Mitchell Toews is a Manitoba fiction writer. 138 literary journals and anthologies have published his work since 2016. He is a four-time Pushcart Prize nominee with numerous strong showings in national and US story contests, including a finalist showing in the 2023 Nona Macdonald Heaslip $15,000 “Best Canadian Short Story” Competition and Award.
Mitch's debut short story collection, “Pinching Zwieback” (At Bay Press), launched in October 2023. The collection comprises loosely related stories focused on life experiences in the fictional Mennonite prairie town of “Hartplatz” and places like it. Strong reviews, several local bestseller list appearances, book club participation, and growing critical recognition for the book are early hallmarks. See details: https://bit.ly/PZReviewsMJTInterviews
Work in progress includes a coming-of-age novel set in the Manitoba boreal (planned for a March 2026 launch) and a second collection of short fiction.
Mitch and Janice live at Jessica Lake in the Manitoba Whiteshell Provincial Park. Their home is on Treaty 1 and 3 land just north of the fiftieth latitude in eastern Manitoba, situated in the traditional homeland of the Métis Nation in the Winnipeg River basin, near the historic Tie Creek site.
Writing your culture. A usable framework is presented and discussion is encouraged as the topic is covered. The source material might use examples from the author's Mennonite background and writing, or that of other cultures or writers.
As determined by teacher(s) and class.
