Nonfiction (adult)

Anne Simpson

Anne Simpson has been a writer-in-residence at the University of British Columbia, the Saskatoon Public Library, the Medical Humanities Program at Dalhousie University, and the University of New Brunswick, among others. She has also been a faculty member at the Banff Centre.

She writes novels, poetry, and essays. Four of her ten books have been Globe & Mail Best Books. Her short fiction has been awarded the Journey Prize, while her third novel, Speechless, won the Thomas Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award. Her second poetry collection, Loop, was awarded the Griffin Poetry Prize. She has also written two books of essays. The Marram Grass: Poetry and Otherness explores poetry, art, and empathy, while Experiments in Distant Influence: Notes and Poems looks at friendship, courage, and community.

Anne Simpson Read More »

Gary Lloyd Saunders

Gary Saunders was born in tiny Clarkes Head, Newfoundland, in 1935, some 30 years before electricity and road traffic arrived, and when sea and river were still the only avenues to the outside world. He received a B.Sc. in Forestry from the University of New Brunswick in 1959, and a B.F.A. from Mount Allison in 1965.

“Growing up in this place and time, to leave at the age of ten for town and city, left a vacuum that I filled with stories and visual imagery from my childhood. From these come my books and paintings.”

Since the sixties he has published articles in magazines like Nature Canada, Canadian Living, and American Forests, and 13 books.

Gary Lloyd Saunders Read More »

Marjorie Simmins

Marjorie Simmins is the author of four non-fiction titles: Coastal Lives (2014); Year of the Horse (2016), Memoir: Conversations and Craft (2020), and Somebeachsomewhere: The Harness Racing Legend from a One-Horse Stable (2021).

Simmins began her career as a freelance journalist in Vancouver, appearing regularly in the Vancouver Sun and writing for trade magazines. She also published numerous essays and articles in magazines and newspapers across Canada, and in the United States, and has stories in Canadian and American anthologies. She has won a Gold Medal at the National Magazine Awards for “One-of-a-Kind Journalism,” and two Gold Medals at the Atlantic Journalism Awards for Best Atlantic Magazine Article, and in Arts and Entertainment, Any Medium.

In November 2020, she was awarded the prestigious Established Artist Recognition Award by Arts Nova Scotia.

Among the magazines Simmins has written for are: Canadian Living, Magazines Canada, United Church Observer, Halifax Magazine, Progress, Atlantic Business, and Saltscapes. She is a regular reviewer for The Antigonish Review and Atlantic Books Today. She has also written feature interviews for The Reporter, the community newspaper in Port Hawkesbury, NS.

Marjorie Simmins has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of British Columbia, a Certificate in Adult Education from Dalhousie University, and a Research Master of Arts in Literacy Education, at Mount Saint Vincent University. She teaches memoir writing across Canada, at venues such as at the UBC Alumni Centre, in Vancouver, BC (2016); at StoryFest, in Hudson, QC (2017); at Thinkers Lodge, Pugwash, NS (2014-2019); and the Fortress of Louisbourg, NS (2019). Recently, she has begun to teach coast to coast (still waiting for the north coast!) Zoom workshops.

In September 2020, Simmins took part in the Cabot Trail Writers Festival, as a panellist and workshop leader. The following spring of 2021, Simmins was honoured to serve as a reader for the 2021 CBC Non-Fiction Prize.

Marjorie Simmins Read More »

Magi Nams

Magi Nams is an award-winning nature writer, aspiring novelist, and author and indie publisher of the travel memoir trilogy Cry of the Kiwi: A Family’s New Zealand Adventure. She holds a B.Sc. in zoology and an M.Sc. in plant ecology and has published scientific papers, written wildlife-related material for government agencies and conservation organizations, and published dozens of magazine articles in the children’s nature magazine Ranger Rick. She has also published poetry and has broadcast personal essays on CBC Radio.

Magi is a keen gardener, birder, hiker, traveller, and piano student. Check out her books and latest travel and outdoor adventures at maginams.ca. Magi lives in a 177-year-old farmhouse near Tatamagouche with her wildlife biologist husband.

Books: Cry of the Kiwi trilogy: Once a Land of Birds, This Dark Sheltering Forest, Tang of the Tasman Sea

Magi Nams Read More »

Lorri Neilsen Glenn

Lorri Neilsen Glenn is the author and editor of fourteen books of poetry, creative nonfiction and scholarly work. Her latest books include The Old Moon in Her Arms: Women I Have Known and Been (Nimbus, 2024), a hybrid memoir about age and identity, and an updated edition of Threading Light: Explorations in Loss and Poetry (Nimbus, 2024, first published in 2011), essays on grief.

Following the River: Traces of Red River Women, a mixed-genre historical memoir published late in 2017 (Wolsak and Wynn) is now in its third printing. The book explores Lorri’s Métis and Cree grandmothers’ lives and was short-listed for the Evelyn Richardson Nonfiction award and won The Miramichi Reader’s award for nonfiction.

