Book launch steeped in cozy, mysterious vibes

Ben Sigurdson Paper Chase
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Prefer your mysteries as cozy as a warm cuppa? Winnipeg author Gretchen Rue returns to Whodunit? Mystery Bookstore (163 Lilac St.) tomorrow at 3 p.m. to launch Earl Grave Tea, the fourth book in her Witches Brew series.

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Prefer your mysteries as cozy as a warm cuppa? Winnipeg author Gretchen Rue returns to Whodunit? Mystery Bookstore (163 Lilac St.) tomorrow at 3 p.m. to launch Earl Grave Tea, the fourth book in her Witches Brew series.

The book sees an improv group come to the town of Raven Creek, Wash. to stage an Agatha Christie play. Local tea shop owner and witch Phoebe Winchester is shocked to see the the play’s lead is engaged to her ex-husband — until, that is, the lead turns up dead.

Rue also writes more darker thrillers under the name Kate Wiley, as well as romance and fantasy novels as Sierra Dean.

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Meanwhile, if you like your words both wild and wonderful, get thee to Sookram’s Brewing Co. (479-B Warsaw Ave.) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. for a free reading hosted by Sheldon Birnie.

The seventh edition of Wild and Wonderful Words will feature authors Sue Sorensen, Alyssa Sherlock, Michael McMullen and J.L. Kies reading their work. Admission is free, and all ages are welcome.

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Budding thespians, take note: Winnipeg actor, director and playwright Cairn A. Moore would like to share some tips with you.

Moore launches her book Born Ready: An Actor’s Handbook, published by the locals at J. Gordon Shillingford, at McNally Robinson Booksellers’ Grant Park location tonight at 7 p.m. She’ll be joined by fellow actors Sophie Helmer and Natasha Fisher, as well as Andrew Davidson, author of The Gargoyle and owner/operator of The Gargoyle Theatre (585 Ellice Ave.).

Buy on mcnallyrobinson.com

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Life in the public service can be tough, and the trio of editors of a new volume published by University of Manitoba Press want to explain the impact of cuts in health care, housing, civil service and more.

Jesse Hajer, Ian Hudson and Jennifer Keith launch the collection Public Service in Tough Times: Working Under Austerity in Manitoba on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at McNally Robinson’s Grant Park location. They’ll be joined by the Manitoba Federation of Labour’s president, Kevin Rebeck, who will also speak to the effect of said cuts.

Buy on mcnallyrobinson.com

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In the wake of the 2018 allegations of sexual assault against five members of Canada’s world junior hockey team, TSN senior correspondent Rick Westhead has come out with a new book that explores the culture of hockey in Canada, the persistent homophobia and misogyny in the game and the roadblocks at all levels that are impeding real change.

Westhead’s book We Breed Lions: Confronting Canada’s Troubled Hockey Culture won’t be an easy read, but might be necessary for real, lasting change to take place. He launches the book Thursday at 7 p.m. at McNally Robinson’s Grant Park location, where he’ll be joined in conversation by Free Press sports and investigative journalist Jeff Hamilton.

Buy on mcnallyrobinson.com

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Winnipeg’s most famous (or infamous) intersection is explored in a new book that simultaneously dabbles in the city’s history, political landscape and more.

Portage and Main: How an iconic intersection shaped Winnipeg’s history, politics, and urban life, published by Great Plains Press, is the work of Winnipeg historians (and the One Great History podcast co-hosts) Sabrina Janke and Alex Judge. The pair will launch the book at McNally Robinson’s Grant Park location on Friday at 7 p.m., where they’ll be joined in conversation by Free Press columinist Jen Zoratti.

Pulp Literature has announced the winners of the 2025 Raven Short Story Contest, with Interlake author Mitchell Toews nabbing the first runner-up spot for his story Second Helping at Conchita’s Diner.

The winner was Avery Other of Lincoln, Neb. for the story This is Magic, while second runner-up went to Vancouver’s Niloufar-Lily Soltani for Pahlavan and The Nightingale. Among the shortlisted authors was also Winnipeg’s David Jón Fuller for his story Upon Reflection.

The three winning stories will appear in the Spring 2026 issue of Pulp Literature.

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The final information session of the McNally Robinson Travelling Book Club’s 2026 literary tour of France takes place Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Grant Park store’s community classroom, or can be attended online.

The trip, a follow-up to May’s trek to Scotland, takes place from April 23 to May 7, and features a range of book-related experiences as well as food, drink, music and more. To register for the info session, hosted by McNally Robinson co-owner Chris Hall and Megan Reimer of Cruise Vacations, and for more details click here.

books@freepress.mb.ca

Ben Sigurdson

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

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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