Plan to Garden and Garden to Plan

"Can I get under the fence?"

When my family and I settled into our new house in Delta, I happily noticed the raspberry bushes in the rectangular garden by the house and dreamed of the berries I could eat with my breakfast cereal. Those bushes that promised bounty soon delivered more frustration than I’d anticipated. The lawn was a little too narrow for my mower to make a single pass between the garden and the fence. And my coveted berries were also coveted by my always ravenous Labrador Retriever, who always beat me to the ripe ones. I hated getting mad at my sweet Labrador for doing what came naturally to her: forage and eat. The whole garden thing was turning into a challenging case of anger management.

I decided to fix the breakfast issue and treat my anger management in one full sweep by transplanting the bushes to the other side of the fence, where the dog couldn’t reach. I recycled some sod from a new garden I created to fill in the  large rectangular plot of dirt left by the raspberry bushes.  It was a cool and seamless move of mutual benefit.

I was no longer mad at my Labrador, I could mow the lawn easily and I enjoyed my breakfasts of raspberries on my cereal. Even the raspberry bushes were happier in their new location.  I am not sure the dog was so happy as she looked at me with forlorn eyes through the fence as I picked the berries.

When I became a Director with Pixl Press Canada not too long ago, I happily noticed this small press’s potential and dreamed of achieving literary excellence in publishing. We had published Nina Munteanu’s writing guidebook The Fiction Writer: Get Published, Write Now! in May 2009.  We felt it was time to update our look to match the new brand so August 2013 finds us planning a new cover for this very popular writing guide. We will be using award-winning artist Anne Moody and Aurora finalist cover designer Costi Gurgu for our brand on this excellent writing series (see the covers for The Journal Writer and Natural Selection, both by Nina Munteanu).

We’ll keep you posted once the new cover is ready.

The Journal Writer Joins The Alien Guidebook Series

Following the success of Nina Munteanu's "The Fiction Writer: Get Published, Write Now!" (Starfire World Syndicate) Nina's guidebook on how to journal and write expressively, "The Journal Writer: Finding Your Voice", was released March 25, 2013 by Pixl Press, an imprint of Starfire.

"The Journal Writer" is a comprehensive guidebook that will help writers choose the best medium, style and platform for their expressive writing. It covers what you need, how to get started and how to keep going, even when you don't feel like it. The book also guides you on issues of safety, using the computer, electronic devices, social media, and the Internet.

The cover design and artwork was done by Costi Gurgu and Anne Moody.

Costi Gurgu is an internationally acclaimed digital artist and designer and Aurora Award finalist who lives in Toronto, Canada. He has illustrated book covers, magazine and newspaper covers and feature editorials for a variety of publications since 1999. Anne Moody is an award-winning artist and scientist living in British Columbia, Canada. She considers herself "a realist, strongly tempted by abstract elements wrapped in story." The art on the cover depicts a scene in Toquart Bay, B.C.

Both "The Fiction Writer" and "The Journal Writer" were picked up by Editura Paralela 45, translated and published in Romania.

You can find "The Fiction Writer" and "The Journal Wrtiter" on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and other affiliate amazons throughout the world, in addition to other major online booksellers such as Barnes & Noble and Chapters. Keep informed on Nina's books through Nina's Amazon Page.

An Unexpected Adventure

 Nina approached me in 2008 to see if I would be willing to review her book The Fiction Writer: Get Published, Write Now.  I was rather hesitant as I didn’t see myself as qualified to take on such a task.  English was a subject that I only barely managed to pass and my spelling relied on a spell checker.  She assured me that it was the layout and flow that she really needed my help with so I reluctantly agreed.  Thus my unexpected adventure began.  It was difficult staying focused on the layout as the content would draw me in.  I finally understood what my grade 10 teacher meant when she would say you had to read between the lines. 

With the book ready for printing I was excited to learn more of the process of getting a book

published.  Nina invited me to join her when she went to Victoria to interview possible printers.  I learned a lot about papers used, fonts, formats, covers and binding.  We enjoyed good food and good company returning revitalized to make the decisions needed to get the book printed.

