The Brass Spittoon Interview

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Peddling Moonshine

If you’re curious about where Moonshine Promises came from — as well as how a lifelong member of the Introverts Club has weathered book promotion — check out “Peddling Moonshine,” an article just published in the fall edition of The Angle, the newsletter of The Association of Canadian College and University Teachers of English.

You can view the full newsletter here; “Peddling Moonshine” is on pages 24–26.

Newsletter Header Graphic for The Angle Fall 2021 issue by ACCUTE
ACCUTE The Angle Fall 2021

Art waves Interview

I recently had the opportunity to share more about Moonshine Promises and the genesis of this collection of stories on the Art Waves radio show (part of The Hawk 101.5 FM programming). The interview aired on Sunday evening, August 22nd, but you can listen to the archive now using this link.

Moonshine Promises in “The Sachem” Newspaper

John Van Rys holding Moonshine Promises in the foggy front yard of his rural Ontario hobby farm. Photo by April Van Rys
An author in his natural habitat. Photo by my ever-patient wife April Van Rys.

I am excited to share some local coverage about Moonshine Promises from the Haldimand area newspaper, The Sachem. Please use this link to read the article “Dunnville Man Releases First Fiction Book” written by Tamara Botting.

Remember, you can order your own copy of Moonshine Promises using the links provided here.

Moonshine Promises Widely Available!

Illustration of a crow by Rosalinda Perez for the story Early Birds

Much like the wily crow, Moonshine Promises is widely available! You can now find Evan and Mae’s adventures on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats!

You can also order the book from 21Five, the campus bookstore at Redeemer University (which is where I enrich young minds) and pick it up locally (for those of you in the Ancaster/Hamilton Ontario area).

Happy reading!

They’ve Arrived!

Author Copies of John Van Rys's novel Moonshine Promises
Author copies of Moonshine Promises!

There’s nothing quite like holding onto a new book, but it’s an amazing feeling to have a print copy of Moonshine Promises in my own hands after several years of writing and rewriting these stories. So excited to page through my author copies! You can get your own copy too! Check out this page for links to buy Evan and Mae’s adventures.

Moonshine Promises Available to Purchase!

Illustration of a raccoon stealing eggs by Rosalinda Perez

Exciting news of the day, Moonshine Promises is now available to purchase online at my publisher Wipf and Stock’s website! Use this link to see the page and buy the book.

Moonshine Promises will be available on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca and in e-book formats in the coming weeks, stay tuned here to those updated links. (There’s even rumors of an author-read audiobook version on the horizon…)

Moonshine Promises is Published!

It’s official! My debut published collection of stories, Moonshine Promises, is coming out soon. (Officially published on July 21, 2021!) Recently, I got the cover image from the publisher. Rosalinda Perez’s playful illustration reflects the tone of the stories very well!

Moonshine Promises Front Cover with Illustration by Rosalinda Perez
Cover Illustration by Rosalinda Perez!

Short Story “Nether Lands” Published!

My short story “Nether Lands” is being published in the June 2021 issue of Blank Spaces on pages 47-51. You can purchase the digital publication on the Blank Spaces webpage.

Blank Space June 2020 Cover shown on an Apple iPad screen
Blank Spaces June 2021 Cover (Photo by David Thorne, featuring artist Erica Helder in her studio)