MemberNeWestPress

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1
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canadian (1), short stories (1), gay (1)
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Joined
Feb 22, 2010
Real Name
Paul Matwychuk
About Me
Emerging from the buzzing cultural climate of western Canada in the 1970s, NeWest Press has published radically rewarding literature for over thirty years. The Press was launched at the same time as the NeWest Review, a monthly journal of politics, arts, and culture focusing on the prairie provinces.

The first book published under the NeWest imprint was an anthology of seven short stories, Getting Here, chosen by Rudy Wiebe from the output of his creative writing class at the University of Alberta. The collection included stories by Aritha van Herk, Myrna Kostash, Caterina Edwards, Helen Rosta, and Candas Jane Dorsey, all of whom became established writers in subsequent years.

Since its inception, NeWest's literary division has generated numerous award-winning titles and made significant contributions to the Canadian literary scene through the Writer As Critic and Prairie Play Series, as well as through various anthologies of poetry, fiction, and literary criticism. Bestsellers have included Susan Haley's A Nest of Singing Birds, which was filmed for television by CBC, Eva Brewster's holocaust memoir Vanished in Darkness, and the short story anthology Alberta Bound. NeWest has begun publishing mystery novels over the past decade; contributors include Suzanne North, Garry Ryan, D.M. Wyman, R.F. Darion, Ian Waddell, and Roy Innes.

Also notable is the Nunatak Series, established in 1989 by Aritha van Herk and Rudy Wiebe. Reserved for outstanding first novels and short story collections, the series was designed to promote fiction by emerging Canadian authors. Nunatak highlights include the introduction of novelist Thomas Wharton with Icefields (1995), as well as Suzette Mayr with Moon Honey (1995) and Hiromi Goto with Chorus of Mushrooms (1994), among others. In full Nunatak tradition, the 2007 title, Wonderfull, was written by Calgary's William Neil Scott and guided by board editor Thomas Wharton.

Today NeWest continues to thrive, publishing ten to twelve books annually. While still a western press, in recent years NeWest has expanded its mandate to publish work from all across Canada. The editorial board continues its commitment to developing and publishing first-time writers, as well as ensuring the availability of Canadian classics. At thirty years, NeWest Press has established itself as one of the country's most enduring and respected literary presses, a reflection of the many years of dedication, passion, and perseverance that have kept its original publishing vision alive.
Location
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Homepage
http://www.newestpress.com

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