Featured Authors
Story
Lisa Young and Joan Neath’s goal is twofold: to inspire children to use their imaginations, and to share their own experience of collaborating as writer and illustrator to make stories become reality.
Testimonial
“Publishing has been a major learning experience! Now, more than ever—with all of the advancements in communication—it is possible for a person to self-publish. And Blitzprint has certainly helped in so many ways to give me the confidence to continue!”
About the author
Children’s author Lisa Young self-published her first book, The Friendship of Magpie and Crow, with Blitzprint in November of 2008. Her second book, Scamper, was self-published with Blitzprint December of 2009 and won an award at the Paris Book Festival in San Francisco in the spring of 2010. Her third work—a chapter book series titled Beatrice Pigeon goes to Mexico—was published in December of 2010.
She looks forward to continuing her relationship with Blitzprint and her editor, Jens Petersen. Lisa has begun her first adult novel, which is set for release in 2012. The second in the Beatrice Pigeon series will be released in the spring of 2012. Her fourth children’s book—a Christmas story in which all of the characters in her books come together—will be released November 2011.
Lisa lives in Calgary with her family and two crazy cats. She loves touring local schools and reading to students along with the illustrator of her
books, Joan Neath. Their goal is to inspire children with the message to use their imaginations and also to share their experience of collaborating together to make a story become a reality!
About Beatrice Pigeon
As Lisa and Joan made presentations to various schools, children kept asking, “When are you going to write a chapter book series?” So Lisa started with a story that had been on her mind for many years—a story about Beatrice Pigeon. Beatrice’s first adventure would involve Mexico, a place Lisa loves and has traveled to many times, as well as Arizona, where she lived for a few years before moving to Calgary.
The story was born in a moment one day in downtown Calgary when Lisa was inspired by pigeons cooing above the awning of Arnold Churgin’s shoe store. But it wasn’t until 15 years later, in the summer of 2010, that she sat down and wrote Beatrice!
Lisa describes her move into the publishing world as a major learning experience. While challenging, self-publishing has been made much easier thanks not only to technological advancements, but also Blitzprint, where staff have helped in many ways to give Lisa the confidence to continue.
Beatrice Pigeon Goes to Mexico — Synopsis
Beatrice Pigeon has lived with her girlfriends her whole life under the awning of a ladies shoe store, secure within the city centre. Enticed by the thought of adventure and driven by a need for new experiences, she joins Nick, a handsome and daring homing pigeon, on a 4,000-kilometer journey to Mexico to deliver a very special message.
But is she up to the challenge? The journey holds dangers, risks, uncertainties, and mysteries—there are so many new things to learn and understand. Beatrice will have to battle hawks, fly through blinding snowstorms, and experience strange new exotic places. Would she have been better off listening to her friends who warned her of the dangers? Does she find what she is looking for?
Join Beatrice on her journey as she meets fascinating, incredible characters like Red Feather, Juan and, in the dense jungles of Mexico, encounters a Mayan God.
Visit Lisa’s website at www.booksofthetundra.com.
Story
Call Me Mom is Fred Van Zuiden's fast-paced personal story of fending for himself as a child during the World War II German occupation of Holland. Touching veterans of the war and modern-day readers alike, Fred describes surviving the Battle of Arnhem, near misses with the Gestapo, living in a chicken coop, escaping over no-man's land, and moving between 26 hiding places to stay out of Nazi hands.
Testimonial
“I have dealt with Blitzprint over a number of years. They have produced two of my books and undertaken numerous reprints. Their expertise in all facets of this complicated process is exemplary. I cannot recommend them highly enough. On the rare occasion when extra attention was needed they did not hesitate to deal with the issue. Working with this company is a highly satisfactory experience. ”
Call Me Mom — Synopsis
Fred van Zuiden was nine when Germany invaded Holland in 1940. After enduring two years of worsening German occupation, he and his family split up and went into hiding. By the time the war ended in 1945, Fred had found refuge in 26 places and experienced the best and worst of human nature. This book is his straightforward, unsentimental account of those years during World War II. Among many tense scenarios, he vividly recounts terrifying escapes from the Gestapo as well as Arnhem-bound aircraft crashing around him. His story is populated with fellow hiders who kept him sane with gallows humour; larger-than-life Resistance fighters—selfless men who arranged his hiding places; and ordinary Hollanders who risked their lives to save him. He honours them all, especially his many ‘Moms’.
