February Virtual Event
Many options exist for turning a science-focused manuscript into a book that reaches its target reader group. Each option has its advantages, from the flexibility and higher margins of self-publishing to the credibility and mainstream visibility of traditional publishing. This event will help you compare and contrast the different publishing routes for science-based fiction and non-fiction books aimed at all audiences, from children to adult. Amanda Betts from Simon & Schuster Canada and Jenna Campbell from Orca Book Publishers will share perspectives from traditional publishing, while Emily Perkins of FriesenPress will give an overview of the self-publishing process, with audience Q&A to follow each presentation. If you have a science-focused manuscript in hand or you've been thinking about turning an idea into a manuscript, this event will equip you with valuable information for moving your project toward publication.
All registrants will be able to enter a draw for a free manuscript evaluation by FriesenPress. A professional editor will read your manuscript in its entirety and provide feedback about your book's strengths, where it can be improved - with examples right from your text - and some recommendations for your metadata. You will also be provided with recommendations for your next steps and editing services. Value: $499 CAD.
Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ET via Zoom
Cost: Free for SWCC Members / $30 CAD for Non-Members
Are you a non-member of SWCC registering for this event? If you decide to become a member of SWCC within 2 weeks of the event date, your membership fee (in the applicable category) will be discounted by the amount you paid for event registration. To activate your discounted membership within the 2-week period, email office@sciencewriters.ca.
Jenna Campbell (she/her) is a children’s book editor at Orca Book Publishers, specializing in middle-grade nonfiction. Previously, she worked with publications including Today’s Parent, Chirp, Chickadee and OWL magazines. Jenna holds an MFA in Creative Writing from UBC Okanagan and a journalism degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. She lives in Victoria, BC.
Amanda Betts joined Simon & Schuster Canada in 2025 following 15 years at Knopf and Random House Canada, where she edited books by bestselling and award-winning Canadian authors including novelists Sarah Bernstein (Study for Obedience, winner of the Giller Prize) and Michelle Min Sterling (Camp Zero, a Today Show Read With Jenna pick); experts Dr. Jennifer Grenz (Medicine Wheel for the Planet), Dr. Jen Gunter (The Menopause Manifesto), and Holly Hogan (Message in a Bottle: Ocean Dispatches from a Seabird Biologist); journalist Trina Moyles (Lookout and the forthcoming Black Bear: A Story of Siblinghood and Survival) and artist Roza Nozari (All the Parts We Exile). International authors included Maggie O’Farrell, Ed Yong, Adam Weymouth, and Michael Finkel. Since joining S&S, she’s been delighted to acquire a Dutch bestseller on productivity called Focus On-Off by attention experts Mark Tigchelaar and Oscar de Bos; a stunning work of nature writing, In Trees, by Robert Moor; and a memoir by Jeremie Saunders, host of the beloved Sickboy podcast. She looks forward to publishing Women at Rest—an exploration of ‘the rest cure’ and modern wellness--by Dr. Claire Horn and Burned: Truth and Hope in the Fires by Dr. Jennifer Grenz with S&S. She’s currently editing Olympian Clara Hughes’ new memoir, Learning to Breathe, for fall 2026 publication.
Emily Perkins is the Senior Publishing Consultant at FriesenPress. Her publishing career spans over 20 years – and the globe. She spent years in Amsterdam working in graphic design and later worked as a typesetter and proofreader in the financial printing industry. Emily’s eclectic experience allows her to provide a holistic approach to her part in guiding the FriesenPress team, which ensures authors self-publish the best possible books.
