Nice morning on the Atlantic Ocean. A cup of tea ☕️🫖, a good read 📚📖, then a walk with Rudy 🐶🐾.
He decided to swim 🌊🐠. Smart doodle.

Next 2️⃣ novels 📚for me ….

Tom Lake is Ann Patchett’s latest. I look forward to seeing her in Newfoundland at @writersatwp in August.

House of Hate by Percy Janes is a Newfoundland & Canadian classic from ‘70 I’m embarrassed to say I’d not heard of. It’s set in a small mill town, like my manuscript.

Thanks KC. Here’s hoping we learn something from one another’s newsletter.

I just subscribed. If you’d like to reciprocate, please sign up to mine via my website brianrendell.com
Best wishes. Brian

Pitched my manuscript to 2 HistFic literary agents this week. Both are intrigued and want to see my manuscript! I should do more pitches at the cottage!

Proud to have received an MFA Fiction degree 🎓 from the University of King’s College yesterday. Congratulations 🎉 to my fellow graduates. Some great writing coming from this group! 📝📚

Yes! Many photos from the archives in my Newfoundland hometown as well as from the British Library.

Many thoughts today as King Charles visits Canada.
Dad was a monarchist; born in ‘30 in Newfoundland, a Dominion of the British Empire. I understand why many Canadians have eschewed an allegiance to the Crown, yet if I had to choose between joining the US or remaining in the Commonwealth? Easy. 🇬🇧 🇨🇦

📚 🚂 I’m taking a literary train ride - two in fact - with Emma Donoghue and Suzette Mayr. Both, fantastic Canadian 🇨🇦 writers of historical fiction.
I’m imagining a writer aboard one of these trains tapping out a story on this Underwood travel typewriter (c.1916).

I returned a book to the U of King’s College library yesterday, the last time as a student. In 3 weeks I’ll become a proud alumnus, a member of the first Fiction cohort to earn an MFA.
And the magnolias? They’re real, and they’re spectacular! 😉

📚Book club before the book 📕 ⁉️
A friend and former colleague asked if I’d be interested in joining her group of bookish friends to talk about the writing life and my manuscript. Of course I said “YES! ✅
Thanks to this group for their support and great questions! 🙋🏽‍♀️🙏🏼

I just submitted my “capstone” manuscript to UKing’s; a requirement to graduate with an MFA in May. 🎓
It’s a full-length work of fiction, at 79,826 words (within the requested maximum of 80k words - a typical novel length). 📖
It’ll be reviewed by one of 6 respected novelists that King’s has engaged.

Received great feedback 🗣️ on my manuscript 📝 yesterday from a professional 🇬🇧 editor as part of a live edit during the History Quill virtual convention.
#writingcommunity

Reese knows how to pick them. Historical fiction based on a true story ➕ A young woman out of her element ➕ On a remote island near Canada. Epic.
Congratulations Allegra Goodman.
#booksky

Loving positivity, creativity, support, learning and joy on a virtual writing retreat hosted by The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast hosts. >200 international participants. Much better than watching the news.
#deepdive2025

Looking forward to Deep Diving this weekend with the gang from “The Shit No One Tells You About Writing.”My manuscript logline may get critiqued. Wish me luck and tell me what you think…
#theshitaboutwriting
#writingcommunity

I hear you @xtnaboyd.bsky.social . My dad passed away in October, yet 2024 also had so many positive moments. My word for 2025 is “focus.” With draft one of my first manuscript complete, I want to focus on making it as good as possible and find the right agent. It starts in 2025!

Upmarket historical fiction writers….!? ✍️ 📚
Are you out there? 👋
I’m editing my dual timeline manuscript (beginning of the 20th century as well as late 60s/early 70s) set in Newfoundland and England. I’m at 499 followers and would love your help to get over the 500 threshold this weekend!
#booksky

I normally don’t post birthday pictures but I couldn’t resist this one…Rudy is 5 today!
He was being pretty patient waiting for his birthday cookie!

Pitched my upmarket historical fiction manuscript,
THE GRANDEST FALLS,
to a senior literary agent & an editor of a big 5 publisher in Toronto this week.

I received upbeat feedback👏🏻 & points 🛠️to improve my submission package when it’s ready.

Did the same last year to NYC agent as part of my MFA.

My grandfather, as a member of the Newfoundland Regiment during WWI, fought at Gallipoli in 1915. He’s the inspiration for one of the protagonists in my manuscript in progress.

I’m going to be diving on Feb 1st and 2nd… “literally”!
#dds2025excited
#theshitaboutwriting

Publication, UnHerd, compared Musk’s and Northcliffe’s influence on 🇬🇧 politics.
More comparisons:
Northcliffe - aeroplane obsessed and seized control of The Times (London).
Musk - space obsessed and grabbed control of X.
Northcliffe curated my Newfoundland hometown.
Musk…? 😱
brianrendell.com

Great Holiday Albums

Have you discovered new holiday🎄 music 🎵 this year? I love Ben Folds’ new album “Sleigher” which is laid back and smooth. Prior to that, my most played holiday record was Ingrid Michaelson’s “Songs for the Season” which is nostalgic and lush.

bsky.app/profile/dint.... Very pleased my essay on writing and editing a manuscript has been published by @dintywmoore.bsky.social.
#historicalfiction

an older man with glasses and a plaid shirt says too old am i ? ALT: an older man with glasses and a plaid shirt says too old am i ?

Too old to debut as a novelist at 56? Just watch me! A well meaning thirtysomething on Threads suggested even a 39 year-old could be a debut novelist. 😱 I’m 39 with 17 years of added experience. 😉
Who else is out there in my position?

Ice cream for everyone?

I’m not quite ready yet, but will have my historical fiction manuscript polished and ready to pitch by then (if not before). I’m sure you’ll struggle to sleep until you hear it… 😊 😉

Looking forward to meeting you at the Historical Novel Society conference in June. My HF manuscript will be scrubbed and ready to go by then.

I call it “Canadiana on wet Subaru.” I’ll throw in a roll of 🦍 tape. Let the bidding begin!