Speaking Out and Standing Out with Canadian Children's Authors at CANSCAIP Prairie Horizons conference

The 2025 Prairie Horizons conference of the Saskatchewan chapter of the Canadian Association of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers was a great success! Set in beautiful downtown Saskatoon, conference attendees explored the theme of Don't Drop Out: Speak Out, Stand Out. I am grateful to organizers Yvonne Denomy, Mary Harelkin Bishop, and Maureen Ulrich for inviting me to speak as part of a publishing panel and to share notes on manuscript evaluations with three of the attendees.

The publishing panel addressed these topics (some of my responses are in parentheses):  

- What are the challenges for publishers and editors? (Cost of production; selling and marketing the books; lack of financial support for indie publishers & authors)

- What helps an author or manuscript/illustrator stand out, and what is a publisher looking for in a manuscript? (A unique topic/storyline/approach to a subject; great writing that tells the story and helps the reader care about the characters; for DriverWorks Ink books, a story that readers can learn something from, to help make the world a better place)

-  What are tips to encourage aspiring authors and illustrators to stay the course? (Keep going; try to not be discouraged by a rejection letter; try to look at comments or criticisms of the written work as opportunities for improvement; keep searching until you find an editor/publisher who is a good fit for you and your work)

- What do authors/illustrators need to know about Artificial Intelligence (Be careful; use it sparingly and cautiously; add an AI clause in your contracts to protect yourself and your publisher; know that AI  copies sources without permission or compensation to the originators of the ideas; check for the source of the information to confirm it is correct and not plagiarized; be cautious that you are not stealing the creations of others)

The conference had numerous sessions and events in addition to those in which I participated. It's always nice to learn something new and connect with other writers, authors, and publishers. Thanks again to CANSCAIP Saskatchewan for hosting a great conference.

Enjoy these photos from CANSCAIP's 2025 Prairie Horizons Conference.

Blogger and Book Editor Brian Henry, Deana Driver of DriverWorks Ink, Emma Sakamoto of Groundwood Books, and Edward Willett of Shadowpass Press 

Author and Spoken Word artist Khodi Dill inspired the audience to speak out against injustice

Author and Storyteller Cort Dogniez shared why authors should speak out about history and injustice

Three award-winning DriverWorks Ink authors (left to right) Mary Harelkin Bishop, Deana J Driver, and Jennifer S Wallace at the 2025 Prairie Horizons conference

A view of downtown Saskatoon and the South Saskatchewan River, May 2025

You know they like selling your books when...

One afternoon in October, I was delivering more stock of our terrific books to a local store here in Regina, Saskatchewan when I was overcome with gratitude.

I had just stepped inside Local Market YQR (at 1377 Hamilton Street) when I noticed a brand new, handbuilt book stand that was holding a collection of books I publish! I was surprised and thrilled!

I then sought out co-owner Tim Shultz to let him know I was dropping off more books for their store to sell. He asked if I'd noticed the new bookstand. I definitely had. "Did you make it?" I asked.

He grinned and nodded. I was thrilled and told him so.

"I thought we should have something to display the books," he said.

Wow. It's not every day that a store owner builds a bookshelf to house your pride and joy! Sure, there are a couple of cookbooks and cards on the stands that my company did not publish, but still. Most of the items on display are books I created. How cool is that? 

Tim Shultz with the bookstand he built for Local Market YQR

I had met Tim a few months earlier when I attended a Business Network International local chapter meeting for which my son, Dave Driver, is the president. I enjoyed the Local Market YQR's meeting space and was pleased to see the attached retail spaces with many locally produced products such as food, household supplies, and personal and decorative items.

In a state of unusual forthrightness but not-unusual excitement at seeing handmade items and the efforts of like-minded entrepreneurs, I said to Tim that day, "You should sell my books here." He listened to my descriptions of the types of nonfiction Prairie stories and fact-based kids' fiction books I publish and replied with, "Yes, we should. We should put your books in our Founders Market."

Wow. Me, a founder. I was honoured. I don't usually think of myself in such terms, even though it is true. I did found my publishing company, and I do take the words written by myself and other Prairie authors and turn those into books, but I think of myself as more of a collaborator with my authors and consultants. Together, we make great books. But sure, I'd happily participate in the Founders Market.

