a Czech pilsner, the second with a British ale, and the third with a Belgian triple – a trinity of Holy Trinity Burgers, accompanied by a Holy Trinity of Beer. Enjoy!

www.richardscarsbrook.com

2008-10-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

www.richardscarsbrook.com is my official website, with info about my books, magazine publications, upcoming writing classes and workshops, audio and video clips, reviews, and more.

Check it out!

Recent Magazine Publications

2008-10-15T22:15:00.000-07:00

Want a "sneak preview" of my upcoming novel, The Monkeyface Chronicles?

Check out a short story version of one of the early chapters, "Yellow to Blue", in the literary magazine Lies With Occasional Truth (aka LWOT) at http://lwot.net/oct07.html

LWOT has the best retro covers!

Another chapter-turned-story, "Brown is Not a Colour", can be read in the Summer 2008 issue of The Dalhousie Review (http://dalhousiereview.dal.ca/index.html)

Yet another story, called "Neville 19:56", is available to read in the Summer 2008 edition of The Nashwaak Review (http://w3.stu.ca/stu/about/publications/nashwaak/vol_20.aspx )