Spotify’s top 2025 audiobooks led by romance, fantasy

Fantasy and romance titles continued to dominate the literary landscape in 2025, particularly as it pertains to audiobooks.

A Publishers Weekly report notes that according to data released by Spotify, Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros was the most listened to audiobook of 2025 in North America, with Yarros’ Iron Flame also appearing in the top 10. The second most listened to audiobook was Lights Out by Navessa Allen, while romantasy author Sarah J. Maas nabbed three of the top 10 spots with titles from her A Court of Thorns and Roses series.

This is the first year Spotify has released its year-end audiobook data, according to the story. Other authors in the top 10 included J.R.R. Tolkien, Stephen King and Freida McFadden.

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The Manitoba Writers Guild’s fourth annual Dave Williamson National Short Story Competition is now open for entries.

The award, named after local author (and Free Press reviewer) Dave Williamson, is now accepting submissions of between 2,500 and 4,500 words for the annual prize, whose top award comes with a cool $1,000. (Second place receives $600 and third place $400, with the top three also receiving a complimentary membership in the guild.)

This year’s competition will once again be judged by local authors Zilla Jones, Mitchell Toews and Michael Hutchinson, who served on the jury for the 2024 award. The competition is open for submissions until Feb. 15, 2026; there’s a $25 entry fee for each submission, with an early-bird rate of $20 running through to Jan. 15, 2026.

For more information, submission guidelines and how to enter, see wfp.to/daveaward.

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The University of Manitoba’s Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture has announced its writers in residence for both 2026 and 2027.

Next year’s writers in residence will be Swampy Cree writer and filmmaker Sonya Ballantyne and Indian-born, Glasgow-based Sindhu Rajasekaran, who will split the duties; the former will serve from January to April 2026, and the latter from September to December of next year.

In 2027 the position will also be split, with Winnipeg author and slam poet Steve Locke serving from January to April of that year and Vancouver-born, Toronto-based C.E. (Chris) Gatchalian taking the helm from September to December.

The writer in residence offers workshops and guidance to emerging local writers; the position is currently held by Winnipeg poet Melanie Dennis Unrau. For more on the program, see wfp.to/iO3.

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After 23 years at the helm of Thin Air, the Winnipeg International Writers Festival, director Charlene Diehl is closing the book on her tenure as director of the fest.

Diehl has been at the helm of what is now Plume Winnipeg, the organization that oversees Thin Air, since 2003, and will see out her role as director until the end of December.

Diehl says the move has been in the works for a few months; the 2025 festival saw her scale back her responsibilities, dividing them up among newer staff.

Plume Winnipeg has uploaded a job posting for the executive director position to the organization’s website at wfp.to/plumewpg.

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The Canadian publisher of books about the beloved Franklin the turtle, the creation of Paulette Bourgeois, has condemned an incendiary social media post by U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth which features a violent likeness of the typically gentle school-aged reptile.

On Nov. 30, Hegseth posted an image of a fake book cover named Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists, which depicts Franklin firing a weapon from a military helicopter at boats appearing to be helmed by drug runners.

In response, publisher Kids Can Press posted a note on social media that stated they “strongly condemn any denigrating, violent, or unauthorized use of Franklin’s name or image,” noting Franklin “stands for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity.”

winnipegfreepress.com/bensigurdson