Author: Editor

FORT McMURRAY, Alta. / April 27, 2026 — To mark the 10th anniversary of the devastating Fort McMurray wildfire, award-winning Alberta author Therese Greenwood is releasing an audiobook version of her acclaimed memoir, What You Take With You: Wildfire, Family and the Road Home.

Released by leading Canadian independent publisher ECW Press, this new audio edition is narrated by Canadian actress Athena Karkanis, bringing an emotional, firsthand account of the 2016 disaster to a new format.

“The tenth anniversary is a significant milestone for all of us who lived through the wildfire,” said Greenwood. “Hearing these experiences out loud adds a new layer of intimacy to the story.”

“Athena Karkanis brings a deep, visceral connection to the material,” said Greenwood. “It’s moving to hear my words given a voice that so perfectly captures the urgency and the heart of the evacuation.”

What You Take With You offers a deeply personal look at the largest wildfire in Canadian history, documenting the evacuation of the 90,000 residents of Fort McMurray and the physical and emotional artifacts survivors carried with them.

The memoir, which became an Amazon.ca “Hot New Release” upon its initial print launch and was a Finalist for an Alberta Book Publishing Award, explores themes of resilience and the road to recovery.

“In the fifteen minutes I had to pack, I didn’t grab my most expensive belongings. I took small trinkets with deep personal meaning, all gifts from people who had passed away,” said Greenwood. “Each item was a small, tangible piece of wisdom, a little life lesson in a box to remind me what remains when everything else is taken away.”

The audiobook edition of What You Take With You: Wildfire, Family and the Road Home is available for purchase now on all major platforms.

This audiobook received the generous support of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

ABOUT THERESE GREENWOOD

Author Therese Greenwood received the Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence and Western Writers of America Spur Award for her fiction, which has appeared across Canada and the U.S. Her memoir of the Fort McMurray wildfire, What You Take With You: Wildfire, Family and the Road Home, was a Finalist for an Alberta Book Publishing Award.

Her recent book with Indigenous Elder Robert Cree received a 2026 Axiom Book Award Bronze Medal and is a Finalist for a 2026 Alberta Literary Award and a Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence. The Many Names of Robert Cree is also available in audiobook format narrated by the celebrated actor Lorne Cardinal.

Therese has worked as a reporter and editor. Her feature stories and columns appear regularly in national news publications, and she is a frequent commentator on issues related to both wildfires and crime fiction. She has a Master’s degree in journalism.

MEDIA DOWNLOADS

The following media are available for use by reviewers:
Photo: Therese Greenwood (Hi-Res)
Photo Therese Greenwood (for Web)
Audiobook Cover Art: What You Take With You

FORT McMURRAY, Alta., April 25, 2026 — The Many Names of Robert Cree by Elder Robert Cree with Therese Greenwood has received its third literary award nomination.

In March the book received a Bronze Medal from the American-based 2026 Axiom Business Book Awards in the Memoir-Biography category.

It is now a Finalist for two Canadian literary awards, the 2026 Award of Excellence from The Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) for best nonfiction and the 2026 Alberta Literary Award for best memoir from the Writers Guild of Alberta (WGA). CWC winners will be announced on May 29 and WGA winners on June 5.

The book is published by ECW Press and represented by the Claire Gerus Literary Agency..

“It was important to me to share my story about how Indigenous teachings can be applied for the benefit of everyone,” said Elder Cree. “But I never expected to receive international recognition for it.”

Elder Cree is the first Indigenous author to be recognized in the Axiom memoir category. A member of Fort McMurray 468 First Nation, he lives in his community on Treaty 8 territory in northeastern Alberta. The full title of the book is The Many Names of Robert Cree: How a First Nations Chief Brought Ancient Wisdom to Big Business and Prosperity to His People.

“I am also incredibly honored that The Many Names of Robert Cree has been nominated for both an Alberta Literary Award and the Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence,” said Elder Cree. “I’m grateful to the nomination committees for appreciating my story of the importance of traditional teachings and the need for reconciliation.”

“I also want to thank the team at ECW Press for believing in this book and their respect for Indigenous protocols during the publishing process so I could tell my story in an authentic way,” said Elder Cree.

