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!
Syzygy Revealed
by
James W. Lackie
Convergence. The dark threads of fate are drawing the greatest powers in the universe towards an inevitable and explosive conjunction. Alexander Cadeyrn returns to the world after decades in exile. His experiences have left him scarred and broken, with only vengeance in his heart—vengeance against his father, the immortal avatar Saelen, and the two fractured versions of himself that now call themselves kings. Cillian Domhnal, embodying the dark aspects of Alexander’s nature, has poisoned Bryn’Meadhn culture. Under the guise of creating prosperity, Cillian has perverted their values to prize greed, selfishness, and cruelty. As his enemies close in, he casts aside all pretences and embraces his desire for destruction and chaos, squeezing every drop of pleasure from the pain that he inflicts. Meanwhile, Wendell Domhnal, embodying the light aspects of Alexander’s nature, has been crowned king and has finally harnessed the great power inside him, though he still doubts himself. With his motley crew of unlikely friends and the woman he loves, he assembles an army and leads it north, hoping to cure the blight that Cillian has gleefully unleashed in Bryn’Meadhn. With universal destruction at the hands of a despotic avatar looming, can balance finally be restored when Alexander, Cillian, and Wendell finally face their own reflections? Syzygy Revealed, the third book in the Reflections of Shadow trilogy, concludes the epic fantasy journey that weaves a multi-dimensional exploration of sociopathy into elements of classic myth, visceral horror, and cosmic/elemental power.
The Spice Deck
An Anthology of Ayurvedic Spice Wisdom & Aromanutrition by
Glynnis Osher
What if your kitchen were a portal to sensory awakening, culinary alchemy, and the wisdom that transforms spice into medicine? In a world where many of us feel disconnected—from our food, our bodies, and the rhythms of nature—The Spice Deck offers a way back: a conscious journey into the healing realm of aromatic seeds and plants. Ayurvedic practitioner and Spice Mistress Glynnis Osher guides you through fifty-two extraordinary spices, revealing their healing properties, elemental energies, and mythologies. Blending timeless Ayurvedic principles with the modern science of aromanutrition—the powerful harmony of taste and scent—this anthology invites you to see your kitchen as a living apothecary, where spices are more than flavour, food becomes medicine, and cooking a sacred practice. Practical rituals, aromatherapy, oracle reflections, and an enticing collection of globally inspired spice recipes and remedies will open you to a life of fragrant blessings.
The Architecture of Inequality
Socratic Dialogues on American Crisis by
Farhang Mossavar-rahmani
The Architecture of Inequality is a work of civic philosophy that examines the structural foundations of American democratic life through the time-honored method of Socratic dialogue. Set in a university seminar room, the book brings together thirteen student characters—representing a wide range of American experience, ideology, and aspiration—as they discuss important issues in today's America. Among these are: • the causes of economic and gender inequality • the decline of democratic institutions • the problems in civil society • the impacts of globalization and division • the ongoing conflict between American ideals and reality Drawing on empirical data, philosophical tradition, and lived experience, the dialogues model what genuine civic discourse looks like. The student characters do not merely represent positions—they undergo intellectual and moral transformation, modeling the civic growth that American democracy so urgently requires. Written by a scholar whose career spans corporate and international finance, distinguished faculty governance, and deep engagement with civil society and democratic theory, this is ultimately a book of civic hope—not the easy hope that denies structural crisis, but the harder and more enduring hope that comes from examining that crisis clearly, honestly, and together.
The Adventures of Luna Baboona
The one with the Squirrel by
Emillia Beatrix
Meet Luna Baboona, a fluffy white dog with a very favourite blue ball. When Luna heads into the backyard ready to play, she doesn’t expect a bold little squirrel to swoop in and claim her treasured toy! What begins as frustration and possessiveness soon turns into something much bigger, as Luna faces an unexpected choice: protect what’s hers, or listen to her heart. The Adventures of Luna Baboona: The one with the Squirrel is a warm, gently told story about big feelings, empathy, and learning to share. Through a moment of kindness and an unlikely friendship, Luna discovers that compassion can open the door to connection, and that sometimes, the best games are played together. Perfect for young readers navigating social-emotional learning—and the caregivers who support them—this tender tale celebrates understanding, generosity, and the magic that happens when we choose kindness.
Kick Ass At Work
Master the 7 Aspects of Work to Level Up Your Career by
Josh MacKinnon
Are you looking to reach your greatest potential at work? Do you want to fast-track your career, make more money, or get promoted? Do you wish you could take more pride in your accomplishments? If so, it’s time to KICK ASS AT WORK! KICK ASS AT WORK is a collection of critical on-the-job lessons designed to help you master the seven aspects of work and accelerate your career success. It will teach you how to take pride in your work, earn the income you desire, achieve the advancement you seek, reach your full potential, and create the career of your dreams. Packed with insight and humor—on everything from “Making a big win early on” to “Keeping the bitch switch off”—these forty business lessons provide you with clear strategies and actionable steps to take control of your career, perform better at your job, and enjoy your work more. Whether you’re entering the workforce, starting in a new role, or working towards a promotion, KICK ASS AT WORK will help you unlock your full potential and build a successful career! Are you ready to kick ass at work? Let’s go!
