We are happy to announce the launch of our fourth Indigenous Writing Contest, inviting submissions from Indigenous writers. Second Story is excited to hold this new contest in partnership with GoodMinds.com — a First Nation owned business based on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Brantford, Ontario, with a passion for books by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit authors. Both companies are excited to see what books will come from the contest this year, adding to the profound range of Indigenous literature.
This contest focuses on contemporary writing that reflects the experience of Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) Peoples written by an Indigenous writer aged 18 or older. All entrants must be citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The contest is open to manuscripts written for young children, middle grade, young adult, or adult audiences. The winner will be offered a publishing contract from Second Story Press. The jury will be particularly interested in contemporary stories with an urban setting.
The contest deadline is January 31st, 2025. All entries must be made online via Submittable.
Previous winners and runners-up of the Second Story Press Indigenous Writing Contest include Naaahsa is an Artist! by Hali Heavy Shield; Auntie’s Rez Surprise by Heather O’Watch; The Train by Jodie Callaghan; The Case of Windy Lake by Michael Hutchinson; Stolen Words by Melanie Florence; The Mask That Sang by Susan Currie; What’s in a Bead? by Kelsey Borgford; and The Water Walker by Joanne Robertson.
The jury for the contest will be announced shortly, and the winner(s) will be announced in spring 2025.
We can’t wait to read the entries to this contest! For complete information on the submission process, go to Submittable.
For media inquiries, please contact emma@secondstorypress.ca.
The Land on Which We Work and Live...
The women of Second Story Press would like to recognize the ancestral lands on which we work and live. The building that houses our office, at 20 Maud Street, is situated in traditional territories, including those of the Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Anishnabeg, Métis, and the Mississaugas of the New Credit — and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. We at Second Story have been privileged to work with Indigenous authors, illustrators, editors, and other collaborators in this publishing house, and we hope that the books that we produce here can in some ways contribute to the reconciliation process.
