Another BCer Novel

I received this email yesterday.

Great News.

At the last count that makes about three dozen published books by BCers and ex-BCers


Dear Alex,

I was a boot camper for a short period of time about eight years ago. Your straighforward feedback, honest and thorough, pushed me to become a better writer very fast. It also helped me to learn to accept criticism in a productive manner--I don't sulk much.

I left the bootcamp about seven years ago when my first daughter was born, and took a break from writing. Four years ago I started writing seriously again. It felt like I never stopped--everything I learned was still there.

I write flash fiction and short stories. The flash 'Snowrise' was nominated for the Pushcart Prize, and also won the Evelyn Sullivan Gilbertson Award to an Emerging Artist in literature.

I just learned that my novel, Swearing in Russian at the Northern Lights, was accepted for publication by Invisible Publishing (Canada). The novel is set in the Canadian arctic, and the protagonist is a Russian woman. No, it is not autobiographical, though I'm Russian and I lived in Iqaluit for three years. The pubication is slotted for the spring of 2011.

I wanted to share this good news with you. Because of you I didn't waste years as a hopeful beginner, struggling with the craft. I moved forward fast, feeling I gained a firm base in the fundamentals of creative writing.

Thanks for everything,

Ania