*Actively Seeking Literary Representation*

Joseph Van Landschoot is seeking representation for the novel: True Volition (102,000 words). Set against an eastbound odyssey through a retro-future 2000’s Canada, Nathaniel Farrentino is a runaway caught between love and loss. After a romantic encounter with his classmate V who shares in a special ability to feel the history of Canada, he vanishes without a trace. Years later, V finds him on the other side of the country and invites him to join her biker gang called: The People’s Deviants. During their road trip from Edmonton AB to Quispamsis NB, they learn the city of Toronto might be harbouring an old member that murdered their friend. The journey forces Nathan to confront trauma and forbidden knowledge as the world around them teeters on the edge of an apocalypse.

This is a story rooted in Canadian landscapes and identity, from remote highways to urban landmarks, with the vast geography serving as both a literal and existential map for the characters that travel upon it. While this novel can stand alone, it is also the first story of a decade-long series I have been working on. The sequel takes place 65 million years in the future, quite a ways away, but it is all connected, and the series concludes with everything going full circle.

I am particularly proud of my short film script Agent Heads, which won multiple awards including the Bronze Award for Best Original Story at the Independent Shorts Awards in Los Angeles in August 2022. My other written work includes Tales Within (2023), a short story collection featuring six projects: Space Maze, Paradise in Trouble, Honey Trapped, The People’s, The Devil You Thought You Knew, and Zones. Just recently it has found a home in Indigo’s shelves under their consignment agreement. I hold a diploma in Writing for Publication (Mohawk College) and have worked in television (Blue’s Clues and You!, Season Four).