Latest news with #Narnia-inspired
Winnipeg Free Press
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bumper crop of local fiction coming this fall
A number of local authors are gearing up to introduce new works to the world this fall. David A. Robertson concludes his wildly popular middle-grade Misewa Saga series with The World's End, the sixth book in the collection, which publishes Tuesday (via Tundra books). The Narnia-inspired series concludes with Eli and an likely ally teaming up to save a life as the Sleeping Giant awakens and colonization looms over Misewa. The Misewa Saga: The World's End Buy on Raye Anderson's latest Roxanne Calloway mystery, Had A Great Fall, hits store shelves on Friday; published by Signature Editions, the book follows Calloway's investigation into a body found in a field of sunflowers in Manitoba's Interlake. Buy on The same day, Winnipeg novelist and poet Catherine Hunter's new book Seeing You Home, a short-story collection, will also be published by Signature Editions. The interconnected stories chronicle a couple's relationship through the years, from their first meeting to the husband's cancer diagnosis and beyond. Buy on Lauded Winnipeg novelist David Bergen is back with his latest, Days of Feasting and Rejoicing, which publishes Sept. 2 via Goose Lane Editions. The novel follows Esther, an American expat in Thailand, whose roommate drowns, and who takes over her identity as local police begin to string together disturbing incidents. Buy on And St. Andrews author Lauren Carter returns with her new novel The Longest Night, which publishes Sept. 9 via Freehand Books. The book chronicles the plight of a Minnesota teen who, when locked out of her family home one night, crashes at her mysterious neighbours' place and awakens to find the world has been altered significantly. Buy on Watch for information on book launch events for many of these books (and more) in the weeks to come. ● ● ● Edmonton's NeWest Press has announced a new imprint dedicated to speculative fiction, named after its longtime, late president. The Longest Night Barbour Books, named in honour of Douglas Barbour, will focus on writing from Western Canada in the fields of fantasy, horror, speculative fiction and more, with an emphasis on 'underrepresented voices' in said genres. C.J. Lavigne's slim novel The Drowned Man's Daughter will be the imprint's first published book — it's slated to hit shelves on Sept. 9. Buy on Every Second Friday The latest on food and drink in Winnipeg and beyond from arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney. ● ● ● A number of Canadian fiction writers, poets and more have landed on the list of finalists for the annual Lambda Literary Awards (affectionately known as the Lammies), which celebrate LGBTTQ+ writing across a number of genres. In 2025 the Lammies will dole out awards in 26 categories at the virtual awards ceremon on Oct. 4, but have recently released the lists of finalists, which include, among others: Sarah Leavitt for her graphic novel Something, Not Nothing: A Story of Grief and Love, in the LGBTQ+ comics category; Julie Delporte for her book Portrait of A Body, as well as Erica N. Cardwell for Wrong is Not My Name, in the lesbian memoir/biography category; both Zoe Whittall and Jes Battis in the LGBTQ+ poetry category for, respectively, No Credit River and I Hate Parties; and Harman Burns for Yellow Barks Spider in the transgender fiction category. For a complete list of categories and finlists, see books@ Ben SigurdsonLiterary editor, drinks writer Ben Sigurdson is the Free Press's literary editor and drinks writer. He graduated with a master of arts degree in English from the University of Manitoba in 2005, the same year he began writing Uncorked, the weekly Free Press drinks column. He joined the Free Press full time in 2013 as a copy editor before being appointed literary editor in 2014. Read more about Ben. In addition to providing opinions and analysis on wine and drinks, Ben oversees a team of freelance book reviewers and produces content for the arts and life section, all of which is reviewed by the Free Press's editing team before being posted online or published in print. It's part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Newsweek
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Woman Stuns With Secret Passageway Built Into Ordinary-Looking Closet
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A video showcasing an enchanting hidden feature at the back of a "Narnia-inspired" closet has captivated viewers on YouTube. The unique feature was created by Lauren Liess, an interior designer from Great Falls, Virginia, who shared a glimpse of it in a video on her YouTube channel @LaurenLiessTV. The video has garnered over 138,000 views since it was shared on May 19. Text overlaid on the video reads: "When a fantasy nerd grows up and designs a house..." The footage shows Liess walking to the end of a children's playroom and opening the doors of a closet. She steps into the empty wardrobe and opens the back wall, which opens onto another room. As a designer, "I'm always trying to dream up amazing spaces for my clients," Liess told Newsweek. "This Narnia-inspired doorway has been on my bucket list since I was a kid," she noted, referencing the wardrobe from The Chronicles of Narnia series that served as a secret passageway into a magical world. The viral clip comes amid a broader trend of American residents investing in home renovations. The median renovation spending in the United States rose by 60 percent between 2020 and 2023, surging from $15,000 to $24,000, according to a recent survey by Houzz, a home design website. Kitchens were found to be the most commonly renovated interior room, followed closely by guest bathrooms and primary bathrooms. Living room projects were also found to be popular, with one in five homeowners having tackled those spaces in 2023, the survey found. An 'Invisible Door' Liess told Newsweek: "I love to incorporate surprising storytelling elements into my designs. When I was working on the floor plans for my house I realized I had the perfect opportunity for it with my kids' playroom and then I realized I already had the perfect armoire in my foyer." So, her contractor got straight to work and made an "invisible door" in the wall, cutting out the back of the cabinet to retrofit it into the doorway. "When the invisible wall door is closed, it looks and functions just like a normal cabinet," the interior designer noted. "We absolutely love the results, and the kids have so much fun when someone new comes over that doesn't know the secret," she added. Viewers on YouTube adorned the charming secret room feature in the viral clip. User @halleymastrolonardo wrote: "NARNIA!! Yassss love this!!" User @MLF-gg6fv said: "Nope, it should have fur coats in them and then it should lead to outside!!! Then it would be true to the story!!" User @Betruetoyou4444 said: "It's like Alice in Wonderland!!! I wish we got to see outside the window!! Beautiful!!!!" User @rneustel388 noted "How charming!!" and @tinasilvercat6923 said it was like "Heaven on Earth." User @robinnieto2703 simply said it was "Sweet!," while @La-bq6jj noted "Love this! It would also be nice to put maybe a little seating lounge in there or a book case on the sides or just something inside." A screenshot from a viral YouTube video showcasing a secret passageway at the back of a closet in a home. A screenshot from a viral YouTube video showcasing a secret passageway at the back of a closet in a home. @LaurenLiessTV on YouTube Do you have a home design-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
