John Handforth
Writer, Musician & Teacher
About John Handforth
John Edward Handforth is a Canadian writer, musician, traveler and former ESL teacher. He writes for radio, television, and print and is the author of four novels, including the acclaimed Niles Dreamer Trilogy. He lives in Almonte, Ontario and travels frequently to Asia and beyond.
Featured Work
Writing
Book Reading
Looking for someone to give you feedback on your original prose work?
Music
A sampling of my songs and original compositions written and recorded over a lifetime, free to enjoy.
Books by John Handforth
The Niles Dreamer Trilogy
Tripping Over Time: Niles Dreamer Book One
After his carefree youth is shattered by an act of violence, Niles flees his comfortable life in Fletchers’ Row and travels with his brother into the unknown. Along the way he discovers the world to be much stranger than he ever dreamed.As he scrambles to find a new life in a new country, Niles encounters memorable characters who transform him by sharing their stories which then become intertwined with his own: Nomya the witch who becomes his lover, Krym the last wood elf, watched over by Prikk, her consort, Kemp, poet and town drunk, and Hob, the wolf who aspires to be human.Tripping Over Time is a compelling, well-imagined tale that captures what it’s like to be human in a world that is at once beautiful, dangerous, mundane, and magical.
A Halo of Vultures: Niles Dreamer Book Two
A Halo of Vultures is the page turning tale of Niles, the exile both blessed and cursed by fate, who is driven to wander unknown lands where he must adapt or die. The author of The Janitors of Shadowland has crafted a unique, subversive fantasy inhabited by unforgettable characters: King Viktor, who swings a sword at Niles in friendship, Charlotte the beautiful widow, who matches NIles secret for secret, the mysterious Roloch, a 700 year old Dru who reveals the tragic history of elves and men, Roger a magician who does not believe in magic, and Mina an unexpected visitor from his past who captures his heart. Throughout his travels and tribulations, Niles, aided by his enchanted bow Truesight, remains the ultimate survivor. However when an unspeakable loss sets him adrift, he attempts to cross the Great Barrier Mountains alone, no longer caring if he lives or dies…
Truesight: Niles Dreamer: Book Three
“An old, half-mad killer marked for death…” Unexpectedly returned to his homeland, Niles is driven to violence when he encounters foreign troops on a lonely country road. His bloody act of defiance attracts other fugitives eager to liberate Lakadia: Simon, a duty-bound officer, Polena, a woman warrior freed from a cell, Leaf the half-elf spy linked to Niles’ past, Roger a magician who does not believe in magic, and Kindle, a horse thief who refuses to fight.But while Niles’ story inspires the beleaguered Lakadians, what can he offer beyond the lessons of a misspent life and an enchanted bow that does not like to miss? A dreamer and reluctant leader, is he the saviour they believe him to be, or another obstacle to peace and stability?A subversive reworking of traditional fantasy, Truesight is riveting entertainment and a triumph of imaginative storytelling.
Co-written with Paul Lionel Bourdeau
The Janitors of Shadowland
A case of mistaken identity presents Danny Connacher with a strange and compelling book that is about to change his life forever. After a disturbing encounter in the hallway of his apartment building, Danny accepts a job offer that unwittingly launches him on a quest for a truly magical substance–liquid jade. From New York to an exotic holiday island to the cold waters of Labrador, Danny is surrounded by a panoply of questers and victims: an eccentric and scholarly Englishman from another time; a benign thousand-year-old Incan; A red-haired adventuress who challenges mortality; a German industrialist with a secret he does not know he possesses; and a mega-billionaire who revels in shocking excess. Danny learns that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing as he comes face to face with his own unlikely destiny.
Book Reading Services
I’ve written for magazines, e-zines, newspapers, and TV, but most of my efforts have been in prose fiction. I understand how difficult it is for novelists to find readers and get useful feedback, especially starting out. Therefore, I’m offering a reading service. I will carefully read any work of original prose and give honest feedback. Fees are negotiable and based on word count. If the work is not ready for publication (not written or edited well enough) I will say so, and send it back without charge and without fully reading it. I can send my notes and reaction by email, or it we can discuss it via phone or Skype. My main promise is to read your entire work, comment on story structure, grammar and style, to offer encouragement, and suggest improvements. You can send inquiries to the email address below.
Music
My Songs
I spent many many hours of my life playing, writing, and recording music. Below are a few of my songs that were never released, but I thought were worth posting here. I hope you enjoy them, feel free to comment.
Click song to download
01 Eros & Evergreen
02 Losing You
03 Hidden Valley
04 Nostalgia
Songs I Never Wrote
By The Speakers
Songs I Never Wrote was written, played, and arranged by The Speakers. It was released in November of 1987 and featured songs in an 80s art-rock style. The Speakers consisted of myself on keyboards and vocals, Paul Bourdeau on guitar, and Martin Strong on lead vocals, as well as some excellent guest musicians. It was produced by Steve Tevlin and Carrie Porter. The album enjoyed some airplay on CBC and student FM radio, but like many other independent releases, it never reached many ears. Interestingly, a band I refuse to name, appeared to steal the chorus from Don’t Look Back, changing only the lyrics. We found out next year when they got some FM play with it. I suppose we should be flattered. Such is the musical life.
Click song to download
01 Have You Seen Marie
02 Songs I Never Wrote
03 Knife In The Water
04 Heartless
05 Don't Look Back
06 November
07 Father's Lament
08 Doin' The White Man
09 Hardluck Shuffle
10 Holiday Samba
Singers and musicians, feel free to cover any of the songs if you like them, they are registered with SOCAN. If you do a cover, I’d love to hear it.
Contact me if you have any questions.
Themes For Contemporary Living
By Psychopomp
‘Themes for Contemporary Living’ features instrumentals of improvised psychedelic fusion. Psychopomp consisted of me on synth and programming and Paul Bourdeau on electric guitar. We wrote and arranged all the tracks. For adventurous ears only.
Click song to download
01 Hypnopompic
02 Tranzendance
03 Tonika
04 Rocksucker
05 Vulture
06 We All Fall Down
07 Le Vendeur De Reves
08 Vulcanology
09 Buena Vida
10 Incense For Isis
More Original Music
Wonder
Original Pop-rock tune written and arranged by John Handforth & John West.
Down in the Ruins
Down in the Ruins written by John Edward Handforth. Arranged, produced & engineered by Steve Tevlin and Carrie Porter. Vocals: Randy Kay. From the Cherchez 89 CD
Skate On
Skate On written and arranged by Brent Duquette, Paul Bourdeau, & John Handforth.
Jellyfish
Jellyfish written by Paul Bourdeau. Arranged & played by Paul Bourdeau, Brent Duquette, and John Handforth.
Contact
Use the Contact Form to get in touch regarding Book Reading Services and any questions you may have.
Skype ID
live:handforthjohn