Take Refuge:
Colour and Light in
the Canadian Shield
JULY 2010
“Almost anything you will do seems insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.”
It was these few words that moved Claus Zindel to create an illustrated book, Refuge for the Soul — a photographic report about Sand Lake. In his heart, this beautiful wilderness lake became “home” for him many years ago and he hopes it will remain so for many years to come.
Continue reading ‘Take Refuge: Colour and Light in the Canadian Shield’
Manitoba Book Awards Announces 2010 Shortlists
The Manitoba Writers’ Guild (MWG) and the Association of Manitoba Book Publishers (AMBP) announced the 2010 Manitoba Book Awards shortlists today. Winners will be announced at the Manitoba Book Awards gala, on Sunday, April 25, 2010, at the Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain (CCFM), 340 boulevard Provencher. This year’s ceremony will be hosted by Neil Besner, Vice President and former Dean of Arts of the University of Winnipeg.
Shortlisted are, Best Illustrated Book of the Year Award, A Memory of Sky by Jim Shilliday, design by Relish Design Studio, published by Great Plains Publications and Manuela Dias Book Design of the Year Award, Rats of Las Vegas by Lisa Pasold, design by Relish Design Studio, published by Great Plains Publications.
Since the event’s inception in 1989, during which a single award (the McNally Robinson Book Award) was presented, The Manitoba Book Awards (formerly the Manitoba Writing and Publishing Awards) has grown to feature 13 categories. Nominees and winners are selected by jurors drawn from across Manitoba and Canada.
The Manitoba Writers’ Guild formed in 1981 to promote writing throughout Manitoba, and remains committed to providing personal and professional support to writers at any level in their careers, and enhancing the province’s literary community. The Association of Manitoba Book Publishers represents 14 Manitoban publishing houses, which publish over 100 books each year in English, French, and Cree. Many of these books are written by Manitoban authors or feature Manitoban stories.
The award administrators gratefully acknowledge the support of McNally Robinson Booksellers, Aqua Books, Friesens the Province of Manitoba; the Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism; the Winnipeg Arts Council; and the Manitoba Arts Council.
TWO WAYS OF
KNOWING IS
GROUND-BREAKING
February 6, 2010
To celebrate the 2010 International Polar Year, the WSO presents a concert featuring new works by it’s Composer-In-Residence Vincent Ho and this year’s Canadian distinguished guest composer Derek Charke inspired by their Arctic journeys. This evening brings together many of the top climate change scientists from all over the world and will include a special presentation by Dr. David Barber, launching his book “Two Ways of Knowing.”
Continue reading ‘The art of two ways of knowing is breaking new ground’
Vote! Help select
the next chapter for
On the Same Page!
Which Manitoba book, by a Manitoba author, do you think should get Manitobans On the Same Page this year? You can vote by going to http://www.wpgfdn.org/programsprojects-otsp.php. We are please to see Jake MacDonald, one of our favourite authors and his book Juliana and the Medicine Fish on the short list. He got our vote – now go cast yours!
Juliana and the Medicine Fish, by Jake MacDonald
While spending the summer trying to deal with her parent’s divorce, Juliana, with the help of her Ojibway friend, uncovers an ancient secret that helps her reconcile with her father and, at the same time, acquire a new appreciation for the dangerous beauty of Canada’s north country. Now in its fourth printing, this bestselling young adult novel is becoming a Canadian classic.
Jake MacDonald is an award-winning author of six books, a short story writer and a journalist. His memoir, Houseboat Chronicles, won three awards, including the Writers’ Trust Non-Fiction Prize. His feature articles have been published in Saturday Night, The Globe and Mail, Maclean’s and Canadian Geographic, among others. He divides his time between Winnipeg and Toronto and a rustic retreat in Minaki, Ontario. His most recent book was Grizzlyville: Adventures in Bear Country.
The Story of
the Fort that
never was
December 2009
Spanning 50 years, the story of FortWhyte was unwittingly penned by a countless cast of dedicated characters, whose colourful and pivotal roles have been superbly captured in this book by award-winning author, Jake MacDonald. Human. Nature. is a beautiful keepsake for all who have been inspired by FortWhyte’s dynamic evolution.
Continue reading ‘The Story of the Fort that never was’
ENFIELD & WIZENTY ANNOUNCES FICTION CONTEST
July 2009
This year Enfield & Wizenty (an imprint of Great Plains Publications) launches a fiction contest to celebrate our own survival, as we go into our third season as a national fiction imprint of Great Plains Publications. For this champagne-soaked third year, Enfield & Wizenty is offering a $5,000 advance for the most outstanding submission of literary fiction that we receive. We will be reading fiction submissions (novels and collections of short stories) from now until December 2009. Short story collections should have appeared extensively in Canadian literary magazines.
For information on our first two seasons click on the Enfield & Wizenty tab above; please note that we’re not interested in genre novels–crime, science fiction, romance etc. Simultaneous submissions are fine, but do let us know.
DEADLINE: Dec. 1, 2009.
Please submit sample and query letter to:
Enfield & Wizenty
Maurice Mierau, Associate Editor
345-955 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3G 0P9
OR by email to info@greatplains.mb.ca
Middlegate Series off to China
July 2009
A major new acquisition happened recently for Great Plains Publications in Winnipeg, the People’s Literature Publishing House in Beijing has purchased the Chinese rights to all three of Rae Bridgman’s juvenile MiddleGate books: The Serpent’s Spell, Amber Ambrosia, and Fish & Sphinx. The deal was arranged through Creative Work Ltd. The books will be translated and published for the Chinese market in 2011.
Relish Designs Canadian Bestsellers
February 2009
To date Relish has designed 6 Canadian bestsellers: The Encyclopedia of Manitoba edited by Ingeborg Boyens, To The Grave: Inside A Spectacular RCMP Sting by Mike McIntyre, Going Downtown: A History of Winnipeg’s Portage Avenue by Russ Gourluck, A Store Like No Other: Eaton’s of Winnipeg by Russ Gourluck, Blue & Gold edited by Bob Irving, Nowhere to Run: The Killing of Constable Dennis Stongquill by Mike McIntyre, The Lake by Jake MacDonald
A Fresh Approach
February 2009
Betsy Hiebert has taken to a fresh approach to your healthcare with a book designed to help record medical information and provide seniors some valuable resources. Trying to remember everything can seem overwhelming. Keeping information in one place gives seniors and their families a quick and easy reference tool when they need it. Betsy’s company, My Care Necessities looked to Relish for help developing her brand – which included website, logo design, advertising, display and book design. Betsy’s book has been getting a lot of press she was even onBig Breakfast on City TV a few weeks ago. A little brand can go a long way!
Betsy has applied to be on CBC TV’s Dragon’s Den with her Personal Healthcare Journal for the fall season. Check out their site – sign up and vote for Betsy!
Click here to go to the website.
FortWhyte IS ALIVE
September 2008
Relish design has been awarded a design contract with FortWhyte Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba to develop a book that will mark the facility’s anniversary. FortWhyte Alive is dedicated to providing programming, natural settings and facilities for environmental education and outdoor recreation. In so doing, FortWhyte promotes awareness and understanding of the natural world and actions leading to sustainable living. The book is being compiled and written by Jake McDonald, author of the Houseboat Chronicles and Juliana and the Medicine Fish.