WordCraft

Today’s writers have more options than ever before when it comes to sharing their work with

the world – but how do you decide if independent or DIY publishing are the best fit for your

work? And if so, what do you really need to know to successfully launch a self-published or

small press work? Joe Mahoney shares his journey as a retired broadcaster, author, and

founder of Donovan Street Press, a Riverview, New Brunswick based independent publisher

dedicated to literary and genre-bending fiction.

Credits:

Host: Jenna Morton

Guest: Joe Mahoney

Technical Production: Tosh Taylor

WordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, which

acknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional unceded

territory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples.

If your goal is to have your writing published, there will inevitably come a time when you start

searching for an agent. This is your champion, the person who will help you navigate the world

between the page and the publishing house. Part reader, part editor, part negotiator, and part

fan, a literary agent is a creative business partner who knows what the industry wants and how

to place you within it. And while this might sound like a job only found in the largest of cities,

today’s online world makes it possible for Maria Vicente to do this work from New Brunswick.

She’s a Senior Literary Agent and Senior Advisor at P.S. Literary Agency and Jenna’s guest on

this episode of WordCraft.

Credits:

Host: Jenna Morton

Guest: Maria Vicente

Technical Production: Tosh Taylor

WordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, which

acknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional unceded

territory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples.

Episode Summary:

There are few Canadians with as much editing mentorship on their resume as Brian Henry. The

man behind the Quick Brown Fox blog has helped thousands with his newsletters and online

resources, as well as nearly three decades as an editor, writer, and creative writing instructor.

While he was facilitating several workshops for WFNB, he sat down with Jenna to talk about the

process of finding – and becoming! – an editor and the importance of paying attention to detail

in your work.

Credits:

Host: Jenna Morton

Guest: Brian Henry

Technical Production: Tosh Taylor

WordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, which

acknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional unceded

territory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples.

Robert J. Sawyer is perhaps Canada’s most decorated science fiction writer. He has 25 novels

published, is a prolific contributor to magazines and anthologies, and has received the Hugo

Award, the Nebula Award, the John W. Campbell Memorial Award, and multiple Aurora

Awards, among other accolades. He’s also the keynote speaker and workshop leader at WFNB’s

2026 WordSpring. In advance of his visit, we asked him to share some thoughts for this podcast.

Credits:

Host: Jenna Morton

Guest: Robert J. Sawyer

Technical Production: Tosh Taylor

WordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, which

acknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional unceded

territory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples.

Episode Summary:

The tenth annual New Brunswick Book Awards were handed out in May 2025, celebrating writing excellence in poetry, fiction, nonfiction and books for young readers. In this episode, we hear from two of the four award winners about the impact of the awards. Featured in this episode are Michael Pacey, whose Van Gogh’s Grasshopper won the Fiddlehead Poetry Book Prize, and Keith Helmuth, part of the writing team behind Tappan Adney: From Birchbark Canoes to Indigenous Rights, winner of the Writer’s Federation of New Brunswick’s Non-fiction Award.

Credits:

Host: Jenna Morton
Guest(s): Michael Pacey, Keith Helmuth
Technical Production: Tosh Taylor

WordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, which acknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples.

The tenth annual New Brunswick Book Awards were handed out in May 2025, celebrating writing excellence in poetry, fiction, nonfiction and books for young readers. In our next two episodes, we hear from the winners about the impact of being recognized for their work. Featured in this episode are Nelson Keane, whose debut novel, Nachzehrer (published by Galleon), won the 2025 Mrs. Dunster’s Award for Fiction, sponsored by Mrs. Dunster’s Bakery, and Valerie Sherrard, who won the inaugural Books for Young Readers Award, sponsored by JD Irving Ltd., for her novel, An Unbalanced Force (published by DCB Cormorant).

Credits:

Host: Jenna Morton
Guest(s): Nelson Keane, Valerie Sherrard
Technical Production: Tosh Taylor

WordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, which acknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples. 

Episode Summary:

To mark the 10th anniversary of its creation, WFNB is proud to shine a light on the history and future of the New Brunswick Book Awards. Host Jenna Morton brings together original committee members Ross Leckie, Ian LeTourneau, Rosalyn Hyslop, and Rayanne Brennan to reminisce, sharing a behind-the-scenes look at how the awards first came together, how they’ve evolved, and what they hope New Brunswick writers are gaining from the celebration of their works.

Credits:

Host: Jenna Morton

Guest(s): Rayanne Brennan, Rosalyn Hyslop, Ross Leckie, Ian LeTourneau

Technical Production: Tosh Taylor

WordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, which acknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples.

Episode Summary:

Emerging writers in New Brunswick might at first be wary of the word competition – but

previous participants in the WFNB’s annual Writing Competition say the experience helped

them find community and confidence while opening doors for future opportunities. Listen as

Jenna Morton talks with Thomas Chamberlain, who turned an Honourable Mention into a 2 nd

place and a book deal for his debut novel, Happenstance, followed by Teresa Wu, the 2024

winner of the Sheree Fitch Prize, who credits the WFNB for kickstarting a love of sharing her

writing with the world.

Credits:

Host: Jenna Morton

Guest(s): Thomas Chamberlain, Teresa Wu

Technical Production: Tosh Taylor

WordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, which

acknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional unceded

territory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples.

Episode Summary:

One of the best ways to encourage writing and illustrating in the next generation is to put those

professionals in classrooms with students. That’s just what the Writers in the Schools Program

(WiSP) has been doing in New Brunswick for nearly 50 years! WiSP is funded through the

provincial Department of Education and spans read aloud sessions, writing workshops,

publishing discussions, and more.

Host Jenna Morton speaks with WiSP coordinator, Ginny Hill, and WFNB members, Valerie

Sherrard & Kelly Cooper, who share their experiences participating in the program and its

importance in creating a community that supports writing.

Credits:

Host: Jenna Morton

Guest(s): Ginny Hill, Valerie Sherrard, Kelly Cooper

Technical Production: Tosh Taylor

WordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, which

acknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional unceded

territory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples.

“It thrilled me to realize you could write about where you lived.” Ann Brennan

Imagine a room filled with New Brunswick’s literary masters – teenage Sheree Fitch and David

Adams Richards sitting alongside Alden Nowlan. Nancy Bauer takes us back to that reality in her

living room, hosting Maritime Writers’ Workshops in the 1970s and paving the way for the

creation of the Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick in 1985. She’s joined by Ann Brennan and

Allan Cooper, who both played a role in the WFNB’s founding and early days. The trio reflect on

the creation and legacy of the WFNB with host Jenna Morton.

“A sense of community began to grow … [the Federation] was the perfect vehicle to do what I

believed in so strongly -- that we need our stories, our local stories, to be told.”

Credits:

Host: Jenna Morton

Guest(s): Nancy Bauer, Ann Brennan, Allan Cooper

Technical Production: Tosh Taylor

WordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, which

acknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional unceded

territory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples.