Authorial name dropping

Can-Con, October 17 to 19, 2025

/ Melanie Marttila / 1 Comment

A post-con report

A stylized C that looks like a planet with a ring with the word Can-Con below.

This year, Can-Con moved to a new venue, the Brookstreet Hotel. It was a beautiful event space and the hotel had all the amenities and then some.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

I booked both Friday the 17th and Monday the 20th off work. In hindsight, I should have booked the Thursday as well and given myself some extra time to drive out, settle in, relax, and prepare. I’ll have to remember to do that, next year. And yes, I’ve already registered for next year’s convention.

Friday morning, my intention was to take off at 10 am, arrive around 4 pm, check in, and then attend the opening session at 5.

Unfortunately, my body decided to delay my departure until 11 am. I also had to top up the gas tank and grab a caramel toffee cold brew from Tim Horton’s before I could zoom.

One thing I finally figured out on my September trip to London was how to properly use Google Maps (!) Fun fact: I am weirdly selective about learning how to use technology.

The journey was uneventful. And beautiful!

There’s this point on Highway 17 between Mattawa and Deux Rivières where the road crests a hill and you get your first site of the Laurentians. It was particularly breathtaking on the 17th. Most of the surface was covered in pine and spruce, but there were vibrant patches of gold (birch and poplar) edged in orange and red (oak and maple). The cloud was low and scudded over the worn tops of the mountains.

I couldn’t stop to take a photo, but I wrote a poem about it afterward.

A picture of the Murderbot? Murderbot! panel.

Because of my delayed start, I didn’t arrive until after 5 pm. I checked into the Brookstreet, parked, resolved an issue with my key card, dropped everything off at my room, and headed down to catch one of the panels before mine.

The Art of Rest panel was a lot of fun. I discovered that one of the other panelists is also from Sudbury (!) Many thanks to moderator Kaitlin (KT) Caul for organizing a great panel experience and to Nina Nesseth for being a great co-panelist. It was among the last panels on Friday night.

After, the lot of us migrated to Options, the hotel’s jazz lounge, and I enjoyed a late supper and their signature cocktail, the paper plane. Lovely. Again, much fun was had.

The cover of Years Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction, Volume 3.

After a morning swim and breakfast, I attended panels all day on Saturday, as well as an unsuccessful pitch session (the publisher and I were hopelessly mismatched), and the launch of Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction, Volume 3, in which my poem “Vasilisa” was reprinted.

While I was moving between panels, I met several SF Canada members and other friends, including Andy Taylor, who shared some fabulous news. The anthology my next piece of short fiction will be published in, Super Canucks, had a cover! It won’t be published until March 2026, but it’s up on the Latitude 46 site! Pre-orders are open!

SuperCanucks: An anthology of Canadian small-town superheroes

Highlights from Saturday:

After a long day of panels, I treated myself to a solitary supper at the Perspectives restaurant. Compressed melon salad, summer vegetable and truffle risotto, and a limoncello tartufo. Heaven!

On Sunday, I treated myself to another morning swim before breakfast. I attended even more panels, and the launch of Cait Gordon’s Speculative Shorts: Stories That Fell Out of My Brain.

My second panel, “The Taste of Sadness: Writing Emotional Dysregulation” was in the last time slot of the convention and was another great experience. I may have babbled a bit, but everyone else on the panel stepped in and we all made each other look good. Gratitude to moderator Gregory A. Wilson and panelists Deanna Valdez and Sienna Tristen for making my second panel a memorable one.

Highlights from Sunday:

After, I walked the convention space as the panelists and exhibitors packed up and departed.

Then, in a different mood from the night before, I opted for a burger and fries with a caramel apple crisp for dessert at Perspectives. The apple crisp is to die for, folks.

I opted to stay over Sunday night and drive back in the morning after one final swim and a full breakfast.

I’ve attended several Can-Cons over the years, but this was my first as a panellist. It was a fabulous experience and, as I said off the top, I’ve already registered for next year. I hope to get on another panel (or two) and maybe organize an SF Canada meet and greet/networking event/membership drive.

