WordCraft

Episode Summary:There are few Canadians with as much editing mentorship on their resume as Brian Henry. Theman behind the Quick Brown Fox blog has helped thousands with his newsletters and onlineresources, as well as nearly three decades as an editor, writer, and creative writing instructor.While he was facilitating several workshops for WFNB, he sat down with Jenna to talk about theprocess of finding – and becoming! – an editor and the importance of paying attention to detailin your work.Credits:Host: Jenna MortonGuest: Brian HenryTechnical Production: Tosh TaylorWordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, whichacknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional uncededterritory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples.

Robert J. Sawyer is perhaps Canada’s most decorated science fiction writer. He has 25 novelspublished, is a prolific contributor to magazines and anthologies, and has received the HugoAward, the Nebula Award, the John W. Campbell Memorial Award, and multiple AuroraAwards, among other accolades. He’s also the keynote speaker and workshop leader at WFNB’s2026 WordSpring. In advance of his visit, we asked him to share some thoughts for this podcast.Credits:Host: Jenna MortonGuest: Robert J. SawyerTechnical Production: Tosh TaylorWordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, whichacknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional uncededterritory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples.

Episode Summary:The tenth annual New Brunswick Book Awards were handed out in May 2025, celebrating writing excellence in poetry, fiction, nonfiction and books for young readers. In this episode, we hear from two of the four award winners about the impact of the awards. Featured in this episode are Michael Pacey, whose Van Gogh’s Grasshopper won the Fiddlehead Poetry Book Prize, and Keith Helmuth, part of the writing team behind Tappan Adney: From Birchbark Canoes to Indigenous Rights, winner of the Writer’s Federation of New Brunswick’s Non-fiction Award.Credits:Host: Jenna MortonGuest(s): Michael Pacey, Keith HelmuthTechnical Production: Tosh TaylorWordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, which acknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples.

The tenth annual New Brunswick Book Awards were handed out in May 2025, celebrating writing excellence in poetry, fiction, nonfiction and books for young readers. In our next two episodes, we hear from the winners about the impact of being recognized for their work. Featured in this episode are Nelson Keane, whose debut novel, Nachzehrer (published by Galleon), won the 2025 Mrs. Dunster’s Award for Fiction, sponsored by Mrs. Dunster’s Bakery, and Valerie Sherrard, who won the inaugural Books for Young Readers Award, sponsored by JD Irving Ltd., for her novel, An Unbalanced Force (published by DCB Cormorant).Credits:Host: Jenna MortonGuest(s): Nelson Keane, Valerie SherrardTechnical Production: Tosh TaylorWordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, which acknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples. 

Episode Summary:To mark the 10th anniversary of its creation, WFNB is proud to shine a light on the history and future of the New Brunswick Book Awards. Host Jenna Morton brings together original committee members Ross Leckie, Ian LeTourneau, Rosalyn Hyslop, and Rayanne Brennan to reminisce, sharing a behind-the-scenes look at how the awards first came together, how they’ve evolved, and what they hope New Brunswick writers are gaining from the celebration of their works.Credits:Host: Jenna MortonGuest(s): Rayanne Brennan, Rosalyn Hyslop, Ross Leckie, Ian LeTourneauTechnical Production: Tosh TaylorWordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, which acknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples.

Episode Summary:Emerging writers in New Brunswick might at first be wary of the word competition – butprevious participants in the WFNB’s annual Writing Competition say the experience helpedthem find community and confidence while opening doors for future opportunities. Listen asJenna Morton talks with Thomas Chamberlain, who turned an Honourable Mention into a 2 ndplace and a book deal for his debut novel, Happenstance, followed by Teresa Wu, the 2024winner of the Sheree Fitch Prize, who credits the WFNB for kickstarting a love of sharing herwriting with the world.Credits:Host: Jenna MortonGuest(s): Thomas Chamberlain, Teresa WuTechnical Production: Tosh TaylorWordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, whichacknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional uncededterritory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples.

