Vancouver Writers Festival, October 2022
At the Vancouver Writers Festival in October, I had the pleasure of interviewing three American authors whose work has come blazing into the forefront of publishing in the US. Aamina Ahmad, Jonathan Escoffery and Soon Wiley. A stunning and thoughtful conversation about American publishing, bridging cultures, and creating unforgettable characters.
Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize Winner
Thrilled and delighted to have PETRA win 2021’s Ethel Wilson Award for best work of fiction in BC and the Yukon. What an honour to be among talented writers Michelle Good, Aislinn Hunter, Susan Sandford Blades and Annabel Lyon, nominated with me. I read all their brilliant works over the summer and felt touched and excited to be in their company. When I won, our family was at the hospital with my mother, author Barbara Lambert, and she and I zoomed to the gala together from her hospital bed, while my husband, Bob, poured us Chablis and my daughter and aunt celebrated with us. I dedicated the prize to my mother, author and brilliant example, whose fascinating new novella Wanda, she actually wrote as she struggled with cancer—and published! She is my example and inspiration.
The battle to save the ancient trees of Fairy Creek
Here is an article I wrote for The National Observer on Fairy Creek. This eyewitness account of police violence was used by the Rainforest Flying Squad in the affidavit that went to Judge Thompson – who, as so many of you know, recently removed the injunction imposed on protesters who are working to save the old growth trees of Fairy Creek. This BC Supreme Court judge lifted the injunction because of the unwarranted brutality and over-reach of the RCMP, which he said was bringing the courts into disrepute. I am very proud that this article formed a written part of the evidence that led to this landmark decision. The trees are safer – at least for now – and the brave and passionate protesters have had a sizeable win in their yearlong-plus battle to save one of the world’s magical remaining ancient forests.
And here is an article on a tiny, rare lichen that has an outsized political footprint in the Fairy Creek battle.
Petra nominated for Ethel Wilson Award
So honoured to have Petra nominated for the BC and Yukon Book Prize’s Ethel Wilson Award. I am thrilled to be on this list with the talented novelists Michelle Good, Annabel Lyon, Aislinn Hunter and Susan Sanford Blades. I’m very excited to dive into all of these new novels! Awards gala to announce the winner is in September.
Petra makes Best Global Feminist Reads, 2020
Petra makes the Nobel Women’s Initiative list of Best Global Feminist Reads for 2020! Click here to go to the Nobel Women’s Initiative website.
Petra in CBC Best Fiction of 2020
Petra has been chosen as a CBC Best Fiction of 2020 Selection!
Petra on Independent Booksellers’ Bestsellers List
Petra has hit the Independent Booksellers’ Bestsellers List! Thank you so much, bookstores and booksellers, for getting behind Petra so enthusiastically. Thanks especially to Book Warehouse, Marnie’s Books, 32 Books and Gallery, Pulp Fiction, Hager’s Books, Munro’s, Another Story Books, Vancouver’s beautiful new Upstart & Crow – and so many others! And thank you so much, readers!
As It Happens with Carol Off, October 2020
As it Happens! This half-hour feature interview with iconic broadcaster Carol Off aired in late October. Carol led the conversation in so many interesting directions – including the intersection of the personal and the political, the charisma of Kelly, the birth pains of Green politics – and which works better for politics: multicoloured webs, or strategic boxes! The Petra interview starts at minute 49.
The Next Chapter with Shelagh Rogers, October 2020
The Next Chapter (national), Shelagh Rogers: An in-depth discussion of the themes and story behind my new novel, Petra, with Shelagh Rogers, on The Next Chapter, CBC Radio. Aired 4 PM Saturday, October 24th, and 1 PM Monday, October 26th, 1 PM. Listen to this clip here.
Some recent media features
North by Northwest, with Sheryl MacKay: October 18th, 8:30 AM. I was so delighted to have this conversation with Sheryl MacKay about Petra Kelly, her general-for-peace lover, and the novel writing process.
Maclean’s Magazine: Three Governor General’s winners – two for fiction and one for non-fiction – chose Petra as a book to read during the pandemic!
Globe & Mail: A probing Question and Answer with arts journalist Emily Donaldson.
Toronto Star: A personal piece I wrote for the Toronto Star about meeting Petra Kelly and the seeds for my novel.
The National Observer (syndicated online in The Star): An interview with Rochelle Baker.
Pickle Me This: Novelist, book reviewer and blogger Kerry Clare explores the emotional landscape of Petra and how fiction veers from biography.
Book launch for PETRA, August 25, 2020
Island Launch: Big thanks to Karen Mahon Carrington, Robert MacLeod Carrington, Marnie’s Books, and others on Cortes Island, who organized my Island Launch (socially isolating, and completely wonderful). Please lie back on a blanket, in one of our blanket pods, and enjoy the entertainment as the sun sets – see video below! Poetry courtesy of Erin Robinson, music by Lucy Lambert and Rick Bockner, and a reading from Petra, plus on-stage interview about the novel, moderated by Karen Mahon Carrington.
Talk at Munro’s Books, October 13, 2020
Munro’s Books, October 13th, 2020. Three BC writers of historical fiction talk shop about their new novels. This was such a fabulous event! A Zoom show and share, using photographs to illustrate our research process! Then a conversation led by acclaimed novelist, Claire Mulligan. Featuring Dede Crane, author of the newly released One Madder Woman, the story of the brilliant impressionist painter Berthe Morisot – a woman who changed our relationship to light, shadow, figure and movement in painting, but whose name is far less known than her contemporaries, Degas and Manet, both of whom owe much to her innovations. And Caroline Adderson – the author, most recently, of A Russian Sister, which brilliantly tells the story of Masha Chekhov, the famous writer’s sister – whose watchful eye sees deeper into her brother than he can see into himself. I talk about my earliest drafts of Petra, how wolves haunted my drafts, and a single image that got under my skin for years.