We’ll see what happens.

As ever, I’ll let you know how it all works out.

Wordstock 2024 post-festival wrap-up

/ Melanie Marttila / 1 Comment

My first official literary festival appearance and all the other goodies.

Day 1 – November 1, 2024

Poetry Primer – The Bistro 5:30 to 6:30 pm

I showed up a bit early and was seen to the hospitality suite and given my lanyard and swag bag. I got to meet Kelsey Borgford and Alex Tétreault in advance and settle in. We’d exchanged a few emails leading up to the session to let us know how the event would proceed.

It was absolutely lovely. Kelsey wore her beautiful ribbon dress, and we had a smooth and interactive session. People asked questions. We even answered them!

Picture of the Poetry Primer session with Melanie Marttila, Kelsey Borgford, and Alex Tétreault.

And afterward, Kelsey and I signed several books each.

It was awesome.

Festival Opening and Youthwords Announcement – The Bistro 7 to 7:30 pm

Heather Campbell welcomed everyone formally. MP Viviane Lapointe, MPP Jamie West, and the deputy mayor all commented on the importance of Sudbury’s arts community and Wordstock as a part of it. The Youthwords contest winners were announced and were invited to read their pieces.

And Then She Fell: Alicia Elliot in conversation with Shana Calixte Pitawanakwat – Studio Desjardins 7:30 to 8:30 pm

Alicia Elliot was funny and irreverent in her discussion of her latest novel, the writing life, and motherhood.

Amazing.

And Then She Fell: Alicia Elliot in conversation with Shana Calixte Pitawanakwat.

Day 2 – November 2, 2024

Masterclass – Immersive Writing Foray – out and about – 9 to 10:30 am

Ariel Gordon and Yvonne Blomer, after a gathering and brief reading in the Bistro, took us for an urban walk with several stops to pause and write.

I wrote three short pieces and explored a part of the downtown greenspace I hadn’t visited in years. No pictures, because too busy walking or writing.

Writing and Publishing Today – Studio Desjardins – 11 am to 12 pm

Alicia Elliot, John Degen, and Hollay Ghadery discussed writing and publishing in Canada today. A lot of insights from both sides of the industry. Moderated by Randall Perry.

Writing and Publishing Today with Alicia Elliot, John Degen, and Hollay Ghadery. Moderated by Randall Perry.

The Inner World of Women – Studio Desjardins – 1:45 to 2:45 pm

Kim Fahner, Heidi Reimer, and Louise Ells discussed their novels and how their characters explore their inner worlds. Moderated by Liisa Kovala.

The Inner World of Women with Kim Fahner, Heidi Reimer, and Louise Ells. Moderated by Liisa Kovala.

Queer Reflections – Studio Desjardins – 3 to 4 pm

Emily Austin and Kate Cayley discussed their respective bodies of work and how they reflect gender and identity.

Queer Reflections with Emily Austin and Kate Cayley.

Echoes of the Earth – Studio Desjardins – 4:15 to 5:15 pm

Ariel Gordon, Yvonne Blomer, and Sophie Anne Edwards discussed their recent publications and how they explore the environment and climate change from different perspectives.

Echoes of the Earth with Ariel Gordon, Yvonne Blomer, and Sophie Anne Edwards. Introduced by Heather Campbell.

Day 3 – November 3, 2024

Ode to Brunch – The Bistro – 11:30 am to 1 pm

Hollay Ghadery, Fereh Malik, and Emily Austin provided a poetic accompaniment to Brunch, reading from their new and published work and discussing the role of poetry in Canadian publishing today. Moderated by Kim Fahner.

Ode to Brunch with Hollay Ghadery, Fereh Malik, and Emily Austin. Moderated by Kim Fahner.

Big and Important Feelings – Studio Desjardins – 1:15 to 2:15 pm

Danielle Daniel, Kern Carter, and Emily De Angelis discuss their middle grade and young adult novels and the emotional journeys their characters travel. Moderated by Jonathan Pinto.

