This week, we're sharing a creative types test, a look at YA controversies, some Canadian books to read, and more!

Those looking to add to their Fall 2019 reading lists can find inspiration in Quill and Quire's latest issue. The 2019 Fall Preview includes a section on Books for Young People, and Common Deer Press is excited to announce that Cate Carlyle's YA novel #NotReadyToDie has been included. #NotReadyToDie is a gripping novel that follows Ginny, a teenager who finds herself in lock down after a shooter enters her school during first period. With her teacher and crush both injured it's up to Ginny to keep her classmates safe and calm amid the chaos.

Our publisher, Kirsten Marion, will be joining the 2019 Toronto Writing Workshop on August 17th as faculty for a one-day "How To Get Published" conference. The conference includes a full day of programming that aims to give you everything you need to get your writing published. In addition to classes, there will be agent and editor pitching all day! For more information on the event, visit Toronto Writing Workshop.

More coverage for teen author Nyah Nichol and her novel Broken Shards of Time! Bonnyville Nouvelle's Meagan Maceachern wrote about how Nyah conceived of her novel's main character, Wren Derecho, and what winning the Uncommon Quest has meant to her. Check it out to learn about our 2019 Uncommon Quest winner!

The word is out! Nyah Nichol is our Uncommon Quest winner and her novel Broken Shards of Time will be published in next fall. Michael Menzies of Lakeland Connect recently sat down with Nyah to discuss the contest and her novel. Check it out!

TGIF. Not just because the weekend’s just about here and the weather’s actually started to match the season, but also because I get to share some cools stuff from around the web! This week I’ve got a map of Odysseus’s travels, some rejection letters sent to famous authors, a column on integrating non-English words into an English text, and an author’s thoughts on a common sci-fi trope. Happy reading! Interactive Map of Odysseus’s Travels The Greek hero Odysseus is well known in literary spheres and now his ten year journey has been made into an interactive map. This mash-up of geography and myth is worth checking out if you’re a fan of classics. Rejection Letters Even the best authors get re

TGIF, readers! I’ve been on the road this week, so all my reading has been squeezed between visits with family or relegated to the late evening or early morning. But fear not! I’ve still had time to find some things to share with you. An Uncertain Book Lover I sometimes start to feel bad when I see friends who’ve already completed their Goodreads Challenges or when I’m in a conversation and I don’t know any of the new book releases that are being discussed. So I felt a bit of relief reading Open Book writer in residence Zalika Reid-Benta's thoughts about feeling uncertain about being a book lover who doesn’t read voraciously. The Strand Becomes a Landmark The New York City Landmarks Preserva

It happens whenever ordinary small talk slips into the novel. "I have a new book coming out," I say. "Really? What’s it called?" "The End Note," I reply. "What’s it about?" There’s the inevitable break in eye contact, the embarrassed pause, my mouth wrinkling into aborted words. Finally, I manage to expel something vague and pompous about death and the material universe. The different ways people respond to the collapse of the planet and human institutions. Faith versus reason, and whether art can be reduced, like everything else, to ones and zeroes. Satirical 19th-century poetry. Oh, and policy conferences. There’s a lot of stuff about policy conferences. "Uh huh. What gave you the idea to

Happy Friday, dear readers! It’s Emily back once again to share some bookish content from around the web. Let’s get into it! BookExpo Many of you in the book community are probably aware that one of the biggest publishing industry events occurred recently: BookExpo. This is an event where publishers, media, booksellers, bloggers, and others in the industry come together for panels, signings, and more. Publisher’s Weekly has the scoop on this year's BookExpo, for those who weren’t following along with the chaos on social media. Pride Books June is Pride month! You won’t have to look far to find reading lists, but if you don’t know where to start, I recommend this Pride book list from Bustle.

It’s been just over a year since we published Patricia J. Anderson’s eco-fable novel Threshold. In that time, there’s been quite a bit of environmental news that has made the book’s message all the more relevant. But one bit of news recently came to our attention that may show just how prescient Threshold is: a Chinese city is planning to launch an artificial moon. That's right, scientists in Chengdu, China are looking at using an artificial moon to light the city streets at night. Threshold, written in 2016, describes the launch of an artificial moon over the world of Ooolandia, where authorities are eliminating nature in favour of engineered reality. The artificial moon will give Ooolandia