ABOUT THIS EPISODE:

In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Danny Ramadan, author of Salma the Syrian Chef, which is a finalist for the 2021 Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize. Danny discusses how food memories shape ideas of home in his writing and identity, and diversity in children's literature.

For a transcript of this episode visit: https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/S3-E1-Salma-the-Syrian-Chef-Danny_transcription.pdf

ABOUT DANNY RAMADAN:

Danny Ramadan is a Syrian-Canadian author, award-winning activist, and public speaker. His debut novel, The Clothesline Swing, won multiple awards. His work in activism provided a safe passage to dozens of Syrian LGBTQ-refugees to Canada. Salma the Syrian Chef is his first book for children. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

ABOUT MEGAN COLE:

Megan Cole the Director of Audience Development for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based in Powell River, British Columbia. She also works at the Powell River Public Library as the teen services coordinator where she gets to combine her love for books and writing with a love for her community. Megan has worked as a freelance journalist and is working on a memoir which tackles themes of gender and mental health. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com

ABOUT THE PODCAST:

Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen.

Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE:

In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Angie Abdou, author of 8 books who writes from and about Fernie, B.C. and the Kootenays. In their conversation Angie talks about how Fernie influences her work and her writing process.

ABOUT ANGIE ABDOU:

Angie Abdou is a Canadian author who has published seven books, including The Bone Cage (a CBC Canada Reads finalist in 2011, defended by NHL star Georges Laraque). Chatelaine magazine named Angie’s most recent novel, In Case I Go, one of the most-riveting mysteries of 2017, and The Vancouver Sun called it a “spectacularly successful” novel. It was a finalist for the Banff Mountain Book Award, in the fiction and poetry category. With her seventh book, Abdou turns her attention to nonfiction. Home Ice: Reflections of a Reluctant Hockey Mom chronicles the year in the life of a busy sport family. A starred review in Booklist calls Home Ice a first-rate memoir, a fine example of narrative nonfiction, and a must-read for parents with youngsters in organized sport. Angie is an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at Athabasca University. Angie's eighth book, This One Wild Life, will be published in April 2021 with ECW Press.

ABOUT MEGAN COLE:

Megan Cole the Director of Audience Development for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based in Powell River, British Columbia. She also works at the Powell River Public Library as the teen services coordinator where she gets to combine her love for books and writing with a love for her community. Megan has worked as a freelance journalist and is working on a memoir which tackles themes of gender and mental health. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com

ABOUT THE PODCAST:

Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen.

Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE:

In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Greg Bechtel, the Berton House Writer-in-Residence, who arrived in Dawson City on in December 2019 and has been there ever since. In their conversation Greg talks about how being at the Berton House has impacted his writing and how he's feeling about leaving Yukon after a year.

ABOUT GREG BECHTEL:

Greg Bechtel’s debut story collection, Boundary Problems, won the Alberta Book of the Year Award for trade fiction and was a finalist for the ReLit Award, the William L. Crawford Fantasy Award, and the City of Edmonton's Robert Kroetsch Book Prize. Since 2011, he has taught English Literature, Creative Writing, and Writing Studies at the University of Alberta, where he completed his PhD on Canadian syncretic fantasy.

Since January 2020, Greg has been serving as Writer in Residence at the Berton House Writers' Retreat in Dawson City, Yukon, where he was originally scheduled to remain for three months while working on a new novel about amnesia, climate refugees, ghost-possession, and polyamorous relationships set in a future Edmonton. When the global pandemic hit and lockdowns began in March, he offered to stay on until it was safe to bring in new writers from outside the territory. As of the writing of this bio in February 2021, he is still there.

ABOUT MEGAN COLE:

Megan Cole the Director of Audience Development for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based in Powell River, British Columbia. She also works at the Powell River Public Library as the teen services coordinator where she gets to combine her love for books and writing with a love for her community. Megan has worked as a freelance journalist and is working on a memoir which tackles themes of gender and mental health. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com

ABOUT THE PODCAST:

Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen.

Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE:

In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Joanna Lilley, a Yukon author and board member of the society Yukon Words. In their conversation Joanna talks about why the society started and what some of their goals are. Joanna also talks about how Yukon inspires her writing.

