Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 16/98) - Children's author Diane Brookes decided to start her own publishing company when her work was being rejected by southern publishers.

It wasn't that the publishers didn't like what she was sending, they simply had too much material already.

"They'd say -- good story BUT..." laughs Brookes, who, in the end, didn't need the Southern publishers anyway.

With the full intention of one day publishing other Northern writers, she set out to publish her own book, The Man in the Moon.

Later, after publishing the book, she attended the Canadian Booksellers Association's annual trade show in Toronto. That's where Tom Cole, of Tri-Laurel Production, saw the book and bought the film options.

And now she's putting out two more books. On Friday, David's Day, authored by Brookes, will be released.

David's Day is about the experience of a young boy out on the land for the day.

Brookes's hard work is paying off in several ways. Besides her own personal success, businesses she is associated with are now thriving.

Artisan Press does all her printing and, because of the extra business, Artisan was able to invest in a new bindery system. They may soon be able to invest in a four-colour press to replace the existing two-colour press.

"Part of my mandate is to keep it in the North," asserts Brookes.

Another benefit is the exposure the North is receiving in the South. Brookes's books often have a Northern theme. David's Day does, and so will a new CD-ROM entitled Murray the Muskox, a project that will explore storytelling as well as animals of the North.

Duct Tape Omnimedia is the Northern business involved in that particular project.

What's more, it gives authors and illustrators who might not get an opportunity with busy, southern-based publishers a chance to show their work.

"David's Day is illustrated by Jacob Shank who graduated from Sir John Franklin high school last year," Brookes says.

Another Raven Rock

book to be released before Christmas is Charlie the Chinook, written and illustrated by a couple based in the North.

Illustrator Betty Wilcox teaches art at Sir John Franklin in Yellowknife and her husband is the writer.

Raven Rock is currently working out a contract with a young 10-year-old writer from a Northern community.

"I'm hoping, in time, that I'll be able to incorporate the company and possibly go into a joint venture with NWT Development Corporation," Brookes explains.

"It would mean that they would infuse a certain amount of capital into the company...which allows you to expand and allows you to develop as you're growing."

Brookes, who also publishes a line of Novel Studies manuals for teachers to aid in the study of books, hopes to get serious with educational CD-ROMs.