Ben Sigurdson
@bensigurdson.bsky.social
Literary editor, drinks writer, Winnipeg Free Press; wine list maker, The Common; aspiring F1 team principal; mediocre curler and runner; party ruiner.
Pinned
I chatted with Alan Doyle in advance of the launch of his new book The Smiling Land, which is all about Newfoundland and Labrador. He's at @mcnallyrobinson.com Saturday at 2.
Alan Doyle loves his home province, and he wants you to love it too.
Safe upon the shore
Former Great Big Sea frontman serves as tourism guide in book about home province
www.winnipegfreepress.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:40 PM
I chatted with Alan Doyle in advance of the launch of his new book The Smiling Land, which is all about Newfoundland and Labrador. He's at @mcnallyrobinson.com Saturday at 2.
Reposted by Ben Sigurdson
Maria Reva is the 2025 winner of the $70,000 #AtwoodGibson Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize for Endling, published by Knopf Canada. This year's prize purse is increased from $60,000 to $70,000 this year with generous support from the Balsillie Family Foundation. #WTAwards #canlit
November 14, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Maria Reva is the 2025 winner of the $70,000 #AtwoodGibson Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize for Endling, published by Knopf Canada. This year's prize purse is increased from $60,000 to $70,000 this year with generous support from the Balsillie Family Foundation. #WTAwards #canlit
Is there a more apt way to ring in an Old Guy birthday than realizing you're exactly a half-century older than the new Costco?
November 14, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Is there a more apt way to ring in an Old Guy birthday than realizing you're exactly a half-century older than the new Costco?
Reposted by Ben Sigurdson
Cried some nice tears while writing this.
Tim Brandt has been cycling to a new little free library every day to disperse his late brother's book collection and honour his memory. “I think Les would be glad to know his books are travelling,” he says.
www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...
Tim Brandt has been cycling to a new little free library every day to disperse his late brother's book collection and honour his memory. “I think Les would be glad to know his books are travelling,” he says.
www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...
Late bibliophile’s brother donates his book collection one free library at a time
Every day since late September, Tim Brandt has been biking to little free libraries across the city to create a literary memorial to his late brother. Les Brandt died unexpectedly in July at the age o...
www.winnipegfreepress.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Cried some nice tears while writing this.
Tim Brandt has been cycling to a new little free library every day to disperse his late brother's book collection and honour his memory. “I think Les would be glad to know his books are travelling,” he says.
www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...
Tim Brandt has been cycling to a new little free library every day to disperse his late brother's book collection and honour his memory. “I think Les would be glad to know his books are travelling,” he says.
www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...
Jon Hamm is in Winnipeg filming a TV series, and is absolutely crushing fall chunky sweater season. (First pic at Vera Pizza, second at 529 Wellington)
November 11, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Jon Hamm is in Winnipeg filming a TV series, and is absolutely crushing fall chunky sweater season. (First pic at Vera Pizza, second at 529 Wellington)
Reposted by Ben Sigurdson
Nick Martin was at both the London Free Press and Winnipeg Free Press - but it’s a whodunnit if he ever retired. It’s because, after being the education and legislature reporter, he continued to write a mystery book column until he died #RIP passages.winnipegfreepress.com/passage-deta...
November 3, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Nick Martin was at both the London Free Press and Winnipeg Free Press - but it’s a whodunnit if he ever retired. It’s because, after being the education and legislature reporter, he continued to write a mystery book column until he died #RIP passages.winnipegfreepress.com/passage-deta...
Reposted by Ben Sigurdson
Wrote a little bit about Nick Martin, voracious reader and @winnipegfreepress.com books section suspense columnist (and former education reporter), who died earlier this month while on holiday in Scotland. Hope he managed to have one last pint at the Oxford Bar.
Former Free Press reporter Nick Martin, who wrote the monthly suspense column in the books section and was prolific in his standalone reviews of mystery/thriller novels, died Oct. 15 at age 77 while on holiday in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Ex-Free Press reporter loved a good thriller
Former Free Press reporter Nick Martin, who wrote the monthly suspense column in the books section and was prolific in his standalone reviews of mystery/thriller novels, died Oct. 15 at age 77 while on holiday in Edinburgh, Scotland.
www.winnipegfreepress.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Wrote a little bit about Nick Martin, voracious reader and @winnipegfreepress.com books section suspense columnist (and former education reporter), who died earlier this month while on holiday in Scotland. Hope he managed to have one last pint at the Oxford Bar.
