Global Chorus now available for preorder!

Anyone who knows me, knows just how much the Global Chorus project means to me. It was a huge undertaking, as Global Chorus consists of 365 contributors. The book is comprised of a personal essay for each day of the year, with each contributor answering these questions: “Do you think that humanity can find a way past the current global environmental and social crises? Will we be able to create the conditions necessary for our own survival, as well as that of other species on the planet? What would these conditions look like? In summary, then, and in the plainest of terms, do we have hope, and can we do it?”
It has been awe-inspiring seeing this book come together. So many influential and brilliant people came on board for this project. From Jane Goodall to Nelson Mandela, to Jamie Oliver and Vivienne Westwood, there is an eclectic bunch of contributors and varying opinions found within the pages of GC. I have been working with Todd for over a year and a half on this book, and I couldn’t be more elated that the publication date is just around the corner.

As an agent, this is the kind of project you typically only get to dream about working on. I am so incredibly proud of Todd and all the work he has done to make sure that this book became a reality, and I am grateful that he chose me to represent him on this project. This is a book that has the potential to inspire change, and it is my hope that the messages contained in Global Chorus spread like wild fire; inspiring its readers to live more sustainably and adopt a more conscientious lifestyle that caters to the environment, allowing the planet to thrive rather than suffer in our wake.

And so it is with great pleasure, that I can announce that Global Chorus is now available for preorders via Indigo and Amazon! With an October publication date, Global Chorus will soon be available for purchase in bookstores across North America. Preordering is the best way to ensure that you will get a copy of the book as soon as it is released, and so I advise you to head on over to Indigo or Amazon to purchase a copy today!

Freelancer a go go

It’s been a project in the making, but I finally set aside the time, and just this afternoon slapped together a blog devoted to my freelance editorial work. Bear with me, as the site is still very much under construction. Nevertheless, I figured there was no better time than to announce that I am making attempts to take on the role of editor as more of a daily occupation than before.  Over the years, I have discovered that editing truly is my niche. I feel the most comfortable with this side of publishing, and I feel this is where I excel. I have always enjoyed the process of taking something, tinkering and reworking it, and making it into a stronger and more accessible version of itself. Having a voracious appetite for literature, editing has always been the most rewarding aspect of being an agent, as it has allowed me to engage a work in a way that simply reading it and promoting it could not.

Over the years, I have edited a wide variety of materials. Whether it has been press releases, magazine/newspaper articles, book reviews, resumes, cover letters, manuscripts or dissertations, I have always enjoyed the work.

So please hop on over to my new blog, and if you know of anyone requiring any editorial assistance on their work please refer them to my page.

Savvy editor at your service

Cheers!

THE GOLDFINCH by Donna Tartt

“Use Grammarly’s online proofreader because your other option is auto-correct, and it’s error-atic at best.”

It’s been a long time coming. Both this book, and my review of it.

In fact, I waited over a decade for Ms. Tartt to publish the follow-up to her acclaimed novel The Little Friend. When I discovered via PM that her new book The Goldfinch was slated to be published at the end of 2013, I was ecstatic. I quickly made note of the publication date, and started to count down the days until I would have her new book in my hands. There was some trepidation with regards to whether or not I should allow myself to get so excited about her new work. She hadn’t published anything in over a decade, and I was worried that the book would not stand up to its hype. Fortunately, my anxiety was all for nought. By all accounts, The Goldfinch is Ms. Tartt’s best work to date. The eleven year wait was well worth it, and I would gladly wait another decade for her next book if it is anywhere near as engaging and entertaining as her latest.

When I refer to The Goldfinch as being Ms. Tartt’s best work to date, I am referring to the fact that there is a maturity to the work that wasn’t present in her last two books. Not just a maturity to the writing itself, but to the characters as well. Not to imply that her previous characters were one-dimensional in any shape or form, but rather her latest work stars characters that are fuller, fleshier in the space they take up on the page. These characters have truly lived. They are marked by a beauty and tragedy of life in a way her previous characters were not.  And it makes sense. Ms. Tartt has lived more herself. And in the way her own person has been marked by a fuller life , so too have her characters.

I do not wish to reveal any of the plot for those who have not read the book yet. All I will say, is that by far the character that stole the show for me was Boris. In my opinion, he drove the narrative and stole the limelight in every scene he starred in. There were only a few points in the book where the plot started to lag, and whenever I would start to feel myself pulling away from the narrative, Boris would appear on the scene and catapult me right back into the thick of things. Speaking of the beauty and tragedy that can be found in life, Boris was the epicentre; in that his life was built on equal parts of all that is beautiful and tragic in this world. And therein lies the tragi-comedy that makes The Goldfinch such a spectacular read. When you recognize the world for what it is, you can’t help but laugh. And although The Goldfinch has its fair share of somber moments, there is a strong undercurrent of humour pulsating throughout the entire novel with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

These are characters you emotionally connect with, and form attachments to. I shared in Theo Decker’s anxiety as he navigates the seedy underbelly of the art world. I felt my heart break on numerous occasions for both Theo and Boris as they leave their messed up adolescence behind and attempt to forge new lives for themselves in their adulthood. And every time they falter, you wish you could step in and steer them in a better direction. I would go so far as to say that we all have a bit of Theo and Boris in us, and in the people we know in our real lives. We’re all broken in our own way, and it was refreshing to see such heavily flawed characters honestly portrayed on the page.