Published by Toronto’s ECW Press, The Many Names of Robert Cree is a first-person account of survival in a brutally racist residential school system designed to erase traditional Indigenous culture, language, and knowledge. It is also the story of an epic life of struggle and healing, as Cree takes the wisdom of his ancestors and a message of reconciliation to oil industry boardrooms.

Throughout, Cree’s leadership is rooted in his unshakable commitment to the sacred traditional teachings of his people. His beliefs give him the strength to focus on hope, dignity, and building a better future for his community. Now a respected Elder and spiritual leader, Cree champions forgiveness as a powerful force that can bring healing and transformation for all.

Cree’s book is available in bookstores and on all major platforms in print, eBook, and audiobook narrated by celebrated Indigenous actor Lorne Cardinal.

About the Alberta Literary Awards: Created in 1982 by the Writers Guild of Alberta (WGA), the Alberta Literary Awards recognize outstanding writing by Alberta authors across multiple genres, including fiction, non-fiction, memoir, poetry, drama, and children’s literature. These prestigious awards promote literary excellence and feature an independent jury process, culminating in an annual gala.

For more information on the 2026 nominees, please visit the WGA website.

About the Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence: Since 1984, Crime Writers of Canada has recognized the best in mystery, crime, suspense fiction, and crime nonfiction by Canadian authors, including citizens abroad and new residents. These nationally recognized awards promote excellence in writing and feature an independent jury process. Previous recipients include such major names in Canadian writing as Gail Bowen, Stevie Cameron, Howard Engel, Louise Penny, and Peter Robinson.

For more information on the 2026 nominees, please visit the Crime Writers website.

About the Axiom Business Book Awards: Since 2007, the Axiom Business Book Awards have honored the best business titles in more than 25 categories. The Axiom Business Book Awards recognize authors whose books inspire and inform individuals seeking to improve themselves and their professional ventures. This year’s winners were selected from over 600 books from 31 countries globally. Previous medalists include Nobel laureate Robert Shiller, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Pulitzer Prize winner Doris Kearns Goodwin, among many other influential business and thought leaders.

For more information on the 2026 winners, please visit the Axiom Awards website.

FORT McMURRAY, Alta., April 13, 2026 — Author and Elder Robert Cree has been nominated for a second literary award for his recently published memoir.

The Many Names of Robert Cree: How a First Nations Chief Brought Ancient Wisdom to Big Business and Prosperity to His People has been nominated for a 2026 Alberta Literary Award, presented by The Writers Guild of Alberta. The book, published by ECW Press and represented by the Claire Gerus Literary Agency, is nominated in the memoir category.

“I am incredibly honored that The Many Names of Robert Cree has been nominated for an Alberta Literary Award,” said Elder Cree, a member of Fort McMurray 468 First Nation on Treaty 8 territory. “I am grateful to the nomination committee for appreciating my story of the importance of traditional teachings and the need for reconciliation.”

“I also want to thank the team at ECW Press for believing in this book and their respect for Indigenous protocols during the publishing process so I could tell my story in an authentic way,” said Elder Cree.

The Alberta Literary Awards were created by the Writers Guild of Alberta in 1982 to recognize excellence in writing by Alberta authors. Entries are judged by an independent jury recruited by the WGA. The winners will be announced at the Awards Gala Dinner on June 5, 2026.

The Many Names of Robert Cree, written with Therese Greenwood, was previously recognized with an award in March, when it received a Bronze Medal from the 2026 Axiom Business Book Awards in the Memoir-Biography category. Elder Cree is the first Indigenous author to be recognized by Axiom in the memoir category.

“It was important to me to share my story about how Indigenous teachings can be applied to the business world for the benefit of everyone,” said Elder Cree. “But I never expected to receive international recognition for it.”

The Axiom Business Book Awards recognize authors whose books inspire and inform individuals seeking to improve themselves and their professional ventures. This year’s winners were selected from over 600 books from 31 countries globally, showcasing the depth and diversity of business publishing.

Published by Toronto’s ECW Press, The Many Names of Robert Cree is a first-person account of survival in a brutally racist residential school system designed to erase traditional Indigenous culture, language, and knowledge. It is also the story of an epic life of struggle and healing, as Cree takes the wisdom of his ancestors and a message of reconciliation to oil industry boardrooms.

