Edmonton has a rich and thriving writing community that spans all genres and styles and has produced authors such as Rudy Wiebe, opens a new window, Myrna Kostash, opens a new window and W.P. Kinsella, opens a new window.
It’s a community well-worth exploring and the Edmonton Public Library can help you discover new writers living in your own backyard. Through Capital City Press, opens a new window you can meet local authors, find out about upcoming literary programs and access hundreds of books written by Edmontonians.
Want to discover talented writers across the province? We’ve also got Alberta Publishing Award winners, opens a new window, Alberta author staff picks, opens a new window and other compelling reads written or set in Alberta, opens a new window available to read for free online.
While there are plenty of wonderful local writers worth reading, we recommend you start by checking out these fantastic Edmonton authors.
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1. Richard Van Camp, opens a new window
A member of the Dogrib (Tlicho) Nation from Fort Smith, NWT, Richard Van Camp, opens a new window was the 2017 Writer in Residence for the Metro Edmonton area.
His novel, The Lesser Blessed, opens a new window, was made into a movie, opens a new window in 2012 and his short story collection, Night Moves, opens a new window, was nominated for the 2016 Georges Bugnet Award for Fiction.
If you’re looking for something to read with your littlest ones, check out his award winning board book, Little You, opens a new window.
The Lesser Blessed is available as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window and book club kit, opens a new window. Night Moves is available as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window and book club kit, opens a new window. Little You is available as a board book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window and Bush Cree language eBook, opens a new window.
2. Alice Major, opens a new window
The City of Edmonton’s first Poet Laureate and founder of the Edmonton Poetry Festival, Alice Major, opens a new window has published 11 poetry collections, two novels for young adults and a collection of essays.
In 2016, Major was selected as one of 25 Influential Alberta Artists by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and in 2017 was named one of three recipients of the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta Distinguished Artist Award.
Her poetry collection, The Office Tower Tales, opens a new window, won the Pat Lowther Award in 2009; another collection, Standard Candles, opens a new window, was shortlisted for the Raymond Souster Award in 2016. Major recently released a new poetry collection Welcome to the Anthropocene, opens a new window, which continues her tradition of using science and math to find meaning in life.
The Office Tower Tales is available as an eBook, opens a new window or epub format eBook, opens a new window. Standard Candles is available as a book, opens a new window and eBook, opens a new window. Welcome to the Anthropocene is available as a book, opens a new window.
3. Natasha Deen, opens a new window
Capital City Press’s fifth, Natasha Deen, opens a new window immigrated with her family from Guyana to Canada when she was young.
She originally planned on being a superhero when she grew up, but realized her superpower was being able to write stories that affected how people felt and she’s never looked back.
Mostly writing for kids and teens, Deen has an impressive bibliography to peruse. Her Guardian series is up to book three, Game’s End, opens a new window. If you’re new to the series, we recommend you start with the first in the series, Guardian, opens a new window.
Guardian is available as a book, opens a new window and eBook, opens a new window. Gatekeeper, the second book in the series, is available as a book, opens a new window and eBook, opens a new window. Game’s End, the third in the series, is available as a book, opens a new window and eBook, opens a new window.
4. Jennifer Quist, opens a new window
is an award-winning writer of fiction, poetry, short fiction, essays and reviews.
She’s best known for her novels Love Letters of the Angels of Death, opens a new window and Sistering, opens a new window, which she describes as a light-hearted tragedy and a dark-hearted comedy, respectively.
In April 2018, she released her highly anticipated third novel, The Apocalypse of Morgan Turner, opens a new window.
Love Letters of the Angels of Death is available as a book, opens a new window and eBook, opens a new window. Sistering is available as a book, opens a new window and eBook, opens a new window. The Apocalypse of Morgan Turner is available as a book, opens a new window and eBook, opens a new window.
5. Wayne Arthurson, opens a new window
An award-winning author of Cree heritage, Wayne Arthurson, opens a new window was Writer in Residence at the Edmonton Public Library in 2016.
The first book in his Leo Desroches mystery series, Fall from Grace, opens a new window, won the 2012 Alberta Readers’ Choice Award.
Arthurson has shifted gears with his newest mystery series set in Camp 133, a Southern Alberta camp for prisoners of war during World War II. Check out the first in the series, The Traitors of Camp 133, opens a new window.
Fall from Grace is available as a book, opens a new window, audiobook CD, opens a new window and DAISY accessible audiobook, opens a new window. The Traitors of Camp 133 is available as a book, opens a new window and eBook, opens a new window.
6. Marty Klinkenberg
Currently a reporter for the Globe and Mail, Marty Klinkenberg, opens a new window is a seasoned journalist and three-time winner of a Canadian National Newspaper Award.
In 2015 and 2016, Klinkenberg followed Connor McDavid during his rookie NHL season and published a book of his observations, anecdotes and interviews, The McDavid Effect: Connor McDavid and the New Hope for Hockey, opens a new window.
This book paints a brilliant picture of Edmonton’s hopes and dreams for their beloved hockey team and the effect McDavid has had on the city itself.
The McDavid Effect is available as a book, opens a new window and eBook, opens a new window.
7. Jennifer Snow, opens a new window
is an award-winning, contemporary romance writer who has been published through Harlequin, Grand Central and Berkley/NAL.
Check out Maybe This Time, opens a new window, part of her Colorado Ice, opens a new window series, which combines hockey and love in this charming romance novel written by a local author.
Maybe This Time is available as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window and downloadable audiobook, opens a new window.
This blog post has recommendations that are a perfect fit for our 2018 EPL Reading Challenge, opens a new window. The Reading Challenge is a fun way to dare yourself to read outside your comfort zone—and it’s not too late to take part! The May theme is to read a book by a local author.
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