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June 25, 2023The Rule of Three
I read somewhere once that a writer will always write three versions of their book: one for themselves, one for the professional reader, and one for the public reader. Knowing this has changed my life ...
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December 07, 2021"So Bizarre, It Must Be True... Nonfiction Brings the Past Alive" Nate Hendley on Nonfiction & His Wild New True Crime Story
It was a plotline that could be considered too outlandish even for a TV crime drama: a bank robbery in an iconic costume, a shootout with a military veteran, and an insanity plea that kicked off a years-long ...
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September 27, 2022The Joy of Literary Festivals – And Dreams Coming True
It’s hard to believe we’ve come to the end of September and that the time I have been privileged to spend with you on this Open Book platform is almost over. Looking back at what I have shared with ...
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August 30, 2023Michael Melgaard Delves into the Dark Side of True Crime in His Debut Novel
In many true crime tales, the focus shifts to the intrepid reporter, detective, or armchair expert who is intent on solving a mystery. Or, even more problematically, the story centres—sometimes with ...
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February 23, 2018"True Stories are Always the Best Stories & They Can Be the Toughest to Write": The 2018 RBC Taylor Prize Finalists on Non-Fiction
On Monday, the 2018 RBC Taylor Prize for Non-Fiction will be presented to one of five shortlisted authors. This year's list is an eclectic one, making it tough to predict a winner in this strong crop ...
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November 25, 2020Read an Excerpt from Will Toffan's Watching the Devil Dance, a Fascinating True Crime Story of Canada's First Spree Killer
For younger Canadians, the name Matthew Charles Lamb may not ring a bell. But those who know it will never forget the man who was dubbed Canada's first spree killer after a bizarre and unprovoked shooting ...
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September 14, 2021Read an Excerpt from The Shaytan Bride, Sumaiya Matin's Powerful True Story of Escaping Forced Marriage
As a small child, Sumaiya Matin had heard about the Shaytan Bride. A woman with something wrong with her. Maybe she was crazy, or defiant. Or maybe she was possessed, trapped or seduced by an evil spirit ...
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August 02, 2024John Thurston Takes Us Under the Big Top in Carnie King: The Story of Patty Conklin and Conklin Shows
While some authors research unique jobs and callings for their work, there are those that have lived-in experience that can bring the reader into a world that the author knows intimately. In these books, ...
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June 24, 2021"I Wanted To Hear Unexpected Stories" Marcello Di Cintio on Listening to Taxi Drivers' Experiences, Loving Nonfiction, & Renaming the Genre
Over the past twenty years, Marcello Di Cintio has built a career as one of Canada's most insightful and incisive nonfiction authors, earning prizes along the way that include the Writers' Trust Shaughnessy ...
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July 31, 2024Margaret Nowaczyk Explores the Unexpected Beauty of Being Human in Marrow Memories: Essays of Discovery
In Marrow Memory: Essays of Discovery (Wolsak & Wynn) Margaret Nowaczyk looks deeply at her own life, and the memories and experiences that she has had. Whether those are of a childhood in Communist ...
