U of A Reads: Stories Behind the Stories

In this episode of U of A Reads, award-winning author, educator and forensic anthropologist Tonya Simpson , '16 BSc (AU), '21 MA, discusses her acclaimed children's book, This Land Is a Lullaby . Inspired by a lullaby she wrote for her daughter, the book celebrates the beauty of the Prairies and Plains while exploring the deep connections between Indigenous children, their ancestors...

This episode features freelance editor and author, Rachael Lammie, ’09 BA, talking about her novel, Simon’s Time — a heartfelt look at growing up, navigating uncertainty, and finding connection during the pandemic. Rachael shares the inspiration behind the book, what it means to write for middle school readers, and how she approached telling a story set during an experience that reshaped childhood...

This episode features Jordan Abel, ’08 BA , a queer Nisga’a writer from Vancouver. He is the author of The Place of Scraps (winner of the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize), Un/inhabited, and Injun (winner of the Griffin Poetry Prize). NISHGA won both the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize and the VMI Betsy Warland Between Genres award, and was a finalist for the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonf...

In this episode of U of A Reads, we sit down with Alexis Marie Chute , ’07 BFA, an award-winning visual artist, filmmaker, art gallery curator, and bestselling author of 7 books, including the fantasy trilogy Above the Star, Below the Moon, Inside the Sun, and memoir Expecting Sunshine. Her latest non-fiction books include Prairie Spirits, The Eternal Summer of Alberta’s Herbarium, Memorable Mural...

This episode features Gavin Bradley , ’15 MSc — an Irish writer, musician and palaeontologist from Belfast, living as a permanent resident in Edmonton, on Treaty 6 Territory. His debut poetry collection, Separation Anxiety , won the UNESCO Bridges of Struga International Poetry Award 2023, and was reprinted with an English/Macedonian translation. His play, Seanchaí, won Best Overall Production and...

In this episode of U of A Reads, we’re thrilled to welcome Carissa Halton , ’03 BA —  the author of Little Yellow House: Finding Community in a Changing Neighbourhood and an award‑winning writer whose creative nonfiction has appeared in outlets like The Globe & Mail, Alberta Views, and Today’s Parent.  Her stunning debut novel, Revolution Songs , pulls us into a 1930s Rocky Mountain town: Anni...

In this special episode of U of A Reads, we sit down with award-winning Métis writer Conor Kerr, '12 BA to explore the stories, history, and fierce heart behind his latest novel, Prairie Edge . Conor is a national award winning Metis/Ukrainian writer and bird hunter living in amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton). Born in Saskatoon, raised in Buffalo Pound Lake and Drayton Valley. He is a member of...

This episode features Lauren Seal , ’13 BA — writer, book lover, and former Poet Laureate of St. Albert. Lauren is deeply involved in building Alberta’s poetry community, mentoring young writers through SWYC, the Spoken Word Youth Choir, and performing with the adult group. Her debut novel-in-verse, Light Enough to Float , was recognized with the Schneider Family Honor Book Award for excellence in...

This podcast is brought to you by the University of Alberta Alumni Association.   Follow @UAlbertaAlumni on Facebook , Instagram and LinkedIn .