Writing the Coast: BC and Yukon Book Prizes Podcast

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Jenny Boychuk. Her book Antonyms for Daughter is a finalist for the 2022 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. In their conversation, Jenny talks about writing about family, and how antonyms helped her explore the complexity of her relationship with her mother. ABOUT JENNY BOYCHUK: Jenny Boychuk was born in New Westminster, British Columbia, an...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Carrie Jenkins. Her book Victoria Sees It is a finalist for the 2022 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. In their conversation, Carrie talks about how the novel became a way for her to talk about topics and themes that she hadn't been able to discuss in other writing projects, and why Cambridge was the setting for Victoria Sees It. ABOUT CARRIE...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Matt Rader. His book Ghosthawk is a finalist for the 2022 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. In their conversation, Matt talks about how walking and riding his bike helped him experience the land, plants and animals that inspired his book. ABOUT MATT RADER: Matt Rader is an award-winning author of four volumes of poetry and a collection of s...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Jordan Abel. Jordan's book NISGHA is a finalist for the 2022 Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize and the 2022 Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize. In their conversation, Jordan talks about thinking expansively about genre and writing, and how he approached the balance of text, white space and visuals in NISGHA. ABOUT JORDAN ABEL: Jordan Abel...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Ruth Ozeki. Ruth's novel The Book of Form and Emptiness is a finalist for the 2022 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. In their conversation, Ruth talks about the questions at the centre of The Book of Form and Emptiness, and her love of libraries. ABOUT RUTH OZEKI: Ruth Ozeki is a novelist, filmmaker, and Zen Buddhist priest. She is the award-...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Nancy J. Turner. Nancy co-wrote Luschiim's Plants: Traditional Indigenous Foods, Materials and Medicines with Dr. Luschiim Arvid Charlie. Luschiim's Plants is a finalist for the 2022 Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize, and the 2022 Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Award. In their conversation, Nancy talks about why we need books like Lus...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to David A. Robertson and Julie Flett. Their book On the Trapline is a finalist for the 2022 Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize. In their conversation, Julie and David talk about the trust in their collaborative relationship and the special spiritual connections that have emerged in their projects. ABOUT THE GUESTS: Da...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Darrel J. McLeod. Darrel's memoir Peyakow: Reclaiming Cree Dignity is a finalist for the 2022 Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize and the 2022 Jim Deva Prize for Writing that Provokes. In their conversation, Darrel talks about the way memoir writing allowed him to reclaim and tell his story, and how he used Cree in his books. ABOUT DARREL J....

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Barbara Nickel. Barbara's novel Dear Peter, Dear Ulla is a finalist for the 2022 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize. In their conversation, Barbara talks about the real life stories that inspired Dear Peter, Dear Ulla and why we need the lessons of her historical novel today. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Barbara Nickel grew up in Saskatche...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to 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. ABOUT THE GUEST: The Honourable Janet Austin was sworn-in...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Tanya Christenson. Tanya's debut novel A Soft Place to Fall is a finalist for the 2022 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize. In their conversation, Tanya talks about keeping the hope of getting her book published and giving challenging students a voice through her book. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tanya Christenson is currently a Vice Princ...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to shauna paull. shauna's poetry collection blue gait is a finalist for the 2022 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. In their conversation, shauna talks about the role that birds (unexpectedly) played in her collection and the importance of being part of her creative community. ABOUT THE AUTHOR shauna paull is a poet, educator and community advo...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Danielle Geller. Danielle's memoir Dog Flowers is a finalist for the 2022 Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize and the 2022 Jim Deva Prize for Writing that Provokes. In their conversation, Danielle discusses the role that truth and family narratives played in her book, and how she feels about happiness and happy endings. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dani...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Dawn Postnikoff and Joanne Sasvari, authors of Island Easts: Signature Chefs' Recipes from Vancouver Island and the Salish Sea. Island Eats is a finalist for the 2022 Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Award. In their conversation, Dawn and Joanne talk about the diverse products found on Vancouver Island as well as why we love regional coo...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Cedar Bowers, author of Astra. Astra is a finalist for the 2022 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. In their conversation, Cedar talks about how female friendships and womanhood, as well as how a Martha Wainwright lyric became the epigraph for her book. ABOUT CEDAR BOWERS: Cedar Bower’s fiction has been published in Joyland and Taddle Creek. As...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Rahela Nayebzadah, author of Monster Child. Monster Child is a finalist for the 2022 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize and 2022 Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize. In their conversation, Rahela talks about how reading Wayson Choy's The Jade Peony helped her write her book and talked the symbolism of blood. ABOUT RAHELA NAYEBZADAH: A mother of...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to isabella Wang, author of Pebble Swing. Pebble Swing is a finalist for the 2022 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. In their conversation, Isabella talks about food as found poetry and what it means to be in conversation with other writers. ABOUT ISABELLA WANG: Isabella Wang is the author of the chapbook On Forgetting a Language (Baseline Pres...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: This episode features a discussion with Shaena Lambert, author of Petra, Eve Lazarus, author of Vancouver Exposed: Searching for the City's Hidden History, and Michael Prior, author of Burning Province, moderated by poet Fiona Tinwei Lam. These four authors discuss writing history and the past, and how to juggle the ethics of writing when it includes other people's stories. Thi...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: This episode features a discussion with Briony Penn, author of Following the Good River: The Life and Times of Waxaid, and David McIllwraith, moderated by Carol Shaben, author of The Marriot Cell. These three authors discuss the challenges of creative collaboration and how writers deal with telling other people's stories. This conversation was part of our Storied Series and ori...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Rina Hadziev. Rina is the executive director of the BC Library Association. In their conversation, Rina talks about how she began working in libraries, and the role that libraries play in promoting BC and Yukon books. ABOUT RINA HADZIEV: Rina is an experienced librarian, drawing from public library leadership roles and a passion for acc...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Carly Rigby, book blogger and bookstagrammer. In their conversation, Carly talks about what bookstagramming is, and what excites her about books written and published in BC and Yukon. ABOUT MEGAN COLE: Megan Cole the Director of Programming and Communications for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based on the territory...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Hilary Atleo. Hilary owns Iron Dog Books with her husband Cliff. In their conversation, Hilary talks about what book lovers need to know about independent booksellers, and why she loves sci fi. ABOUT HILARY ATLEO: Hilary Atleo (she/her) is owns Iron Dog Books with her husband Cliff. Her mom is Anishinaabe and her father is a settler. Sh...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Zoe Grams, founder of ZG Stories and co-founder of Upstart and Crow. In their conversation, Zoe talks about what draws her to a good book and why we need to support small book publishers. ABOUT ZOE GRAMS: Zoe Grams is founder of ZG Stories. She works at the intersections of storytelling, strategy and social justice. Through the agency,...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Kerry Clare, author and the editor of 49th Shelf. In their conversation, Kerry talks about why regional book prizes are important and why she loves Harriet the Spy. ABOUT KERRY CLARE: Kerry Clare is a National Magazine Award-nominated writer, editor of The M Word: Conversations About Motherhood, and author of two novels, Mitzi Bytes and...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Rob Bittner, the president of the BC and Yukon Book Prizes Society. In their conversation, Rob talks about what he finds exciting about the BC and Yukon Book Prizes and his research into LGBTQ+ literature for teens. ABOUT ROB BITTNER: Rob Bittner is a researcher of LGBTQ literature for teens, as well as transgender and genderqueer teen...