Big and Important Feelings with Danielle Daniel, Kern Carter, and Emily De Angelis. Moderated by Jonathan Pinto. Introduced by Heather Campbell.

It was an amazing weekend. I learned a lot, met many authors I’d only interacted with online, and, of course, bought a lot of books.

All the books I bought.

This was the festival’s 11th edition. I’ve been to every one so far, and I’ll be returning next year.

The Stillwater Writing Retreat

/ Melanie Marttila / 1 Comment

June 7-9, 2024

This event required its own post.

While I attended the Writing Excuses Retreat (WXR) in 2017, that was on a cruise ship and involved a lot of people.

The Stillwater Writing Retreat, on the other hand, organized by Lauren Carter and Anita Allen-Rudzitis of Wild Ground Writing was the first “traditional” writers retreat I’ve attended. The focus of the weekend was to learn strategies to address writerly anxiety and self regulate while still being productive.

I went with Kim Fahner and Laura Young and we had a lovely, writerly road trip on the way down and back from the Loretto Maryholme Retreat Centre in Roches Point, Ontario, on Lake Simcoe. Lots of good conversation, or crack, as Kim would say 🙂

We arrived just after 3 pm, were seen to our rooms (Kim and I shared “The Green Room”), settled in, and I took the opportunity to tour the grounds before supper.

Among the features: a sensory garden, an insect garden, maintained trails, a labyrinth, a memorial cairn for missing and murdered Indigenous girls and women, a medicine wheel garden, a cosmic walking tour, and a “stations of the light” walking tour. Note: I did not take pictures of everything.

Aside from Edgar House and the nearby Fensom Cottage, there are three other cottages to rent, and all look like wonderful places to stay. The Green Room was huge and had an ensuite with clawfoot tub and a sunroom overlooking the lake. The fresh cut peonies smelled divine.

The sessions were well-balanced with independent writing time, and it was great to be in the company of creative women and to walk together on our creative paths for a while.

Friday night, after a group session, we all retired early (travel days are tough!). I was up before six on Saturday and, though it was overcast, donned my swimsuit and made my way to one of the centre’s two docks. The wind made the water choppy, and I wasn’t able to swim (I tried, but no dice), but I took a (refreshing!) dip and sat to dry off before heading back up to Edgar House for breakfast.

While I was there, I explored most of the gardens and trails. I walked the labyrinth. They have three bee boxes and a visiting beekeeper (!). I saw the resident foxes a couple of times, as well as cardinals, red-wing black birds, blue jays, red, grey, and black squirrels, and chipmunks. I had to watch where I stepped because there were tonnes of garden snails.

Calming and peaceful, the Stillwater Retreat was a needed reset during my time off.

If they do it again next year (there was talk) I’m going again.

Pulp Literature Issue 38 Launch

/ Melanie Marttila

I’m just dropping by to remind everyone that Pulp Literature issue 38 is launching tomorrow at the Port Coquitlam Readers & Writers Festival!

If you’re in the area, I encourage you to visit the Book Fair & Market Hall at 1 pm. Authors Sylvia Leong, JJ Lee, Rhea Rose, Renée Sarojini Saklikar, Jude Neale, Leslie Wibberley, and JM Landels will be on hand and reading their fabulous work.

And if you’re not in the area, consider ordering a copy.

Show the good people at Pulp Literature some love!

Until next time, be safe and stay well; be kind and stay strong. The world needs your stories!

Book Launch: Enlightened by Defilement by Vera Constantineau

/ Melanie Marttila

Yesterday, On Saturday, April 15, 2023, I attended the launch of Vera’s collection of haibun, Enlightened by Defilement, at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Sudbury.

It was a lovely afternoon and I saw many members of the Sudbury Writers’ Guild, who came out to support our former Poet Laureate. Heather Campbell, the publisher behind Latitude 46 was also there, and I reconnected with an old friend (hi, Linda!—waves frantically).

Emily DeAngelis conducted an interview with Vera and asked her to read a few poems. It was a different format, and I appreciated it. The Sudbury Star interviewed Vera, as well.

