Canterbury House Publishing, Ltd.

Uplifting Fiction and Its Many Forms

Canterbury House Publishing is looking for authors of uplifting fiction. But what exactly does “uplifting fiction” mean? The genre of uplifting fiction is becoming more and more popular, especially as the climate of the world suggests a need for positivity and hope. Many readers look for fiction that not only unfolds an interesting story, but also reassures them of our resilience and ability to rise above adversity and triumph. Readers often have a warm, happy feeling when they finish a book that is considered uplifting fiction. This genre includes a wide variety of styles to meet the needs of its diverse readership. 

 

Uplifting fiction includes the following sub-genres/topics: 

-Religion and spirituality: the overarching theme of these often Christian-based stories is that God is the reason there is good in the world. While the type of story can be complex and diverse, there is almost always the inclusion of the idea that there is a higher power which we can attribute all good to.

-Misery fiction: these are stories that start out in misery and non-ideal circumstances, but end with an uplifting and hopeful message. Usually themes of perseverance coat these stories. 

-Gentle fiction: these novels are written without violence, profanity, or sexual passages. These stories can be of any genre (including mystery or drama), but the characters are not traumatized or in extreme danger. The intrigue of these novels isn’t threatening and doesn’t trigger a fear response. 

-Quirky fiction: uplifting fiction can include books that are witty and satirical. This sub-genre includes tales of quirky characters that are relatable for readers who have a sly take on life. 

 

Uplifting fiction is more than just a happy ending for the characters in the story. The theme of uplifting fiction is more universal. An uplifting novel should not only have a feel-good ending, but should also reassure the reader that the world we live in is an ultimately good place. This should encourage readers to create an extraordinary life for themselves. 

 

Are you a fiction writer? Canterbury House Publishing, an imprint of Dudley Court Press, is always looking for authors of fiction. We offer traditional and hybrid publishing methods. To be considered for traditional publishing, submit your information through our form linked here.

Canterbury House Publishing Acquired by Dudley Court

Dudley Court Press is excited to officially announce the acquisition of Canterbury House Publishing, a process that was initiated in 2019 and formalized in early 2020. Under the direction of publisher Gail Woodard and her team, Canterbury House will continue its proud publishing tradition as the fiction imprint of Dudley Court Press.

While the transition to a wholly owned imprint is a new and exciting change for both companies, we are committed to a continued partnership where both companies benefit from their existing publishing models. This means Canterbury House will continue to operate as a traditional publisher, and Dudley Court Press will remain focused on the hybrid publishing model that has come to define the business. Benefiting from two distinct traditions, both companies will be able to serve aspiring writers and established authors alike in their publishing ventures.

Moving forward with this new partnership, we are happy to announce Canterbury House has opened a new call for authors. A publisher with a history of supporting fiction writers, they are looking for authors that offer tales of uplifting fiction or cozy mysteries. Their favorite themes are ones where good conquers evil, characters undergo positive transformations and growth, and where the reader walks away feeling engaged and inspired.

Many of their most successful books have emphasized the beauty and eccentricities of the Southern United States, but settings of all kinds are welcome. We cherish that every book is reflective of its author’s unique experience.

Canterbury House Publishing utilizes graphic design expertise to ensure your book has the eye grabbing cover it deserves. Through their growing network of expert vendors and subcontractors, they will ensure that your book’s success is maximized in its respective market. If you are interested in working with an experienced team to publish your manuscript, be it your first or tenth, Canterbury House has the tools and professionalism to get your book to market as the best version of itself.

General author submissions can be made here. For a more in-depth look at the kind of fiction Canterbury House is looking for, please take a look at the Manuscript Submission Guidelines.

About Dudley Court Press

Dudley Court Press is a full-service hybrid publishing house for authors. This business model allows us to engage and work with authors through a process well beyond the simple publishing of a finished manuscript. Through an array of coaching, marketing programs, and additional resources, we work with clients to develop a working relationship based on a simple three step process, discussing the goals of your book, formulating a plan to achieve those goals, and implementing that plan together.

Several of Dudley Court Press’s commercial books rank in the top 10% on Amazon, while others rank in the top 100 of their genre/categories. Dudley Court Press published works have won an Arizona Book Award, a Ben Franklin Gold Medal, and two titles are featured in a PBS special.

About Canterbury House Publishing

Canterbury House was founded in 2009 in the peaceful mountain town of Boone, North Carolina. While the business has since been acquired, the mission remains the same—to publish wholesome quality fiction.

Many of the Canterbury House books have received literary awards such as the North Carolina Historical Society’s Clark Cox Award for Fiction, John Esten Cooke Award for Historical Fiction, and several High Country Writers’ Awards. We are proud to operate as the fiction imprint of Dudley Court Press.

From the Register Herald, Beckley WV about New Release "Broomstraw Ridge"

Available November 1st, 2019

19th Century Appalachia Comes Alive in Broomstraw Ridge

From staff reports

Canterbury House Publishing announces the release of “Broomstraw Ridge,” a novel by Betsy Reeder.