Episode Summary:One of the best ways to encourage writing and illustrating in the next generation is to put thoseprofessionals in classrooms with students. That’s just what the Writers in the Schools Program(WiSP) has been doing in New Brunswick for nearly 50 years! WiSP is funded through theprovincial Department of Education and spans read aloud sessions, writing workshops,publishing discussions, and more.Host Jenna Morton speaks with WiSP coordinator, Ginny Hill, and WFNB members, ValerieSherrard & Kelly Cooper, who share their experiences participating in the program and itsimportance in creating a community that supports writing.Credits:Host: Jenna MortonGuest(s): Ginny Hill, Valerie Sherrard, Kelly CooperTechnical Production: Tosh TaylorWordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, whichacknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional uncededterritory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples.

“It thrilled me to realize you could write about where you lived.” Ann BrennanImagine a room filled with New Brunswick’s literary masters – teenage Sheree Fitch and DavidAdams Richards sitting alongside Alden Nowlan. Nancy Bauer takes us back to that reality in herliving room, hosting Maritime Writers’ Workshops in the 1970s and paving the way for thecreation of the Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick in 1985. She’s joined by Ann Brennan andAllan Cooper, who both played a role in the WFNB’s founding and early days. The trio reflect onthe creation and legacy of the WFNB with host Jenna Morton.“A sense of community began to grow … [the Federation] was the perfect vehicle to do what Ibelieved in so strongly -- that we need our stories, our local stories, to be told.”Credits:Host: Jenna MortonGuest(s): Nancy Bauer, Ann Brennan, Allan CooperTechnical Production: Tosh TaylorWordCraft is a project of the non-profit Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, whichacknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and gather is the traditional uncededterritory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples.

Sue Sinclair and Jenna Morton discuss the art and practice of writing in New Brunswick, emphasising the importance of creating time and space for reflection upon life - and the unique way in which writing and reading can fulfil this need. They highlight the influence of place, purpose, and the vulnerability of putting one's work into the world. Sinclair emphasises the significance of community and a sense of place in her own writing process, underscoring the way that an energised and active w...

The Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.Learn more about the WFNB at www.wfnb.ca

Terry Armstrong discusses his diverse writing career, from songwriting to novel writing and scriptwriting. He shares his initial inspiration from a college professor and the importance of both positive and negative feedback in his development. Terry emphasises the value of alpha readers and the importance of writing for an audience, not just for oneself. He highlights the opportunities in New Brunswick for writers, despite the challenges, and stresses the need for writers to market their work...

Jenna Morton and Jennifer McGrath discuss the importance of embracing creative flexibility in writing, encouraging listeners to explore different genres and styles of writing without feeling guilty and taking advantage of the generous writing community in our region.. Jen stresses the value of not letting ego get in the way of creativity and exploring different sandboxes to foster more creativity. They talk about the significance of children's literature in fostering creativity, processing th...

Guest, Len Falkenstein - Director of Drama at UNB and New Brunswick Playwright - discusses the importance of developing new plays by New Brunswick writers and the value of creating work rooted in the province's unique cultural and political environment. Falkenstein shares his insights on the future of playwriting in New Brunswick, expressing hope for continued growth and diversity in the theatre scene with more opportunities for emerging writers and a greater representation of marginalised vo...

Leo LaFleur discusses the intersections of creativity and mental health with host Jenna Morton, sharing personal experiences and perspectives from his life. He emphasises the importance of creative expression and support systems in overcoming mental health challenges, and in finding and developing your creative voice. In the second part of the conversation, Leo discusses his collaborative work on multimedia projects and the value of collaboration, vulnerability, and a tremendous support syste...

Jenna Morton and Beth Powning discuss the writer's duty to the reader, emphasising honesty, empathy, and creating a satisfying reading experience. Beth shares her experiences as a writer from New Brunswick, highlighting the importance of the relationship between the writer and reader, the importance of observation in writing, and the power of words - particularly in difficult times. She also discusses overcoming writer's block and shares her personal experience of acting as an ambassado...