Who’s Who
Ahmad Saber
A is for Ahmad
A medical doctor specializing in rheumatology and internal medicine, Ahmad Saber’s debut novel, Ramin Abbas Has MAJOR Questions (Atheneum Books $30.99), explores the difficult struggle of a gay Muslim teen reconciling his faith with his sexuality. The story, based in part on the author’s own lived experience, follows Pakistani Canadian Ramin, a senior at a top-ranked Muslim high school, who believes being gay is haram (forbidden) and dreams of moving to New York City. The pressure mounts when Ramin is forced to join the soccer team, training one-on-one with “Captain Handsome,” all while being blackmailed by a bully. A new friend introduces Ramin to a kinder concept of Allah, forcing him to decide which Allah lives in the little mosque in his heart. Saber grew up on an all-girls college campus next to a massive fort in Pakistan and later moved to Canada to attend high school. 9781665960694
Bill Gaston
B is for Bill
Setting out on an eleven-day road trip through rural America with his two sons—a journey at the heart of his new book Spying on America (Goose Lane $26)—Bill Gaston brings his signature wit, curiosity and sharp cultural insight to both the open road and the page. A longtime professor at the University of Victoria and former editor of Canada’s oldest literary journal, The Fiddlehead, Gaston has built a celebrated career spanning novels, short fiction, nonfiction and plays. Born in 1953 and raised in Winnipeg, Toronto and North Vancouver, he worked as a logger, fishing guide, group-home worker and even briefly played professional hockey in France before turning to teaching and writing full-time. With awards including the Timothy Findley Award and Giller recognition for Mount Appetite (Raincoast, 2002), Gaston remains one of Canada’s most versatile storytellers. 9781773104652
Carol Cram
C is for Carol
Silence is where Carol Cram often begins—an empty space she fills with music, memory and the rich inner worlds that shape her fiction. A lifelong west coaster born in Victoria and raised in Vancouver, she has spent decades weaving stories across genres while building a prolific parallel career as an educator, consultant and author of more than fifty college-level textbooks. Her latest novel, The Choir (HTF Publishing, $19.95 USD), takes place in the 1890s to follow Eliza Kingwell and a determined group of working-class women whose voices refuse to be quieted. Rooted in themes of resilience, sisterhood and self-determination, the book continues Cram’s interest in historical narratives shaped by women’s inner strength. She lives on Bowen Island with her partner, painter Gregg Simpson. 9781963452280
Diana Hayes
D is for Diana
In Hawking the Surf (Silver Bow Publishing $23.95), Diana Hayes returns to the coastal landscapes that shaped her earliest poems, weaving photographs and lyrical meditation into a layered exploration of memory, belonging and the natural world. A longtime Salt Spring Island poet, photographer and publisher, Hayes blends decades of creative practice into this immersive collection rooted in the Pacific coast’s tides, fog and shifting light. Her work spans poetry, photography, chapbook publishing and a debut novella, all shaped by her deep connection to place and the quiet revelations of the shoreline. Hawking the Surf captures a lifetime of seeing—and seeing again—with clarity and devotion. 9781774033890
Emma Cleary
E is for Emma
Liverpool-born, Vancouver-based writer Emma Cleary makes her debut with Afterbirth (HarperCollins $24.99), a haunting horror novel exploring sisterhood, motherhood and the body’s terrifying transformations. Set in a decaying Vancouver apartment stalked by a mysterious figure known as Medusa, the novel follows two estranged sisters whose reunion spirals into obsession and the supernatural. Cleary’s short fiction and essays have appeared in Best British Short Stories, James Baldwin Review and Canadian Literature. She holds a PhD in literature and an MFA in creative writing from the University of British Columbia and currently serves as editor-in-chief of Geist magazine. 9781443474276 9781771872812
Darlene Foster
F is for Foster
