Chicken House Press

12/02/2024

📣NEW BOOK RELEASE📣

Marina L. Reed and Don Hawkins return with “Shadow Man,” the exciting second instalment in the Cole Buckman series, where a missing person case involving a young woman escalates into an international human trafficking investigation.

Following the warm reception of the first Cole Buckman book, On The Edge, the second novel, Shadow Man, plunges readers into a web of corruption and criminal intrigue. When Jim Morrison’s daughter disappears, what looks like teenage rebellion quickly evolves into something far more sinister. MI6 agent Cole Buckman and his elite team are called in, uncovering a sophisticated human trafficking operation that reaches into the highest levels of government.

The novel accelerates through high-speed car chases and clandestine operations. When one of Cole’s team goes undercover as a transport truck driver, a criminal network is exposed and Cole’s team is put into a race against time to rescue multiple victims and dismantle a powerful crime organization.

Reed wanted to create a story that not only entertains but also sheds light on real-world issues, so Shadow Man marries the atmospheric tension of a spy thriller with the urgent reality of modern-day human trafficking. Reed combines her storytelling prowess with Hawkins’ intelligence to create a pulse-pounding rush that balances action with authentic investigative detail. For readers who crave the atmospheric tension and strategic brilliance of Jack Reacher and Jason Bourne, Cole Buckman offers a fresh and equally compelling hero in the world of international espionage and high-stakes investigation.

11/19/2024

Rebecca Benison’s compelling novel Harvest Cruise, a powerful exploration of self-discovery and personal transformation, has been awarded the coveted October 2024 BREW Readers’ Choice Award. The novel, which follows the journey of a reserved professional named Geri as she reluctantly embarks on a life-changing cruise, has resonated deeply with readers.

The BREW Readers’ Choice Award, distinguished by its reader-driven selection process, celebrates literary works that forge meaningful connections with their audience. In their official review, BREW praised Harvest Cruise as “a heartfelt odyssey” that masterfully weaves psychological insights about resilience with the transformative power of new experiences.

Harvest Cruise captivates readers through its protagonist’s evolution from a routine-bound professional to someone open to life’s unexpected possibilities. The novel has garnered particular acclaim for its nuanced character development, evocative writing, and carefully crafted pacing. BREW’s review highlighted the book’s “vivid details that immerse the reader in Geri’s world” and praised its “intricate pacing” that maintains suspense throughout the narrative.

The novel’s strength lies in its delicate balance of fear and excitement, particularly evident in moments like Geri’s unexpected beach encounter, which the BREW review praised as exemplifying the book’s themes of embracing life’s spontaneous beauty. While the story may not cater to readers seeking high-action thrillers, it has found an enthusiastic audience among those who appreciate thoughtful explorations of friendship, self-discovery, and personal growth.

This achievement places Harvest Cruise in contention for the Reader’s Choice of the Year Awards, where it will compete alongside other monthly winners for the annual recognition.

Read the full announcement at chickenhousepress.ca/press

Rebecca Benison

11/13/2024

Chicken House Press is thrilled to announce that Red Brick Road by author J.T. Maxwell has been the recipient of multiple prestigious awards. Most recently, the book has won first place from The Book Fest in the categories of Fiction - Action & Adventure and Fiction - Fantasy - Action & Adventure, as well as second place in Fiction - Fantasy - Historical. Earlier this year, Red Brick Road was also honoured with the 2024 International Impact Award.

Red Brick Road is a bold re-imagining of the classic Wizard of Oz tale. When a freak blizzard throws Brendon Connor into a surreal reality, he must navigate unfamiliar territory and confront his deepest flaws. Filled with crude humour, violence, and irreverent twists, this literary fantasy is a tribute to old technology and new ideas. Beneath the chaos, however, lies a valuable lesson about being a good human in a broken world.

Chicken House Press is incredibly proud of J.T. Maxwell and the remarkable success of Red Brick Road. These accolades are a testament to the author’s exceptional storytelling and the book’s ability to captivate readers with its fresh perspective on a beloved classic.

In celebration, The Book Fest is launching a marketing campaign featuring Red Brick Road on the NASDAQ building in Times Square, New York City. This high-profile display will bring well-deserved attention to this innovative and thought-provoking work of fiction.

Congratulations on another great achievement, J.T.!

10/07/2024

It was wonderful to see a couple Chicken House Press authors represented at For The Love of Reading at the Durham Town Hall last weekend. I will never stop being proud of seeing these talents showcased out in the wild!

Big thanks to and Brian C. Austin for taking a Saturday to share your work with local readers.

10/01/2024

When editor and author meet. Congratulations again, Nettie Marie Magnan, on your book "Dropseed: The Story of Three Sad Women". So proud to have worked with you on this extraordinary novel and seeing it published with Chicken House Press. ❤️

10/01/2024

“All roads are journeys, Brendon.”

Need a little (funny, vulgar, irreverent) adventure? Try this one on for size.

09/27/2024

💛✨💫

08/30/2024

It was such a privilege to mentor Barb Davis as she wrote the painful story of losing her daughter to cancer. The journey was long and the vulnerability was taxing, but I know how pleased she is to now hold all that hard work in her hands.

The book was celebrated at a launch party in Lindsay, Ontario last night and I had the distinct honour of Zooming in for a few moments to address the crowd that had gathered to support her.