Souvankham Thammavongsa has followed her much-lauded collection How to Pronounce Knife with a debut novel, the Giller-shortlisted Pick a Colour. She's at @mcnallyrobinson.com tonight to launch the book; I chatted with her for @winnipegfreepress.com: www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...
Toronto author’s first novel finds links between sweet science and grind of nail salon
www.winnipegfreepress.com
October 21, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Souvankham Thammavongsa has followed her much-lauded collection How to Pronounce Knife with a debut novel, the Giller-shortlisted Pick a Colour. She's at @mcnallyrobinson.com tonight to launch the book; I chatted with her for @winnipegfreepress.com: www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...
Reposted by Ben Sigurdson
There are a few spots left in this Saturday’s FREE urban nature creative writing workshop! Sign up/help me get the word out! @greatplainspress.bsky.social @wpgpubliclibrary.bsky.social @atbaypress.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 7:56 PM
There are a few spots left in this Saturday’s FREE urban nature creative writing workshop! Sign up/help me get the word out! @greatplainspress.bsky.social @wpgpubliclibrary.bsky.social @atbaypress.bsky.social
Gutted to hear of Nick’s passing while in Edinburgh on holiday. His contributions to the books section after his retirement from the Free Press were immeasurable, and there was no one else who wrote like him. I’ll miss him dearly for that and so many other reasons.
Nick Martin: No-nonsense WWSL referee, retired @winnipegfreepress.com education/legislature reporter and good guy who’d drive you to the ferry terminal from the Victoria airport, RIP.
October 19, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Gutted to hear of Nick’s passing while in Edinburgh on holiday. His contributions to the books section after his retirement from the Free Press were immeasurable, and there was no one else who wrote like him. I’ll miss him dearly for that and so many other reasons.
Reposted by Ben Sigurdson
Not sure the folks at NBC/Peacock thought this one through
October 18, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Not sure the folks at NBC/Peacock thought this one through
Reposted by Ben Sigurdson
Reminder that you can catch me, @smbeiko.bsky.social, @chadwickginther.bsky.social, and @patrickjohanneson.com at Sookram’s here in Winnipeg on the 29th for a great reading series! Many thanks to our gracious host @badguybirnie.bsky.social!
October 16, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Reminder that you can catch me, @smbeiko.bsky.social, @chadwickginther.bsky.social, and @patrickjohanneson.com at Sookram’s here in Winnipeg on the 29th for a great reading series! Many thanks to our gracious host @badguybirnie.bsky.social!
I always enjoy talking to Miriam Toews, who returns to @mcnallyrobinson.com (her old workplace!) tomorrow night to launch her stellar new work of non-fiction, A Truce That Is Not Peace, in conversation with John Samson Fellows and Christine Fellows:
The question at the core of Miriam Toews’ latest book is one she’s been asked many times. It’s a question with no neat and tidy answer, but one the Manitoba-born, Toronto-based novelist felt compelled to try to unpack: Why do you write?
An exploration of motivations
Celebrated Manitoban author attempts to unpack why she writes in latest work
www.winnipegfreepress.com
October 15, 2025 at 11:12 PM
I always enjoy talking to Miriam Toews, who returns to @mcnallyrobinson.com (her old workplace!) tomorrow night to launch her stellar new work of non-fiction, A Truce That Is Not Peace, in conversation with John Samson Fellows and Christine Fellows:
Reposted by Ben Sigurdson
Reviewed ML Rio’s Hot Wax for the Freep, you guys www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...
Daughter digs into late dad’s rocker past in Hot Wax
www.winnipegfreepress.com
October 15, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Reviewed ML Rio’s Hot Wax for the Freep, you guys www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...
Reposted by Ben Sigurdson
You don't want to miss this! On Tuesday October 21 at 7pm, Souvankham Thammavongsa returns to Winnipeg to discuss her Giller Prize-shortlisted debut novel Pick a Colour with Lindsay Wong. Co-presented by Plume Winnipeg. - mailchi.mp/grant/souvan...
Souvankham Thammavongsa brings Pick a Colour to Winnipeg
Join us for an evening with Giller Prize and O. Henry Award winner Souvankham Thammavongsa as she brings her debut novel, Pick a Colour (Knopf Canada) to Winnipeg. Featuring a reading and a conversati...
mailchi.mp
October 15, 2025 at 2:55 PM
You don't want to miss this! On Tuesday October 21 at 7pm, Souvankham Thammavongsa returns to Winnipeg to discuss her Giller Prize-shortlisted debut novel Pick a Colour with Lindsay Wong. Co-presented by Plume Winnipeg. - mailchi.mp/grant/souvan...
