Gerard reading at Ochre Fest in Newfoundland, 2022. Photo credit: Jane Simpson
Current News and Events
June 1, 2025—Fredericton, New Brunswick, CANADA
Writing Great Dialogue workshop
Hosted by WFNB at the Crown Royal Plaza Hotel, Fredericton
Register through the Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick.
You don’t have to be a member of WFNB to register, but you get a discount if you are a member. Also, note that you don’t have to sign up for the whole weekend but can register just for this weekend.
August 9, 2025—Eastport, Newfoundland, CANADA
Winterset Literary Festival
I’m appearing in a panel at the Winterset Literary Festival in Eastport, Newfoundland. Hosted by author and professor Aaron Tucker, award-winning Canadian author Tamas Doozy and I will be discussing all kinds of writing-related subjects.
Costs $30 to register for that session, or you can sign up for the entire day or buy a weekend pass. Register here.
August 16, 2025—St. John’s, Newfoundland, CANADA
The Art of Storytelling Workshop at The Lantern
I’m facilitating a workshop on “The Art of Storytelling” at The Lantern in downtown St. John’s, right next door to the famous Basilica. This will be my first workshop in St. John’s in more than a decade, and it just happens to be the same place where I taught my very first writing workshop.
I would love to see lots of friends and former students there from my days of teaching English at MUN.
Register here.
Previous News and Events
June 10, 2023—Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, CANADA
The Art of Storytelling – Writing Workshop followed by a reading
Saturday, June 10, 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunenburg Library, Nova Scotia
June 24, 2023—St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick, CANADA
The Art of Storytelling – Aspire to Greatness
Saturday, June 24, 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre
February 25, 2023—Saint John, New Brunswick, CANADA
“The Art of Storytelling” creative writing workshop
Saint John Public Library, central branch, 1 Market Square
February 24, 2023—Saint John, New Brunswick, CANADA
The Canada Council for the Arts, through The Writers Union of Canada present a reading at The Saint John Public Library (central branch, 1 Market Square). Gerard will read from The Hush Sisters, as well other works. Questions are welcome. Books will be available to purchase and/or have signed by the author.
October 29, 2022—Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Featured author at Louisiana Book Festival. Talk and reading followed by signing.
http://www.louisianabookfestival.org/Author_Collins.html
October 28, 2022—Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Wordshop, Louisiana Book Festival
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
State Library
All writing involves fear: from the frightening blank page to critical reception, and, most important, the motivations and outcomes for our characters, who must overcome their fears in order to act with courage.
As Neil Gaiman says, “There are so many fragile things, after all. People break so easily, and so do dreams and hearts.” At the essence of humanity lies fear. Good writing depicts the most ordinary of people in their perilous moments—and they’re all perilous moments, for even the brightest of days can change so quickly. Our fears bring uncertainty, often suspense, and provide the basis of dreams, promises, disappointments, and nightmares, sometimes even victories—the stuff of great writing. Writers know what there is to fear (everything), where it’s lurking (everywhere), and how to deal with it.
In this workshop, where we will discuss great works of fear—from The Grapes of Wrath to The Handmaid’s Tale, from Dracula to The Vampire Lestat, from Pride and Prejudice to Normal People—we’ll explore the usefulness of anxiety and how to make those fears an integral part of our writing, regardless.
September 29-October 17, 2022—IRELAND
Writing retreat in Ireland
September 11-22, 2022—SCOTLAND
Writing retreat in Scotland
August 27, 2022—St. Andrews by-the-Sea, NB, CANADA
“The Art of Storytelling” workshop
Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre, Saint Andrews, NB
Need a refresher on the art of storytelling? Seize the remaining hours of summer and join award-winning author and professor Dr. Gerard Collins for this condensed version of his storytelling masterclass, which he recently taught at the invitation of the Frye Festival.
In this half-day workshop, we’ll talk about story structure, how to show instead of tell, how to develop characters, enhance narrative tension, infuse your prose with subtext, and write dialogue that gets people talking. Bring your questions and conundrums—we’re putting it all on the table.
July 12, 2022—Lily Dale, New York, USA
Online Workshop Broadcast live from Lily Dale Assembly, New York – July 12, 9:30-12:30 Eastern time (10:30-1:30 Atlantic Time)
Gerard is pleased to have been invited back to Lily Dale Assembly to offer another writing workshop. For those who are unable to attend in person, the workshop will also be broadcast live from Lily Dale in New York.
The workshop is a combination of instruction, writing prompts, and opportunities for questions from the in-person and online audience. It takes place Tuesday, July 12, from 9:30a.m.-12:30p.m. Eastern time (10:30 – 1:30 Atlantic time).
July 8-10, 2022—Ochre Pit Cove, Newfoundland, CANADA
Ochre Fest Literary Festival
December 5, 2021—Sussex, New Brunswick, CANADA
A Sunday afternoon reading and conversation with Beth Powning at AX, the Arts and Culture Centre of Sussex, as part of the AX Reading Series
October 30, 2021—Fredericton, New Brunswick, CANADA
Book signing at Westminster Books in Fredericton. Signing copies of The Hush Sisters and backlist, including Finton Moon and Moonlight Sketches.
October 26, 2021—Saint John, New Brunswick, CANADA
Dr. Gerard Collins, Dr. Margaret Anne Smith, Dr. Sandra Bell
Panel discussion at UNB Saint John: Literature in a Post-Pandemic World
October 16, 2021—Fredericton, New Brunswick, CANADA
Book signing at Chapters in Fredericton. Signing copies of The Hush Sisters and backlist, including Finton Moon and Moonlight Sketches.
September 5, 2021—Moncton, New Brunswick, CANADA
Book signing at Chapters in Moncton. Signing copies of The Hush Sisters and backlist, including Finton Moon and Moonlight Sketches.
August 29, 2021—Saint John, New Brunswick, CANADA
Book signing at Saint John Indigo (East Point). Signing copies of The Hush Sisters and backlist, including Finton Moon and Moonlight Sketches.
June 24, 2021
The Hush Sisters wins an international literary award!
The Hush Sisters wins a Next Generation Indie Book Award in the suspense category. It also was a finalist in the paranormal category.
April 30 – May 7, and May 9-16, 2021—St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick, CANADA
Go and Write! Kingsbrae writing retreats.
January 30 and February 6, 2021—(ONLINE)
Master Class in Creative Fiction, “Deliver on your Promises,” the Northrup Frye Festival.
January 20, 2021—ONLINE
7:30 p.m.
The Lorenzo Society Reading Series – Virtual Book Club. Reading and Q&A.
December 6, 2020 – POSTPONED until 2021
Book signing at Westminster Books in Fredericton.
November 12, 2020—CBC Information Morning Radio
7:45 a.m.
Tune in to hear Gerard’s with CBC’s Information Morning host, Julia Wright, about The Hush Sisters.
November 18, 2020—ONLINE
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. AST
Gerard talks with author Susan White about her new book, When the Hill Came Down.
November 21, 2020 – POSTPONED to December 6, 2020
12:00 – 2:00 p.m. AST
Book signing at Westminster Books in Fredericton, NB.
Find Westminster Books. See the Facebook Event.
November 22, 2020—Lily Dale, New York / ONLINE
2:00 – 3:30 AST
Online Workshop: Healing Through Creative Writing with Dr. Gerard Collins
Join Dr. Gerard Collins for a class that will take you through writing exercises designed to inspire and promote self-healing through creative expression. Presented by the Lily Dale Assembly.
Previous
October 5, 2020
Release of The Hush Sisters, Gerard’s third book of fiction, published by Breakwater Books Ltd.