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.

Read More

How Reading Short Stories Can Improve Your Writing (No Matter What You Write)

How Reading Short Stories Can Improve Your Writing (No Matter What You Write)

Beginner writers often see short stories as a trivial stepping stone to something greater (like the novel). But the truth is reading short stories can help improve your writing no matter what genre you write in. Writer Tracie Skuce joins us to share 5 key reasons why.

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

5 Rules for Creating an Amazing Book Title

5 Rules for Creating an Amazing Book Title

Choosing your book title is the most important marketing decision an author will make. And with millions of books released each year, titles matter more than ever. Book coach Steve Donahue joins us to detail 5 rules that will help you create an enticing and unique book title of your own.

Read More

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.

Read More

A Style Sheet Will Help Your Writing Stay On Track. Here's How. (Template Included!)

A Style Sheet Will Help Your Writing Stay On Track. Here's How. (Template Included!)

A style sheet is a concise document generated by the author during the writing process that helps you keep track of the formatting and narrative choices unique to your book. Learn more about how a style sheet can help you stay focused — and develop your own with our included template!

Read More

6 Essential Elements of an Author Platform

6 Essential Elements of an Author Platform

Your voice is worth hearing – but if you’re inaudible to your potential readers, how will they know? An author platform allows you to rise above the noise to reach and connect with those readers. Here are six must-have elements for building your own platform, as recommended by our Book Promotions Team.

Read More

How to Write a Nonfiction Book if You’re Not a Writer

How to Write a Nonfiction Book if You’re Not a Writer

Writing a book can be daunting – especially if you don’t have much experience. But it’s far from impossible. Book coach and bestselling author Steve Donahue details five ways you can transfer existing talents, systems, and habits from your daily life into writing your book.

Read More

5 Ways to Get the Most out of Your Illustrator

5 Ways to Get the Most out of Your Illustrator

There’s nothing quite like a great book illustrator’s ability to bring a story to life. If you’re hiring an illustrator of your own, we’ve turned our best advice into a list of ways to help you get the most out of the relationship.

Read More