Throughout, Cree’s leadership is rooted in his unshakable commitment to the sacred traditional teachings of his people. His beliefs give him the strength to focus on hope, dignity, and building a better future for his community. Now a respected Elder and spiritual leader, Cree champions forgiveness as a powerful force that can bring healing and transformation for all.

Cree’s book is available in bookstores and on all major platforms in print, eBook, and audiobook narrated by celebrated Indigenous actor Lorne Cardinal.

About the Alberta Literary Awards: Created in 1982 by the Writers Guild of Alberta (WGA), the Alberta Literary Awards recognize outstanding writing by Alberta authors across multiple genres, including fiction, non-fiction, memoir, poetry, drama, and children’s literature. These prestigious awards promote literary excellence and feature an independent jury process, culminating in an annual gala.

For more information on the 2026 nominees, please visit the Writers Guild website.

About the Axiom Business Book Awards: Since 2007, the Axiom Business Book Awards have honored the best business titles in more than 25 categories, shining a light on books that provide actionable insights, strategic guidance, and innovative perspectives for professionals at all levels. From leadership and management to entrepreneurship and personal finance, these awards recognize books that make a meaningful impact on the business world. Previous medalists include renowned figures such as Nobel laureate Robert Shiller, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Pulitzer Prize winner Doris Kearns Goodwin, and philanthropist and investor Ray Dalio, among many other influential business and thought leaders.

For more information on the 2026 winners, please visit the Axiom Awards website.

FORT McMURRAY, Alta., March 30, 2026 — Author and Elder Robert Cree has been awarded the bronze medal from the 2026 Axiom Business Book Awards in the Memoir-Biography category for his book, The Many Names of Robert Cree: How a First Nations Chief Brought Ancient Wisdom to Big Business and Prosperity to His People.

“It was important to me to share my story about how Indigenous teachings can be applied to the business world for the benefit of everyone,” said Elder Cree. “But I never expected to receive international recognition for it.”

The award recognizes authors whose books inspire and inform individuals seeking to improve themselves and their professional ventures. This year’s awards attracted over 600 entrants from 31 countries globally, showcasing the depth and diversity of business publishing.

Published by Toronto’s ECW Press, represented by the Claire Gerus Literary Agency, and written with Therese Greenwood, The Many Names of Robert Cree is a first-person account of survival in a brutally racist residential school system designed to erase traditional Indigenous culture, language, and knowledge. It is also the story of an epic life of struggle and healing, as Cree takes the wisdom of his ancestors and a message of reconciliation to oil industry boardrooms.

In the storytelling tradition of his people, Cree recounts his early years in the bush, his captivity at a residential school, his struggles with addiction, his political awakening as one of Canada’s youngest First Nation Chiefs, and the rising Indigenous activism of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He also recounts the oil industry’s arrival on his poverty-stricken reserve and the ensuing struggle to balance economic opportunity with environmental challenges.

Throughout, Cree’s leadership is rooted in his unshakable commitment to the sacred traditional teachings of his people. His beliefs give him the strength to focus on hope, dignity, and building a better future for his community. Now a respected Elder and spiritual leader, Cree champions forgiveness as a powerful force that can bring healing and transformation for all.

Cree’s book is available across Canada in bookstores and on all major platforms in print, eBook, and audiobook narrated by celebrated Canadian actor Lorne Cardinal.

About the Axiom Business Book Awards: Since 2007, the Axiom Business Book Awards have honored the best business titles in more than 25 categories, shining a light on books that provide actionable insights, strategic guidance, and innovative perspectives for professionals at all levels. From leadership and management to entrepreneurship and personal finance, these awards recognize books that make a meaningful impact on the business world.

A panel of esteemed judges—including business executives, educators, and publishing professionals—carefully evaluates each entry for content, design, and creativity. By selecting 3–6 medalists per category, the awards ensure that influential voices in business publishing receive the recognition they deserve.
Previous medalists include renowned figures such as Nobel laureate Robert Shiller, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Pulitzer Prize winner Doris Kearns Goodwin, and philanthropist and investor Ray Dalio, among many other influential business and thought leaders.

FORT McMURRAY, Alta., June 2, 2025 — Author Therese Greenwood is the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Award of Excellence for Best Short Story from the Crime Writers of Canada (CWC).

