Wordstock
Wordstock is a series of literary shenanigans designed to celebrate and foster writing and storytelling. Wordstock includes:
Writing Workshops
Jennifer McGrath will be kicking off Wordstock with her workshop June 20, 2025 from 10 AM - 12 PM.
Marjorie Simmins will be hosting a workshop for us on June 20, 2025 from 1-3 PM. More details and announcements to come!
Please email us to register!
A Heritage Story Walk
Please stay tuned for details.
Family Campfire Stories & Open Mic
The family storytelling campfire and open mic on Thursday, June 19th at 6:00 p.m. takes place at Caldera Distilling 65 River John Rd, River John, NS B0K 1N0
Pitch the Publisher
June 21st, 9-10:30 a.m., deCoste Centre.
This fan-favourite gives emerging authors three minutes to pitch their works to a panel of publishers. See below for how to apply.
Publishers include Donovan Street Press, Somewhat Grumpy Press and Partridge Island Publishing
Writing Workshops
LYRICAL PICTURE BOOK WRITING WITH JENNIFER MCGRATH
Join award-winning children’s author, Jennifer McGrath for a conversation about what makes a story lyrical, finding one’s lyrical voice, and the creative process for shaping a story with emotional resonance.
WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS:
- WHY PICTURE BOOKS ARE FOR EVERYONE
A conversation about the importance of picture books in challenging times.
- WHAT IS A LYRICAL PICTURE BOOK?
Explore the qualities and characteristics of a lyrical picture book, and how they create a uniquely intimate reader experience.
- CREATIVE PROCESS
Discover insights and tips on writing and revising picture book manuscripts – as well as the creative process behind Jennifer’s books The Snow Knows and The Pony and the Starling.
Pitch the Publisher 2025
Do you have a manuscript burning a hole in your sock drawer, aching to be published? This might be your chance. At Pitch the Publisher, selected writers each have three minutes to stand at a microphone and pitch their manuscripts to a panel of publishers, in front of an audience. Publishers have five minutes to respond with feedback. Open to writers aged 18 and up.
How To Enter:
How to enter: Describe your manuscript in two sentences or less. This means sum up your manuscript. eg. “A boy adopts a dinosaur only to discover it wants to eat his large family… and how boy meets this challenge”, etc.
Additionally, include these points:
– the genre
– the intended audience and why anyone would want to read it
– explain why you are the most qualified person to write it – and write it well. (This may include writing experience, awards or other recognition, writing classes or other ways you have practised the profession.)
– any other information you believe pertinent
– include your working title (publishers often change titles) at the top of each page of the entry, and your name and contact information. You may use your word processing program to insert this information in a header, or add it manually.
Keep your submission short – two letter-size pages max. This is NOT your actual pitch, but a proposal to pitch.
Send your proposal (not your manuscript) and your contact information to Read by the Sea Pitch the Publisher by May 19, 2025. You may email your proposal to rjreadbythesea@gmail.com.
A jury will select up to 10 entries that are most likely to succeed. Selected “pitchers” will be contacted in time to prepare for their June 21st presentations at the deCoste Centre in Pictou.
The actual pitches: Those who gain a spot at Pitch the Publisher must prepare a three-minute spoken pitch to deliver to a panel of publishers’ representatives. Practice in front of a mirror or with a friend until you are happy with it – covering the points listed above. Also, prepare a package for each publisher (usually three). It should include a printed copy of the information from your spoken pitch, your contact information, and a one-two page sample of your writing. Put each copy in a separate envelope or folder labelled with your name, contact information and the working title of your pitch/manuscript. Hand it to the Registrar upon arrival – which should be at least 15 minutes before the pitching time allotted to you. Be quiet while entering so as not to disturb the process.
When it is your turn to pitch, approach the microphone and start your pitch. You will get a warning from the timekeeper at the two-minute mark, and you must stop at the three minute notice. Stay at the microphone to answer questions from the panel.
Be prepared to go on early in case another pitcher doesn’t show up on time.
You may bring family and friends with you to sit in the audience. You – and they – are welcome to stay for the whole event, and to participate in other Read by the Sea events that day. No admission is charged.
Meet the Publishers
Joe Mahoney, Publisher, prior to launching Donovan Street Press Inc., worked full-time for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He did that for thirty-five years, which now seems like the blink of an eye.
There, Joe spent a decade making radio plays, working with some of the finest actors, directors, and writers in Canada.
In 2007, Joe left production to join the CBC management team, where he managed broadcast maintenance teams and, eventually, the eastern real estate portfolio. He spent his final year as both Operations Manager (Acting) for Nova Scotia and Regional Property Manager, both of which he loved. He retired from the CBC in 2023 and now focuses his attention on his family, growing Donovan Street Press, and trying (finally!) to get his black belt in Karate.
Somewhat Grumpy Press was founded in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 2020, by author, artist, and volunteer DA Brown. Brown moved to Kingston, Ontario, but Somewhat Grumpy Press stayed on the east coast, and is now operated by technical and freelance writer Tim Covell.
Somewhat Grumpy Press offers à la carte services for fiction and non-fiction authors, including manuscript review, editing, formatting, web site design, and hybrid publishing. We are a member of the Independent Book Publishers Association, and offer publishing services consistent with IBPA Guidelines. We are also a member of the Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association.
Partridge Island Publishing is a small press located in Saint John, New Brunswick. We were created out of a love of writers and a passion for reading.
What We do
Why We do it
Swift Water Books is an Indigenous-led imprint within Tundra Book Group, the children’s division of Penguin Random House Canada. Swift Water is envisioned and overseen by Nêhiyaw (Cree) author David A. Robertson and is focused on celebrating Story and providing a platform for Indigenous writers and illustrators to share their truths. Swift Water publishes literature that educates, entertains, has a long-term vision of social change and finds a balance between complex histories and the beauty of Indigenous cultures across Turtle Island. We are exclusively a youth-oriented imprint with accurate and authentic representation, and we publish into a broad range of categories, including picture books, chapter books, graphic novels and middle-grade and young-adult novels.
“I was totally thrilled when I got my invitation to attend Read By The Sea. It was something to look forward to, a bright spot after the long era of covid. The festival was an absolute blast from beginning to end—carried out with military precision, and lots of fun things to do. Everyone involved was so kind and welcoming, I felt like a rockstar. Not to mention I got to fan girl over the other talented writers attending. Writer or not, Read By The Sea offers a great experience. So excited to be going again, this time accompanying my daughter, Alexandra Harrington, The Last Time I saw Her. See you there! “
Lisa Harrington
“I very much enjoyed my experience at Read by the Sea because I had the opportunity to socialize with other writers – and especially readers – for the first time, in one happy place. There’s a certain unspoken kinship with both groups of people: they “get” me and I “get” them!”
Bruce W. Bishop