Just buy the book. You won’t regret it.

Happy holidays from one librocubicularist to the next.

To my clients & readers,

I wish you the merriest holiday, and the happiest new year!

I hope you are spending this holiday season with all of your loved ones, surrounded by delightful treats and festive ornaments. But most importantly, I hope you are in possession of a good book (or two). There is nothing better than curling up near the fireplace and delving into the interior lives of the characters on the page. Whatever your cup of tea, always make time for those literary goodies!

There were so many fantastic books published this year, it was hard to select just one as my xmas read for the holidays. Typically I always choose quality over quantity, although I must admit, I do have a thing for big books. Like C.S. Lewis, I am of the mindset that there will never be a large enough cup of tea or book long enough to suit me. But this year I didn’t have to choose between the two, thanks to Donna Tartt and her latest ‘The Goldfinch’. Not only is the book being praised as a literary triumph, but it is comprised of nearly 900 pages. If you have the time to invest in a book of this magnitude, I highly recommend you do so.

What book will be accompanying you this holiday season?

All Hallow’s Read

As it is Halloween, I thought I would share some literary treats for you to enjoy!

First up, we have a series of morbid, yet beautiful poems via Flavorwire. Get cozy in an armchair and lose yourself in these poems about death & dying. The perfect way to celebrate the day of the dead! http://flavorwire.com/422783/10-beautiful-poems-about-death/view-all/

Immediately after reading these hauntingly tragic poems, I recommend inserting some comic relief into your day by perusing these hilarious ‘Shopping for groceries with the romantic poets’ sketches by cartoonist Jason Novak. http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2013/10/25/shopping-for-groceries-with-the-romantic-poets/

And if sharing + scary books are  your thing, you should definitely check out Neil Gaiman’s Halloween initiative to get scary books into the hands of children, which he hopes will become a Halloween tradition in the years to come. As a kid, I would have loved to have received some scary books/comics while trick or treating. I think it’s a great idea, and I hope it takes off! http://www.allhallowsread.com

And because I love Henri — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_fUsssnHPw

Q

I am very excited to announce that my author Todd MacLean, Editor-in-Chief of Global Chorus, is going to be interviewed by Jian Ghomeshi on Q!

The interview will be done in front of a live hometown audience in PEI on November 7th at Confederation Centre, and aired on Friday, November 8th.

I am thrilled by the fantastic coverage Global Chorus has been receiving, and I can only imagine that Todd’s interview with Jian is going to catapult the project into the limelight on a much grander scale. An important book like this deserves an international spotlight on it. This is a book that has the potential to inspire change and make a real impact on an  environmental and global level, and I am so proud of Todd and all that he has accomplished! It’s been such an honour being involved on such an important project.

But don’t just take my word for it. To learn more about Global Chorus, tune in on the 8th!

http://www.cbc.ca/q/blog/2013/09/12/q-live-in-pei/

Home

Global Chorus finds a home at Rocky Mountain Books!

I am very pleased to announce that Global Chorus has found a home with the West Coast Canadian publisher Rocky Mountain Books http://www.rmbooks.com

Global Chorus contains contributions from some of the world’s most renowned leaders such as David Suzuki, Jane Goodall, Nelson Mandela, and Stephen Hawking, who have come together to give their honest opinion on the fate of the planet and whether or not there is still indeed hope for a healthy and reciprocal relationship with our planet earth. The individual essays are framed as a set of 365 daily meditations, thereby providing a practical means for readers to ingest this diversity of thoughts and ideas. In this way, Global Chorus is sure to be shocking in its truths and predictions, as well as inspirational and motivational in its messages of hope and optimism.

We are at a critical point in our civilization; garnering the appropriate knowledge to shield ourselves is no longer enough: we must apply it. We need to adopt a more minimalistic approach to our lives; strive for that reciprocal relationship with the planet: tread lightly. E.F. Schumacher was absolutely correct when he stated that ‘ the concentration and expansion of needs is the antithesis of wisdom; it is also the antithesis of freedom and peace’, and that ‘Ever bigger machines, entailing ever bigger concentrations of economic power and exerting ever greater violence against the environment, does not represent progress: they are a denial of wisdom.’ This sentiment brings to mind the great Law of the Iroquois that states, “In our every deliberation, we must consider the impacts of our decisions on the next seven generations.”

Global Chorus is not only going to highlight these issues; the individual essays are there to act as a guide for readers on how to build a more sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship between themselves and the planet.

This is our most pivotal hour. What we need most is to spark imaginations, to ignite our passions. We need to raise our voices in a global chorus.

My Heart Is Not My Own Toronto Book Launch

 

 

 

 

My Heart Is Not My Own hits bookshelves…

Michael’s book hits bookshelves across Canada starting tomorrow, and I cannot stress how beneficial it would be to you and your bookshelf if you were to acquire a copy of My Heart Is Not My Own.