ICYMI, Linden MacIntyre launches his latest book, a (great) work of non-fiction about Hugh Tudor and the Irish War of Independence, tonight at @mcnallyrobinson.com:
The Irish War of Independence, which saw hundreds killed and wounded in clashes between Irish Republican Army (IRA) forces and Britain’s Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and the British army between 1919 to 1921, laid the foundation for conflicts that would persist in the republic for decades.
MacIntyre blows dust off Tudor’s role in war
The Irish War of Independence, which saw hundreds killed and wounded in clashes between Irish Republican Army (IRA) forces and Britain’s Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and the British army between 1919 to 1921, laid the foundation for conflicts that would persist in the republic for decades.
www.winnipegfreepress.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:24 PM
ICYMI, Linden MacIntyre launches his latest book, a (great) work of non-fiction about Hugh Tudor and the Irish War of Independence, tonight at @mcnallyrobinson.com:
I chatted with Linden MacIntyre about his great new book The Accidental Villain, which he launches at @mcnallyrobinson.com Tuesday night.
The Irish War of Independence, which saw hundreds killed and wounded in clashes between Irish Republican Army (IRA) forces and Britain’s Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and the British army between 1919 to 1921, laid the foundation for conflicts that would persist in the republic for decades.
MacIntyre blows dust off Tudor’s role in war
The Irish War of Independence, which saw hundreds killed and wounded in clashes between Irish Republican Army (IRA) forces and Britain’s Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and the British army between 1919 to 1921, laid the foundation for conflicts that would persist in the republic for decades.
www.winnipegfreepress.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:37 AM
I chatted with Linden MacIntyre about his great new book The Accidental Villain, which he launches at @mcnallyrobinson.com Tuesday night.
Reposted by Ben Sigurdson
This Thursday October 16 at 7pm, join Miriam Toews as she returns to Winnipeg to celebrate her new book, A Truce That Is Not Peace (Knopf Canada). Featuring live music and questions from Christine Fellows and John Samson Fellows. - mailchi.mp/grant/miriam...
Miriam Toews returns to Winnipeg with A Truce That Is Not Peace
Join Miriam Toews as she returns to Winnipeg to celebrate her new book, A Truce That Is Not Peace (Knopf Canada). Featuring live music and questions from Christine Fellows and John Samson Fellows.
mailchi.mp
October 13, 2025 at 2:47 PM
This Thursday October 16 at 7pm, join Miriam Toews as she returns to Winnipeg to celebrate her new book, A Truce That Is Not Peace (Knopf Canada). Featuring live music and questions from Christine Fellows and John Samson Fellows. - mailchi.mp/grant/miriam...
Wordle 1,576 1/6
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LOL
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LOL
October 12, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Wordle 1,576 1/6
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LOL
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LOL
Got myself some pumpkin-spiced COVID for the Thanksgiving weekend
October 10, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Got myself some pumpkin-spiced COVID for the Thanksgiving weekend
Reposted by Ben Sigurdson
Happy Friday to you guys
October 10, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Happy Friday to you guys
Reposted by Ben Sigurdson
NOBEL PEACE PRICE COMMITTEE: WE GIVE THIS AWARD, FOR PEACE
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FIVE MINUTES LATER
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FIVE MINUTES LATER
Machado issues her first statement since being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and makes a thinly-veiled appeal to Trump for US intervention in Venezuela:
October 10, 2025 at 1:50 PM
NOBEL PEACE PRICE COMMITTEE: WE GIVE THIS AWARD, FOR PEACE
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FIVE MINUTES LATER
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FIVE MINUTES LATER
Reposted by Ben Sigurdson
I’ll be chatting with Joelle Kidd about her new book Jesusland at McNally Robinson this Friday evening. Such a great book! Hope to see you there.
www.mcnallyrobinson.com/event-18787/...
www.mcnallyrobinson.com/event-18787/...
www.mcnallyrobinson.com
October 7, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I’ll be chatting with Joelle Kidd about her new book Jesusland at McNally Robinson this Friday evening. Such a great book! Hope to see you there.
www.mcnallyrobinson.com/event-18787/...
www.mcnallyrobinson.com/event-18787/...