Untying the Apron: Daughters Remember Mothers of the 1950s (Guernica Editions, 2013) explores the lives of 1950s mothers (now in its third printing). Other works include Lost Gospels (Brick Books, 2010), Combustion (Brick Books, 2007), Saved String (Rubicon Press, 2007), All the Perfect Disguises (Broken Jaw Press, 2003), and several academic titles. With Carsten Knox, Lorri edited Salt Lines, a collection of writers’ wisdom from Nova Scotian authors.

Since 2013, Lorri has served as a mentor in The University of King’s College MFA program in creative nonfiction and is Professor Emerita at Mount Saint Vincent University.

Workshops: Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia, Great Blue Heron workshop, St. Peter’s Writing Program, Los Parronales Writers’ Retreat, Creative Nonfiction Collective, MSVU, The University of Auckland, Edith Cowan, James Cook, Queensland, and Murdoch Universities, among other organizations and locations.

Lorri’s workshops on memoir/life writing grief and loss have been held across Canada, including Northern Canada, as well as in Ireland, Greece, Chile, Australia, and New Zealand. She has worked with writers in Indigenous communities, government and social services, educators, engineers, lawyers, women’s groups, youth groups, and many other communities. Lorri works as a developmental editor for others’ memoir, creative nonfiction and poetry.

As Halifax’s first Métis Poet Laureate (2005-2009), Lorri worked with new Canadians, seniors, and launched the spoken word youth group Wordfishing. She has worked extensively with writers who are new Canadians. In 2023, Lorri was awarded Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee medal for her work in the writing community. Lorri’s poetry has been adapted several times for libretti and was most recently performed in the City of Song celebration for Winnipeg’s 150th anniversary. Lorri was burn in Winnipeg, raised on the prairies and moved to Nova Scotia in 1983.

A frequent reader/juror/judge for national and regional writing awards, Lorri was President of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia (2020-21) and has served four terms on its board over the years. She is a member of the Writers’ Union of Canada, the League of Canadian Poets, and the Creative Nonfiction Collective. Lorri’s poetry and creative nonfiction appear in several anthologies including Bad Artist, Sharp Notions, Good Mom on Paper, Sweetwater, Love me True, among others.

Reviews of The Old Moon in Her Arms can be found here:

https://freefallmagazine.ca/review-of-lorri-neilsen-glenns-the-old-moon-in-her-arms/https://freefallmagazine.ca/review-of-lorri-neilsen-glenns-the-old-moon-in-her-arms/

https://miramichireader.ca/2024/04/the-old-moon-in-her-arms-by-lorri-neilsen-glenn/

“A gift of storytelling magic” — Shelagh Rogers

Threading Light:

“Glenn explores questions about spirituality and place – places including the Prairies, where she was raised, and the East Coast, where she now works – in these stunning poems that show us how to pay attention and find the wonder in song and nature.” – Prairie Books Now

“lyricism at its most brilliant” – The Malahat Review

Lorri Neilsen Glenn Read More »

Sandra Phinney

Sandra Phinney is a professional writer and photographer who lives on the edge of the Tusket River in Southwest Nova Scotia. She’s had a few former lives including teaching, social work and farming. Now, instead of driving a tractor and growing vegetables, Sandra wields a camera and harvests stories.

Her articles have appeared in over 70 publications and many online line magazines. She’s also contributed to several travel guides including National Geographic’s Guide to Parks Canada. Over the years, her work has garnered several writing and photography awards (which help to keep her humble.) Part of her portfolio spills into the corporate world where she does everything from writing scripts for video, to advertorials, brochures, newsletters, and company profiles.

In the book writing realm, Sandra’s penned four non-fiction books: Risk Takers and Innovators—Great Canadian Business Ventures since 1950; Pierre Elliott Trudeau: The Prankster Who Never Flinched; Maud Lewis and the “Maudified” House Project; and Waking Up In My Own Backyard~Explorations in Southwest Nova Scotia. She’s currently working on two more non-fiction books.

To satisfy her craving to teach, Sandra gives writing workshops on various topics including narrative, writing memoir, how to start a freelance business and travel writing. In her spare time she does Tai Chi and paddles in the wilderness.

Sandra Phinney Read More »

Darcy Rhyno

Darcy Rhyno writes novels, short stories, plays, non-fiction (travel, science, health, people profiles). His latest book is a memoir about life in post-communist Eastern Europe.

He is the author of the pre-teen fantasy novel set in 1950’s Halifax called THE UNDERWORLD MAGICIAN. He’s also the author of the YA novel MONSTERS OF SUBURBIA, which is a realism adventure story with themes of bullying, isolation, estrangement and myth. This novel is suitable for junior high readers. He has also published two collections of short stories, CONDUCTOR OF WAVES and HOLIDAYS. He’s been writing for Saltscapes magazine since 2007. He is an award-winning travel writer and a member of the Travel Media Association of Canada and has published hundreds of articles with Saltscapes, Canadian Geographic Travel, BBC Travel, Atlas Obscura, The Daily Beast, the Chronicle Herald and many, many more. His play Snowbirds, a comedy set at Christmas, has been produced twice in Nova Scotia.

