The FriesenPress Bookstore has just been updated with new Staff Picks! 📚🏅
Click the link in our bio to find a new favourite as recommended by our in-house team of publishing experts 👆
Our Author Success Highlights page just got a fresh update with 2 new book award winners and 8 finalists, professional book reviews, and more!
Click the link in our bio for all the latest accomplishments from the FriesenPress author community. 👆
100% Canadian since 1907, the heart we wear on our sleeve is the maple leaf.
In these uncertain times, it’s no surprise that Friesens employee owners are stepping up as a leading voice and advocate for Canadian authors, readers, and publishers.
You may have recently seen our CEO, Chad Friesen, on Global News or in the pages of the Globe & Mail. We're so proud to have a leader publicly protecting the interests of not only our customers, but the security and integrity of the North American book industry as a whole.
Our presses have run through two world wars and countless market fluctuations over the last 100+ years. Friesens and FriesenPress’s employee owners have your back, today and always — no matter what comes our way.
Click the link in our bio to watch the Global News feature. 👆
“One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is providing my authors with a confidence boost and acting as their cheerleader.”
In this edition of our Meet an Employee Owner series, we introduce Rebekah Caris – a Promotions Specialist with an infectious enthusiasm that always gives a big boost to authors as they promote their books to their readers.
Click the link in our bio for the full interview. 🔗 👆
“The past, present and future are interconnected. If we want to grow and evolve into positive, healthy human beings, we must learn from our past.” 📖 🔍
This Asian Heritage Month, we interview FriesenPress author Parabjot Kaur Singh about her historical children’s book Alicia’s Journey to the Past. We dig into Parabjot’s personal connection to the Komagata Maru incident as depicted in her book – including why she believes it’s so important for young people to engage with history early.
Click the link in our bio to read the full interview. 🔗 👆
What does self-publishing actually look like in 2026?
I sat down with Leanne Janzen from @friesenpress for a real conversation about what it takes to publish a book today. Just an honest look at what authors are walking into.
Here’s some of what we covered:
📌 What Friesen Press actually does (and how it’s different from the printing side)
📌 Real timelines from manuscript to finished book
📌 Realistic cost expectations for self-publishing
📌 Where AI fits in publishing and where they draw the line
📌 The difference between à la carte and full-service support
📌 When authors should actually enter the publishing process
📌 Why manuscript evaluations matter more than most authors realize
If you’ve ever felt confused about what self-publishing really costs, how long it really takes, or what kind of support is out there, this episode is for you.
🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, or hit the link in bio.
#alexaspublishingchat #selfpublishing #indieauthors #authorpodcast #publishingjourney
Think book proposals are just for traditional publishing? They’re actually a powerful and underused tool for self-publishing, too! A proposal is a great way to shape your book with your audience and marketability in mind from day one. ✍️ 📋
Join FriesenPress’s Diane Cameron on Wednesday, May 13th at 2 p.m. ET for The Power of the Book Proposal – a free 60-min webinar and live Q&A that walks you through the process of creating a transformative book proposal of your own.
Plus, one lucky attendee will win a free Editor’s Manuscript Evaluation (reg. $499)!
Register now at the link in our bio. 👆
A round of applause for FriesenPress author Rae St. Clair Bridgman! 👏🎉
Her children’s book "W is for Winnipeg – A Little Architect’s ABC" has been named winner in the Written Media Category of the 2026 UIA Architecture & Children Golden Cubes Awards.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been sharing news about the local organizations across the country our employee owners have chosen to support through our Employee Directed Giving initiative this year. Here’s one more story about how one recipient continues to make a meaningful difference in their community:
FriesenPress’s Leanne Janzen and Dante Greenslade recently visited Winnipeg’s 1JustCity for a tour of their Pulford location – and to present Executive Administrator Angela Graca with a $1,000 donation! 💛
1JustCity’s work is rooted in building relationships and reducing barriers, offering not just immediate support like food and shelter, but also pathways toward stability, belonging, and long-term wellbeing. Through a network of programs, including drop-in centres, meal programs, housing support, and a financial empowerment program, 1JustCity serves hundreds of individuals each day. They currently serve roughly 400 community members for lunch each day, while sleeping 30+ nightly at their Pulford location alone.
We’re grateful to the 1JustCity team for welcoming our Winnipeg employee owners to see their impact firsthand. Click the link in our bio to learn more about their mission. 🔗
The American Legacy Book Awards recently named *three* FriesenPress titles as finalists!
Congratulations to all our authors on their well-deserved nominations. 🥳 📚
"That's soo exciting! Oh my gosh, it's so nice." 😊 🎉
Watch the heartwarming moment when FriesenPress author Geneeta Aziz held her debut novel Frostbitten Hearts for the first time. 📚
Giving back looks different for everyone. At FriesenPress, it starts with listening to our team. Our annual Employee Directed Giving program empowers employee owners to champion the organizations that reflect the causes and communities closest to them.
FriesenPress’s Syd Kelston recently toured the Calgary Food Bank before presenting a $2,000 donation to Corporate Partnerships Coordinator, Amelie Patterson. 💛
Supporting thousands of households each week, the Calgary Food Bank plays a critical role in addressing food insecurity in its community. Their work not only reflects immediate need, but also highlights broader challenges like housing instability and the rising cost of living, while being powered by hundreds of dedicated volunteers each day.
Click the link in our bio to learn more about their important work and impact. 🔗
