Check out the Canada Writes feature How I Wrote It.  Today’s posting: “How I Wrote Ellen in Pieces.”

It was an honour to write the introduction to the new issue of Marian Engel’s classic novel.  Thanks to House of Anansi for the opportunity and for their important A-list series.

Ellen in Pieces is on The Toronto Star’s best summer reading list!  Available 19 August.  See the full list of recommended books.

Here’s the final version of the cover of Ellen In Pieces designed by the talented Michel Vrana!

Thrilled to have received an Advanced Reading Copy of Ellen in Pieces.  Thank you Harper Collins!

I’m delighted to be previewing a story from my upcoming novel Ellen in Pieces (Harper Collins 2014) at the Vancouver Writers Festival Incite reading series, March 5th.  The evening will be a celebration of 13: Best Canadian Stories (Oberon Press), which includes “Ellen-Celine, Celine-Ellen,” winner of the Gold Medal Award for Fiction at the 2013 National Magazine Awards.  I’ll share the stage with Cynthia Flood and Zoey Leigh Peterson.  Click here for more details.

I just received my contributor’s copy of 13: Best Canadian Stories, selected by the inimitable John Metcalf.  This volume republishes “Ellen-Celine, Celine-Ellen,” which first appeared in Canadian Notes and Queries and won the 2013 National Magazine Award Gold Medal for Fiction. Wonderful to be between the covers with the likes of Cynthia Flood, Clark Blaise, Elisabeth De Mariaffi.  Thank you Oberon Press for its commitment to this series.

Another story from my upcoming novel-in-stories, Ellen in Pieces, has brought home a Gold Medal for Fiction.  This time it’s a 2013 National Magazine Award.  “Ellen-Celine, Celine-Ellen” was published in Canadian Notes and Queries.  Thanks so much to editor Dan Wells, who accepted the story.  Congratulations to all the nominees and winners.  Read the story.

The Sky Is Falling is one of six BC books chosen for THRIVE Reads, part of the Kamloops THRIVE festival.  Check out the other shortlisted titles.

I’m thrilled about another magazine award nomination for “I Feel Lousy,” originally published in Eighteen Bridges.  It’s up for a Western Magazine Award for Fiction.  Congratulations to all the nominees and thank you so much to editors Lynn Coady and Curtis Gillespie.