LitFest 2026

We enjoyed our time at LitFest, sponsored by Northwestern Ontario Writer's Workshop, to celebrate all things writing in Northwestern Ontario.

The special guest, journalist and author Waubgeshig Rice, was personable, honest, and funny. He was part of an interview/reading evening on Friday, and on Saturday he presented a workshop (funny and practical, a magical combination) and also gave the keynote address at the banquet. His two speculative fiction novels about an Indigenous community surviving and thriving in a challenging future won acclaim, and Rice is completing edits on a humorous novel.  

Author Roy Blomstrom at the banquet 

NOWW also recognized its contest winners and presented two awards. 

The Kouhi Award, designed for a writer's outstanding contributions to the literature and writing of Northwestern Ontario, this year was awarded to Marathon writer David Giuliano. He's the author of two literary novels for adults and many other books and is the former Moderator of the United Church of Canada. (Shuniah House Books author Roy Blomstrom won this award a couple of years ago.)

And the Margaret Phillips Award, recognizing an individual or group that supports writers and the literary community, went to the Laughing Fox Collective. Laughing Fox is a grassroots organization. It started with with a group of friends celebrating the writing life over dinner and has morphed into a group that creates creative opportunities and conversations for writers. Because although learning through workshops and sharing work in readings (both worthy endeavours of NOWW) are important, so is a place to ask questions and sometimes let off a bit of steam. 

The summer has begun with cool, foggy weather, plus a lot of downed trees. It looks as if summer will have its share of physical labour--always a great time to get some (mental) writing done.

Tra-La

It's May! We're digging out from the snow at last!

Our books at Entershine Bookshop

Later this month, we plan to attend LitFest, a celebration of literature and writing in Northwestern Ontario. For the full schedule, click here. We also posted some anticipated highlights last month.

One of the features of LitFest is the Literary Market and Book Fair, where you'll find lots of authors selling their own works, and others selling merchandise that bookish folk tend to like. 

Another table will feature the kind folks from Entershine Bookshop, which will stock works by the visiting author, Waubgeshig Rice, Anishinaabe writer of speculative fiction. 

As a reminder, the home location of the bookshop itself will be open during its regular hours, so if you're coming to town for LitFest, stroll a couple of blocks down Algoma to 196 S. Algoma Street, through the scenic and historic Bay/Algoma district. There's lots of international, national, and local authors, plus candles, cards, puzzles, games, mugs, wee books to press flowers in, and more!

(Speaking of local authors, they routinely stock four books by Roy Blomstrom, plus one by Jeanne LeCaine Agnew, plus two books by Shuniah House Books general factotum Marion Agnew.)

Spring still has cold and windy days, but the increased sunshine is enough to make any booklover giddy. Plus who doesn't love to celebrate reading and writing? You'll find lots to celebrate at LitFest 2026! 

LitFest 2026 in Thunder Bay!

In just under a month--May 22 and 23--writers and readers in Thunder Bay will come together to celebrate the writing and literature of northwestern Ontario at LitFest 2026. 

A few years ago, our author Roy Blomstrom was honoured at this event with the Kouhi Award, named for Finnish-Canadian poet Elizabeth Kouhi. Her poetry set a standard for literature set in and reflecting the region. 

This year's festival will feature Waubgeshig Rice, who will be interviewed, present a workshop about adapting oral storytelling to literature, and keynote the banquet. Rice, an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation near Lake Huron, is also the author of two acclaimed speculative fiction novels that present Indigenous community in a post-apocalyptic world.

Some of the events on Friday and Saturday are free of charge; some are not. A free Book Fair and Literary Market will be open from 10 to 4 on Saturday at the event venue, which is the Italian Cultural Centre on Algoma Street (132 Algoma St. S). Lots of parking!

Entershine Bookshop will have also a presence at the Book Fair, and any titles they don't have on hand are available just a block or two up the street at their permanent location, 196 Algoma Street S. 

We always look forward to the day's events. It's fun to get new perspectives on writing through workshops as well as formal and informal discussions. Writers are supposedly solitary folks, but periodically we come blinking into the sunshine to greet each other and share a meal. And everyone there is approachable, always interested in talking with other writers and readers. 

For a full list of events, go here: NOWW LitFest 2026. 

Finnish Civil War

It's spring--a snowy one in Northwestern Ontario--and our thoughts are turning to the Finnish Civil War. As they tend to do. (Maybe a "just us" thing? Probably.)

Stories written on birchbark

This year, 2026, the dates of Easter don't fall on exactly the same dates as they did in 1918. Easter is about a week later--April 5, instead of March 31. 

But important conflicts occurred near Easter, in "real life" and in the lives of the characters of SILENCES: A NOVEL OF THE 1918 FINNISH CIVIL WAR. 

On Maundy Thursday, Karl Solbakken heads reluctantly into the cemetery where, for him, the sounds of the battle fall silent. 

Meanwhile, Jussi Mantere and his father are bombing Tampere--a significant effort that changes forever how Jussi viewed the war's destruction and bloodshed.

When it's officially spring but snowing YET AGAIN, when armed conflict in the world seems to be escalating, we find it helpful to remember that in other wars, people who fight sometimes, eventually, do find peace, even dedicating their whole lives to maintaining it.

Roy Blomstrom's SILENCES: A NOVEL OF THE 1918 FINNISH CIVIL WAR is available online at this link. 

  

Happy New Year!

Reading books is one of the best ways to travel through time, to learn without experiencing something directly, and to feel what other people might feel--for starters.

Shuniah House Books

So especially in difficult times, we are hopeful when people read books--by other people. And we hope that readers in 2026 find their way to one of our books! 

We've published books in 2024 and 2025, so we may not add another in 2026--but never say never.

Best wishes for a meaningful and joyful 2026.  

Book Signing November 29!

Saturday, November 29, Roy Blomstrom will be at Entershine Bookshop signing copies of his newest work, START WITH A SHOVEL: POETRY, PROSE, AND PLAYS. Stop by any time between 11 AM and 1 PM to say hi and pick up a cookie!

Entershine is at 196 Algoma Street South, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, in the heart of the Bay-Algoma District. 

You can order your book through Entershine, buy one that day, or bring an already-purchased copy. 

And here's a secret: Roy would be happy to sign any of his books! 

It's always fun to meet readers, and (we might be biased), we think that START WITH A SHOVEL, or other books from Shuniah House Books, would make excellent holiday gifts. 

INTRODUCING START WITH A SHOVEL: POETRY, PROSE, AND PLAYS

The latest Roy Blomstrom book, START WITH A SHOVEL: POETRY, PROSE, AND PLAYS is now on the shelves at Entershine Bookshop.

Another fantastic cover by H. Leighton Dickson!

The title comes from one of the creative nonfiction essays in the collection, comparing learning to write with his parents' experiences building a house (or two). 

Much of the work in this volume has been recognized in some form or another--such as winning awards from the Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop's annual contest or being produced in the local 10X10 Showcase. 

The softcover is also available online here. The ebook version is still to come.

We're so pleased to make this compilation of short work available to readers!