The Northwestern Ontario Writer's Workshop is celebrating 20 years with the release of a collection of stories by winners of its annual writing contest.

THUNDER BAY - A local writer’s group is celebrating 20 years of helping foster literary talent across the region and is doing so by sharing some of the best stories Northwestern Ontario writers have to offer.

The Northwestern Ontario Writer’s Workshop is launching a new book that contains stories selected from the winners of its annual short story and memoir writing contest.

The collection, Twenty Years on Snowshoes: Winning Stories from Northwestern Ontario Writer’s Workshop, includes 20 stories from past winners of the contest that has been held since 1999.

“This commemorative book contains 20 award-winning stories by some of our region’s best writers, in recognition of NOWW’s first 20 years,” said NOWW president, Jane Crossman.

Edited by Rosalind Maki and Deborah de Bakker, with a foreword by award winning author, Charles Wilkins, Twenty Years on Snowshoes is an eclectic mix of stories from writers right across the region.

“The stories are terrific, compelling, and varied, both in style and subject matter,” said Maki.

For de Bakker, the book represents just how strong the writing community is in Northwestern Ontario, which NOWW has been helping to grow for the past 20 years.

“I hope everyone will read the stories and be captivated by them, as we have been,” she said.

The book features stories by John Pringle, Joan Baril, Jim Foulds, Mike Bryan, Heather Dickson, Roy Blomstrom, Holly Haggarty, Doug Diaczuk, Sue Blott, Jayne Barnard, Susan Rogers, and other recognizable names.

According to author Heather Dickson, who also designed the cover, the name of the book came from a brainstorming session.

“The snowshoes represent that we’re making tracks and there’s still a journey to go ahead of us,” she said.

NOWW will be hosting a book launch for Twenty Years on Snowshoes: Winning Stories from Northwestern Ontario Writer’s Workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at the Prince Arthur Hotel following its annual general meeting.

Everyone is welcome to attend the AGM at 6:30 p.m. and the book launch begins at 7:15 p.m.