My foray into the writing and publishing world has made me more critical when reading books. I am much more aware of character development and the hero’s journey, plot, and the ebb and flow of the action throughout a story.  I find myself more engaged and appreciative of a well written book.

My adventure started with a request to review a book for a friend. Early in 2012 it became a request to help her manage Pixl Press.  As I learn the necessary tools needed in the writing and publishing industry, who knows where my adventure may take me in retirement. Gardening is best done in the summer, leaving the long winter evenings for creativity!

Robert J. Sawyer Recommends "The Fiction Writer"

Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of over twenty books, says of The Fiction Writer: Get Published, Write Now!: "I'm impressed...Nina shares the hard-won knowledge she's accumulated...I'm thoroughly enjoying the book, and even learning a thing or two!"











Robert J. Sawyer, called the "dean of Canadian science fiction" by the Ottawa

Citizen and "just about the best science-fiction writer out there these days" by the Denver Rocky Mountain News, is one of only eight writers in history (and the only Canadian) to win all three of the science-fiction field's top honors for best novel of the year: the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award.

Maclean's, Canada's weekly news magazine, says, "by any reckoning, Sawyer is among the most successful Canadian authors ever," and Barnes and Noble calls him "the leader of SF's next-generation pack."

Rob holds an honorary doctorate from Laurentian University; he taught writing at the University of Toronto, Ryerson University, Humber College , the National University of Ireland, and the Banff Centre.

Author Praises "The Fiction Writer" as Frank Helpful and Fun

Lynda Williams, author of the Okal Rel Series (Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing) likes Nina Munteanu's "The Fiction Writer" for its short sections and snappy chat:

"High energy writer and teacher of writing Nina Munteanu is an upbeat coach for new and published writers seeking to refresh their art. She relates tales from her own experiences to personalize her frank and helpful advice on getting published. I particularly liked how she focuses on writing good stuff, though. Her light-hearted "alien's perspective" complete with cartoon character combines with her sense of humour and cheerful tone to make the book a positive experience. Short sections. Snappy chat."

Lynda Williams is a science fiction author and blogger. William's fiction is centered around a series of ten novels set in the fictional Okal Rel Universe (ORU). The ORU founded by Williams has been embraced by fans in a big way. Williams has opened the ORU to fan and pro artists and writers, wishing to engage and create in the ORU phenomenon.

The Fiction Writer Praised as Succinct and Useful

Top 100 Amazon Reviewer (furioush) gave Nina Munteanu's The Fiction Writer this review:

"I have enjoyed Munteanu's fiction, so I was happy when she gave me the chance to read her book on writing. I found it a useful practical guide full of tips and links that any writer focusing on craft should remember. Even if it isn't saying anything particularly new, what it does say is worth repeating, and is rarely said in such succinct form. It is also nice that it has some emphasis on speculative fiction, something many writing guides ignore completely."

You can find Nina's fiction writing guide in most quality bookstores and online bookstores throughout the world.

Like the Good Doctor's Tardis "The Fiction Writer" is Larger than It Appears

About Nina Munteanu's "The Fiction Writer":

"Nina's writing style is engaging, enlightening, and enjoyable. And like the good Doctor's Tardis, the book is larger than it appears--how she is able to distill as much as she does in 266 pages is a testament to her writing abilities.

"As others have rightfully stated, it is chock full of ideas, checklists, advice, and exercises. I have six book shelves at home (and about as many at work) devoted to books on writing and the teaching of writing covering all the writing genres. Before Nina's book, I was getting rather bored with them. But after reading excerpts of Nina's book on her blog, I has had to check out the entire text.

"I even found her book useful for my 102 students. Although we do not teach creative writing in 102 (we survey short stories, poems, and plays), every quarter I use portions of Nina's text, especially the discussion on the hero's journey. That is how useful her book is.

"Get Get Published, Write Now! right now."--David Merchant, English Instructor, Louisiana Tech University