Conductor of Waves is a collection of 12 stories set in a fictional Nova Scotia fishing community. The Globe and Mail called it “a strikingly accomplished collection.” His first novel for children placed second in the Atlantic Writing Competition. As a columnist for Saltscapes magazine, Darcy writes the back page for each issue, prepares feature articles and writes for special publications about travel, food and other topics. He writes for other magazines and newspapers as well. One of the stories in his collection called Holidays was published in The Vagrant Revue of New Fiction, an anthology of work by the most promising writers in Atlantic Canada.

For much of his career, Darcy has worked in education and with children. A teacher and arts worker by profession, he has worked with many schools and teachers across the province, as well as with artists from all genres. For 16 years, he was an instructor in the graduate program of the Faculty of Education at Mount St. Vincent University where he taught courses in popular culture, reading, media and literature. His readings and workshops are always engaging, informative and entertaining. See his website at www.darcyrhyno.com

Darcy Rhyno Read More »

Don MacLean

Don MacLean was born in Gabarus Lake on Cape Breton Island. He attended St.Francis Xavier University (BSc., 1976) and Memorial University (MSc., 1985). He works as a fisheries biologist in Nova Scotia.

Don writes on a variety of outdoor related topics as well as traditional crafts from wood carving to canoe building. His articles have appeared in Atlantic Salmon Journal, Saltscapes, Eastern Woods and Waters, Canadian Fly Fisher, Northwoods Sporting Journal, Outdoor Canada, Atlantic Boating News and Fly Tyer. He is the author of two books. Don’s weekly newspaper columns on sportfishing and the outdoors appears in the Cape Breton Post, New Glasgow News, Truro Daily News and the Antigonish Casket.

Don MacLean Read More »

Paul Marriner

Born in Halifax in 1944, Paul went to Dalhousie and Nova Scotia Tech and graduated in Mechanical Engineering. He taught at the Royal Military College in Kingston, where he also received a Master’s Degree. Paul now owns and operates Gale’s End Press. A member of the Outdoor Writer’s Association of Canada and the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia, his articles have appeared in magazines on five continents, and number in the hundreds. Paul’s books include: Fly Patterns of Canada, Modern Atlantic Salmon Flies (2000 Outdoor Writers Book Award), Atlantic Salmon: A Fly Fishing Reference, Fly Fishing in Lakes & Ponds, How to Choose & Use Fly-tying Thread, Stillwater Fly Fishing: Tools & Tactics, Atlantic Salmon – A Fly Fishing Primer (1994 Outdoor Writers Book Award), The Ausable River Journal, The Miramichi River Journal, and Mahone Bay Mornings. Several of the above are available in digital format. He has also contributed to several anthologies. In 1991 Paul won the Gregory Clark Award for outstanding contributions to the arts of fly fishing, and in 2008 won the Jean-Guy Côté Award for continuous contributions to the arts of fly tying. In 2008 he was also a member of the Outdoor Canada team of writers, who won a gold medal at the National Magazine Awards.

Now living in Mahone Bay, NS, Paul continues his association with the writing/publishing world via Gale’s End Press. Besides his own titles, he has edited and published two by other authors and created the design and layout for a third.

Paul Marriner Read More »

Kathleen Martin

Kathleen Martin was born in Toronto, lived in Sudbury, Ontario, until she was 12 and then moved to Spring Valley in Illinois, a place that has been home to her father’s family for five generations. Her mother’s family has been rooted in Halifax for almost as long, and although her parents and older brother are still in Illinois, and she still misses hot summers and fields of corn stretching to the horizon, Halifax is where Kathleen is very happy to have ended up.

Kathleen came to Halifax by way of the University of Toronto, where she earned her BA (Honours) in English, and Queen’s University in Kingston, where she earned her master’s degree in English. She moved to Nova Scotia when Mike, now her husband, came to study the endangered leatherback sea turtle.

Kathleen is the author of six non-fiction books for children: Sturdy Turtles, Building Beavers, Floating Jellyfish, Gentle Manatees, Soaring Bald Eagles and Swimming Salmon (Lerner Publishing Group). She is also the author of Kamakwie: Finding Peace, Love and Injustice in Sierra Leone (Red Deer Press) for teenagers and adults. She is the Nova Scotia representative for the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, has edited children’s fiction books for Front Street/Cricket Books in Chicago, and was an acquisitions editor for the Cricket Magazine Group.

Kathleen also writes for adults. She was the Atlantic correspondent for Marketing Magazine for a decade. She edits fiction, poetry and non-fiction books for publishers in Canada and the United States, and has written for a variety of magazines and newspapers. She previously taught communications at Acadia University.

When she isn’t freelancing, Kathleen is the executive director of the Canadian Sea Turtle Network, which allows her to spend a lot of time with fishing community members across Nova Scotia and a lot of time learning about and attempting to help sea turtles, her favourite animals.

Kathleen Martin Read More »