The event was catered with sushi, spring rolls, fruit, cheese, meats, and crackers. Very good!

There was something for everyone.

I’ll encourage everyone to support Vera and Latitude 46 by purchasing a copy, either directly from the publisher’s page, or through Amazon.ca.

Book review: K.M. Weiland’s Writing Archetypal Character Arcs

/ Melanie Marttila

What Amazon says:

The Six Transformational Character Arcs of the Human Life

Ready to take your story’s character arcs and themes to the next level? This latest book from veteran writing teacher and story theorist K.M. Weiland ventures far beyond the popular and pervasive Hero’s Journey to explore six important archetypal character arcs, representing key moments of initiation in the human experience:

  • The Maiden
  • The Hero
  • The Queen
  • The King
  • The Crone
  • The Mage

Found in every genre from fantasy to drama to romance to adventure, these transformational stories are the secret of powerhouse fiction—as shown through a wide variety of real-story examples throughout the book.

Writing Archetypal Character Arcs will teach you:

  • The archetypal beats for each of the six journeys
  • Which archetypes are right for your particular story
  • The best way to use archetypes in a series
  • How to choose the right archetypes for supporting characters
  • How to use archetypes to identify your story’s theme

You will also learn how to deepen your stories by implementing shadow archetypes (the negative sides of each positive archetype), resting or “flat” archetypes (the fixed stage between each of the main arcs), and archetypal antagonists (the epic antagonistic forces that oppose each of the positive archetypes in their journeys). The Hero’s Journey is just the beginning.

Learning about archetypal character arcs will change the way you view stories—and life—forever.

My thoughts:

K.M. Weiland has a passion for story structure (Structuring Your Novel) and character arc (Creating Character Arcs). Now, she adds to her writing craft oeuvre with Writing Archetypal Character Arcs.

Her journey began with Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth (The Hero’s Journey) and his discussion of Jungian archetypes in his seminal work, The Hero with a Thousand Faces. But Campbell’s work has always lacked the feminine dimension and anything leading up to or following the Monomyth/Hero’s Journey.

To fill this gap, Weiland has read not only the works of Maureen Murdock, Kim Hudson, and Gail Carriger and their interpretations of the heroine’s journey, but she’s also delved deeply into archetypes at all stages of life’s journey through the works of numerous authors. One look at her list of references at the end of Writing Archetypal Character Arcs will make the craft writing book junkie or academic in you drool.

Though I intend to add a number of these books to my reading list (‘cause I’m a geek), you don’t have to. Weiland has studied and skillfully distilled these works into her book and lays them out for writers in an accessible way.

This is a writing craft book that you will want to buy in print and keep at your desk as a reference. It’s that good.

My Rating:

FIVE STARS!!!!!

Go buy it now, peoples.

You’re welcome.

Book review: Writing Your Story’s Theme, by K.M. Weiland

/ Melanie Marttila

K.M. Weiland has helped you to outline your novel, structure your novel, and create your character arcs. Now, she completes the “holy trinity” of craft with Writing Your Story’s Theme.

What is theme and how can you identify it in your story? How does theme relate to story structure (plot) and character arc? Why should every character and subplot reflect or enhance your theme? How can theme help you to outline your novel? How is theme related to but distinct from message and how can you keep your theme from reading as too preachy or on-the-nose?

As with all of Weiland’s craft books, Writing Your Story’s Theme is meticulously researched and full of insights the author gained through her own writing practice. There are additional resources to help you dig deeper into the topic in the appendices at the end.

If you’re a fan of Weiland’s craft books, you need to pick this one up. If this is your first of Weiland’s writing books, it will leave you wanting to complete your library (and you should—they’re that good). Weiland’s writing advice is accessible and consistent with her blog, podcast, and other craft books. If the pattern holds, Weiland will likely have a workbook coming in the next year.

I always have “lightbulb” moments when I read one of Weiland’s craft books and Writing Your Story’s Theme was no exception.

My highest recommendation.