The Boom of the Bittern
Elegy for a Wetland by
Andrew Smith
In the final years of the 19th century, young Daniel is arrested for a homosexual act. He narrowly escapes conviction, but is forced to say goodbye forever to the Norfolk Broads—the wetland he loves. While his rich, landowning family is willing to use their influence to keep him out of jail, they need him out of the way to preserve their reputation and they banish him to Toronto. There he’s thrilled to discover a beautiful marshland along the shore of Lake Ontario, and in it, a handsome fisherman named Callum. But the marsh and its inhabitants are threatened by a dark shadow, the origin of which is closer to home than Daniel wants to admit. When the destruction of the marsh feels as inexorable as the tide of history, what will become of Daniel and Callum, and the sanctuary they’ve found? But one of the most wonderful things about the natural world—and the human heart—is its ability to surprise you…
I Flew Out of the Cuckoo's Nest
A Memoir by
Elaine Ross
Elaine Ross grew up knowing she was adopted. Brought into a loving family on the Canadian prairies at eleven months old, she felt secure in the life she was given and the parents who chose her. For many years, that story felt complete. Gradually curiosity took hold. Believing she had two older brothers, she began a decades long search for the family she had come from, following incomplete records, official rejections, and long silences. What she discovered was unsettling. She was born in 1956 in a mental institution where her birth mother lived with severe mental illness during an era when women were routinely institutionalized and inadequately treated, and their stories erased. After meeting members of her birth family, a visit to her mother’s grave resulted in a moment of clarity that she hadn’t been looking for but couldn’t ignore. An unexpected connection with the woman who brought her into the world left Ross with the subtle yet compelling need to follow the traces of her mothers life. I Flew Out of the Cuckoo’s Nest is an emotionally honest story of one woman’s pursuit to discover where she came from, and to give voice to the mother she found. Ross explores the grief of adoption for everyone involved, and the reasons why so many adoptees feel the drive to find their families of origin.
In the Place of Absence
by
Robert Antidormi
In this luminous debut collection, Robert Antidormi maps the inner topography of the heart, its chambers of longing, devotion, memory, and rebirth. In the Place of Absence gathers free verse, haiku and prose poems into a meditation on what it means to love deeply in a world shaped by impermanence. Guided by the pulse of the four chambers of the human heart, these poems move through the sacred rooms of desire and grief, the tenderness of connection, and the quiet devastations we carry unseen. Whether tracing the shadow of ancestral memory or the fragile beauty of a final embrace, Antidormi writes with an intimacy that feels both personal and universal. Here, readers are invited into a space where longing becomes its own form of devotion and where even loss makes room for light. This collection offers solace in the shared human rhythms of heartbreak, resilience, and renewal, and in the promise: “Within each shadow / a heart waits to be.”
Mac the Disc Dog
Mac el Perro de Disco Volador by
Ivette O'Sullivan
As a border collie, Mac knows that someday he’ll grow up to be a herding dog. When he’s adopted, he trains hard to become the best herder he can be . . . but something is missing. One day, during an exciting adventure at the park, Mac discovers that he has a great love for catching discs. But what will his family think if he becomes a disc dog instead of a herding dog? Will they understand? And what if he’s no good at this thing he loves so much? Mac will have to embrace his courage and take the plunge if he wants to find out just how great his future could be. Mac the Disc Dog is a heartwarming story about Mac’s journey to uncover his unique purpose. The book celebrates individuality, perseverance, and the special bonds between humans and animals. This beautiful bilingual English and Spanish story enhances language skills, fosters emotional resilience, and equips children with coping strategies for the situations they’ll face in their own lives. Como un border collie, Mac sabe que algún día crecerá para ser un perro pastor. Cuando lo adoptan, entrena duro para convertirse en el mejor pastor posible... pero algo falta. Un día, durante una emocionante aventura en el parque, Mac descubre que le encanta atrapar discos. Pero, ¿qué pensará su familia si se convierte en un perro de disco volador en lugar de un perro pastor? ¿Lo entenderán? ¿Y qué pasa si no es bueno en esto que ama tanto? Mac tendrá que armarse de valor y dar el salto si quiere descubrir cuán grandioso puede ser su futuro. Mac el Perro de Disco Volador es una conmovedora historia sobre el viaje de Mac para descubrir su propósito único. El libro celebra la individualidad, la perseverancia y los lazos especiales entre humanos y animales. Esta hermosa historia bilingüe en inglés y español mejora las habilidades lingüísticas, fomenta la resiliencia emocional y equipa a los niños con estrategias de afrontamiento para las situaciones que enfrentarán en sus propias vidas.
A Symphony of Art and Nature
Nature Paintings by Claudia Punter by
Claudia Punter
Discover the beauty of our world in A Symphony of Art and Nature as nature and wildlife artist Claudia Punter shares her paintings of nature, animals and beyond. Along with her beautiful collection of paintings, she also offers a peek behind the paintbrush as she explores the inspiration and journey behind each painting. At the turn of every page, Claudia also shares her artistic insights and observations, as well as enlightening descriptions of the animals and nature spotlighted in her work. Dedicated to art lovers, animal lovers and all who love our planet, this is an art book to both learn and delight in. God’s love for His creation shines through Claudia’s paintings, so she invites readers to join in this symphony of life.