Writing the Coast: BC and Yukon Book Prizes Podcast

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, Lindsay Wong (author of Tell Me Pleasant Things About My Immortality), David Norwell (author of A Complex Coast), Lara Jean Okihiro (co-author of Obaasan's Boots), and Andrea Warner (author of Rise Up and Sing!) to reflect on books that have influenced or inspired them. These amazing authors have been part of this years Storied video series. This episode is bas...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Janis Bridger and Lara Jean Okihiro. Janis and Lara are the authors of Obaasan’s Boots, which was a finalist for the 2024 Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize. In their conversation, Lara and Janis talk about their relationship and how that evolved through the writing of the book. We also talked about why Canadians don’t talk abo...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, you’ll hear from three different authors: Lara Jean Okihiro, Janis Bridger, and Jordan Scott. Lara and Janis wrote the book Obaasan’s Boots, and Jordan wrote My Baba’s Garden. In the summer, these three authors participated in our Storied video On Writing About Family. These are their reflections on how writing about family can be one of the most complicated th...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to David Norwell. David wrote and illustrated A Complex Coast: A Kayak Journey from Vancouver Island to Alaska, which was a finalist for the 2024 Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize. In their conversation, David talks about the push and pull of starting the kayak trip. He also talks about loneliness, and the role of awe and wonder. Visit BC...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Jordan Scott. Jordan co-created My Baba's Garden with illustrator Sydney Smith, which is a won the 2024 Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize. In their conversation, Jordan talks about collaborating with Sydney Smith, he also talks about how the book opened up opportunities to share stories of his Baba with his kids. V...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Hazel Jane Plante. Hazel is the author of Any Other City, which is a finalist for the 2024 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. In their conversation, Hazel talks about how music and art inspired the book, and how she's opening herself up to the next creative project. Visit BC and Yukon Book Prizes: bcyukonbookprizes.com/ About Any Other City: h...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Chelsea Wakelyn. Chelsea is the author of What Remains of Elsie Jane, which is a finalist for the 2024 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. In their conversation, Chelsea talks about who Elsie Jane is, and writing autofiction. Visit BC and Yukon Book Prizes: bcyukonbookprizes.com/ About What Remains of Elsie Jane: https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/p...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Dominique Bernier-Cormier. Dominique is the author of Entre Rive and Shore, which is a finalist for the 2024 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. In their conversation, Dominique talks about using the spine of the book in the structure of some of the poems, he also talks about the way his father became a character in the book. Visit BC and Yuk...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Jess Housty. Jess is the author of Crushed Wild Mint, which is a finalist for the 2024 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize and the 2024 Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Award. In their conversation, Jess talks about prayer and poetry, they also talks about their role as an herbalist and how that inspires them creatively. Visit BC and Yukon Book...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, we revisit our interview from 2019 with Darrel McLeod. Darrel passed away this week and his loss is being felt by the writing and reading community across Canada. Darrel's books were captivating and vulnerable letting people into his life and stories. Darrel McLeod was the author of Mamaskatch, Peyakow, and A Season in Chezgh'un. A Season in Chezgh'un is a fina...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Katherine Palmer Gordon. Katherine is the author of This Place Is Who We Are: Stories of Indigenous Leadership, Resilience, and Connection to Homelands, which is a finalist for the 2024 Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize. In their conversation, Katherine talks about the importance of reciprocity, and the need for respect and acknowledge...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Cathy Stonehouse. Cathy is the author of Dream House, which is a finalist for the 2024 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. In their conversation Cathy talks about the complexity of writing about home, she also talks about how her visual art practice inspires her literary art. Visit BC and Yukon Book Prizes: https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/ Abou...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Geoffrey Morrison. Geoffrey is the author of Falling Hour, which is a finalist for the 2024 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. In their conversation Geoffrey talks about how he taught himself to write a novel, and the authors that inspired him to write Falling Hour. Visit BC and Yukon Book Prizes: https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/ About Falling H...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Colleen Brown. Colleen is the author of if you lay down in a field, she will find you there, which is a finalist for the 2024 Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize. In their conversation Colleen writes about how her visual art practice led to her book, and how writing changed her ideas of memoir and truth. Visit BC and Yukon Book Prizes: https...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Francine McCabe. Francine is the author of Fleece & Fibre: Textile Producers of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, which is a finalist for the 2024 Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Award. In their conversation Francine talks about how she started working and making art with fibre, and how her passion project became a book. Visit BC a...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Darrel McLeod. Darrel is the author of A Season in Chezgh'un, which is a finalist for the 2024 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. In their conversation Darrel talks about how writing fiction changed his writing practice, and how he began developing his novel's character, James. Visit BC and Yukon Book Prizes: https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/ Abo...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Bradley Peters. Bradley is the author of Sonnets from a Cell, which is a finalist for the 2024 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. In their conversation Bradley talks about how the sonnet was the perfect form to write about prison. He also talks about how he was introduced to poetry. Visit BC and Yukon Book Prizes: https://bcyukonbookprizes.c...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Andrea Warner. Andrea is the author of Rise Up and Sing! Power, Protest, and Activism in Music, which is a finalist for the 2024 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize. In their conversation Andrea talks about what inspired her to become a music writer, how her book Rise Up and Sing! started, and why kids (and their parents) need t...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Julie Lawson. Julie is the author of Out of the Dark, which is a finalist for the 2024 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize. In their conversation Julie talks why we need historical fiction to understand the present. She also talks about how she rights on instinct and impulse, not plans and outlines. Visit BC and Yukon Book Prize...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Henry Tsang. Henry is the author of White Riot: The 1907 Anti-Asian Riots in Vancouver, which is a finalist for the 2024 Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Award. In their conversation Henry talks the 360 Riot Walk that led to the book. He also talks about the role of naming, gentrification, and revitalization. Visit BC and Yukon Book Priz...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Brandon Reid. Brandon is the author of Beautiful Beautiful, which is a finalist for the 2024 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. In their conversation Brandon talks about the narrator in his book Redbird Anon, and how this narrator provides a unique point of view. He also talks about the influence of family stories on his novel. Visit BC and Yu...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Emelia Symington-Fedy. Emelia is the author of Skid Dogs, which is a finalist for the 2024 Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize. In their conversation Emelia talks about the event the led to revisiting her childhood and teen years in her book. She also talked about the values and challenges of consent in writing. Visit BC and Yukon Book Prize...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to E.G. Alaraj. Evangelene is the author of When Stars Arise, which was a finalist for the 2024 Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize. In their conversation Evangelene talks about how her own kids bedtime routine inspired her first book. She also talks about how her own creative childhood inspired her. 2024 BC and Yukon B...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Jackie Hoffart. Jackie is the admin and events coordinator at Massy Arts Society. In their conversation, Jackie talks about why they wanted to work with Massy Arts Society, and what some of their favourite memories of working with Massy have been. They also talk about how important community is to the society. Visit BC and Yukon Book Pr...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Kyeren Regehr. Kyeren is a poet and artistic director of Planet Earth Poetry. In their conversation, Kyeren talks about some of her favourite memories from the audience and as the artistic director of Planet Earth Poetry, she also shares some of the vast array of events and programs run about Planet Earth Poetry. Visit BC and Yukon Book...