Staff Picks
At FriesenPress, we celebrate each and every book we help our authors publish. Here are some of our team’s recent favourites – happy reading!
Not A Runner
A true story of tragedy, determination and paying it forward by
Reginald J Willick
One moment can change the course of a life forever. For Reg Willick, that moment came with a devastating phone call—an event that would alter his path, ignite a relentless drive, and lead him toward a mission bigger than himself. In this raw and powerful memoir, Reg shares his journey through unimaginable loss, the surprising salvation he found in running, and the profound impact of paying it forward. From the heartbreak of a tragic accident that shook him to his core to the triumph of completing the Great World Race—seven marathons on seven continents in seven days—this is a story of grit, determination, and unwavering resolve. But this book is more than just races run and finish lines crossed; it’s also about the people and places that shaped his life, the deep influence of his wife, Janice, and the comfort and joy found in the companionship of dogs. It’s about finding purpose after retirement, standing up to injustice, navigating the flaws of bureaucracy, life’s inequalities, and a global crisis—and discovering healing through action and compassion. Told with honesty, vulnerability, and humour, Not a Runner is a testament to the power of determination, the importance of doing what’s right—no matter the cost—and how even the smallest acts of kindness can create ripples of change. Some wounds never heal. But through running, resilience, and reaching out to others, Reg Willick found a way to keep moving forward.
Chaplin the Rescue Dog
by
Taylor Stewart
Chaplin had spent what felt like forever waiting in a Florida shelter. Each time a new person came in to adopt a pet, he wagged his tail and “smiled” as only a dog can, but no one seemed to notice. Was it because he was too old? Everything changed when Taylor came along. She wasn't just any volunteer; she was Chaplin's new best friend! Together, they explored beaches, went on car rides, and even had cozy sleepovers. Then one day, Taylor did something amazing: she decided to adopt Chaplin and bring him to her home—all the way up north on Canada’s East Coast! Chaplin’s long stay at the shelter was finally over, but what would his new life be like? This heartwarming tale reminds us that it’s never too late for “happily ever after.” Join Chaplin on his incredible journey, from overlooked to overjoyed!
Magic In The Music
The C-Weed Band Story by
Errol Ranville and Wally Ranville
In the 1980s, Manitoba country-rock group The C-Weed Band scored a half dozen Top Ten hits on the country music charts beginning with their #1 hit single "Evangeline". As an Indigenous band, they broke ground for other Indigenous artists on the Canadian music mainstream. Starting out in the tough Main Street Winnipeg bars, the band faced daunting odds including poverty, discrimination, and racism throughout their rise to success. The members of The C-Weed Band, whose nucleus was the three Ranville brothers - Errol, Wally and Don - from rural Eddystone MB prevailed, earning the admiration of a legion of dedicated fans and respect from fellow musicians not only across Canada but in the United States, Europe and China where the band toured to great acclaim. This is their story, told by the members of the band themselves as well as associates, contemporaries, and friends. It's been a long, strange trip but The C-Weed Band triumphed and are still performing to adoring crowds everywhere.
I Like Killer Whales the Best
by
Emily Fehr
Dive into the imaginative world of a little boy who really loves killer whales in I Like Killer Whales the Best. From pretending to have flukes to imitating the captivating sounds of these majestic sea creatures, he learns about the amazing killer whales, which are actually dolphins known as orcas. Join the adventure and discover what a killer whale’s favourite lunch is, how they “talk” to each other, how they create those big splashes, and why he likes killer whales the best! I Like Killer Whales the Best is a heartwarming tale of fascination, imagination, and a child’s connection with learning about the wonders of the natural world.
Masters of Their Own Bodies
The Great Canadian Birth Control Trial by
Peter Giuliani
Sex and the long arm of the Catholic Church. Eccentric millionaires and Canada's Eugenics Society. Poverty and intolerance trapping the working class. It’s 1936 during the Great Depression and the nation watches as a spectacular court case unfolds in a tiny town just outside Ottawa. Dorothea Palmer has brought birth control to French Catholic Eastview’s poorest women and the government will not stand for it, but there is far more at play than first meets the eye.
Prisoners of Hope
Motivational Conversations to Help You Achieve Your Dreams by
Salvador S. Erazo
What holds you back from your dreams? Surrounded by daily negative messaging in our lives, we hold ourselves back by the fear that surrounds us, leaning into our hopes for a better future without taking the necessary steps to make those hopes a reality. Prisoners of Hope prepares us for the journey into ourselves as we shed layers of past negativity to grasp our dreams. Taking us through examples of the challenges in life, author Salvador S. Erazo teaches us how to listen to our inner callings and find the passion in our lives that drives us to become better versions of ourselves. Through goal setting, lessons learned, and ultimately taking that first step into a new beyond, Prisoners of Hope offers us a guiding hand as we consciously face our fears to welcome our new lives. Prisoners of Hope is his first book.
Let's Go, Darby!
by
Linda Rosenbaum
The Hospital for Sick Children was Georgie's only hope...Based on a true story. It’s 1898. Ten-year-old Georgie Titus has clubfoot. He can’t walk. He can’t go to school. Kids in his small town laugh and call him names. Georgie hears about a new children’s hospital in Toronto where they “perform miracles.” He is determined to go. But how? The city is forty miles away. Let’s Go, Darby! tells the remarkable story of the harrowing journey Georgie makes with his dog, Darby, landing on the doorstep of the Hospital for Sick Children. During his months-long stay at the hospital and its summer home on Toronto Island, miracles do happen, mostly unexpected. With the help of his beloved nurse and first-ever friends, Georgie gains the courage and confidence he needs to take the next big steps in his life. Join Georgie and fellow patients on their journey from despair to hope and eventual healing. Let’s Go, Darby! conveys important messages of inclusion, connection and friendship in a fun, kid-centred way. A fictionalized account for middle grade readers of the early days of Toronto’s famous SickKids hospital, it is a gratifying Canadian story. LINDAROSENBAUM.CA
Flame of the Void
The Star of Alastrine by
Claire Beers
Dawn's journey to uncover her true destiny begins with a simple necklace—an ancient artifact with untold power. But this isn't just any necklace; it once belonged to the Serpent King, a former Champion of the gods who fell into darkness, stealing powerful relics and artifacts and leaving destruction in his wake. Now, the last remaining artifact he needs is around Dawn's neck, and the Serpent King will stop at nothing to claim it. With her world on the brink of destruction, Dawn must unlock the secrets of her past, embrace the power within her, and protect the artifact that could save—or doom—their world. Alongside a band of friends and unlikely allies. She will journey across a land filled with magic, danger, and forgotten legends, all while the shadow of the Serpent King looms closer. Can she become the hero her world needs before it’s too late?