Writing the Coast: BC and Yukon Book Prizes Podcast

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Li Charmaine Anne. Charmaine is the author of Crash landing, which is a finalist for the 2025 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize. On the episode, Charmaine talks about how a late bloomers skate club helped inspire parts of the book, and how she approached writing about Vancouver. To find out more about Crash Landing: https://bc...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Anthony Nerada. Anthony is the author of Skater Boy, which is a finalist for the 2025 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize. On the episode, Anthony talks about how his own experiences as a teen inspired his main character Wes, he also talks the evolution of queer romance, and why we should all be reading queer romances. To find o...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Minelle Mahtani. Minelle is the author of May it Have a Happy Ending, which is a finalist for the 2025 Hubert Evans Nonfiction Prize. On the episode, Minelle talks about how she found comfort in her non-linear story structure. And how she captured her mom's voice on the page. To find out more about May it Have a Happy Ending: https://bc...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Kayla Czaga. Kayla is the author of Midway. Midway is a finalist for the 2025 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. In this epiosde, Kayla talks about the challenges of writing grief poems, and the squishiness of time. To find out more about Midway visit: https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/project/midway/ To view the 2025 BC and Yukon Book Prizes sh...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Loghan Paylor. Loghan is the author of The Cure for Drowning. The Cure for Drowning is a finalist for the 2025 Jim Deva Prize for Writing that Provokes. In this epiosde, Loghan talks about how they approached the research for their book. They also talk about the folklore in the novel. To find out more about The Cure for Drowning visit:...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Deirdre Simon Dore. Deirdre is the author of A Reluctant Mother. A Reluctant Mother is a finalist for the 2025 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. In this epiosde, Deirdre how she came up with her protagonist, Frida. She also talks about why she wrote about memory and the perception of reality through Frida's story. To find out more about A Rel...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Mei Yu. Mei is the author of Lost & Found: Based on a True Story. Lost & Found is a finalist for the 2025 Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize. In this conversation, Mei talks about how art became a shared language when her family first immigrated to Canada. She talked about the important role libraries played in her...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Julie Wilkins. Julie is the author of We're Happy You're Here. We're Happy You're Here is a finalist for the 2025 Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize. In this conversation, Julie talks about the story that inspired her book, and how books create opportunities to gather and build community. To find out more about We'r...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Leslie Gentile. Leslie is the author of Elvis, Me and the Postcard Winter. Elvis, Me and the Postcard Winter is a finalist for the 2025 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize. In this conversation, Leslie talks about the importance of representing the complexity and messiness of families in books for young readers. She also talks a...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Marion McKinnon Crook. Marion is the author of Always On Call: Adventures in Nursing, Ranching, and Rural Living. Always on Call is a finalist for the 2025 Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Award. In this conversation, Marion talks about why she chose to write memoir after a long career of nursing, teaching and writing over 25 books that...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole revisits one of the most popular episodes of Writing the Coast. It features Roy Henry Vickers and Lucky Budd. The talked about their book Voices from the Skeena: An Illustrated Oral History, nominated for the Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Award. In this conversation Roy and Lucky talked about how they began collaborating, the impact these stor...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole revisits one of the most popular episodes of Writing the Coast. It features Michelle Good, author of Five Little Indians which was a finalist for the 2021 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize and the 2021 Jim Deva Prize for Writing that Provokes. Michelle talks about what it means to be an emerging writer and how she developed the characters in her novel....

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, Sam George and Jill Yonit Goldberg talk about the book The Fire Still Burns: Life In and After Residential School. The Fire Still Burns was a finalist for the 2024 Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Award. In his conversation with host Megan Cole, Sam and Jill talk about how they started working together on the book, and Sam talks about the significance of telling...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole revisits a past episode featuring a conversation with the Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. In their conversation, Her Honour talks about the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Literary Excellence and its past recipients, as well as what excites her about books written and published in British Columbia. Wendy Cocchia...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, Maya McKibbin and Ellen Rooney share their thoughts and reflections the magic of illustration in picture books. Maya is the illustrator of The Song that Calls Them Home and Ellen Rooney is the illustrator of What to Bring, both were finalists for the Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize. Visit BC and Yukon Book Prizes: bcyukonbookprizes.com/...

In this episode, Ian Kennedy talks about his book The Best Loved Boat: The Princess Maquinna. The Best Loved Boat won the 2024 Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize. In his conversation with host Megan Cole, Ian talks about how he became interested in the Princess Maquinna and how it fits with British Columbia's complex maritime history. Visit BC and Yukon Book Prizes: www.bcyukonbookprizes.com/ Abou...

In this episode, Jazmin Welch talks about book design. Jaz Welch is the founder and book designer of fleck creative studio. In her conversation with host Megan Cole, Jaz talks about how she got into book design, what she thinks about the trends in book covers, and answers the age-old question, "should we judge a book by its cover?" Visit BC and Yukon Book Prizes: http://www.bcyukonbookprizes.com/...

In this episode, Cassie Smyth talks audiobooks. Cassie Smyth is the audiobooks manager at ECW Press. In her conversation with host Megan Cole, Cassie talks about why she loves audiobooks, she talks about how they find narrators for their audiobooks, and corrects many of the misconceptions around audiobooks and audiobook production. Visit BC and Yukon Book Prizes: bcyukonbookprizes.com/ About ECW P...

In this episode, Christopher Patterson. Christopher is an author and professor at the University of British Columbia, but for today’s episode he’ll be talking about his partner, Y-Dang Troeung’s book Landbridge. Landbridge was a finalist for the 2024 Jim Deva Prize for Writing that Provokes. Christopher talks about Y-Dang’s approach to writing in fragments, and how she approached rejection. Visit...

In this episode, Jennifer Bonnell talks about her book Stewards of Splendour: A History of Wildlife and People in British Columbia. Stewards of Splendour was a finalist for the 2024 Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize. In her conversation, Jennifer talks about returning home through the research in the book, she also talks about the need to cultivate abundance. Visit BC and Yukon Book Prizes: bcyuk...

In this episode, Wanda John-Kehewin talks about her book Hopeless in Hope. Hopeless in Hope won the 2024 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize. In her conversation, Wanda talks about the real life experiences that inspired the book. She also talks about how the creative process for the novel differed from the work she's been doing on graphic novels. Visit BC and Yukon Book Prizes: bcyukonboo...

In this episode, Lindsay Wong talks about her book Tell Me Pleasant Things About Immortality. Tell Me Pleasant Things About Immortality was a finalists for the 2024 Jim Deva Prize for Writing that Provokes. In her conversation, Lindsay talks about why BIPOC writers are using horror to writer their stories. She also talks about the need for well-timed comedy when writing horror. Visit BC and Yukon...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, Katherine Palmer Gordon, Geoffrey Morrison, and Jess Housty share their thoughts and reflections about storytelling. Katherine Palmer Gordon is the author of This Place is Who We Are: Stories of Indigenous Leadership, Resilience, and Connection to Homelands, a finalist for the Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize. Geoffrey Morrison is the author of Falling Hour,...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, Kirsten Pendreigh talks about her book Maybe A Whale. Maybe A Whale was a finalist for the 2024 Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize. In her conversation with host Megan Cole, Kirsten talks about how nature and the environment has inspired her work. She also talks about the importance of writing children's books that tackle topics like grief...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, Polly Horvath talks about her book Pine Island Visitors. Pine Island Visitors was a finalist for the 2024 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize. In her conversation with host Megan Cole, Polly talks about relying on her voice as an author. She also talks about why she writes novels for young readers and how she develops her characters. Visit BC and Yukon...