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In a world of trying times, Laura Rivera inspires resiliency and hope through her beautifully drawn stories, those star heroines who do not fit in the boxes provided by society. The characters, their dynamics and the plot, cannot help but make the reader smile, as they root for the protagonists. “It is terrible for me…
This year’s Indian Summer Festival began June 17, 2021 and is still going strong with plenty of virtual events that can be enjoyed by festival goers until July 17, 2021. Knives and Sugar: Avni Doshi with Souvankham Thammavongsa is one of the virtual events happening July 10, 2021. Doshi will be discussing her debut novel…
Exploring the meaning of identity in every sense – individual, cultural, moral and national – allows Sami Alwani to delve into the personal reflection of other issues in his life. “We’re Canadians. What does that mean? I think of Canada as a made-up country that doesn’t really exist. It’s like if I come to somebody’s…
Hidden in her whimsical and colourful digital illustrations, artist Ejiwa “Edge” Ebenebe’s goal is simple: for Black people to feel seen, beautiful and loved just as they are. Edge, a Nigerian-Canadian illustrator, is passionate about uplifting Black people in her artwork. In her most recent project, Edge collaborated with Coquitlam Heritage to create a workbook…
A book is only words. There are so many emotions that cannot be described with words, says Myriam Steinberg, author of Catalogue Baby, a graphic novel, that tells the story of an indomitable young woman’s ordeal to get pregnant. “One would need too many words to really explain the range of thoughts and feelings going through…
A girl torn between her curiosity for a young maid and her need to maintain her higher social class; a sister torn between her love for her brother and her duty to herself and to a country that asks too much; a daughter pulled between the love of her quarreling and separated parents. These are…
Summer 2020 may not be the season of traveling and parties we all anticipated, but online readings and workshops (from Sept. 19–27) will be available for those interested in the work of countless Canadian authors and poets. Dakshana Bascaramurty, a Globe and Mail journalist, shares her debut non-fiction book This is Not the End of Me at the…
Claire Finlayson is set to debut her first book entitled Dispatches from Ray’s Planet: A Journey Through Autism. Ray’s Planet is a heart-warming story of two siblings learning to understand each other upon Ray’s autism diagnosis. Finlayson hopes this book can normalize autism spectrum disorder, which is a complex condition that consists of challenges with…
Carol Rose Goldeneagle is a woman of many talents. The award-winning author, artist and musician published Bone Black in 2019. This novel offers the reader a much-needed view into the reality of living as a young Indigenous woman in Canada as well as its possible dangers. From the moment she was born, Goldeneagle had to…
As an Indigenous woman, Canadian writer Francine Cunningham hopes to bring understanding and empathy to a world that greatly needs it. Her first poetry collection, On/Me, explores the universal themes of identity and what it means to fit in. On/Me, published by Caitlin Press in October 2019, is currently a finalist for the 2020 Indigenous Voices…
Naomi Steinberg is back in her hometown to unveil Goosefeather. The local performer, and now author, plans to share her adventures of world travel and performance through her debut book. When most are stuck at home, Goosefeather allows for travelling the world on an adventure of a lifetime. On June 9, 2020, a virtual book launch of Goosefeather will take…
Vancouver may be shut down, but the Vancouver Writers Fest continues to march on. Last month, the festival hosted a virtual Facebook event with authors David Bergen, Maria Reva, and Souvankham Thammavongsa. The event, titled Voices of Place: Short Fiction of a New Decade, showcased the writing of three authors and the varied landscapes and environments…
While public events in Vancouver may be delayed, we can still enjoy the 22nd National Poetry Month from our own homes in April. Chantal Gibson is one local poet and artist whose work offers perspective and cultural education during these strange and uncertain times. Originally from Mackenzie, BC, Gibson began writing poetry while attending Langara…
