Nina Gets a Look at Outer Diverse

The universe is a very large place... But if you live in the Outer Diverse, like Galactic Guardian Rhea Hawke, it's even bigger... a lot bigger than she thinks, even... A lot bigger than I think...

I want to share my joy with you today...

I got my first look at Outer Diverse today when my publisher couriered me the proof. It arrived late this morning.

The door bell rang at 11 am and the courier handed me a package. I opened it and stared. The book was beautiful! I knew what it looked like; I'd been confering with the cover illustrator and designer, Costi Gurgu, for months. But I was still unprepared for the real thing. The raw power of the image and how it sat in my hands, soft and sleek and rich with colour.

For a writer, there's nothing quite like it -- seeing your book in its complete form for the first time, the tactile experience of seeing the fruits of your labor of love distilled into this wonderful package. It was a sensual delight that I embraced wholeheartedly. Like giving birth. It really is a lot like giving birth.



I should know. I've published five books. And given birth too. The similarities are, well, pretty similar... hehe... In every case, I felt an overwhelming sense of miraculous accomplishment with the help of very respected and competent individuals, not to say the least a divine hand. I still remember how, after laboring for many hours to deliver my son, I was overcome by such pure joy at seeing him revealed to me for the first time that I wanted 10 more just like him right then and there. As I looked upon the book cradled in my hands I felt the same kind of joy.

A writer writes because she has to. This lovely book in my hands was my reward.


Outer Diverse launches October 15th on Amazon, at Con*Cept and book stores near you. Outer Diverse will be carried by Bakka Phoenix Science Fiction Books in Toronto.

Nina Munteanu is an ecologist and internationally published author of novels, short stories and essays. She coaches writers and teaches writing at George Brown College and the University of Toronto. For more about Nina’s coaching & workshops visit www.ninamunteanu.me. Visit www.ninamunteanu.ca for more about her writing.

Canadian Writers: Call for Submissions for Short Prose Contest

If you're a Canadian writer and you haven't yet published, this contest offered by the Writer's Union of Canada might be for you! It offers a substantial prize of $2,500. Check it out, details below:

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS for the 19th Annual Short Prose Competition for Developing Writers

$2,500 PRIZE

The Writers’ Union of Canada is pleased to announce that submissions are being accepted until November 3, 2011 for the 19th Annual Short Prose Competition for Developing Writers. The winning entry will be the best Canadian work of up to 2,500 words in the English language, fiction or non-fiction, written by an unpublished author.

PRIZE $2,500 for the winning entry, and the entries of the winner and finalists will be submitted to three Canadian magazines.

JURY Writers Kevin Chong, Anne Emery, and Sylvia Fraser will serve as the jury.

ELIGIBILITY This competition is open to all Canadian citizens and landed immigrants who have not had a book published by a commercial or university press in any genre and who do not currently have a contract with a book publisher. Original and unpublished (English language) fiction or non-fiction is eligible.

HOW TO SUBMIT ENTRIES: · Entries should be typed, double-spaced, in a clear twelve-point font, and the pages numbered on 8.5 x 11 paper, not stapled. · Submissions will be accepted in hardcopy only. · Include a separate cover letter with title of story, full name, address, phone number, email address, word count, and number of pages of entry. · Please type the name of entrant and the title of entry on each numbered page. This is not a blind competition. · Make cheque or money order payable to The Writers' Union of Canada. Multiple entries can be submitted together and fees can be added and paid with one cheque or money order, $29 per entry. · Entries must be postmarked by November 3, 2011 to be eligible. ·

Mail entries to: SPC Competition, The Writers’ Union of Canada, 90 Richmond Street East, Suite 200, Toronto, ON M5C 1P1. Results will be posted at www.writersunion.ca in February 2012. Manuscripts will not be returned.

There ya go. Good luck!