Editor Sees the Light, Moves West

Barry Jowett, the man who plucked the query letter for my very first novel from his slush pile AND edited my first four novels at Dundurn (therefore wedging himself permanently into my heart) has recently left his position in Toronto. He and his wife Catherine have moved to Invermere, where SHE will continue to work in the medical field and HE has set up a new editing business.

Barry's new company is called Invermere Communications, and he will be offering a variety of services to writers and businesses in BC and beyond.

These services will include:

• Contract Assessment (particularly useful for un-agented authors)
• Project Evaluation from Sample Pages (50 to 100 pages)

• Full Manuscript Evaluation
• Editing of Manuscripts

Barry is working on setting up a website, but he doesn't have it up and running just yet. I'll post the address here when he gets it up and running. In the meantime, if you are in need of his editorial expertise, you can email him at barry_jowett@hotmail.com

I also happen to know you can find him on Facebook.
Go ahead -- friend him! He's new in town!

Barry was a GREAT editor and a huge asset for Dundurn and I'm sure everyone there is in mourning. But come on ...the man has seen the light, moved to BC and is going to make his mark here -- bonus for those of us west of the Rockies.

All the best to Barry and Catherine. Welcome to BC!

~kc

What's Happening?

Lots, actually.

I'm working on the edits for my new book, emerging this spring, now called A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW. I got a first look at the cover this week. It needs a bit of tweaking still, but bodes well...

Dale McGladdery and I did our first SiWC podcast yesterday. I think we may need a bit of a re-do, though, for while the traffic thundering along the Kingsway in Surrey didn't prove to be a problem at all, the noisy guys at the next table were.







This is Dale, setting up the equipment at our coffee-shop podcast site.












However, we are meeting again this weekend at Summer Dream, where we plan to buttonhole a few of the other SiWC 2008 presenters for our podcast. (We're currently calling it the SiWC Soapbox, but are offering a little contest prize for anyone who comes up with a name we like better. Check out the SiWC blog here if you have an idea you'd care to share.)

After our abortive podcast attempt, Dale and I attended the July edition of the SiWC Board meeting. Here's the evidence...


This is transportation goddess Sue Goddard, travel and journalism genius Ursula Maxwell and Webwizard Dale. (You might also notice the meeting ended at 6:10 pm...)













And here the irreplaceable Carmen Merrells tells me to 'talk to the hand', while Volunteer Vixen Camille Netherton gives her opinion on Carmen.









The Board is made up of a fantastic group of very talented people -- our meetings are always fun and fruitful. Next time I'll get shots of The Missing...Estelle Bogoch Stelmach, Tara Holt, and Carrie Higgins.

After I get my edits in to Doubleday next week, I'm off to Portland for a few days to take in the Willamette Writing Conference. My first time to Portland (tho' not to Oregon) and to this conference. I'm _really_ looking forward to it and will blog all I see and do while there.

In another editorial note, I'd like to offer a warm BC welcome to Barry Jowett, my editor at Dundurn, who has just announced he'll be leaving the company and moving west. Invermere will gain what Toronto has lost -- Barry is a wonderful editor, and when he gets set up in his new life, I'll make sure to link to his new office here.

~kc