Review of A Time and a Place by Joe Mahoney

/ Melanie Marttila

I promised Joe I’d get the review out before the end of the year. I know, I’m cutting it close.

What the publisher says:

Barnabus’ nephew is behaving oddly.

Calling upon Doctor Humphrey for assistance has not been particularly helpful, because the good doctor’s diagnosis of demonic possession is clearly preposterous. Even the demon currently ensconced on the front room couch agrees it’s preposterous. But then, how else to explain the portal to another world through which his nephew and Humphrey have just now disappeared? Barnabus knows their only chance of rescue is for Barnabus J. Wildebear himself to step up and go through that portal.

Thus begins an existential romp across space and time, trampling on Barnabus’ assumptions about causality, freewill, identity, good, and evil. Can Barnabus save his nephew—and incidentally, all of humanity?

My thoughts:

I liked A Time and a Place and there’s a lot to like in Mahoney’s novel. I loved the T’Klee, the race of alien cats (distantly related to felis catus) with opposable thumbs. At one point in his journey, Barnabus inhabits other animals (including a T’Klee) as part of his education and it reminded me of Merlin teaching Wart about the responsibilities of power in T.H. White’s The Sword in the Stone.

At another point, Barbabus uses his new ability to time travel in an attempt to save his wife before she died. Replaying the events of the night again and again, Barnabus fails, no matter what he attempts to change. This trope alludes to Groundhog Day and serves to reinforce the hypothesis that the past protects itself from interference. But then, Barnabus discovers that others have successfully messed with the timeline, throwing him and that hypothesis under the bus.

Unfortunately, Barnabus seems pulled through the events of the story by external forces and lacks the level of agency I like to see in a protagonist. Much of the time he comes across as bewildered. I actually thought B. Wildebear a clever bit of wordplay until the author disabused me of the notion.

A Time and a Place is a complex story and an ambitious novel, but I found that the execution wasn’t quite up to the premise. It’s still an entertaining and worthwhile story and I hope you consider giving this Canadian speculative novel a read over the holidays.

My rating:

Three out of five stars.

ATimeandaPlace

Book review of The Fated Sky by Mary Robinette Kowal

/ Melanie Marttila

What the publisher says:

TheFatedSkyMary Robinette Kowal continues the grand sweep of alternate history begun in The Calculating Stars, The Fated Sky looks forward to 1961, when mankind is well-established on the moon and looking forward to its next step: journeying to, and eventually colonizing, Mars.

Of course, the noted Lady Astronaut Elma York would like to go, but there’s a lot riding on whoever the International Aerospace Coalition decides to send on this historic—but potentially very dangerous—mission. Could Elma really leave behind her husband and the chance to start a family to spend several years traveling to Mars? And with the Civil Rights movement taking hold all over Earth, will the astronaut pool ever be allowed to catch up, and will these brave men and women of all races be treated equitably when they get there? This gripping look at the real conflicts behind a fantastical space race will put a new spin on our visions of what might have been.

My thoughts:

The Calculating Stars began with the impact of the meteorite. The Fated Sky kicks things into gear with a hostage-taking.

Dr. Elma York, Lady Astronaut and calculator is returning from the moon, a journey that has become routine, when a problem during re-entry sends them off course and into a crash landing. They have to wait for the retrieval crew to find them, but a group of PoC Earth Firsters discover them before the IAC.

Elma manages to diffuse the situation, but the IAC cannot ignore the opportunity to capitalize on the resulting media coverage and places Elma on the first Mars mission, displacing fellow calculator, Helen, who has been training with the rest of the crew for months already.

The rest of the crew resent the substitution and Elma must face the impact her privilege has on the mission. Though she tries to make amends, becoming an ally is not so simple.

Complicating matters, Elma and her husband Nathaniel have to make a decision about their future. If Elma goes to Mars, a round trip that will take years, the chances that they’ll be able to have children upon her return will be greatly reduced. But Mars is Elma’s dream.

Then there’s the Mission’s commander, Stetson Parker, with whom Elma has a complicated history. His misogyny is legendary as is his hatred of Elma. They’ll be in close quarters for the duration of the mission.

