Catalogue Baby: a memoir of infertility

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…

Grieving and finding solace

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…

Making contact with Ray’s Planet

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…

Layers of identity: On/Me hits the bookshelves

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…

From the stage to the page – Goosefeather lands in Vancouver

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…

Enjoying literature in a virtual age

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…

Chantal Gibson: Channeling the past through poetry

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…

Diaspora in discussion: Rebecca Fisseha comes to Vancouver

Prepare to explore the depths of the female experience with Incite: The Secret Lives of Women. This event, in partnership with the Vancouver Writers Fest, will showcase female authors and the strong fictional women they create. Marjorie Celona (How a Woman Becomes a Lake), Rebecca Fisseha (Daughters of Silence), and Mallary Tater (The Birth Yard) will be…

Speed dating with fiction: local writers share their work

Several authors from around British Columbia will be sharing their fiction in a writers showcase at the Central Library on Feb. 23. Michele Amitrani, Joan Boxall, Maggie Edwards, Janet Hudgins, and Japhy Ryder will read snippets of their works at this event. Amitrani is a prolific fiction author who has written several dark fantasy and…