About the author
Fred's home was in Drenthe in northeast Holland where he led a safe life dominated by his father's 200 year-old family business. After German occupation, life progressively worsened. Fred was forced into the underground and survived on his own, but not without the help from courageous Dutch people. He reunited with his father and siblings, and continued his disrupted education at a Montessori high school. He studied retail management and eventually immigrated to Canada in 1952.
He worked in major cities from coast to coast and settled with his wife in Calgary, where he founded a sailboat business. He retired after forty-three years. He then set down his exhilarating sailing experiences in his first book, The Sailing Game. He was persuaded to publish the story of his equally exciting life as a boy during World War II. In March 2009, Call Me Mom appeared—his personal account of survival.
Visit Fred’s website at www.callmemom.ca
Story
Two first-time authors who have each spent more than 40 years watching, hearing about, and cheering for the Riders, Sheldon Green and Rod Nasewich felt the compilation of 100 lists of Saskatchewan Roughrider team and player statistics, record holders, award winners and pop culture trivia was a unique way to celebrate and commemorate the team's centennial in 2010.
Testimonial
"As first-time authors, we were fortunate to find Blitzprint. The staff was very responsive to our marketing and distribution deadlines—and our book launch, promotion and sales were very successful. In addition, the honest, helpful and timely advice regarding copyrighting, cataloguing, and self-publishing in general, gave us greater confidence that we could pull off our book project."
About the authors
Sheldon Green and Rod Nasewich are Regina-based Rider fans who wrote and published The Rider Book of Lists: 100 Lists Honouring 100 Years of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in honour of the CFL team's 100th anniversary in 2010. Born and raised in Saskatchewan, the two first-time authors have each spent more than 40 years watching, hearing about, and cheering for the Riders. For Sheldon and Rod, the
compilation of team and players statistics, record holders, award winners and pop culture trivia was a unique way to celebrate and commemorate the Riders’ centennial.
Idea for the Book
The Rider Book of Lists was born on a dinner napkin during the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ thrilling 2009 Grey Cup run as a way of honouring the team’s 100th anniversary in 2010. Authors Sheldon Green and Rod Nasewich quickly realized that the Riders’ rich history presented a wealth of material with which to create a unique, informative and engaging book that appeals to both the casual fan and the statistical enthusiast.
The Rider Book of Lists — Synopsis
The Rider Book of Lists provides a different and sometimes off-beat look at the Riders as a team, organization and as a pop-culture phenomenon. The book's 100 lists cover statistics and trivia intended to appeal to all generations of Rider fans and statistical enthusiasts. A sampling of lists includes: 50 great Rider nicknames, the top 18 Rider quarterbacks, Labour Day Classic stats, Riders who became sportscasters, Saskatchewan-born Riders, Rider opponents of the past, beer sales at Mosaic Stadium, stadiums in which the Roughriders will not play again, Riders who appeared in movies and on television, and 13 things you may not know about Gainer the gopher.
For example, did you know one of the longest serving Rider head coaches was banished from the NFL for allegedly taking a bribe, or that it was a Rider who threw the first forward pass in a Grey Cup game? Did you know George Reed still holds at least six CFL rushing records, and that the Riders were the visiting team of record for the largest regular season crowds in both Edmonton and Winnipeg? Did you know the Roughriders appeared in an episode of TV's Columbo?
The book also debuts a fun diversion called ‘Six Degrees of Rider Nation’ to explore the connection between the Riders and famous people including Elvis, Oprah, Jerry Seinfeld, JFK and Queen Elizabeth.
Story
When asked why he writes and publishes, Larry smiles and replies, “Because I have to. Writing fulfills a need to share and express myself. When someone reads my books and feels compelled to send me an e-mail, I know my work has touched them in a personal way.”
Testimonial
If it wasn’t for Blitzprint, my home writing business would never have gotten off the ground. After they printed my book, I sold 500 copies within a matter of months. Four years later, Mid-Air Moose Jaw is still doing well on the market. Blitzprint has made the difference with their quality printing—and by always treating me not just like a customer but also a friend.
Royalty Rides The Rails - Synopsis
Royalty Rides The Rails is the first railroad book written covering the highly successful 1939 Royal Tour of Canada. Their Majesties crossed Canada from Quebec to BC via a specially modified 12 car blue and silver train, that was clearly a palace on wheels. Returning from BC to Ontario the royal train took a jaunt into the USA before returning to Canada and Halifax, its final destination.
