Written by Tony Eetak and published by the Arts Incubator Winnipeg and Art Borups Corners Storytelling club, The Quiet Lunchbox asks: What if the biggest problems aren't always loud? Sixth-grader Jenny thrives amidst the lively chaos of her school, but she can't ignore Brian, the quiet boy who always eats alone. His sparse, plain lunches and swift exits from food events hint at a struggle far deeper than mere shyness, sparking a quiet question in Jenny's heart.As Jenny pieces toget...

In Unfinished Notes on Silence and Sound, the third volume of the Unfinished Tales and Short Stories series, Tony Eetak invites readers to inhabit the "gaps"—the quiet pauses, the shrugs, and the lingering moments between days that define the most real parts of our lives. This collection rejects the idea of a clean narrative exit, opting instead to capture the "fragmentary nature of memory" through stories that are purposefully messy. From the "erratic flicker" of...

What happens when your whole world disappears in a puff of smoke? For Eddie, a devastating house fire means losing more than just his home; it means losing everything that made him *him*. His beloved comic books, his favorite soccer cleats, even the soft teddy bear hidden under his pillow—all gone. Now, wearing borrowed clothes and carrying an empty backpack, Eddie feels like a stranger, desperate to hide the gaping hole in his heart from his friends.As the echoes of loss follow hi...

What if your friends started a secret online campaign of cruelty, and you were too scared to stop them? That's Mona's agonizing dilemma when her popular friends, Barb and Jess, discover ShareNJam, a music app that allows anonymous playlist contributions. Their first creation? "BILLY'S LAME TUNES," a playlist designed to mock and shame a quiet classmate, Billy, who has no idea he's being targeted.Mona knows it's wrong—a cowardly act of digital bullying that twists her stomach into k...

What do you do when your two best friends become your worst enemies online? Gerome is trapped in the digital crossfire. His lifelong friends, Gina and Tyson, are on opposite sides of a bitter town debate, and their private group chat has become a battlefield. When an AI called ModBot appears to facilitate a "healthy discussion," Gerome hopes it's the neutral referee they desperately need.But the bot's logic is anything but neutral. It twists their words, preys on their insecurities...

What happens when four creative hearts decide to turn a dream into a city-wide spectacle? Written by Tony Eetak and published by the Arts Incubator Winnipeg, The Next Brew invites readers into the vibrant pulse of downtown Winnipeg, where art and community collide.Photographer Kristin, beatmaker Devon, digital artist Sophie, and spoken word poet Ravi find their creative centre at The Exchange coffee shop. Together, they envision and commit to organising a groundbreaking, city-wide ...

What if the thing you loved most felt like your biggest secret? Written by Tony Eetak and published by the Arts Incubator Winnipeg, Sarah's Steady Note introduces Sarah, a quiet ten-year-old girl who finds her true voice not in words, but in the deep, resonant hum of her tuba. It's a big, golden beast, and playing it fills Sarah with a secret, powerful joy that makes her feel whole.But when her friends and older brother dismiss her unique passion as "uncool" or a "waste of...

Que se passe-t-il lorsque tout votre monde disparaît en fumée? Pour Eddie, un incendie de maison dévastateur signifie bien plus que la perte de son foyer; c'est la perte de tout ce qui faisait de lui *lui-même*. Ses bandes dessinées adorées, ses crampons de soccer préférés, même l'ours en peluche doux caché sous son oreiller – tout est parti. Maintenant, vêtu de vêtements empruntés et portant un sac à dos vide, Eddie se sent étranger, désespéré de cacher le vide béant dans son cœur à ses a...

What does it mean to be a person of dignity? How do we build a kinder, more compassionate world?This collection of 20 heartwarming and engaging stories, created by young authors, is a thoughtful exploration of these big ideas. From a compassionate squirrel who learns to share his winter stash to a young girl who discovers the power of helping others, these tales offer simple yet profound lessons about the importance of kindness, respect, and community. The book was written for fun ...