Happy 60th, BCMJ!
Congratulations to the BC Medical Journal on 60 years as the flagship publication of Doctors of BC. For a good many of those years, the journal has been a favoured client of ours. Claudette Upton, a founding member of WCEA, served…
A gift (or two or three) for the holidays
The holiday season is upon us, and many will be busy looking for that just-right gift for friends and family. As happy as this time of year may be for those who celebrate, the busy-ness of it all can also…
A visit to one of the world’s largest rare book libraries
One afternoon last April, on a quest to gather information about biologist and author Rachel Carson for a book I would be writing, I guided my behemoth rental car along the grey streets of New Haven, Connecticut. The windshield wipers…
Over the moon(beam)
We're thrilled to announce that WCEA partner Rowena Rae and her sister, Elspeth Rae, have received a 2018 Moonbeam Award for their book A Duck in a Sock: Four Phonics Stories, the first in their Meg and Greg series of chapter books for…
It’s cool to be kind
One of the best editing tips of all time, and one I apply in every project, is to begin query letters and emails to writers with a compliment before launching into the many surprising and creative ways the author may…
Prize-worthy children’s books
Finalists were recently announced for the Canadian Children’s Book Centre Awards and the Victoria Book Prizes, and we were thrilled to see three books we worked on for Orca Book Publishers among the nominees. Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of…
Romancing the pen (and pencil)
As soon as the “Back to School” signs go up in store windows in late summer, I get that special feeling. Even though I haven’t started a full slate of classes since I finished university, lo those many years ago,…
New book launch
Congratulations to WCEA partner Merrie-Ellen Wilcox, whose new non-fiction book, After Life: Ways We Think About Death (Orca Book Publishers), is launching in Victoria on September 8 (see time and place details below). Books will be available for sale, and a…
Long-time reader, new listener
Like most of you, I’m sure, I’ve been a life-long reader. I like almost nothing better than curling up in a comfy spot and reading A Good Book. But recently, I’ve come to realize that I’m out of the loop…
Story and structure: Opening our minds
At an October 2017 seminar in Vancouver, Greg Younging treated editors and other publishing folk to a sneak peek at his forthcoming book, Elements of Indigenous Style. Since the book hit stores in February 2018, it’s been sailing off the…