Latest releases
Welcome to New Star Books
We publish in the areas of social issues and politics; literary prose, both fiction and non-fiction, and poetry; and culture and history of British Columbia and the West.
New Star also publishes Transmontanus, a series of short illustrated books about some of the more unusual aspects of life in a corner of the world currently known as British Columbia.
The latest news
Peter Culley 2009 Mini-World Tour dates announced
Toronto, Oakland, Portland the lucky cities as tix go on sale for mid-July tour dates
2009-06-15—Screamin' Peter Culley brings his zero-piece band to Toronto's Scream at High Park on July 13, kicking off a short but intense three-city, two-country Mini-World Tour. Culley will be one of… [read more]
The Last Best West now available
Collection from Thompson Rivers U explores what it means to be 'Western Canadian'
2009-06-08—THE LAST BEST WEST, a book of essays exploring Western Canadian identity, is shipping to stores this week. Official publication date is June 15. Subtitled An Exploration of Myth, Identity, & Quality… [read more]
David Bromige, 1933 -- 2009
Former Vancouverite, influential poet dies in Santa Rosa, CA after a lengthy illness
2009-06-08—David Bromige, whose book Ten Years In the Making was published in 1973 by New Star Books, died on June 3 in Santa Clara, CA, where he lived for many years. Born… [read more]
Asper Nation by Marc Edge reviewed in latest JMCQ
Leading journal on media studies calls book on Canwest empire "highly readable ... particularly useful"
2009-05-25—The Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly reviews Marc Edge's Asper Nation: Canada's Most Dangerous Media Company in its latest issue (Winter 2008 | Vol. 85, No. 4), now available. "Edge provides an important record… [read more]
New Star all over Vancouver Review hitting newsstands this month
Spring 2009 Vancouver Review features Terry Glavin from Kabul, reviews of two recent books
2009-05-11—The Spring 2009 issue of Vancouver Review, hitting news stands this month, features reviews of Vancouver: A Poem by George Stanley, and What Species of Creatures by Sharon Kirsch. And Terry… [read more]
George Stanley in New York May 15 & 17
Reading, Jack Spicer panel for Dorothy Livesay Award finalist & author of Vancouver: A Poem
2009-05-04—George Stanley, fresh from the BC Book Prizes Gala where he was a finalist for the Dorothy Livesay Award (won by Daphne Marlatt for her poem-novel The Given), is heading… [read more]
Terry Glavin wins Lieutenant-Governor's Award
New Star author and editor of the Transmontanus series is 2009 recipient
2009-04-20—Terry Glavin, whose first three books were published by New Star Books, and who continues to edit the Transmontanus series published by New Star, was named Saturday as the 2009 winner… [read more]
Pulpfiction to host Edna Staebler Award ceremony
Bruce Serafin's winning book Stardust to be honoured at April 24 celebration
2009-04-06—The Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction moves west this year, and so does the ceremony to recognize the winner. Tanis Macdonald, professor of English and Film Studies at Wilfrid… [read more]
Stardust now available for download
Bruce Serafin's Edna Staebler Award winner now available as free downloadable PDF
2009-04-02—Stardust, Bruce Serafin's posthumously published book of essays, which last month was announced as the winner of the Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction for 2008, is now available for free… [read more]
Chiwid reissued with new cover
Sage Birchwater's classic about legendary Chilcotin character is bestselling Transmontanus title
2009-03-30—Chiwid, Sage Birchwater's Rashomon-like account of the life and legend of Annie Skinner, AKA Chiwid, was reissued at the end of March. Originally published in 1995, Chiwid is the third book… [read more]
Bruce Serafin's Stardust wins Edna Staebler Award for 2008
Late writer/editor is first posthumous winner of prestigious non-fiction prize
2009-03-20—Stardust by Bruce Serafin has been selected as the winner of the Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction for 2008. This is the first time that the prize, given annually for… [read more]
Vancouver: A Poem named finalist for Dorothy Livesay Award
Book-length poem about writer's adopted city in running for BC Book Prize; winner announced April 25
2009-03-13—Vancouver: A Poem by George Stanley is a finalist for the 2009 Dorothy Livesay Prize, awarded annually to the best book by a BC poet. Stanley's book-length poem is a rich… [read more]
Vancouverism, George Stanley style
Poet's book-length poem thinks local, goes blogal with review-articles on Dooney's Cafe and Transmontanus blog spot
2009-02-09—It would appear that print reviewers don't know quite what to make of Vancouver: A Poem, George Stanley's book-length opus published last year by New Star Books. However, the World… [read more]
Go Do Some Great Thing featured on The Tyee
Influential news site running three excerpts from Crawford Kilian's history of black British Columbia during February
2009-02-05—Go Do Some Great Thing, Crawford Kilian's account of the province's black settlers, is being featured during February, Black History Month, on The Tyee (www.TheTyee.ca). Originally published in 1977… [read more]
Stranger Wycott's Place reviewed in Sunshine Coast magazine