Greenwood’s 2025 win is for “Hatchcheck Bingo,” a women-centred story set in the Prohibition era. “On one level, it’s a story about clever women stuck in a dead-end job,” said Greenwood. “It also explores my favourite themes of resilience and survival. My characters are always confronted with the unexpected and rise to the occasion — or not.”

Greenwood’s story “is fresh and original with deeply Canadian historical roots,” the CWC judges wrote in awarding the prize. “The post-WW1 period is effectively woven through the action,” the judges wrote. “Our hat-check girls are clever and resourceful, moral if not entirely law-abiding. Underlying the effervescent Prohibition-era atmosphere are serious undercurrents invoking postwar PTSD, sex discrimination for jobs, and ruthless cross-border power struggles over lucrative booze trafficking routes. The jury specially commends the masterful use of these themes as essential drivers to the deliciously twisty crime story. Wit and humour sparkle to the last bubble, like the best smuggled champagne.”

Since 1984, the Crime Writers of Canada’s annual awards have recognized the best in mystery, crime, suspense fiction, and crime nonfiction by Canadian authors.

Greenwood’s story appeared in Carrick Publishing’s 2024 crime fiction collection The Thirteenth Letter, a creation of the Mesdames of Mayhem, a writing collective dedicated to promoting the best in Canadian crime writing.

“Working with the Mesdames and Messieurs of Mayhem is always a blast,” said Donna Carrick of Toronto’s Carrick Publishing. “It’s especially gratifying to watch an author like Greenwood rise, achieving both reader enjoyment and critical acclaim.”

The Thirteenth Letter was nominated for a 2025 Derringer Award for Best Anthology by the Short Mystery Fiction Society. Since 1998, the Short Mystery Fiction Society has awarded the annual Derringers — named after the popular pocket pistol — to outstanding published stories. It is the first year for the Derringer’s Best Anthology category, a new prize added in 2025.

Called “a master storyteller” and “a pure Canadian voice” for her short crime fiction, Greenwood previously won the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America for “Buck’s Last Ride” in her collection Kill As You Go from Calgary’s Coffin Hop Press.

Her memoir What You Take With You: Wildfire Family and the Road Home, published by University of Alberta Press, was a finalist for the Alberta Book Publishing Award and the Alberta Reads Book Club. She has also been honoured with the Award for Excellence in Literary Arts by Arts Council Wood Buffalo.

Greenwood’s short fiction has appeared across Canada and in the U.S. in such publications as the Crime Writers of Canada’s Over The Edge anthology and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. She has co-edited two short crime fiction anthologies.

For more information or to arrange a media interview, email media@therese.ca.

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The following images are available for use by media:

• Photo: Therese Greenwood (HiRes) [JPEG 13 MB]
• Photo: Therese Greenwood (LowRes) [JPEG 256K]

FORT McMURRAY, Alta. / May 1, 2025 — Author Therese Greenwood has been named a Finalist for the prestigious 2025 Award of Excellence for Best Short Story from the Crime Writers of Canada. It is Greenwood’s fourth nomination for Canada’s top mystery writing prize.

Greenwood’s 2025 nomination is for “Hatchcheck Bingo,” a women-centred story set in the Prohibition era.

“On one level, it’s a story about clever women stuck in a dead-end job,” said Fort McMurray’s Greenwood. “It also explores my favourite themes of resilience and survival. My characters are always confronted with the unexpected and rise to the occasion — or not.”

Since 1984, the Crime Writers of Canada’s annual awards have recognized the best in mystery, crime, suspense fiction, and crime nonfiction by Canadian authors. Winners will be announced Friday, May 30, 2025.

Greenwood’s story appeared in Carrick Publishing’s 2024 crime fiction collection The Thirteenth Letter, a creation of the Mesdames of Mayhem, a writing collective dedicated to promoting the best in Canadian crime writing.

“Working with the Mesdames and Messieurs of Mayhem is always a blast,” said Donna Carrick of Toronto’s Carrick Publishing. “It’s especially gratifying to watch an author like Greenwood rise, achieving both reader enjoyment and critical acclaim.”

The Thirteen Letter was nominated for a 2025 Derringer Award for Best Anthology by the Short Mystery Fiction Society. Since 1998, the Short Mystery Fiction Society has awarded the annual Derringers — named after the popular pocket pistol — to outstanding published stories. It is the first year for the Derringer’s Best Anthology category, a new prize added in 2025.

