These are some of the writers who have already reserved their spot. There are only 3 spaces still available (as of July 6). Register now before it’s too late!
Julie Achtermeier is the mother of two young children, ages 2 and 6. She participated in her first MNM when she was pregnant with Reid, now 2. Last year she self-published a cookbook with two other women on healthy eating and cooking with the seasons. She is also a breast cancer survivor and plans to write her story during the MNM.
Jocelyn Adams is a local author of fantasy and romance novels. Her debut novel, The Glass Man, will be released Oct. 15, 2011 with J. Taylor Publishing. Six of her stories will be published this year in Roar and Thunder Magazine, the Midwest Literary Review’s Winter Canons anthology, the Red Penny Paper, Pill Hill’s Sinisterotica anthology, Hall Brothers Entertainment’s Villainy anthology and Wicked East Press’ Twisted Fairy Tales Volume 2 anthology. She’s participating in the MNM to help support literacy programs in the area, as well as to meet some other local writers.
Martin Avery, MFA, has 75 books on Amazon, was a founder of the MNM, led it for years, and only missed one. After the marathon, he’s leading a writing workshop in Parry Sound, then heading to China. His new book, Who-Has-Passed-The-Wind, is nominated for the Leacock Award.
Martha Batiz is a Mexican-Canadian who has been hooked on the MNM since 2003, when she arrived to live in the GTA. This will be her fourth marathon, and she loves it! ¡Viva el maratón!
Susan Blakeney is a writer of fiction for children and young adults. 2011 represents her third year as a novel marathoner. This event provides a fantastic opportunity to give back and to write surrounded by contagious creativity and caring, fun-loving spirits.
Paula Boon writes fiction and non-fiction for all ages and has recently been combining words with art. “Consider,” her joint show with fibre artist Marni Martin, is on exhibit at the Chapel Gallery in Bracebridge until July 23. This is her fifth marathon as a participant and second as co-convener.
Sandra Clarke is a nervous first-time participant in the MNM. Her novels incorporate a hint of paranormal, a whisper of suspense, and a taste of romance. Sandra’s 2011 goals include supporting a great cause and working outside her comfort zone to complete her third full-length manuscript of the year.
This will be Kevin Craig’s fourth Muskoka Novel Marathon. He has won the Best Adult Novel award twice. Last year, Kevin won the Best Young Adult Novel award. Kevin’s first novel, Summer on Fire, was just published by Museitup Publishing (get it here). Kevin is also a poet and playwright.
Alison Doucette is a 16-year-old writer who lives in Aurora with her two siblings. She has been writing for about two years, but this is the first marathon she has competed in. She has entered the MNM in order to meet other writers.Pat Flewelling, from Montreal, loves genre and classical fiction, especially science fiction and mysteries. As well as radio plays, novels and short stories, Pat writes blog posts. The 2011 marathon will be her third, and she hopes to win the Most Prolific Award again this year.
This will be Lisa Gillan’s first novel marathon. She mainly writes poetry and short stories (usually for children). She has been wanting to tackle a novel for some time, so she is looking forward to immersing herself in an atmosphere that will force her to concentrate on that goal.
Dawn Huddlestone writes whatever her muse tells her to. Usually that means adult fiction but she has also felt compelled to try spoken word poetry, children’s fiction and the occasional limerick. Her manuscript Wry Bread won the Adult category at MNM 2009. This is Dawn’s 4th novel marathon.
An elementary school teacher prophesized that Constance Knighton would be a writer one day. A family therapist by training, she has published articles, children’s stories, poems and a book, The Dawsonwood Diaries, in 2006. Connie’s first marathon in 2008 produced Tout Bagay, a novel about Haiti. She enjoys the discipline which the marathon imposes on writers and is participating this year to give birth to an idea which has been gestating for years.
This is Sharon Ledwith’s eighth year as either a participant or an organizer for the Muskoka Novel Marathon. When possible, she works diligently on her young adult time travel fantasy series or her teen psychic mystery series. Her goal is to launch these series as e-books within the next year.
