Sheldon Oberman mentorship seeks emerging writers
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/10/2025 (326 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Up-and-coming writers have a chance to hone their craft under the watchful eyes of established authors as part of the Manitoba Writers’ Guild’s Sheldon Oberman Mentorship Program.
Named after the late children’s author and Guild founding member, the program pairs emerging authors in fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction and writing for children and young adults with mentors who will help with manuscript development self-editing, the writing process, publishing and more.
Past apprentices include a number of authors who have gone on to successful publishing careers, including John Elizabeth Stintzi, Hannah Green, Joelle Kidd and Zilla Jones.
The deadline for applications and to submit supporting materials for the next program, which runs from January-June 2026, is Nov. 30. For more information about the mentorship click here.
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University of Michigan instructor Phil Christman is a Christian and a socialist, and feels the two naturally align.
In his new book Why Christians Should Be Leftists, Christman details his move away from conservatism, offering an impassioned call to fellow believers that the ideology of the right does not align with Christian values.
Christman launches Why Christians Should Be Leftists at McNally Robinson Booksellers’ Grant Park location at 7 p.m. tonight, where he’ll be joined in conversation by Winnipeg theologian Ryan Turnbull.
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Sasha, a 17-year-old pop sensation who shies away from the spotlight and plans to come out as non-binary after finishing their senior year of high school, has plans thwarted when they encounter the alt-rock band Wavelength — and sparks fly between Sasha and Lillian, the group’s singer.
Winnipeg author Cale Plett launches their debut YA novel Wavelength Thursday at 7 p.m. at McNally Robinson’s Grant Park location and will be joined in conversation by Teresa Horosko, writer and executive director of Folk On the Rocks music festival in Yellowknife, N.W.T.
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Toronto author Joelle Kidd grew up attending evangelical Christian school in rural Manitoba, and has collected her thoughts on the experience in a new collection of essays.
Jesusland: Stories from the Upside Down World of Christian Pop Culture combines memoir, critical analysis and reflections on the pop culture ephemera that permeated her life growing up. She launches the book Friday at 7 p.m. at McNally Robinson’s Grant Park location, where she’ll be joined in conversation by Once Removed and The Unger Review author Andrew Unger.
For a review of Jesusland, see click here.
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For nearly 40 years, Winnipeg political punk band Propagandhi have been pumping out head-banging songs with a conscience — and Buffalo, N.Y.’s Greg Soden, host of Unscripted Moments: A Podcast About Propagandhi, is getting set to hit town to launch a book of interviews with band members past and present.
Based on over 15 hours of interview material with members of Propagandhi, Unscripted Moments: Conversations with Propagandhi (2020-2025) will launch Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at Public Domain (633 Portage Ave.). Soden will be joined by Witchpolice Radio podcast host Sam Thompson, with musical performances by Mike Koop and Paul Hodgert.
Tickets for the event are $10 plus fees and can be purchased here.
books@freepress.mb.ca
Ben Sigurdson
Literary editor, drinks writer
Ben Sigurdson is the Free Press‘s literary editor and drinks writer. He graduated with a master of arts degree in English from the University of Manitoba in 2005, the same year he began writing Uncorked, the weekly Free Press drinks column. He joined the Free Press full time in 2013 as a copy editor before being appointed literary editor in 2014. Read more about Ben.
In addition to providing opinions and analysis on wine and drinks, Ben oversees a team of freelance book reviewers and produces content for the arts and life section, all of which is reviewed by the Free Press’s editing team before being posted online or published in print. It’s part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Ben Sigurdson
Literary editor, drinks writer
Ben Sigurdson is the Free Press‘s literary editor and drinks writer. He graduated with a master of arts degree in English from the University of Manitoba in 2005, the same year he began writing Uncorked, the weekly Free Press drinks column. He joined the Free Press full time in 2013 as a copy editor before being appointed literary editor in 2014. Read more about Ben.
In addition to providing opinions and analysis on wine and drinks, Ben oversees a team of freelance book reviewers and produces content for the arts and life section, all of which is reviewed by the Free Press’s editing team before being posted online or published in print. It’s part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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History
Updated on Saturday, October 4, 2025 11:10 AM CDT: Adds links
Updated on Thursday, October 9, 2025 8:46 AM CDT: Corrects day of Propagandhi book launch to Saturday