Called “a master storyteller” and “a pure Canadian voice” for her short crime fiction, Greenwood previously won the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America for “Buck’s Last Ride” in her collection Kill As You Go from Calgary’s Coffin Hop Press.

Her memoir What You Take With You: Wildfire Family and the Road Home, published by University of Alberta Press, was a finalist for the Alberta Book Publishing Award and the Alberta Reads Book Club. She has also been honoured with the Award for Excellence in Literary Arts by Arts Council Wood Buffalo.

Greenwood’s short fiction has appeared across Canada and in the U.S. in such publications as the Crime Writers of Canada’s Over The Edge anthology and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. She has co-edited two short crime fiction anthologies.

Media interviews are available by emailing media@therese.ca.

MEDIA DOWNLOADS

The following images are available for use by media:

• Photo: Therese Greenwood (HiRes) [JPEG 13 MB]
• Photo: Therese Greenwood (LowRes) [JPEG 256K]

FORT McMURRAY, Alta. / Oct 22, 2020 — A memoir of the Fort McMurray wildfire has made the shortlist for the upcoming Alberta Reads Book Club.

What You Take With You: Wildfire, Family and the Road Home by local author Therese Greenwood is one of six books to make the shortlist for the online book club’s November-December selection. On Saturday, Greenwood was honoured with Award for Excellence in Literary Arts by Arts Council Wood Buffalo at its annual “Buffy” awards for literary excellence in the local community.

“I am grateful to receive this supportive promotion from both Arts Council Wood Buffalo and the Alberta Reads Book Club,” said Greenwood. “I feel very fortunate to live in a place so committed to actively supporting writers and books.”

Published by the University of Alberta Press, Greenwood’s memoir is an eyewitness account of the wildfire and evacuation, as well as an often-humorous examination of the physical and emotional artifacts we carry with us in times of crisis.

Over the course of November and December, the Alberta Reads Book Club will focus on a non-fiction title from an Alberta-based book publisher. Readers will have the chance to participate in the online book club on Facebook and Twitter using #ABreads and #ABbooks, or through the Alberta Reads Book Club website.

More details on book club events and programming will be available following the announcement of the final title on November 4.

Greenwood won the 2019 Spur Award from the Western Writers of America and was a finalist for a 2020 Alberta Book Publishing Award from the Alberta Book Publishers Association. She is also a three-time finalist for the Arthur Ellis Award, Canada’s top mystery writing prize. Called “a master storyteller” and “a pure Canadian voice,” her short fiction has appeared across Canada and in the U.S.

Media interviews are available by emailing media@therese.ca.

HI-RES MEDIA DOWNLOADS

The following media are available for use by reviewers:

• Photo: Therese Greenwood [JPEG 22 MB]
• Cover Art: What You Take With You [JPEG 3.9 MB]

FORT McMURRAY, Alta. / June 22, 2020 — A memoir by Wood Buffalo author Therese Greenwood is a Finalist for the 2020 Alberta Book Publishing Awards from The Book Publishers Association of Alberta (BPAA).

Nominated in the Trade Non-fiction category, What You Take With You: Wildfire, Family and the Road Home was published by the University of Alberta Press. An eyewitness account of the Fort McMurray wildfire and evacuation, the book is also about the physical and emotional artifacts we carry with us in times of crisis.

“It’s an honour for the book to be nominated for a province-wide award by the BPAA,” said Greenwood. “The way people across Alberta rallied to support Fort McMurray evacuees during a time of crisis is a big part of the story.”

“It’s also an acknowledgement of the ongoing commitment by the University of Alberta Press to telling our province’s stories,” added Greenwood.

“At a time in our world when reading and books have never been more important, it’s wonderful to showcase the books published right here in Alberta,” said Kieran Leblanc, the executive director of BPAA. “Please remember most of these books are accessible through our Read Alberta eBooks Collection, available through public libraries throughout the province.”

Greenwood won the 2019 Spur Award from the Western Writers of America and is a three-time Finalist for the Arthur Ellis Award, Canada’s top mystery writing prize. Called “a master storyteller” and “a pure Canadian voice,” her short fiction has appeared across Canada and in the U.S.