This stand-alone story also serves as a sequel to the Civil War novel “Madam’s Creek.” Both tales are set in the New River region and follow the lives of intertwined families: Lilly, Farley, and Cook.

In “Broomstraw Ridge,” Joseph Cook returns home after a 30-year absence in search of the remnant of his family and his meager inheritance. An expert in bridge construction, he discovers the bridges he most wants to build defy his skill. He is further thwarted when he encounters unexpected danger and conflict. Several characters from “Madam’s Creek” play major and pivotal roles as they endure hardship, loss, and strife, as well as celebrate love and redemption. The novel’s memorable characters exhibit the indomitable spirit typical of mountaineers.

Author M. Lynne Squires comments, “Each chapter unfolds deliberately, carefully intertwining characters…. "Broomstraw Ridge" places timeless human struggles and triumphs in a setting so alive the reader can nearly smell the fresh hay and feel the chill of the first snow in winter.”

Writer/producer Jon Averill, remarks “In Broomstraw Ridge, Betsy Reeder takes us back in time, as we live with, laugh and cry with, people who feel like they must have been the ancestors of those who still know the ways of the hills.”

“Broomstraw Ridge,” ISBN:9781945401145, is available as of Nov. 1 nationally in bookstores and online stores. Locally, “Madam’s Creek” is sold at Beckley’s Tamarack and other shops. Broomstraw Ridge and Madam’s Creek are geologic features of Summers County.

New Releases this Fall from Canterbury House Publishing

Coming November 1st, 2019: Broomstraw Ridge: A Novel by Betsy Reeder


Advance Praise for Broomstraw Ridge:

“In a sprawling post-Civil War sequel to Madam’s Creek, Broomstraw Ridge will transport you to the mountains of southern West Virginia where you will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Lilly family as they marry, raise children, and bury kin—along with their long-held secrets. Reeder shows her talent for weaving the perfect details to ground a story firmly in place and time.” —Donna Meredith, Associate editor of Southern Literary Review and author of The Glass Madonna

“The mountains of southern West Virginia, by their rugged nature, are resistant to change. They breed a certain rough-hewn individualism amongst the people who still cling to the beautiful mountain farms. . . . Betsy Reeder takes us back in time, as we live with, laugh and cry with, people who feel like they must have been the ancestors of those who still know the ways of the hills.” —Jon Averill, writer/producer of Averell’s Raiders & the 35th Star and Passing Thru Sandstone

All Canterbury House Publishing books are available nationally and internationally in bookstores and online stores.

With Big Top Appeal, C.K. Mallick Launches, "Thomasina: The Twin"

   

On Sunday, February 24th, the public is invited to this unique, fun, author event—Acropolis; Greek Taverna. The venue is apropos and just minutes from Sarasota’s Big Top where the intimate single-ring tent features aerial artists from around the world, many who have provided inspiration for Mallick’s stories.

In her series The Daughters, book two, Thomasina: The Twin, she moves her characters to Sarasota, Florida after Valthea marries her soul-mate, Sorin. Right from the start, the wedding is disrupted by her sinister aunt. Family secrets continue to haunt Valthea. But that’s not all. One of her relatives uses their paranormal gift against her. Valthea hopes to gain access to her mother’s journals in time to understand and combat the manipulative attacks. If not, she may heed the advice of the very attractive, daredevil comic who’s part of her new circus family.

Early reviewers have called Thomasina, “fresh and mesmerizing,” and said, “Thomasina? Well, there’s nothing like a character you love to hate.” And, “Thomasina wraps together girl-power, romance and sibling drama with that crazy circus charm!”

C. K. Mallick’s eclectic past and present greatly affects her fiction and non-fiction writing. She’s worked over twenty years in the dance/entertainment field and in the cosmetics industry. Her volunteer work includes stints at: a V.A. hospital, The Big Cat Rescue, The Boys & Girls Club, Circus Arts Conservatory and Bayside Community Church.

Living in Sarasota, Florida, C.K. enjoys spending time with Florida’s woodlands and beaches and family and friends. She keeps her energy high and her mind inspired by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and listening to people’s stories. She considers herself blessed, knowing her books come into the homes and hands of many women, men and children of all ages!

Join C.K. Mallick at Acropolis, Sunday, February 24th from 6:30-9:00 p. m. Meet intriguing people! Eat Mediterranean food! Go home with an autographed copy of Thomasina: The Twin!

Thomasina: The Twin is available nationally in bookstores and online stores. ISBN: 978-1-94540107-7, Canterbury House Publishing. For more information about the book launch event, email: marketing@canterburyhousepublishing.com.

Renowned Canadian Author, Pat Mattaini Mestern Receives Canada's Unsung Heroes Honour

Pat Mattaini Mestern is a well-respected author of historical novels. Always well-researched and eloquently written, her novels bring the reader deeply into the stories as they twist and turn to the satisfying endings. 

We are honored to have published: Anna: Child of the Poorhouse, Rachel's Legacy, Magdalena's Song, and No Choice But Freedom. All are in e-book format.

To read the article, click here: The Wellington Adviser

To learn more about the author, click here: Pat Mattaini Mestern 

New Hampshire State Library Features "Olustee" As Book of the Week!