John Schreiber's "extraordinary" book about the Chilcotin hailed by Theresa Kishkan in Harbour Spiel
2009-01-29—The January 2009 issue of Harbour Spiel, a monthly magazine for the Sunshine Coast, includes Madeira Park poet and novelist Theresa Kishkan's review article about three recent books with a BC… [read more]
Indigo inks deal to carry complete New Star list on website
"Lengthy" negotiations clear technological hurdles, deepen Chapters.Indigo.ca offerings
2009-01-28—New Star Books today announced an agreement with Canadian retail giant Indigo Books + Music which will see the complete New Star frontlist and backlist available through Indigo's website, Chapters.Indigo… [read more]
If you're going to Barcelona
More House author Hannah Calder featured in February show at Gracia Arts Project Gallery
2009-01-23—Hannah Calder, author of the novel More House, forthcoming from New Star Books in April, is one of three photographers whose work is featured at the Gracia Arts Project Gallery… [read more]
Mary Ashworth, 1923 -- 2009
ESL giant authored 1979 study of BC education that exploded myths, reshaped understanding of province's treatment of minorities
2009-01-21—Mary Ashworth, long-time professor in the UBC Faculty of Education and author of the 1979 New Star title The Forces Which Shaped Them: A History of the Education of Minority Group… [read more]
Peter Desbarats on Asper Nation in new LRC
Dean of Canadian journalism reviews Marc Edge’s CanWest study in tandem with “confusing” Peter C Newman bio
2009-01-07—The January/February issue of The Literary Review of Canada, which hits magazine racks this month, devotes two pages to Peter Desbarats’s review of two new books about the… [read more]
Basking Sharks reviewed in BC Studies
Fall 2008 issue contains review of Wallace & Gisborne book about local elasmobranch
2009-01-06—In the Autumn 2008 issue of BC Studies, Anna Hall of the University of BC favourably reviews Basking Sharks: The Slaughter of BC’s Gentle Giants by Scott Wallace and Brian… [read more]
New Star lowers US prices on 32 titles
Wall Street worries that move will kick off deflationary cycle in US economy
2009-01-05—New Star Books has lowered US list prices on 32 frontlist and backlist titles, to reflect the strengthening American dollar, which appreciated against other world currencies in late 2008. The price changes… [read more]
Troops on their way to relieve Hill's Bar on Fraser River
Royal Engineers recreate 1859 march that ended McGowan's War and kept brand-new colony intact
2009-01-02—On January 18, members of the Royal Engineers Living History Group will recreate the company's march to relieve the community of Hill's Bar, threatened by a ragtag militia of American miners… [read more]
New Star’s new website here at last
Several times delayed but, we think you'll agree, well worth the wait
2009-01-01—The new version of New Star’s sleek new website finally went on air from Vancouver this afternoon, Thursday, January 1, 2009.Clint Hutzulak of Mutasis.com, provided the clean, modern look… [read more]
Bruce Serafin's Stardust an Edna Staebler finalist
Late essayist one of four up for $10,000 creative non-fiction prize
2008-12-19—Bruce Serafin's Stardust is one of four books on the shortlist for the Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction for 2008. Serafin, the founder of the original Vancouver Review, completed Stardust… [read more]
New Star’s new catalogue now available
Two debut novels, collection on Western Canada featured in Spring 2009 line-up
2008-12-11—Debut novels, More House by Hannah Calder, and The Briss by Michael Tregebov, highlight the Spring 2009 frontlist for New Star Books. The Last Best West, edited by Anne Gagnon, Will… [read more]
Sharon Kirsch launches new book at Ben McNally in Toronto
What Species of Creatures is Toronto writer/editor’s first
2008-12-04—Sharon Kirsch launched her first book, What Species of Creatures: Animal Relations From the New World, on December 4 at Ben McNally Books in Toronto. About 40 people descended upon Ben’s… [read more]
Ranj Dhaliwal on winning temple slate
Author of Daaku is new vice-president of Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Surrey
2008-11-23—Ranj Dhaliwal, author of the 2006 gangster novel Daaku, was part of a slate of younger, baptized Sikhs that swept the November 23 executive election at the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in… [read more]
New edition of Bowering’s Shoot! launches
Popular Main Street bookshop Pulpfiction hosts November 22 event
2008-11-22—Former Poet Laureate of Canada, Order of Canada member, multiple GG winner, and popular West Side raconteur George Bowering launched the spiffy new edition of Shoot!, his version of the… [read more]
Donato Mancini’s AEthel a ReLit finalist
One of seven in endgame for Canada’s 8th richest poetry prize
2008-08-01—Hamilton-born polymath Donato Mancini has been shortlisted for one of Canada’s most prestigious literary trophies, the ReLit Award for Poetry, for AEthel, his mind-boggline 2007 tour de force of vispo … [read more]
Globe & Mail reviews Bruce Serafin’s Stardust
‘Brave and raw and lonely --- like the man who wrote it.’
2008-07-05—The Globe & Mail’s Books supplement for Saturday, July 5, featured Toronto writer Gilbert Reid’s round-up review of three new Canadian books of essays: The Roaring Eighties by Norman Snider… [read more]
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