The winners of the 2020 Alberta Book Publishing Awards will be announced in a virtual gala reception. Further details on the virtual gala will be released in the coming weeks.

Media interviews are available by emailing media@therese.ca.

HI-RES MEDIA DOWNLOADS

The following media are available for use by reviewers:

• Photo: Therese Greenwood [JPEG 22 MB]
• Cover Art: What You Take With You [JPEG 3.9 MB]

Book Examines the Physical and Emotional Artifacts We Carry With Us in Times of Crisis

KINGSTON, Ont./ May 24, 2019 – A touching portrait of a childhood on Wolfe Island is the narrative cornerstone of a new memoir of the Fort McMurray Wildfire, released by The University of Alberta Press and author Therese Greenwood, and being launched in Kingston, Thursday, May 30, at Novel Idea.

After the April release of What You Take With You: Wildfire, Family and the Road Home, the eye-witness account of the largest wildfire in Canadian history and the 2016 evacuation of Fort McMurray, Alberta, climbed to the top of Amazon.ca’s Natural Disasters Category. But the book is more than a disaster story: It is also about the physical and emotional artifacts we carry with us in times of crisis and the meaning they attain.

Greenwood’s experience and skill as a journalist and a mystery writer engages and maintains suspense. Her portrayal of how people behave in an emergency and how a community comes together is uplifting. Her stories of what she saved from the fire will resonate with anyone who has lived through a crisis, and help make sense of a life-changing event that garnered interest throughout the world.

“My eyes filled with tears more than once while reading (Greenwood’s) book,” says Diane Schoemperlen, author of This Is Not My Life: A Memoir of Love, Prison, and Other Complications. “So terrifying and so tender, it looks clearly and deeply into how we can survive loss and how our treasured objects can be the priceless vessels that carry the stories of both our past and our future.”

Says Miranda Hill, author of Sleeping Funny: “In What You Take With You, Therese Greenwood tells a very personal story of the Fort McMurray Wildfire. By considering the things that she lost in the blaze and the things that were saved, Greenwood takes the reader with her through her own evacuation, the road to safety, the grief that she experienced on losing her home, and the steps to her recovery. It is a beautiful book, sharply observed in the accounting of a disaster that affected the nation, gripping in the particulars of her own journey, and expansive in the questions it poses for us all: How is memory tied to the things we’ve collected, and what does it mean to make a home?”

Wayne Grady, the author of Up From Freedom, says Greenwood’s “gripping account of the Fort McMurray wildfire evacuation … is told in the deceptively relaxed manner that often masks true tragedy. You’ll read this book with a mounting sense of panic. You’ll look around your own house, imagining flames licking at your doors. You have two minutes: what would you save?”

Greenwood said she is excited for the Kingston launch of her book Kingston — and not just because it is a homecoming. “Like so many of the 80,000 people who evacuated Fort McMurray on May 3, 2016, my husband and I had a long and frightening drive on a jam-packed highway to safety,” she said. “So many people from Kingston and Wolfe Island reached out to us that night and in the weeks afterwards to offer us support. I’m looking forward to thanking each and every one.

Novel Idea is located at 156 Princess Street in downtown Kingston. The 7 p.m. launch celebration will include a presentation, book sales and signings.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA PRESS

The University of Alberta Press (USP) is a contemporary, award-winning publisher of scholarly and creative books distinguished by their editorial care, exceptional design, and global reach. UAP contributes substantively to the University of Alberta’s mission, its national and international reputation, and the impact of its research and teaching by means of a diverse and far-ranging scholarly publishing program that is recognized annually with a host of awards for excellence in both scholarship and publishing.

ABOUT THERESE GREENWOOD

Greenwood’s short fiction has appeared across Canada and in the U.S. in such publications as the Crime Writers of Canada’s Over The Edge anthology and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. She has twice been short-listed for the Arthur Ellis Award, Canada’s top mystery writing prize, and has co-edited two short crime fiction anthologies. Earlier this month, Greenwood was named the winner of a 2019 Spur Award from the Western Writers of America for her crossover mystery story about a B-movie cowboy at the Calgary Stampede. She and her husband live in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

For more information about books and events, visit Greenwood online at www.therese.ca or on Facebook. To arrange a media interview, email media@webpaving.com or telephone 587-723-1274.

