Literary Connection

The Literary Connection: Volume I, an anthology of poetry and prose.

For submission guidelines to future editions of The Literary Connection, visit In Our Words Inc. publishers.

 

The Literary Connection

The Launch, 23 November 2014

Volume I

As one of the editors of the anthology, I was invited to speak at the launch.

Authors at the launch.

One thing about this business of writing and publishing is that there is a difference between Form and Content. The form is like the cup and the content, like the coffee.

Creating the coffee is the job of you authors, and that takes an artist’s mindset. The artist is expected to “catch the Muse” and run with it. While in the flow, to stop and watch for proper grammar, spelling, and commas would kill the Muse. You create and then leave it to brew and then give it a stir.

Once the coffee is made, the author needs the cup people, in order to share the work. Creating the cup, the form, is the job of various people: managing editor, acquisitions editor, copy editor, type setter, layout, cover designer, printer, etc. A lot of that work is technical but necessary to showcase your work. In an anthology, that means many authors and busy cup people.

Editors Are Cup People.

The best approach for every author is to have your own personal and professional editor to help you prepare.

I was pleased to be invited to copy-edit this anthology—and also to contribute. Thankfully, my work was also edited.

The relationship between author and editor needs to be one of nice, friendly discussions. The role of the editor is to be the eyes of the reader. Editors want clarity. Sometimes your copy editor will let you know if something doesn’t work out—that means your readers won’t understand and a little change is necessary. Sometimes, the author lets the editor know that a certain edit has not preserved the meaning. In that case, the author still needs to recognize that the original wording was not clear enough.

Poems are something else. Like songs, they may mean one thing to the author—but, once they are let loose into the world, they touch the minds and hearts of all sorts of people. You may find that your work means something completely different to others—that it’s taken on a bigger and better meaning. The editor can help the poet, too.

The collaboration of author and editor results in the author’s voice shining forth, and then readers who stand ready to grab the work will want to share it with friends over a good cup of coffee.

My message to you today is: Keep on writing!

 

Volume II

The Literary Connection Volume II is a collection of poetry, stories, and photographs on the theme of ‘My Canada!’ Twenty-six Canadian authors write of their connection to the land they call home. Canada’s natural beauty forms the backdrop of poems and stories of life ‘then’ and ‘now’; of coping with the elements; of nostalgia for a simpler time, the old country; and quiet pride in the ‘spirit’ of a nation that has welcomed settlers and held on to its core altruistic values. Established writers and emerging writers are featured in this issue, many from the Greater Toronto Area. There are entries and photographs from other parts of Canada. The editor of the anthology, Cheryl Antao-Xavier, is the publisher of In Our Words Inc. She worked one-on-one with submitting authors to feature their work in-line with the theme of the anthology. The Literary Connection Volume II is a tribute to Canada that reflects its scenic beauty, its history and heritage, its multicultural diversity, and the love and pride Canadians have in their country and it’s image in the world as a peace-loving nation.

The Literary Connection: My Canada! makes a great Canada Day gift, especially for new Canadians.

Volume III

The Literary Connection Volume III is an IOWI anthology of poetry and prose by authors living in the Greater Toronto Area and Winnipeg, compiled and edited by Cheryl Antao-Xavier. The theme of this anthology is ‘Lest I Forget’. Twenty-nine writers talk about the times, people and places in their past that were ‘defining moments’ in their lives. Original B&W photographs illustrate the stories and poems.

Stories include Ed Woods’ “My Meeting with Marlene Dietrich” and my poem, “Ferry to Vancouver Island.”

The Literary Connection: Lest I Forget is available on Amazon.