News

Here’s the latest news about my writing work! Scroll down to learn more about what I’ve been up to.

“Bandits” reprinted, with an Afterword

“Bandits,” which was originally published in my first collection of Mulder tales, Moonshine Promises, has been reprinted in a collection titled Christian Environmentalism and Human Responsibility in the 21st Century: Questions of Stewardship and Accountability (Routledge). To accompany this story of pesky, egg-stealing raccoons, I also wrote an afterword, “Paragon of Animals.” Many thanks to the editor, Katherine Quinsey, for including my work in this collection in honour of my colleague of many years, Deborah Bowen.

“Homely Dreams” Not So Homely After all

My story, “The Homely Dreams of a Silly Soul,” published in the summer 2022 edition of Solum Literary Journal, has won the 2023 Word Award for best short story in the Christian short pieces category from the Word Guild! Not so homely, but still pretty silly.

Two Stories Shortlisted for 2023 Word Awards

Two of my recent stories have been shortlisted for 2023 Word Awards by The Word Guild! “The Homely Dreams of a Silly Soul,” published last year in Solum Literary Journal, has been shortlisted in the Short Story–Christian Market category, while “Parking Spots,” published in December 2022 in Blank Spaces, was shortlisted in the Short Story–General Market category. Winners will be announced September 16! Both stories will appear in The Healing Arts, my new collection of Mulder tales. Stay tuned for publication news!

Winning Story “Excavations” Published to editor’s and author’s embarrassment

The story was fine, I think. But a mortified editor from Prairie Fire reached out to me to apologize that my last name was misspelled on the front cover. It was spelled correctly everywhere else: in the table of contents, on the first page of the story and in the footer, in the biographical note listed among the contributors, and on the back cover. Just not on the front cover–in big, bold letters. Thank you, God, for keeping my author ego in check.

More importantly, “Excavations” is now published–and looking quite fine, if I do say so myself–on pp. 7-16 of the summer 2023 issue. The story will also be appearing in my second collection of Mulder tales, The Healing Arts.

A colleague suggested that some day this cover might become a collector’s item. Hmmm.

I’ve Been Busy Writing on my Sabbatical

For the 2022-2023 academic year, I’ve been enjoying a sabbatical from my normal teaching and administrative duties. Here I am doing research for a story in Cancun, Mexico. A Great White Shark is the main character. Seriously, though, I’ve been completing my second collection of Mulder tales, The Healing Arts, as well as getting started on my first novel (no title yet). Stay tuned!

Granted a Grant

I’ve been awarded a grant to support my writing from the Canada Council for the Arts! I’m honoured that I’ve received a Professional Development for Artists Grant for 2023-2024–because, Lord knows, I need some developing. I’m tickled, too, that the CCA has designated me, at the age of 61, a New/Early Career Artist. I’ll be using the funds mainly to complete my second collection of Mulder stories and my first novel. Stay tuned!

Prairie Fire Digs My Story “Excavations”

Prairie Fire Logo

My story “Excavations” has won the 2022 Prairie Fire McNally Robinson Booksellers Short Fiction Contest! What can I say? I’m diggin it! Thanks to the great folks at Prairie Fire and judge David Robertson. “Excavations” will appear in the summer 2023 edition of Prairie Fire. Look for it there or in my next collection of Mulder tales, The Healing Arts.

“Parking Spots” Published in Blank Spaces

Blank Spaces Logo

I’ve had a new Mulder tale published in the December issue of Blank Spaces. “Parking Spots” is what the editor describes as a “dark comedy . . . about the dizziness associated with facing a diagnosis.” For $5, you can get a digital copy of the magazine and read “Parking Spots” and so much more! That’s just a couple of cups of coffee at Timmy’s. You shouldn’t be drinking so much coffee anyway, or you’ll end up with a diagnosis.

My Homely Dreams Exposed in Solum Literary Journal

Solum Logo

The Solum Literary Journal summer 2022 edition has published my story “The Homely Dreams of a Silly Soul,” in which Evan faces several fears and decides that a specific nut might save his future (and possibly also his marriage). The journal is free to download if you want to get entangled in Evan’s troubled dream life.

Review of My Moonshine in Pro Rege

Dordt University Pro Rege journal

In the September 2022 issue of Pro Rege, Shaun Stiemsma wrote a positive and insightful review of Moonshine Promises. Click here to read the review (and don’t forget to pick up your own copy of a book he describes as having “small delights in store for readers”). Who doesn’t need small delights in life?