The author has captured a blend of the technical aspects of the train with the interpersonal, in a mix of train consist data and never before seen or heard interviews with staff who worked on or about this special train. This personable touch makes for enjoyable reading and also a good source of reference for the history buff.
Printed in soft cover, 8.5 x 11, this 200 page collectable has 138 black and white photos along with 38 rarely seen colour photos.
No other event in Canadian history has surpassed the positive public response of the 1939 Royal Tour.
About the author
A Saskatchewan prairie boy from birth, Larry Shaak enjoys all things historically Canadian. His love for history and people comes out clearly in his latest books Royalty Rides The Rails and Mid-Air Moose Jaw. Readers enjoy the personal touch he has adapted in his historical writing. “I was bored with history books in school because they lacked the human element,” says Larry.
Larry’s writing draws on his strong work ethic and vast experience. He considers himself fortunate to have worked as a railway station agent, highway patrolman and adult educator. After an early retirement, Larry went on to write, raise St. Bernard dogs, drive combination semi-trailer units, and achieve his ultimate career goal of becoming a locomotive engineer.
Larry’s love for writing started as student in a creative writing class which led him to completing both his BA and BEAD degrees. His love for drama came from his mother who, as a country school teacher, staged packed-house Christmas concerts that stayed forever fondly etched in his memory. As an adult educator, Larry started an after-school drama club, writing and directing plays for the participants. He went on to write and direct for a dinner theatre group, and then launched a home writing business. He credits his education, experience—and Blitzprint—for his self-publishing success.
When asked why he writes and publishes, Larry smiles and replies, “Because I have to. Writing fulfills a need to share and express myself. When someone reads my books and feels compelled to send me an e-mail, I know my work has touched them in a personal way.”
Larry’s next book, scheduled for release in late spring 2011, will be a collection of personal short stories about growing up in a small town, the many people he has met, his various occupations and his many travel adventures.
Visit Larry’s website at www.onstageconsulting.com.
Book Official Website
Testimonial
"We worked with Enthrill Entertainment Inc. to create One Child, a groundbreaking transmedia novel. Under an extremely tight deadline, we needed to get high-quality Advanced Reader copies to reviewers so they could experience the story before its official release. BlitzPrint came through on timelines, and above all quality. We're happy to have a relationship with this team and will continue to use them for our printing needs."
~Francomedia.com
One Child - Synopsis
One Child is an interactive story experience with rich media elements including video content and enhanced web features.
Halima, a small girl in Kandahar, Afghanistan, dreams she changes the world.
U2, the most popular rock band in the world, prepares to take the stage in Moscow.
There is no apparent connection between the two, yet the threads of destiny are pulling them together. And when they collide, people across the globe watch in fascination.
One Child is a reflection of how our world is now, and how it could be. It digs beneath the surface of war-torn Afghanistan through Halima’s eyes.
It exposes the cost of greed. It shares the anguish of a young American soldier and the tenacity of a Wall Street MBA who learns that the business world can be an ugly monster.
From the day you meet Halima, to the moment U2 walks onstage, One Child will rock your world.
Story Behind the Story
Read the story behind the story on Jeff Buick's blog.
About the author
Writing is a passion for Jeff Buick.
The death of his wife, Teresa, in 2003 had a huge impact on Jeff. It taught him the value of human life and the importance of being proactive with the time you have. The birth of his first granddaughter, Mikayla, was another defining moment and reaffirmed how precious life is.
He’s written eighteen books and more are in the pipeline, including 5 best sellers. They move fast and have an equal mixture of character and plot. He writes what he likes to read, and what he thinks would play out well on the big screen.
But Jeff’s writing is changing. His latest books, through Enthrill Entertainment, are more socially aware. The fast pace that defines his writing is still there, but the experiences in his life over the past few years are shaping the direction of the plot and the characters.
The new books that will be released will entertain, enlighten and engage a lot of readers. And every book will have its own philanthropic component. Not just handing someone or some organization cash. Enthrill, Jeff’s publishing company, will concentrate on building charity from the grass roots up. Planting the philanthropic seed and watching it grow.
Jeff’s busy. Writing his nineteenth book. Delivering keynote speeches at charitable fundraisers. Traveling, researching – and learning. Still, despite all the incredible things happening in his life, writing remains the one foundation that anchors everything. A bit like air to a scuba diver.
And one thing is for certain. Wherever he is today – Jeff is writing.
Visit Jeff's official website.
