Professional Profile
Versatile leader, publisher, editor, author, and writer dedicated to building and working in teams of committed professionals. A creative, analytical, and strategic thinker accustomed to an open communications style. Professional, flexible, system-oriented and process-driven, but goal-focused.
Relevant Professional History
- Executive Editor, ARP Books (Arbeiter Ring Publishing Ltd.), Current
- Owner/Arts & Culture Consultant, The Cultural Attaché, 2011 – 2016
- Program Consultant, Artspace Arts Management, 2012 – 2013
- General Manager, Virtuosi Concerts Inc., 2009 – 2011
- Managing Editor, Turnstone Press Ltd., 2001 – 2009
- Executive Director/Co-director, Assoc. of Manitoba Book Publishers, 1998 – 2001
- Editor/Editor, Prairie Books NOW, 1995 – 1999
Publications and Awards
- The Ravishing Corpse, Long-list 3-Day Novel Contest, March 2021
- “We’ve Burned,” 3rd Prize Winner, 14th Geist Postcard Story, October 2018
- “The Conditions of My Parole,” Prairie Fire Issue 4, 2010
- Winnipeg Arts Council Individual Artist “B” Grant, January 2008
- “I Really Liked It and You Liked It Too,” Front & Centre #6, April 2004
- “Scenes from a Spiteful Business,” CV2 Winner 2-Day Poem Contest, CV2 2003
- Manitoba Arts Council Writers “C” Grant, September 2001
- “Some Variation of No,” Winner sub-TERRAIN Short Fiction Contest, Summer 2000
- “You and Other Women,” CV2, Spring 1998
- “Could Superman Have Benefited From Isometric Exercise?,” Zygote, Summer, 1995
Education and Specialized Professional Development
- Business for the Arts, ArtsVest Sponsorship Training Workshops
- University of Winnipeg, Professional Studies, Manitoba Arts and Cultural Management Certificate
- Cultural Human Resources Council, Cultural Human Resource Management
- Erhard Associates, Managing and Leading in the Not-for-Profit Sector
- Lesley Ellen Harris’s E-course, Canadian Copyright Law
- Simon Fraser University, SFU Summer Book Publishing Immersion Workshop
- Red River College, Honours Diploma (Journalism), Creative Communications
Selected Self-directed Writing Professional Development
- Literary Citizenship for Introverts and Extroverts Alike, March 2023
- Negotiation Skills for Writers with Pia Owens, February 2023
- Get Your Writing Life Organized with Paulette Perhach, January 2023
- Short Story Writing for Publication with Elizabeth Sims, November 2022
- Maybe It’s Not Your Plot with Susan DeFreitas, June 2022
- 5 Steps to Airtight Plot with Tiffany Martin Yates, October 2021
- The Inside Outline with Jennie Nash, September 2021
- How to Self-Publish for First Timers with Jane Friedman, August 2021
- Effective Book Marketing for Any Author with Jane Friedman, August 2021
- Advanced Self-Editing Master Class with Roz Morris, April 2021
- This Is the Year You Finish Your Book with Jane Friedman, January 2021
- Blogging Strategies That Work in 2020 with Jane Friedman, October 2020
- Diversify Your Writing Income with Jane Friedman, June 2020
- Getting Your Book Into Libraries: Digital Distribution with Jane Friedman, May 2020
- One True Thing: Create a One-Page Strategic Plan to Finish Your Writing with Sage Cohen, May 2020
- Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction with Mark Leslie Lefebvre, April 2020
Selected Volunteer, Community, and Professional Engagement
Board Leadership
- Board of Directors, eBound Canada, June 2022– Current
- Board of Directors, Secretary, Association of Canadian Publishers, 2019 – Current
- Executive Committee
- Hiring Committee, Executive Director
- Nominating and Governance Committee
- Chair, Bylaws Committee, Association of Manitoba Book Publishers, 2018 – 2021
- HR Committee, Association of Manitoba Book Publishers, 2018 – 2020
- Executive Committee, Prairie Book Now , 2018 – 2020
- Chair, Literary Distribution Co. (LitDistCo), 2018 – 2019
- Chair, Communications sub-committee, Manitobans for the Arts, 2013
- Chair, Literary Press Group, 2007 – 2009
- Founding Treasurer, Literary Distribution Co. (LitDistCo), 2006 – 2007
- Treasurer, Literary Press Group, 2005 – 2007
- Vice-President, Association of Canadian Publishers, 2005 – 2006