And what about Elma’s anxiety? Can she manage it successfully on the journey?

Once they’re underway, though, and beyond the point of return, it becomes apparent that someone is sabotaging the mission.

Kowal has written a wonderful sequel to The Calculating Stars. Her characters continue to be complex and flawed. Even Stetson Parker is not all that he seems. He’s still a horrible person, but he gains dimension. Nathaniel continues to be Elma’s anchor and touchstone and their relationship is an inspiration.

Elma struggles with her limitations and failings, but ultimately, she and her crewmates come together to work the problem and find a solution. Despite the cover, (spoiler warning) Elma doesn’t get to set foot on Mars, but the denouement is no less satisfying for the disappointment.

My rating:

Five out of five stars!

Book review of River of Teeth and Taste of Marrow by Sarah Gailey

/ Melanie Marttila / 1 Comment

I decided to review both of Sarah Gailey’s novellas—currently collected in the volume American Hippo—in one post.

What the publisher says:

River of Teeth:RiverofTeeth

In the early 20th Century, the United States government concocted a plan to import hippopotamuses into the marshlands of Louisiana to be bred and slaughtered as an alternative meat source. This is true.

Other true things about hippos: they are savage, they are fast, and their jaws can snap a man in two.

This was a terrible plan.

Contained within this volume is an 1890s America that might have been: a bayou overrun by feral hippos and mercenary hippo wranglers from around the globe. It is the story of Winslow Houndstooth and his crew. It is the story of their fortunes. It is the story of his revenge.

TasteofMarrowTaste of Marrow:

A few months ago, Winslow Houndstooth put together the damnedest crew of outlaws, assassins, cons, and saboteurs on either side of the Harriet for a history-changing caper. Together they conspired to blow the dam that choked the Mississippi and funnel the hordes of feral hippos contained within downriver, to finally give America back its greatest waterway.

Songs are sung of their exploits, many with a haunting refrain: “And not a soul escaped alive.”

In the aftermath of the Harriet catastrophe, that crew has scattered to the winds. Some hunt the missing lovers they refuse to believe have died. Others band together to protect a precious infant and a peaceful future. All of them struggle with who they’ve become after a long life of theft, murder, deception, and general disinterest in the strictures of the law.

My thoughts:

River of Teeth:

A delightful premise, a diverse cast of characters, and a heckuva lot of interpersonal conflict made this novella an enjoyable read. It’s basically a Mississippian western with hippos. A southern? It’s also a caper plot, something that the characters debate at length, much to the reader’s amusement.

Winslow Houndstooth once had a hippo ranch until it was burned to the ground with his beloved hippos inside and he was forced to leave that idyllic life behind and resume a less reputable one. He’s taken on a commission from the government to blow up the dam that keeps feral hippos trapped in the Mississippi so that the river can be reclaimed for travel and commerce. The owner of a riverboat uses the ferals for his own nefarious ends, however, and he’s not interested in letting Houndstooth and his crew achieve their goal.

And Houndstooth has ulterior motivation: the riverboat owner is also the man responsible for the destruction of his ranch. If he and his crew complete the commission, he can also exact his revenge.

Taste of Marrow:

This novella continues the story of Houndstooth and his crew after the events of River of Teeth. While the dam was destroyed, the chaotic events leading up to that qualified success leave Houndstooth and his crew scattered. Houndstooth is obsessed with finding his lover Hero, denying the possibility that they may be dead. The one crew member with him, Archie, worries for Houndstooth’s sanity.

Meanwhile, Hero travels with Adelia the—retired, she insists—assassin, believing that Houndstooth was blown up along with the dam. With Hero and Adelia is Adelia’s newborn Isabel and when their erstwhile employer kidnaps Isabel to coerce Adelia out of retirement for a very special assassination, it sets Houndstooth and Archie, Hero and Adelia, and the federal Marshall who’s been trying to bring Adelia to justice, on a collision course in Baton Rouge.

My ratings:

Four out of five stars for both!