Click on the link to read the article:     

http://nhbookcenter.blogspot.com/

Canterbury House Would Like to Welcome New Authors, Greg Ahlgren and Anthea T. Piscarik

Greg Ahlgren is a criminal defense lawyer who divides his time between Manchester, New Hampshire and Sarasota, Florida. He received his B.A. degree from Syracuse University and his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been a criminal justice professor, a state legislator, and a political activist, and has appeared as a featured guest on both national and regional television and radio shows, as well as podcasts, on true crime and historical issues.

His books include the fact-based fiction novel, Olustee: America's Unfinished Civil War Battle released April 2018 by Canterbury House, the alternate history time-travel novel Prologue, the international thriller The Medici Legacy, and the Civil War novel Fort Fisher: The Battle for the Gibraltar of the South, and together with Stephen Monier he co-authored the true crime book Crime of the Century: The Lindbergh Kidnapping Hoax.
Recreationally, Ahlgren has been a licensed private pilot, an avid sailor, and a not-so-avid skier.

 

Anthea T. Piscarik is currently a fundraiser for a non-profit organization in Delaware. She established a professional writing career as a playwright and news reporter for a Catholic Christian weekly publication. A graduate of the University of Delaware, she continued her theatre studies at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, and film studies in the inaugural Act One: Writing for Hollywood program. She is an identical twin, studies ballet, teaches religious education, and records news stories for the blind. As a producer, Anthea is working on a documentary about a blind couple raising their own sighted twins. Unearthing Christmas: The Miriam Chronicles, Book 1, her first novel, began with a dream.

April/May Releases:


Olustee: America’s Unfinished Civil War Battle
When Tampa area journalist Jason Bauman is tasked to write an article about a Florida legislative hearing about the placement of Civil War memorials, as well as the battle whose proposed monument triggered the bill, he figures it’ll be his last easy fluff piece before he heads North to his new job as a political reporter. His one regret is leaving behind the woman he loves, who because of her family obligations can’t move with him. But what he discovers in the small North Florida town of Olustee will force him to re-examine not only his perception of America’s bloodiest conflict and its enduring cultural rift, but also his own life choices.

Unearthing Christmas: The Miriam Chronicles, Book 1
In 1955, fourteen-year-old Lori creates a Christmas room in her father’s bomb shelter. Sixty years later, fourteen-year-old Peggy and her friends discover the abandoned shelter, fully preserved. Peggy returns alone. As Peggy reaches for a prized object, Lori appears and the past and present collide into a fate-filled adventure.

 

"Snook Wallow" Receives Starred Review from Kirkus!

SNOOK WALLOW

by Janet Heijens

BUY NOW FROM AMAZON.COM

KIRKUS REVIEW

A retired lawyer hopes to prove a death row inmate innocent before his time runs out.

Logan Murphy was barely 18 when he was convicted of killing an unidentified young woman in Snook Wallow, the nightspot where he and two friends went almost every weekend to drink beer and try to pick up girls. With his execution date fast approaching, Logan applies to the Defender Project for help. His case doesn’t meet the nonprofit’s strict guidelines for seeking a retrial, so Ben Shepherd, although convinced that Logan is innocent, can’t help him. But Ben’s aunt, retired attorney Cate Stokes, can. Looking for any excuse not to unpack the boxes in her new South Florida home, the New Hampshire transplant quickly becomes a true believer and just as quickly becomes embroiled in an intrigue as dangerous as it is elusive. As Ben tackles a tamer case that does meet the project’s guidelines—the conviction of Ricky Castro, who was pretty clearly railroaded by an unscrupulous cop with the help of a jailhouse snitch—Cate pushes the limits trying to discover who the victim in the Logan Murphy case was and who might have wanted her dead. With the help of investigator Lalo Sanchez, who has his own issues with limits, Cate peels back layer after layer until she uncovers a violent crime with a shocking motive.

Heijens, whose earlier foray into the topic (Wrongful Conviction, 2015) featured criminal defender Jean Jankowski, presents another heroine who’s equally smart, resourceful, and empathetic—and more than worthy of an encore appearance. More about Wrongful Conviction.

 

Happy Holidays from Canterbury House Publishing!

Canterbury House wishes all our subscribers a very Happy Holiday Season and a Super New Year!

 

We are blessed to have released the following novels this year. Please check out their book page. Books are available for purchase at your favorite book store:

Released October 30th
About the book

***

Released October 15th
About the book

***

Released April 15th
About the book

***

Released April 1st
About the book

***

Canterbury House was honored to add four new authors to their house this year: Janet Heijens, Betsy Reeder, Greg Ahlgren (book forthcoming March 2018), Anthea Piscarik (book forthcoming May 2018).

 

Award-Winning "Bright as Gold" Now Available as E-book

Winner of the Military Stars and Bars, John Esten Cooke Award for Fiction 2015

In the fourth and final installment of The Georgia Gold Series, the Randalls and Rousseaus rebuild their lives following The War Between the States.

For more information and to purchase, click here: Bright as Gold