Anyway, this lovely surprise happened on a Friday. The next day, something else incredible happened.. on the same theme...

I drove out to Emerald Park, about 20 kilometres east of Regina, to deliver more books to the Farmer John's Local Market & Kitchen shop. And what greeted me just inside the front door? ANOTHER amazing new bookstand!

The bookstand at Farmer John's Local Market & Kitchen shows off DriverWorks Ink books

And this one holds only the books produced by my company!

Wow, wow, and wow! I just stood there in awe, then collected myself and managed to take a photo of this large new bookshelf.

The shop's owner Audra Hill wasn't there that afternoon, but if she had been, I probably would have hugged her - or maybe just jumped up and down in happiness.

This all reminds me of the terrific support and attractive displays which DriverWorks Ink books have been receiving for several years at the Handmade Saskatchewan gift shops in Regina and Saskatoon. Owner Janelle Anderson has made sure that our books are visible in appealing ways, alongside those of other Saskatchewan authors and do-it-all publishers like me. My authors and I love Handmade Saskatchewan! (And we're excited for their new stand-alone store to open in Regina next year too!) 

Our books at Handmade Saskatchewan gift shops in Regina (Cornwall Centre above left) and Saskatoon (Midtown Mall and Lawson Heights Mall above right)

It's rare to receive such special treatment when you are a book publisher. I am honoured by this local support of our books. My authors and I work hard to draw attention to our locally produced books, and we are delighted by the care taken and the support given by these local shops.

Yet another reason to Shop Local and support entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Books make great gifts, you know. Just saying.

PRAIRIE FARM STORIES OF SELLING CREAM TEACH US WHILE CELEBRATING THE PAST

In 2015, I wrote this "Read My Book" piece for Regina and Saskatoon newspapers to introduce readers to the fascinating anthology Cream Money: Stories of Prairie People. The book has been popular, due to its sharing of Prairie history and memories of the old days on the farm:

We can learn much from the people around us. Whether they are family, friends, acquaintances or people we have just met, there are stories to be told and lessons to be learned. This concept has been a driving force in my work as a freelance journalist for more than 30 years and has followed me into the field of book writing, editing and publishing.

In 2011, when I began working with the Saskatoon German Days Committee to help them create their book Egg Money: A Tribute to Saskatchewan Pioneer Women, I commented that they could also publish a book called Cream Money, since cream money was another important income source for farm women in days gone by. Of course, their Egg Money book is based on a statue of that name in downtown Saskatoon, so “Cream Money” did not make sense as a project for them.

So in 2014, my husband and publishing partner Al Driver and I decided to invite writers to send us their stories of selling cream and other interesting tales from past decades of farming on the Prairies. We collected 29 short stories and two poems from 30 Prairie writers, including myself.

My mother, Sabinka Staszewski, came to Canada from Poland in August 1929. She was two years old and made the 12-day voyage by ship with her mother, father and three siblings (ages eight years, six years, and six weeks - see photo below). After arrival in Halifax, Nova Scotia, they headed west by train to what would become their new home in Athabasca, Alberta, 95 miles north of Edmonton.

The family spent their first two winters living in a hole in the ground. Literally.

During the First World War, my grandfather had seen houses that were dug into the hills of Romania. There were no hills on the Alberta farmland he’d purchased, so he adapted this idea and created the first dugout house anyone had seen in that region. Their dugout house was four feet deep, eight feet wide, and 14 feet long. A small wood-burning cook stove and oven was used for cooking and warmth. Their large trunk was their only other piece of furniture until my grandfather constructed a long bench.

One of the first items my grandparents purchased in town to add to their meagre possessions was a young Holstein cow named Jenny, to supply the family with milk. Cow’s milk was an essential item on every farm in those days, especially for a growing family. 

Other parts of my family’s story include the fact that my father, also an immigrant, and his siblings were punished for speaking Ukrainian in school. Until they could afford their own cow, my grandmother helped milk a neighbour’s cows so she could bring a quart of milk home for her own family each day.

