Tag Archives: Canadian authors

One eRead Canada 2026

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One eRead logo

As we get ever closer to spring in all of it’s glory, you may be looking for a book to read over April. Well, look no further. Once again, VPL is participating in the One eRead Canada program and you can participate!

If this is your first year participating or hearing about it, One eRead Canada was created by the Canadian Urban Libraries Council / Conseil des Bibliothèques Urbaines du Canada (CULC/CBUC). It’s a bilingual, nationwide book club. A book by a Canadian author is selected each year and then made available in English and French as an eBook or eAudiobook without waitlists or holds. It runs all through April, starting right on the first, and it’s a great way to connect readers across Canada.

So, hearing all of that, you may be asking: What’s this year’s title?

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Taking A Walk Down Short Story Lane

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When I was in creative writing workshops in university, we studied short stories to become better writers. It’s a time-old tradition that encourages fledgling authors to focus on honing bite-sized narratives before they tackle a full-length novel. Writing a really good short story is a very hard thing to do. Trust me. I learned that the hard way. That’s why I wanted to share some short story collections with you all in the hopes that I may entice you to pick one up, instead of the latest hefty tome from your favourite wordsmith.

Short story collections with multiple writers are also a great way to introduce yourself to new authors you might not hear about otherwise. Crafty editors can surprise you with voices, tones, genres, or writing styles that are straight out of left field, but nonetheless compelling. These are some of the voices and collections that have resonated with me so far. The great thing about them is that you can dip in and out, reading a story here and there as your interest ebbs and flows. You don’t have to remember the plot, characters, or anything else. The next story will be waiting when you’re ready to start again.

Cover image for short story collection Stones by Timothy Findley.

Stones by Timothy Findley

Timothy Findley was a quintessentially Canadian author. If memory serves, we studied the story “Dreams” from the collection Stones in one of my workshops. I remember marking up the pages of my copy with my own thoughts, as well as our professor’s insightful analysis, and being taken with the intense atmosphere and dramatic tone of the piece.

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Canada Reads 2021

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canada reads 2021 bannerAre you ready for the 20th anniversary of Canada Reads? From March 8-11, the CBC will be hosting its annual Canada Reads competition, in which five books by Canadian authors are selected by five different representatives, each one tasked with defending the title in fun “battle of the books” style debates, voting out titles until only one is left standing. That last book will be this year’s winner, crowned “the book that every Canadian should read”.  

The debates are broadcast for public viewing, and this year will be no different! You can catch the debates on multiple platforms like CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC TV, and CBC Books. You can even get involved in the discussion over on the CBC Canada Reads Facebook group!  

Check out this year’s competing titles below: 

 

midnight bargain book coverThe Midnight Bargain by CL Polk

The Midnight Bargain is the latest novel from Calgary’s CL Polk, author of 2019’s hit fantasy Witchmark (which was nominated at the Nebula, Locus, and Lambda Awards, and won the 2019 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel). This time, Polk concocts a fantasy world that’s part Regency (think Jane Austen or Bridgerton), part The Handmaid’s Tale, and all magical. In this world, women are forbidden from using magic while still in childbearing years—but that won’t stop our protagonist Beatrice Clayborn! Kirkus Reviews calls it “An expertly concocted mélange of sweet romance and sharp social commentary.” The book is being defended by Rosey Edeh, a three-time Canadian Olympian turned television host (she can be found on CTV Morning Live Ottawa). Edeh calls the The Midnight Bargain “a fantastic journey filled with magic, love and self-determination. It’s abiding, beautifully paced social commentary”.  

This book is available on Overdrive and Hoopla.

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