I think it’s safe to assume that everyone who worked on this book is super excited to see the end result hit bookstores tomorrow. Beyond the excitement, I know we are all (Penguin, and The Rights Factory) of the opinion that this book is special and deserving of attention, and we are hopeful that the readers will share in our enthusiasm. I truly do foresee great things for Michael and this book!

To better promote My Heart Is Not My Own, Penguin has launched some book events out West. As his agent, I wanted the book to receive some coverage in the Toronto area, and so our agency is hosting a book launch for Michael at Type Books on September, 23rd. If you are interested in attending the event at Type, please drop me a line at drea@therightsfactory.com and I will add you to the mailing list for the official evite.

To further promote the book, Michael is going to be a contributing editor to the National Post for four articles starting August 6th and running until August 9th. I will be posting the links on here and via Twitter.

I am just so thrilled for Michael, and am so happy that we’ve had this opportunity to work together. I am also incredibly grateful to Adrienne Kerr over at Penguin for spotting the potential in M’s work and taking the time to work with Michael to make the book the best that it could be. I will no doubt be rushing into several of Toronto’s bookstores tomorrow to see where the book has been placed (and maybe pulling a Celeste, and moving the book to the staff picks area) and have already pitched the book as a fall read for multiple Toronto based book clubs who seem eager to get their hands on a copy.

My Heart Is Not My Own can be found in all good Canadian bookstores starting August 6th, 2013. The book will also be available for purchase on Amazon. But I would urge you to buy a copy from your favourite indie bookstore. Please support the independents, and keep the indie bookstores doors open.

Speaking of independent bookstores, this is a video Type Books created last year. I think it is going to be the perfect venue for the launch! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKVcQnyEIT8

Introduction to Global Chorus

Besides my obvious love of literature, another one of my passions in life is the environment. In everything I do, I strive to lead a sustainable lifestyle. As of late, it has been a dream of mine to represent more non-fiction projects. Specifically, non-fiction works that deal in some way with the environment. 

So you can imagine my joy, when I was approached to rep a book that deals directly with the topic of the current state of the environment, and whether or not there is hope that our planet will still be inhabitable for generations to come. 

From the Global Chorus website:

Today we are confronting the greatest challenge ever faced by a group of beings in the 4 billion year history of this planet: how to ensure not only the survival of the human race but the preservation of the rest of life on Earth.

Little by little, we have broadened our understanding of humanity’s role in determining the fate of the planet and its species. But this awareness hasn’t clearly translated into collective action. We have yet to bring together into one boundary-crossing book the visionaries of our times, our brightest minds, our most influential leaders, our most passionate voices. And now more than ever we need to hear their counsel on the future of the planet.

Global Chorus: A 365-Person Anthology of Worldwide Concern and Enduring Hopewill give us this chance.

How it is being done is simple. 365 people from all over the world are in the process of being contacted with invitations for responses for Global Chorus. The invitation list includes writers, environmentalists, spiritual leaders, politicians, professors, doctors, athletes, businesspeople, farmers, chefs, yogis, painters, architects, musicians, TV personalities, humanitarians, children, concerned students and senior citizens, carpenters, factory workers, activists, CEO’s, scientists, and essentially those who have something passionate and insightful to say about humanity’s place upon Earth. Well known people on the list include environmentalists such as David Suzuki, Paul Hawken and Jane Goodall; scientists such as Stephen Hawking and Edward O. Wilson; celebrities such as Robert Redford, Oprah Winfrey, and Bono; humanitarians such as Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu; political figures such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Prince Charles and Elizabeth May; writers like Dave Eggers and Eric Schlosser; and spiritual leaders like The Dalai Lama, Eckhart Tolle, and Thich Nhat Hanh.

Each contributor will provide a one-page response to the following line of questioning:

 “Do you think that humanity can find a way past the current global environmental and social crises? Will we be able to create the conditions necessary for our own survival, as well as that of other species on the planet? What would these conditions look like? In summary, then, and in the plainest of terms, do we have hope, and can we do it?”

Responses will be framed as a set of 365 daily meditations, thereby providing a practical means for readers to ingest this diversity of thoughts and ideas. In this way, Global Chorus is sure to be both shocking in its truths and predictions as well as inspirational in its messages of hope and optimism.

The man responsible for bringing this awe-inspiring project to life is Todd MacLean. Todd is a writer, freelance journalist, and musician based out of P.E.I. I have been working with him for a few months now, and it has been such a pleasure participating in this project. 

To promote GC, Todd is being interviewed tomorrow morning on Island Morning on CBC 96.1 at 8:15 am Atlantic time. If you are unable to catch it live, there should be a podcast made available so that you can tune in that way. 

It is our hope that this interview (with more to come in the future) will spread the word on just how timely and important Global Chorus’ message is. To learn more about the project/book, go to the Global Chorus website: http://globalchorus.ca/

The book is currently out on submission, with interest from a lovely publisher from out west. We are hopeful that a partnership will soon be forged, taking GC to the next level.