Laura Litchfield’s day job with a trade association consists of a lot of dry report and newsletter writing. She is looking forward to changing gears by spending three whole days writing fiction, and she hopes she can rise to the challenge. This is her first Muskoka Novel Marathon.
Singer songwriter Linda McLean was introduced to the MNM when founding member novelist Mel Malton mentioned it over a beer one evening. Last year, on an impulse, Linda decided to try the marathon for herself. “I wanted to find out how writing a novel compares to writing a song,” she said. With an opening sentence and barely an idea of what might come, she focused on the flow of writing and the first 220-page draft titled Of Wives and Daughters was born. This year Linda has less time and a deeper understanding of how demanding this Muskoka Novel Writing Marathon is, but she’s set to join the inspiring gang of relentless writers anyways. May the flow be with her.
Over the years, solo and with various other authors, Shirley Meier has published seven novels and a number of poetry books. Her latest fiction is Sparks in the Wind at Amazon.com. She is writing Eclipse Court online at www.eclipsecourt.blogspot.com. She has swung a sword professionally on a movie set, studied karate and shiatsu, taught women, children and the differently-abled self defense, rolled off the back of a horse more than once and found out how much fun hang-gliding is.
Jacqui Morrison is attending her fourth Muskoka Novel Marathon. She writes detective fiction, young adult mystery, and dabbles in poetry. Jacqui’s first novel, Kaitlyn Wolfe, Crown Attorney, won the Best Fiction for Central and Eastern Canada at the IPPY awards in 2009.
Evelyn Pollock retired recently to pursue her life-long hobbies of painting and writing. Now her cards read ‘Artist.’ She chairs an art association, belongs to the local writers’ group, plays with paints, runs workshops in her country studio, exhibits and occasionally sells her paintings, and amuses herself attending writing workshops and writing short and long stories – slices-of- life. This is her fourth marathon.
Tim Rice is trying to figure out what colour blue is in his world. This is his first Muskoka Novel Marathon.
This is Maurice Rose’Meyer’s first marathon. He has published three books, Adventure in the Air, Rhyme and Reason and Project Silver Bullet. He intends to write a sequel to Project Silver Bullet. It will provide his version of life in the 26th century and give the book a kick start.
To write a story and have someone read it, with their undivided attention, smiling or crying as they turn the pages, anticipating her next written word… that is exhilarating to Lori Twining. Add writing it in Muskoka surrounded by 31 other writers, in 72 hours, and it will be an amazing experience that she will never forget.
Karen Wehrstein has published two solo novels (Lion’s Heart and Lion’s Soul) and one collaborative novel (Shadow’s Son with Shirley Meier and S.M. Stirling) in the science fiction/fantasy genre, as well as several short stories. She has written more than a million words online since March 2009 at www.chevenga.com. She also does freelance journalism for Muskoka Magazine and other publications.
Raphael Wehrstein is 13 and was diagnosed with autism at age three. His creative urge showed itself at a very early age, manifesting as pursuits in art and music, but more recently he has expanded that to writing, working hard on a Wild West adventure book with text and pictures, The Legend of Sheriff Frog. He attends Riverside Public School in Huntsville where he is integrated into a regular classroom with educational-assistant support. This is his first novel marathon.
This is Kate Wheatley’s first marathon. She enjoys writing both fiction and non-fiction, but she’ll be attempting to write a novel in the 2011 MNM. She tends to be rather long-winded at times, so finishing will be an impossible challenge! She is looking forward to expanding her skills in writing and feel that this compressed time will be just the kick she needs.
Shellie Yaworski lives in Cambridge, Ontario. She writes children’s fantasy, and when not writing she is usually either reading or attempting to coax things to grow in her tiny backyard garden. This is her third marathon.
A dewy-eyed rookie at last year’s Muskoka Novel Marathon, Collette Yvonne is coming back this year to write like a good Bordeaux blend. She’s going to crush handfuls of purple-prosed word grapes and ferment them in aromatic Muskokan oak for three concentrated BIC days. Expect plenty of dark chocolate on the nose and fresh raw tannins.