News

Our June Author of the Month: ANTHONY BIDULKA

Anthony Bidulka has dedicated his career to writing traditional genre novels in an untraditional way, developing a body of work that often features his Saskatchewan roots and underrepresented, diverse main characters. He tells serious stories in accessible, entertaining, often humorous ways. Bidulka’s books have been shortlisted for and won numerous awards including the Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence, the Lambda Literary Award, and the Saskatchewan Book Award. Going to Beautiful won the Crime Writers of Canada Award for Best Crime Novel and the Independent Publisher Book Award as the Canada West Best Fiction Gold Medalist. He received the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Nation Builders Award and was named, along with his husband Herb, Saskatoon Citizen of the Year. For his promotion of Saskatchewan through his writing, co-founding Camp fYrefly Saskatchewan (a leadership retreat for gender and sexually diverse and allied youth), and widespread volunteer and philanthropic efforts in the community, Anthony was honoured by the selection of a two-part park in Saskatoon named Bidulka Park and Bidulka Park North.

In Homes Fires Burn, the conclusion of the award-winning Merry Bell trilogy, a celebrated philanthropist is found slumped against his car, frozen to death. PI Merry Bell is hired by his son, country music star Evan Whatley, to find out the truth behind what really happened on that desolate stretch of road. As Merry’s investigation uncovers old wounds which never healed, her own are revealed as she confronts her pre-transition past and questions the boundaries of family and friendship. 

A book launch event on June 12 for Home Fires Burn will be hosted at the Glen at Crossmount.

Scotland: A Cracking Time

On May 8, 2025, the McNally Robinson Travelling Book Club completed their First Journey in Scotland. Below are some photos and testimonials from the 13 incredible days spent overseas.

"We had a wonderful time. Thank you for putting the tour together. It’s marvellous to be able to see and enjoy the landscape and meet new people and connect this to the books we read." - D

"One of the reasons that we love to read is the sense of discovery of new ideas, places and ways of perceiving things both near and far. Scottish writers and novels have been a great source of this for quite a while and the chance to truly be in the places we have read about provided another whole element of enjoyment. Thank you so much for providing the evenings of discovery in the store before the trip and the opportunity to fulfill a dream vacation to Scotland!" - D&V

"For me, it was the perfect holiday traveling solo with a guide and no driving involved. It was well organized and stress free. I can't thank you enough." - A

"The trip to Scotland has been wonderful. Knowledgeable guides, comfortable bus, skillful drivers. I loved the houses and monuments to the Scottish writers. I can hardly wait for the next one." - Cathie

“I was pleased to be a member of McNally Robinson’s inaugural Traveling Book Club. The itinerary was pretty close to perfect as I was immersed in literature and history leaving me with a deeper appreciation of Scotland and its culture.” - MW

"Fantastic orientation to Scottish authors and their works before the tour and visits to author’s birth places and residences during the tour. Extra excursions were available and Scottish music on the bus was a crowd pleaser, toe tapping and some songs brought tears to one's eyes." - G&H

 

The Second Journey of the McNally Robinson Travelling Book Club takes place in France from April 22-May 6, 2026. To learn more, click here.

Kanata Classics Launching July 15

This summer, McClelland & Stewart, one of Turtle Island’s oldest and most venerable literary publishers, will launch Kanata Classics, a ground-breaking new series to honour timeless books that reflect the rich and diverse range of voices in our country.

The series will launch in 2025 to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, making Kanata Classics an act of reconciliation from its very inception. The series will publish six titles per year, three Indigenous authored, three non-Indigenous, with the shared purpose of celebrating exceptional works of Canadian literature, some of which may have been overlooked or unsupported in a market and in a country built to prioritize the settler experience.

Kanata Classics will champion writers from across Canada’s many identities, geographies, and generations, and welcome First Nations, Inuit, and Métis writers—historically excluded and miscategorized—to the literary classics space. True reconciliation can only occur with the acknowledgement of our shared past, and Kanata Classics will proudly bring together significant works of fiction and non-fiction by Indigenous and non-Indigenous voices to create a new conversation and to lead the literary discourse on the multifaceted nature of this country, its culture, history, and identity.

Each book will feature conversation-provoking introductions and cover art culturally connected to each author. The series also features the Kanata Classics colophon, an original design from Anishinaabe artist Luke Swinson.

The inaugural list of titles to be published on July 15, 2025 are:

NISHGA by Jordan Abel, with an introduction by David Chariandy
HALFBREED by Maria Campbell, with an introduction by the author
BEAR by Marian Engel, with an introduction by Claire Cameron
ISLAND by Alistair MacLeod, with an introduction by Kate Beaton
RU by Kim Thúy, with an introduction by Sharon Bala
MEDICINE WALK by Richard Wagamese, with an introduction by David A. Robertson

Titles forthcoming for the series’ second year, in 2026, are:

THIS WOUND IS A WORLD by Billy-Ray Belcourt
LITTLE BADGER AND THE FIRE SPIRIT by Maria Campbell
THE ORIGIN OF WAVES by Austin Clarke
AMERICAN WAR by Omar El Akkad
THE TIN FLUTE by Gabrielle Roy
STARLIGHT by Richard Wagamese

The first twelve titles have been selected to bring a balance of Indigenous and non-Indigenous voices into meaningful and nuanced dialogue with one another. Together, they begin this ambitious program to put our literary culture, at its fullest, to the work of true reconciliation.

McNally Robinson Literary Tour of France

The Second Journey of the McNally Robinson Travelling Bookclub

Hosted by Chris Hall, Co-Owner of McNally Robinson Booksellers

April 22 - May 6, 2026

Join us for a rendezvous to revel in the rues of Paris where the Three Musketeers and the characters of Victor Hugo breathed, the riverside where Jules Verne dreamed of deeper waters, and the royal chateau where cognac flows. Visit the Chateau where Michel de Montaigne explored the world of ideas from his library tower and the dappled vineyards of Bordeaux.

Break away from the ordinary by reading the writers of the south of France before experiencing dreamy days in Marseilles, Aix-en-Provence, and the French Riviera in Nice. And visit a Museum of Book Printing in Lyon before tasting wine at the Beaujolais vineyards and wineries. With 15 fantastic days in France, you’ll see everything from cathedral halls to fortress walls; from Medieval treasures to Mediterranean pleasures. This vacation in France is a rendezvous you won’t want to miss.

Before we depart we’ll meet as a Book Club in the McNally Robinson Community Classroom or virtually over Zoom in late January, February, and March to talk about books by French authors both classic and contemporary. A suggested reading list will be provided which we will explore as a group.

Click here for a look back at the First Journey of the Book Club to Scotland

We are hosting two free information sessions on May 29, and June 26, 2025, with more information including the travel itinerary, cost, and how to book. To sign up for an information session, click here.

Download the .pdf with the itinerary and cost here!

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