Chicken House Press Acquires Indigenous-Inspired Middle Grade Fantasy
Chicken House Press is thrilled to announce the acquisition of HABITAN, a middle grade fantasy novel by Ontario-based author Cheryl Skory Suma, scheduled for release in July 2025. The deal represents an exciting addition to CHP's growing portfolio of diverse and engaging literature for a younger audience.
Cheryl signing her publishing contract
HABITAN weaves together high-stakes adventure with uniquely Canadian elements, drawing inspiration from the author's diverse heritage, which blends Ukrainian, British, and Cree ancestry. Cheryl's close relationship with her Cree grandmother particularly influenced the story's thoughtful incorporation of Indigenous elements. The novel features magical spells rooted in the Cree language and showcases Canada's majestic landscapes through its vivid world-building.
Born from bedtime stories Cheryl told her children, HABITAN follows young heroes as they navigate a richly imagined world populated by distinctive animal characters, including a comedic prairie dog, wise chickadees, and a pompous heron who serves as a royal guide. The story particularly resonates with young readers who face challenges like ADD or bullying, offering them relatable characters and empowering messages wrapped in an action-packed adventure.
HABITAN brings together the essential elements of compelling middle grade fantasy. Cheryl has created a unique magical world that not only entertains but also speaks to real issues young readers face today. The combination of Indigenous elements, Canadian wildlife, and universal themes of bravery and standing up for what's right makes this a standout addition to the middle grade fantasy genre, appealing to fans of The Chronicles of Narnia and Percy Jackson series while offering a distinctly Canadian perspective.
Cheryl Skory Suma brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her writing. With a BSc in Child Psychology and a MHSc in Speech-Language Pathology, she crafted HABITAN to be both challenging and engaging for young readers. The manuscript has already garnered recognition in several competitions, including the 2019 Santa Fe Writers Project Literary Awards and the 2023 ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition.
The book will feature cover art and interior plates by acclaimed artist Steven Albert, whose impressive portfolio includes work on iconic projects such as Shrek, The Prince of Egypt, and Michael Hirst's Vikings.
About the Author: Cheryl Skory Suma is an award-winning writer whose work spans short stories, flash fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry, with publications across Canada, the US, and UK. After a career in healthcare, she turned to writing full-time, channelling her understanding of child development and storytelling into creating engaging fiction for young readers.
Do you want to be part of the release team? CHP needs early reviewers to help create a stir and to give us marketable blurbs we can use in promotion. Sign up to be part of the review team today and you will be notified when we’re ready to start generating buzz for this incredible book. Reviewers for this particular title should be prepared to read in the spring of 2025.