These are lessons that we can learn from and stories which need to be told to preserve not only our history but to teach the next generation. Other stories within the pages of Cream Money tell of hard work, of children and mice falling into milk cans, of saving cream money for essential items such as teeth repair, of sending the cream cans to town by train, and relishing the rich desserts made with farm-fresh cream.

On days when I am tempted to feel gloomy, I remember the story of the dugout house. Life in Canada is good. Let’s keep sharing those stories.

Cream Money: Stories of Prairie People is available from www.driverworks.ca, McNally Robinson Booksellers, Chapters, Indigo, Coles, and other select retailers. 

Here's a link to my blog about the fun book launch we had for the book!

Hockey, SuperMom and the Big Baby books, and Children's Wish Foundation

On February 6th, we had the privilege of attending a Regina Pats Western Hockey League game to sit alongside the good folks of Children's Wish Foundation, Saskatchewan branch, on Children's Wish Night.

Author Dave Driver, who also happens to be our son, brought copies of his funny children's book SuperMom and the Big Baby, illustrated by Guy Laird. Dave is a mortgage broker who wrote this funny story as a gift to his wife Kelli. The phrases that SuperMom speaks in the book are phrases that Kelli spoke while sleeping. The book has been praised by teachers, parents, and children ages two to nine in particular.

We offered a special deal to anyone wishing to buy the book that night. Usually, we sell the book for $13.95 and donate $1 from each book to Children's Wish Foundation. (We donate to numerous charities from sales of some of our books. The list is at the bottom of our Home page.) Last night, we sold the book for $10 and gave HALF of that money to Children's Wish as our donation towards their good work.

Here's a photo journal of that night's fun event:

     Dave posed for a picture while signing a book for this little guy before the game. Meanwhile, Al is busy visiting with the little dude. His 'grandpa' impulses kick in and he starts the teasing and visiting every time he sees a child.

Then it was Dave's turn to visit.

He signed a book for this young man...

...who couldn't wait to look at his new book.

     A Children's Wish Child was introduced to drop the puck at the beginning of the hockey game.

     We were impressed by the new $3.7-million scoreboard and screen at Brandt Centre, home of the Regina Pats junior hockey team. Wow! It's like watching TV in high-definition and the clips between plays add so much more entertainment to a night out at the hockey game.

     I've never seen a 'Kiss Cam' or those psychedelic 'Clap Your Hands' colours on screen at a Pats game before. 

     This family stopped by and the dad asked what we were doing at our display. When we told him we were selling our great children's book and giving half the proceeds to Children's Wish Foundation, the little boy (about age six or seven) told us: "I've read that book."

     I was a little taken aback and asked him. "You've read this book?"

     "Yes," he said.

     I looked at his mom and told her that her son said he's read this book. "Oh, maybe he read it at school," she said.

    The boy looked at me and announced," It's in my backpack."

     "Your backpack at home?" his mom asked.

     The boy nodded.

     I leaned down to the boy's level and pointed at Dave. I told the boy, "This man wrote this book. Isn't that cool?"

     Without missing a beat, the boy replied, "I know. I saw his picture in the book."

     Dad asked, "Do you like this book?"

     The boy nodded.

     "Would you like to buy a book so you can read it to your brother and sisters?"

     "Yes."

     So they purchased their own copy of the book, and we all smiled. For quite a while.

     Meet Kristen Allen (left) and Jillian Desautels, Children's Wish Foundation staff in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan respectively.

  

We had fun working alongside them and talking about their great charity.

 When the overhead lights were down and the game was on, Dave and Al enjoyed watching the Regina Pats and Saskatoon Blades on the ice.

I asked Al to take a photo of me with Dave, to prove I was there. (The photographer is rarely in any photos - with the exception of today's selfies trend.)

While Al was busy chatting with Jillian and Kristen...

... Dave was waiting patiently for K9, the Regina Pats mascot, to pose with him and the SuperMom and the Big Baby book.

     It was a fun night in Regina, Saskatchewan, made even better when a gentleman came along and made a substantial donation to Children's Wish Foundation. He had a Wish Child several years ago, and they went on a vacation through Children's Wish. His selfless act made our night.

   We'll be doing this again next month, on March 17th in Moose Jaw, at 7 p.m. in the new Mosaic Place, when the Moose Jaw Warriors play the Swift Current Broncos. We'll see you there!