Hi there!

This week's literary fiction newsletter is packed with some interesting things that I trust you'll find most entertaining. As usual, I'll first present to you the latest article from the literary fiction site: My list of Canadian Literary Classics from the early 20th century.

Do you desire to know more about Canadian literature and culture, but not sure which Canadian fiction would make a great read? The article in the link below is a list of classic Canadian reads that were published in the early 20th century, and are worth reading at least once in a reader's lifetime.

Check it out: Canadian Literary Classics - Early 20th century
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art50528.asp


WORD FOR THE WEEK (Dictionary.reference.com)
>> mordacious [mawr-DEY-shuhs] Adjective

Meaning: biting; sharp or caustic in tone
Synonym: sharp, severe, sarcastic
Antonym: cooperative, gentle


LITERATURE NEWS

> {Tucsonweekly.com} Elmore Leonard, one of literature's best-known crime authors and father of Tucsonan Chris Leonard, died on Wednesday, August 21st, at his home in Bloomfield Village, Michigan. Leonard was working on his 46th novel before he suffered a stroke earlier in the month. He was 87.

> {Scotsman.com} Scottish crime writer Ian Rankin has revealed that he'll be taking a year off writing in order to 'recharge his batteries', to prevent any health scares. According to Rankin, 53, he doesn't want to 'drop dead slumped over [his] desk', as it seemed to have happened with two of his fellow author friends, Gavin Wallace who died aged 53, and Iain Banks who died aged 59. He also reveals that he will be tackling the Scottish Independence referendum in his upcoming new Rebus novel (series).

> {Thisissouthwales.co.uk} E L James' 'Fifty Shades' books have been crowned the best-selling books of all time in Wales and most other UK region. 47 per cent of Welsh readers now choose steamy as their top choice of books to pack while going away on vacation and holidays.


AUTHOR BIRTHDAYS AUG 25-SEPT 1

August 25 - Brian Moore
August 28 - Robertson Davies
August 28 - Leo Tolstoy
August 28 - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
August 29 - Maurice Maeterlinck
August 29 - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
August 30 - Mary Shelley
September 1 - Edgar Rice Burroughs


EDITOR-RECOMMENDED RANDOM FUN ACTIVITY

Learn to say 'Thank you' and 'I love you' in a foreign language this week. Practice them on the people you're most thankful for and whom you care about; a loved one, a spouse, a parent, a child, a good friend. It's fun, educational, and absolutely exciting! So let's do it. This week.


LIFE QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

Life isn't meant to be easy, it's meant to be lived...sometimes happy, other times rough. But with every up and down you learn lessons that make you strong.
--- Unknown


ABOUT THE CONTEST

In the last newsletter, I had made mention of a new series of contests that I'll be holding every 6 weeks. I'd absolutely love for you to participate! Here's how the contest will go: There will be two questions, and you'll have the choice to answer one of the two. One question will be about a particular theme, and you will relate the theme to any book you've read in your lifetime. It shouldn't matter what genre, as long as it's fiction. It's up to you if you want to write in 1st or 3rd person style. The second question involves five particular words/phrases that will be provided, which you will incorporate in a 300-400 word fictional blurb that you have made up. This blurb could be a short prose/flash fiction or prose-poem. The five words provided must flow together with your story, must make sense, and should contain a literary element (read more on literary elements here www.kareyperkins.com/classes/420/litelements.pdf).

There will be a deadline provided for the contest, and I will have a few weeks to read through and select a winner. A few things to take note of:

- We readers love learning new things. It's one of the reasons why we read; we desire to know more, whether about ourselves, or about life in general. The blurb that moves me the most to my experiencing that epiphanic, light-bulb moment, will be the winner. Nothing grandiose or explosive is expected at all; just something simple but very nicely written.

- Usage of big/fancy words will be unnecessary. Plain and up front works just fine, as long as it makes a lot of sense.

- Blurb should be carefully proofread and spell-checked.

I'll be sending the questions in a future newsletter, along with the contest period/deadline. I will also elaborate on what's in it for the winner. How exciting is this contest going to be!

I do hope you enjoyed the additions to the Literary Fiction newsletter; feel free to contact me with your comments, questions and/or concerns, I thrive greatly on your feedback! Simply reply to this newsletter, or type your message into the comment box on my Bio page (http://www.bellaonline.com/about/LiteraryFiction).

Do have fun passing this email along to family and friends. Have a productive week ahead!

Warmest regards,

Ije Kanu, Literary Fiction Editor
http://LiteraryFiction.bellaonline.com

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