Benjamin Hertwig

Benjamin Hertwig is a Canadian poet, whose debut poetry collection Slow War was a shortlisted finalist for the Governor General's Award for English-language poetry at the 2017 Governor General's Awards.

A former member of the Canadian Armed Forces who served in Afghanistan, he has also published short fiction and non-fiction work in Maisonneuve, Canadian Literature, The Walrus, Ricepaper, Geez, Prairie Fire, Pleiades and The New York Times. He won a National Magazine Award in the Personal Journalism category in 2017 for "The Burn".

Herwig’s debut novel (published on September 3, 2024) is titled Juiceboxers. The story follows sixteen-year-old Plinko’s military journey, beginning the summer he enters basic training camp, where he befriends and moves in with three other soldiers. The plot continues to the start and progression of the Afghanistan War, where Plinko and his friends face hardship after hardship on the battlefields of Kandahar. Finally, the novel concludes with the aftermath of the war, and the severe impact serving in the military has left on these four war-weary soldiers. This story is inspired by the author’s own military experience, and is a striking coming-of-age fictional narrative.

In addition to being a successful writer, Herwig is also the co-owner of Paper Birch Books, a quaint independent used bookstore located in Edmonton, Alberta, that opened its doors in December of 2022. He, in partnership with his longtime partner Céline Chuang, wanted to provide an atmospheric experience for fellow local book-lovers. The bookstore is a place of warmth and welcome, and is always filled with a variety of literature, both old and new.

External links

• Official website
• https://paperbirchbooks.ca/pages/about-us