Congratulations on a tender, heart-filled book, Barb. I know it will be a blessing to many. 💛

08/29/2024

Still celebrating! 🥳

CHP is so pleased to announce that J. T Maxwell has won the 2024 International Impact Book Award for his debut novel, Red Brick Road .

08/29/2024

The eighth anniversary issue of Blank Spaces is launching in September. This extended sale is a great way to get a taste of it. With high quality printing and heavy paper, it's going to be the best looking thing on your coffee table this fall.

56 pages IN THE SEPTEMBER 2024 ISSUE: Featuring the work of Isaac Bouchard, Kathleen Brammall, Amy Byers, Carol Casey, Miriam Edelson, Ivanka Fear, Frances Koziar, Sarah Law, Zach McCann-Armitage, Gail M. Murray, Tamara North, Don Palmer, Walker Pityn, Wilder Simpson, Daniela Waheed, and George

08/26/2024

🎉🎉🎉

I am flattered, humbled, and honored to have won this award for my debut novel from Chicken House Press.

When you are new to something like this and you put yourself out there, you never quite know what to expect. I knew I had a good story on my hands, and now it seems like a lot of other people are believing it, too. I mean, writers don't write for the awards...but they sure are nice to get.

Thank you to the fine folks at International Impact Book Awards for this opportunity, and this award. I'm gobsmacked; this is phenomenal. Thank you.

08/23/2024

It’s pretty great to see INFECT claiming a place of honour on two different shelves at Coles in Owen Sound!

If your life is screaming for a creepy little adventure, pop on over to Heritage Place Shopping Centre or click on into the CHP bookstore and grab yourself a copy of this book!

08/09/2024

An amazing chat between two publishers!

Imagine what would happen if two women in the same industry decided to support one another rather than consider each other the competition…

Back in May I had a great chat with Crystal Heidel, owner of Byzantium Sky Press and author of Still Life In Blood. It’s such a powerful thing to find someone on a similar journey - someone with whom you can share ups and downs, ask questions of, and trade wisdom with. When I asked permission to record our conversation in case there was something of value for the wider public, I never expected to uncover so much gold!

If you’ve ever wondered how I navigate the publishing world while also being an author myself, this conversation is for you. Now, multiple that by two. Crystal and I have wildly similar stories and it’s so refreshing to meet up with her every so often to talk things through.

In this new podcast episode we touch on things like perception, marketing, author expectations, reading for pleasure, capacity, self-doubt, reciprocal partnerships, being loud, the tension between being an author and a publisher, and so much more!

Search “Writer’s Chat” wherever you download your podcasts and eavesdrop on our conversation.

chickenhousepress.ca/writers-chat-podcast

08/05/2024

A great interview with Benjamin Rempel on the Maverick Makers Podcast!

Maverick Makers

07/24/2024

📣 NEW BOOK DEAL 📣

Jack Stilborn captures the frustrating co-dependent behaviour of flawed humans in such a compelling and humorous way. 2025 is going to be a great year for CHP books!

Chicken House Press has secured Jack Stilborn, from Ottawa, ON. for his debut novel, The Tyranny of Good Intentions , a humorous commentary on the challenges of politics in community.

07/12/2024

Congratulations to CHP author, Rebecca Benison, on winning the 2024 Regal Summit Book Awards for Action/Adventure! 🎉

CHP is so pleased to announce that Rebecca Benison has won the Action/Adventure 2024 Regal Summit Book Award for her debut novel, Harvest Cruise.

07/09/2024

Awesome to hear a Chicken House Press author get some airtime on CBC Radio! Click through to listen to Benjamin Rempel's interview.

Early on the morning of July 3, 2024, Nav Nanwa, book columnist for CBC Radio One, introduced Chicken House Press author, Benjamin Rempel, to CBC listeners all across Central Ontario as they discussed Rempel’s newly released debut, INFECT.

06/30/2024

Nettie Marie Magnan of St. Andrews, Manitoba, releases Dropseed: The Story of Three Sad Women—a stunning novel that shines a light on loneliness, desire, and the and the search for more potent, fulfilling lives.

Personally drawn to tales with a healthy mix of melancholy and optimism, Magnan’s debut novel, Dropseed: The Story of Three Sad Women, is a prime example of such storytelling, inspired by years of nursing and the vast and rural prairie landscape upon which she was raised.

Magnan’s prose is strong and beautifully poetic, capturing aging and womanhood in a sympathetic and heartbreaking way. This powerful rendering offers commentary on important issues and opens a window onto the experiences of three women with interconnected stories. Magnan employs tender imagery, vivid settings, and moving introspection to lead the narrative on a path towards a universally attainable hope.

For fans of Margaret Laurence, or Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees, Dropseed: The Story of Three Sad Women is an emotional journey that explores the complexities of being a woman and the power of redemption. “A profound observation of humanity that overflows with hope and possibility,” says writer and editor Jenny Gates.

A poignant and emotional narrative that balances the consuming weight of quiet sorrows with the small joys that propel us forward, Dropseed: The Story of Three Sad Women is a brave and vulnerable look at womanhood. Don’t miss out on this powerful and thought-provoking novel.

The book is available in paperback from Chicken House Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and anywhere else good books are sold. Ebooks can be obtained through Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books, and Nook.