How Poetry Helped Author Brian Sankarsingh Find A Sliver of a Chance

How Poetry Helped Author Brian Sankarsingh Find A Sliver of a Chance

Brian Sankarsingh is the author of A Sliver of a Chance, a poetry collection recounting his experiences as an immigrant to Canada from the Caribbean island of Trinidad. We spoke with Brian about how the important message of #BlackHistoryMonth is reflected in his work, his advice for aspiring authors, and much more.

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How the Supply Chain Is Affecting Book Printing in 2021 & 2022

How the Supply Chain Is Affecting Book Printing in 2021 & 2022

Few industries have avoided the 2021 supply chain squeeze, and the book industry is no exception. To get a sense of the effects on book printing and publishing, we spoke with Friesens VP of Finance Andrew Fennell about this “perfect storm” of supply chain issues and what authors need to know to navigate it.

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Writing Helped Mikaela Brewer Find Her Voice — Now She's Giving Basketball Another Shot

Writing Helped Mikaela Brewer Find Her Voice — Now She's Giving Basketball Another Shot

While playing basketball at Stanford in 2017, Mikaela Brewer found herself at her lowest point. Today, she’s on a mission to destigmatize the conversation around depression and mental health. We caught up with Mikaela on World Suicide Prevention Day to learn more about her new book, how writing helped her heal, and why she’s now planning a return to competitive basketball.

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At 17, Alastair McPherson Has Brought Two Fantasy Epics Out of the Shadows

At 17, Alastair McPherson Has Brought Two Fantasy Epics Out of the Shadows

Alastair McPherson is the 17 year old author of The Aeternium Cycle – a four-part series of epic fantasy novels. We recently caught up with the young author to learn what fuelled his ambition to publish his books, the book marketing lessons he’s learned, and the backstory behind his recent viral tweet.

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Representation Matters: The Power of Sonya Ballantyne’s Cree Hero

Representation Matters: The Power of Sonya Ballantyne’s Cree Hero

Sonya Ballantyne is the author of Kerri Berry Lynn, a storybook about a young Cree girl living on the Misipawistik reservation with her family and seven dogs. We recently spoke with Sonya about the real Kerri Berry Lynn, the importance of representation, the power of classroom readings, and so much more.

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What Are ‘Sensitivity Readers’? And Why Do They Matter?

What Are ‘Sensitivity Readers’? And Why Do They Matter?

The most common advice in writing is “write what you know”. That can mean personal experience or simply finding a way to deeply relate to something you haven’t directly lived. We recently sat down with our in-house Editing Coordinator Astra Crompton to learn why authors writing from another’s perspective might use a sensitivity reader.

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Between Worlds: Author Lillian Cui Garcia is Making an Impact

Between Worlds: Author Lillian Cui Garcia is Making an Impact

Lillian Cui Garcia is the author of two FriesenPress-published essay collections born from her experiences as a Filipino immigrant in Canada. We spoke with Lillian about her philanthropic work in the Philippines, what inspired her writing, and why publishing a book is like baking cookies.

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Telling Untold Stories: How Author George Chiang is Preserving History

Telling Untold Stories: How Author George Chiang is Preserving History

George has spent his career telling stories about Asian culture through books, songs, and plays. That includes The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing, a children’s book based on the life of a young Chinese immigrant who helped build the Canadian railroad. We caught up with George to learn how he came to discover Chen Sing’s life, his advice for other aspiring writers, and so much more.

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[VIDEO] A Road Map to Self-Publishing | Video Interview with FriesenPress’s Emily Perkins

[VIDEO] A Road Map to Self-Publishing | Video Interview with FriesenPress’s Emily Perkins

FriesenPress Publishing Consultant Emily Perkins is featured as a self-publishing expert in a masterclass series called Writing your First (or next) Book. Watch her in-depth interview with host Traci Skuce as she charts the road map to self-publishing:

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Jim Crow Also Lived Here: Author Leonard Paris Shares a Powerful Message

Jim Crow Also Lived Here: Author Leonard Paris Shares a Powerful Message

Leonard Albert Paris is the author of Jim Crow Also Lived Here. The book recounts Leonard’s first eighteen years growing up as a Black youth in rural Nova Scotia, Canada. In honour of Black History Month, we spoke with Leonard about the mission he’s on with his book, his writing process as a first-time author, and how processing the past can help us work together to build a more inclusive future.

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