Full fall season brings launches, signings galore
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The leaves may still be on the trees, but fall is surely just around the corner, as book events begin picking up steam after a sleepy summer.
Saskatoon “supernatural suspense” author Helen Power is at Raven’s End Books (1859 Portage Ave.) today from 1-3 p.m., where she’ll be signing copies of her 2022 novel The Ghosts of Thorwald Place and the 2024 followup Phantom.
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At McNally Robinson’s Grant Park location, meanwhile, the coming week sees book-launch season kick into high gear, with four consecutive nights of author readings and signings.
Jennifer Jones is the first to slide into the house, as she draws to the button with her new memoir Rock Star: My Life On and Off the Ice, co-written with Bob Weeks. The two-time world champion, 2014 Olympic gold medalist, six-time national champ (as well as lawyer, mom, wife and corporate leader) will be at McNally Robinson on Monday at 7 p.m., where she’ll be joined in conversation by Ace Burpee.
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On Tuesday at 7 p.m., editors (and sisters) Sara Sinclair and Stephanie Sinclair will be at McNally Robinson to launch a pair of collections of writing by a range of Indigenous authors — one volume geared towards younger readers and the other aimed at adult readers.
You Were Made for This World: Celebrated Indigenous Voices Speak to Young People collects words and art to share Indigenous stories and to honour young readers.
A Steady Brightness of Being: Truths, Wisdom, and Love from Celebrated Indigenous Voices, meanwhile, collects stories from the past, explores Indigenous life in Canada today and where reconciliation may lead us.
The pair will be joined at the event by contributors Tasha Spillett, katherena vermette, David A. Robertson and Niigaan Sinclair.
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Wednesday sees Prairie romantasy author Briar Boleyn launch the deluxe, limited-edition version of her 2024 novel On Wings of Blood. Boleyn, who writes more conventional romance novels under the name Fenna Edgewood, will be joined at 7 p.m. in conversation with special guest (and fellow romance novelist) Nisha J. Tuli as well as host Kaila Anttila.
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On Thursday, the latest mystery novel from Interlake author Raye Anderson to feature RCMP officer Roxanne Calloway launches at 7 p.m. Had a Great Fall: A Roxanne Calloway Mystery sees the Mountie take a break from mat leave to look into the death of a Winnipeg police officer who saves her life some years prior.
Anderson will be joined by author Doug Whiteway, a fellow Manitoba crime novelist under the pen name C.C. Benison.
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Winnipeg poetry/literary magazine Contemporary Verse 2 (CV2) celebrates 50 years of publishing with a special summer 2025 issue that sees longtime editor Clarise Foster rejoining the team to help curate the issue’s selections.
The issue features archival poems from the first 25 years of CV2 (1975-1999) alongside new poems by selected poets (including, among others, bpNichol, CV2 founder Dorothy Livesay, Bronwen Wallace, Frances Boyle and others).
The issue launches Thursday at 7 p.m. via Zoom; it’s free to attend but registration is required (at wfp.to/ilo).
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A new Vancouver bookstore is dedicated to one of the hottest, steamiest literary genres: romance novels.
The Perfect Match Bookshop opened on Aug. 16, and saw a lineup snaking around the block on opening day, according to CTV News. The Perfect Match had solely sold romance novels online until owner Amy Pelletier decided to open her bricks-and-mortar shop on East Broadway. The genre continues to drive book sales thanks in large part to BookTok videos featured on the social media app TikTok.
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Closer to home, another genre-driven bookstore is treating teachers to sweet deals before school’s back in session.
From Monday until Sept. 3, Whodunit? Mystery Bookstore (163 Lilac St.) is offering teachers 50 per cent off all used books for the classroom. There are no carved-in-stone rules as to where the books end up; as their website states, “If you find your eyes straying towards something that may end up by your bedside or on your coffee table, how are we to know..?”
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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