ABOUT JOANNA LILLEY:

Joanna Lilley's fifth book and third poetry collection, Endlings, was published by Turnstone Press in March 2020. She's also the author of a novel, Worry Stones (Ronsdale Press), which was longlisted for the Caledonia Novel Award, and a short story collection, The Birthday Books (Hagios Press). Joanna's other poetry collections are If There Were Roads (Turnstone Press), and The Fleece Era (Brick Books) which was nominated for the Fred Cogswell Award for Excellence in Poetry. Joanna has an MLitt degree in creative writing from the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde and is a Humber School for Writers graduate. She has diplomas in journalism and plain language editing and has worked in public sector communications for well over 20 years. Joanna is on the board of the Yukon Words society and is the Yukon representative for the Federation of British Columbia Writers. Born in the south of England, Joanna lived in Wales and Scotland before moving to Canada. She now lives in Whitehorse, Yukon, where she's grateful to reside on the Traditional Territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta'an Kwäch'än Council.

ABOUT MEGAN COLE:

Megan Cole the Director of Audience Development for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based in Powell River, British Columbia. She also works at the Powell River Public Library as the teen services coordinator where she gets to combine her love for books and writing with a love for her community. Megan has worked as a freelance journalist and is working on a memoir which tackles themes of gender and mental health. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com

ABOUT THE PODCAST:

Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen.

Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE:

In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Terri Potratz, the founder of Paper Covers Rock Festival. In their conversation Terri talks about the inspiration for the festival, the literary community on Salt Spring Island and how the festival is adapting to the pandemic.

ABOUT TERRI POTRATZ:

Terri is a writer, event producer and the organizer behind Paper Covers Rock, a new annual readers and writers festival on Salt Spring Island. Terri also co-publishes Saltine.ca, an online zine about Salt Spring.

She is a self-taught knitter and started Larry Designs in 2007. Her pieces have appeared in numerous magazines, music videos, and Larry Designs was previously represented by the grace-gallery in Vancouver. Every item is hand knit with BC sourced alpaca fiber that is naturally processed and spun into a custom-made bulky yarn.

ABOUT MEGAN COLE:

Megan Cole the Director of Audience Development for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based in Powell River, British Columbia. She also works at the Powell River Public Library as the teen services coordinator where she gets to combine her love for books and writing with a love for her community. Megan has worked as a freelance journalist and is working on a memoir which tackles themes of gender and mental health. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com

ABOUT THE PODCAST:

Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen.

Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE:

In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Leslie Hurtig, the artistic director of the Vancouver Writers Fest. In their conversation Leslie talks about the challenges of organizing a literary festival during a pandemic, the importance of finding the right moderator and some of her favourite memories from past years of the Vancouver Writers Fest.

ABOUT LESLIE HURTIG:

Leslie was born into a house of books and has made her career from various points within Canada’s book industry. She has worked for some of Canada’s best bookstores, acted as a sales representative and publicist for some of North America’s great publishers, and worked as a foreign rights and contracts manager at Raincoast Books. Leslie sat on the Board of Directors for the Vancouver Writers Fest before taking on this role as Artistic Director; a role which she says is her dream job come true.

ABOUT MEGAN COLE:

Megan Cole the Director of Audience Development for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based in Powell River, British Columbia. She also works at the Powell River Public Library as the teen services coordinator where she gets to combine her love for books and writing with a love for her community. Megan has worked as a freelance journalist and is working on a memoir which tackles themes of gender and mental health. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com

ABOUT THE PODCAST:

Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen.

Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE:

In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Jonathan Manthorpe about his book Claws of the Panda: Beijing's Campaign of Influence and Intimidation in Canada. Claws of the Panda was a finalist for the 2020 Hubert Evans Nonfiction Prize. In their conversation Jonathan talks about using the public record as primary source material for the book and the chapters he'd add to the book a year and a half after it's been published.

ABOUT JONATHAN MANTHORPE:

Jonathan Manthorpe is the author of three books on international relations, politics, and history. Over his 40-year career as a journalist he has been the foreign correspondent in Asia, Africa, and Europe for Southam News; the European bureau chief for the Toronto Star; and the national political reporter for The Globe and Mail. Manthorpe has also undertaken special projects for the United Nations, the World Bank, the Asia Development Bank, and the Canadian International Development Agency. He now lives in Victoria.

She lives in Vancouver, where she directs the School of Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia.

ABOUT MEGAN COLE:

Megan Cole the Director of Audience Development for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based in Powell River, British Columbia. She also works at the Powell River Public Library as the teen services coordinator where she gets to combine her love for books and writing with a love for her community. Megan has worked as a freelance journalist and is working on a memoir which tackles themes of gender and mental health. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com

ABOUT THE PODCAST:

Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen.

Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE:

In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Ann-Marie Metten, Executive Director of the Historic Joy Kogawa House. In 2020, Joy Kogawa and Julie Flett were awarded the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Literary Excellence. Megan and Ann-Marie talk about the history and legacy of the Historic Joy Kogawa House as well as Joy winning the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Literary Excellence.

ABOUT THE HISTORIC JOY KOGAWA HOUSE:

In 2005–2006, Joy lent her support to a community campaign that saved the house from demolition. This campaign was led by fellow authors and friends, the Save Kogawa House Committee, and the Land Conservancy of BC. Donations were received from the public, including a sizeable donation from Ontario senator Nancy Ruth.

The house is now managed by not-for-profit organization Historic Joy Kogawa House Society. Among its purposes, the Society aims to operate and preserve the home as a heritage and cultural centre and as a site of healing and reconciliation. To this end, the house serves as a site for author residencies, public events, and tours for school groups and the general public. Plans are also underway to restore the house to its 1930s appearance.

ABOUT JOY KOGAWA:

Acclaimed author Joy Kogawa is best known as the author of Obasan (1981), a Canadian novel that has become essential reading for a nation.

Obasan is based on Joy and her family’s forced relocation from Vancouver during the Second World War when she was six years old. The novel remains ‘a touchstone’ for the internment of Japanese Canadians during this era. Joy has also worked extensively to educate the public about this dark period in Canadian history and she actively fought for government redress.

Joy’s other novels for adults include Itsuka (1992, republished as Emily Kato in 2005) and The Rain Ascends (1995). Her works for children are Naomi’s Road (2005 – also produced as an opera by Vancouver Opera in 2005 and 2013) and Naomi’s Tree (2009). Since 1967, Joy has also published several poetry collections, including A Garden of Anchors: Selected Poems (2003).

Among her many honours, Joy has received an Order of Canada (1986), an order of British Columbia (2006) and, from the Japanese Government, an Order of the Rising Sun (2010) for ‘her contribution to the understanding and preservation of Japanese Canadian history.’

ABOUT MEGAN COLE:

Megan Cole the Director of Audience Development for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based in Powell River, British Columbia. She also works at the Powell River Public Library as the teen services coordinator where she gets to combine her love for books and writing with a love for her community. Megan has worked as a freelance journalist and is working on a memoir which tackles themes of gender and mental health. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com

ABOUT THE PODCAST:

Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen.

Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE:

In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Alix Ohlin, author of Dual Citizens, which was a finalist for the 2020 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. In their conversation Alix talks about how the love story of two siblings formed the backbone of the book as well as how she paid tribute to Neko Case in the novel.

ABOUT ALIX OHLIN:

Alix Ohlin is the author of five books. Her novel Dual Citizens, like her novel Inside, was a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Walrus, Best American Short Stories, on public radio’s “Selected Shorts,” and many other places. Her new book, We Want What We Want, is forthcoming in July 2021.

She lives in Vancouver, where she directs the School of Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia.

ABOUT MEGAN COLE:

Megan Cole the Director of Audience Development for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based in Powell River, British Columbia. She also works at the Powell River Public Library as the teen services coordinator where she gets to combine her love for books and writing with a love for her community. Megan has worked as a freelance journalist and is working on a memoir which tackles themes of gender and mental health. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com

ABOUT THE PODCAST:

Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen.

Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE:

In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Alex Van Tol, who co-wrote Great Bear Rainforest: A Giant-Screen Adventure in the Land of the Spirit Bear with Ian McAllister. Great Bear Rainforest was a finalist for the 2020 Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize. In their conversation Alex talks about writing the book from a truck stop in Ontario, the importance of writing about wild places like the Great Bear Rainforest and some of her favourite stories from working on the book.

ABOUT ALEX VAN TOL:

Alex Van Tol grew up reading a wide range of books, from Enid Blyton to Stephen King. She taught middle school for eight years, then made the switch to writing for a living. She has published numerous titles with Orca. Alex lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with her family.

ABOUT MEGAN COLE:

Megan Cole the Director of Audience Development for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based in Powell River, British Columbia. She also works at the Powell River Public Library as the teen services coordinator where she gets to combine her love for books and writing with a love for her community. Megan has worked as a freelance journalist and is working on a memoir which tackles themes of gender and mental health. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com

ABOUT THE PODCAST:

Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen.

Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.