- Council Member, Association of Canadian Publishers, 2003 – 2006
- Advisory Board, Winnipeg International Writers Festival, 2001 – 2003
- Board Director, Winnipeg International Writers Festival, 1999 – 2001
- Treasurer, Artspace Inc., 2000 – 2001
- President, Manitoba Writers’ Guild, 1998 – 2000
- Board Director, Artspace Inc., 1997 – 1999
- Committee Member, Manitoba Book Awards, 1995 – 2000
- Board Director, Manitoba Writers’ Guild, 1995 – 1998
Peer Juries
- Juror, Saskatchewan Book Awards, Publisher Category, 2022
- Peer Assessor, Canada Council for the Arts Sector Innovation & Development, 2019
- Peer Assessor, Canada Council for the Arts Literary Publishing Projects, 2019
- Juror, Manitoba Arts Council Individual Support/Strengthen Program, 2018
- Peer Assessor, Canada Council for the Arts Sector Innovation & Development, 2018
- Peer Assessor, Canada Council for the Arts Literary Publishing Projects, 2018
- Juror, Manitoba Arts Council Individual Artist’s Travel Grant, 2017
- Peer Assessor, Canada Council for the Arts Literary Support Organizations, 2017
- Juror, Manitoba Arts Council Individual Artist’s Travel Grant, 2016
- Juror, Winnipeg Arts Council Project Grant, 2011
- Consultant, Canada Council for the Arts Block Grant Review Committee, 2006
- Juror, Canada Council for the Arts Cooperative Projects, 2003
- Juror, Alberta Book Awards, Trade Non-fiction Book of the Year, 2000
- Juror, Saskatchewan Book Awards, Book of the Year, 1999
- Juror, Saskatchewan Book Awards, Best First Book, 1999
Presentations, Facilitations & Interviews
- Panellist, Literary Press Group, Demystifying Grant Writing, March 2021
- Interviewer, Thin Air (WIWF) An Afternoon with Elaine Dewer, September 2017
- Presenter, Creative Manitoba, Basic Grant Writing for Writers, August 2014
- Presenter, Creative Manitoba, Basic Grant Writing for Writers, August 2013
- Presenter, Creative Manitoba, “With a Little Help from Your Friends” [Crowdfunding], February 2013
- Presenter, Creative Manitoba, “Digital Strategies for Analog Artists,” January 2013
- Facilitator, Creative Manitoba Advanced Grant Writing Summer Intensive, August 2012
- Presenter, Creative Manitoba Basic Grant Writing for Writers, February 2012
- Facilitator, Creative Manitoba Advanced Grant Writing Summer Intensive, August 2011
- Speaker, McNally Robinson Booksellers, “An Evening to Celebrate Author Michael Van Rooy,” March 2011
- Featured Reader, Aqua Books Anthology Reading Series, March 2010
- Reader, Prairie Fire: A Winnipeg Fiction Extravaganza, November 2009
- Panellist, Manitoba Writers Guild, “Making it as a Professional Writer,” AGM 2009
- Roundtable Participant, Literary Press Group Publishing, Stabilization Program, 2009
- Presenter, Literary Press Group, Competition Policy Review Panel, Formal Consultations, 2008
- Panellist, Writers’ Union of Canada, “The Editor’s View,” 2008
- Interviewee, Master Thesis, The Neoliberal Market & Contemporary Literary…, June 2008
- Panellist, Manitoba Editors’ Association, “Editing Books: A Panel with the Pros,” AGM 2006
- Interviewee, Mystery Ink Television, April 2005
- Facilitator, Manitoba Book Awards Juries (AMBP), 1998 – 2001
- Interviewee, Winnipeg Free Press, Various
- Interviewee, Quill & Quire, Various
Other
- Grant Writing Mentor, Literary Press Group, 2021
- Canadian Delegate, IV Programme/International Festival of Authors, 2017
- Mentor, Creative Manitoba Youth Mentorship Program in the Arts, 2009
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All material, unless otherwise noted, Copyright © Todd Besant. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: The Marmot on VisualHunt.com
Arts & Culture, Association of Canadian Publishers, Author Interviews, Board of Directors, Book Publishing, Bookseller, Canada Council for the Arts, Columnist, CV, Editor, Freelance Writing, Geist, Grant writing, Journalism, Literary Press Group, Manager, Manitoba Arts Council, Peer Juror, Prairie Fire, Presenter, Professional Development, Professionalism, Publishing Industry, Résumé, Reading, RRC Polytechnic, subTerrain, University of Winnipeg, Volunteer, Winnipeg Arts Council