HI-RES MEDIA DOWNLOADS

The following media are available for use by reviewers:

• Photo: Therese Greenwood [JPEG 22 MB]
• Cover Art: What You Take With You [JPEG 3.9 MB]

Book Examines the Physical and Emotional Artifacts We Carry With Us in Times of Crisis

FORT McMURRAY, Alta. / March 21, 2019 — The University of Alberta Press and author Therese Greenwood will celebrate the launch of her new book, What You Take With You: Wildfire, Family and the Road Home, a memoir of the Fort McMurray Wildfire, on Thursday, March 28, at Audrey’s Books in Edmonton.

Weeks before the official April 1 release of this eye-witness account of the largest wildfire in Canadian history and the 2016 evacuation of Fort McMurray, Alberta, What You Take With You had already climbed to the top of Amazon.ca’s Hot New Releases listings in the Natural Disasters Category, but the book is more than a disaster story: it is also about the physical and emotional artifacts we carry with us in times of crisis and the meaning they attain.

Greenwood’s experience and skill as a journalist and a mystery writer engages and maintains suspense. Her portrayal of how people behave in an emergency and how a community comes together is uplifting. Her stories of what she saved from the fire will resonate with anyone who has lived through a crisis, and help make sense of a life-changing event that garnered interest throughout the world.

“My eyes filled with tears more than once while reading (Greenwood’s) book,” says Diane Schoemperlen, author of This Is Not My Life: A Memoir of Love, Prison, and Other Complications. “So terrifying and so tender, it looks clearly and deeply into how we can survive loss and how our treasured objects can be the priceless vessels that carry the stories of both our past and our future.”

Says Miranda Hill, author of Sleeping Funny: “In What You Take With You, Therese Greenwood tells a very personal story of the Fort McMurray Wildfire. By considering the things that she lost in the blaze and the things that were saved, Greenwood takes the reader with her through her own evacuation, the road to safety, the grief that she experienced on losing her home, and the steps to her recovery. It is a beautiful book, sharply observed in the accounting of a disaster that affected the nation, gripping in the particulars of her own journey, and expansive in the questions it poses for us all: How is memory tied to the things we’ve collected, and what does it mean to make a home?”

Wayne Grady, the author of Up From Freedom, says Greenwood’s “gripping account of the Fort McMurray wildfire evacuation … is told in the deceptively relaxed manner that often masks true tragedy. You’ll read this book with a mounting sense of panic. You’ll look around your own house, imagining flames licking at your doors. You have two minutes: what would you save?”

Greenwood said she is excited to be holding the official launch celebration for the book March 28 in Edmonton — and not just because it’s home to her publisher, the University of Alberta Press.

“Like so many of the 80,000 people who evacuated Fort McMurray on May 3, 2016, my husband and I made the long drive on jam-packed highways to safety in Edmonton,” she said. “The way citizens of other communities rallied to support Fort McMurray evacuees is a big part of this story and of our own road home.”

Audrey’s Books is located at 10702 Jasper Avenue. The 7 p.m. launch celebration will include a presentation, book sales and signings.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA PRESS

The University of Alberta Press (USP) is a contemporary, award-winning publisher of scholarly and creative books distinguished by their editorial care, exceptional design, and global reach. UAP contributes substantively to the University of Alberta’s mission, its national and international reputation, and the impact of its research and teaching by means of a diverse and far-ranging scholarly publishing program that is recognized annually with a host of awards for excellence in both scholarship and publishing.

ABOUT THERESE GREENWOOD

Greenwood’s short fiction has appeared across Canada and in the U.S. in such publications as the Crime Writers of Canada’s Over The Edge anthology and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. She has twice been short-listed for the Arthur Ellis Award, Canada’s top mystery writing prize, and has co-edited two short crime fiction anthologies. Earlier this month, Greenwood was named the winner of a 2019 Spur Award from the Western Writers of America for her crossover mystery story about a B-movie cowboy at the Calgary Stampede. She and her husband live in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

For more information about books and events, visit Greenwood online at www.therese.ca or on Facebook. To arrange a media interview, email media@webpaving.com or telephone 587-723-1274.

HI-RES MEDIA DOWNLOADS

The following media are available for use by reviewers:

• Photo: Therese Greenwood [JPEG 22 MB]
• Cover Art: What You Take With You [JPEG 3.9 MB]