With ten books in the Amanda Travels series, featuring a spunky young girl who loves to travel, Darlene Foster is an award-winning children’s author who divides her time between the west coast of Canada and Orihuela Costa, Spain. Her latest book in the series is Amanda in Ireland: The Body in the Bog (self-published, 2025 $10.99), which takes 12-year-old Amanda Jane Ross to the emerald isle for a cousin’s wedding. The plot takes a dark turn when Amanda joins the search for a missing horse and stumbles upon a world of screaming banshees, peat bogs and alarming secrets, wondering if she will become “another body in the bog”. Foster was brought up on a ranch in southern Alberta, where her grade three teacher encouraged her to write. She is a retired employment counsellor and ESL teacher. 9781069552600
Gabriela Halas
G is for Gabriela
Currently residing and writing on Ktunaxa Nation land, Gabriela Halas is an author and poet who immigrated to Canada in the early 1980s. She holds an MFA from UBC. Her poetry chapbook, Bloodwater Tint (Backbone Press $10), won first prize from Backbone Press in 2025. The collection centers on themes including the pain of infertility, the body’s mystery and the search for transformation. Bloodwater Tint expresses a chronology of loss, pain and transformation through embodiment, addressing tension and fear at the gynecologist, pregnancy loss and other themes in women’s lives. Family holds a strong presence throughout the collection through fragmented reality of immigration/migration, the meaning of home, language, and naming. Halas has published poetry, fiction and nonfiction widely in literary journals including The Antigonish Review, Room Magazine and Alaska Quarterly Review. She is currently working on a nonfiction essay collection set to be published by the University of Regina Press in 2026. 9798988165064
Hannalora Leavitt
H is for Hannalora
Hannalora Leavitt is a Vancouver Island-based author and disability-awareness expert who has been legally blind since the age of eleven due to a cancerous brain tumour. She holds a Master’s degree in Writing from the University of Victoria. Leavitt explores life with vision loss as a form of “dual citizenship”—living in both the sighted and blind worlds—and applies Malcolm Gladwell’s Ten-Thousand Hour Rule to assert that she is accomplished at being blind. Her second book is All About Us (Orca $29.95), which features twenty inspiring kids and adults living with disabilities today, including Paralympian Stefan Daniel and singer Stella Bartlett. All About Us explores the basic categories of disability—intellectual, sensory, physical and invisible—and introduces readers to people who were born with a disability and others who became disabled due to illness or accident. 9781459837089
Anosh Irani
I is for Irani
In Behind the Moon (Talonbooks $21.95), award-winning playwright, Anosh Irani, explores the character of Ayub, a man haunted by his past and isolated in a cold, unfamiliar Toronto. Ayub works in a Mughlai restaurant, where his routine is disrupted by a late-night visit from a mysterious stranger, forcing him to confront the family he left behind and the dreams he abandoned. Through this lens, Irani delves into themes of love, loss, brotherhood and the complexities of starting anew. The play reflects Ayub’s emotional struggles, intensified by the harsh winter, as Irani examines the inner lives of his characters, embracing their strangeness and woundedness to uncover deeper truths about identity and resilience. 9781772016383
John Hughes. Photo credit: The British Columbia Review
J is for John
Unsure what to expect from a book that boldly positions itself at the intersection of politics, national identity and cultural defiance, readers will find John Francis Hughes at the centre of it all. A former CBC and Co-op Radio reporter, bike courier, world traveller and scholar with a doctorate from SFU’s School of Communication, Hughes brings a lifetime of curiosity and grit to Canada Is Not the 51st F**king State (Cosmic Cranium Press $27.99), an anthology of essays, interviews, stories and artwork by an assortment of contributors resisting Donald Trump’s aggression against Canada. His career has taken him from Vancouver’s streets to India’s rail lines to the Amazon’s vast riverways, shaping a voice that is equally grounded in lived experience and critical inquiry. Hughes now runs Groove Cat Books and Records with his wife, Cat, while co-operating Cosmic Cranium Press. 9781069072610
Kamila Sediego
K is for Kamila
Haunted by questions of inheritance and the lingering ache of intergenerational trauma, Kamila Sediego explores the ways displacement and memory shape identity in Homecoming (Playwright Canada Press $18.95). The playwright and dramaturg examines how migration fractures—and sometimes mends—the ties between three generations of Filipina women separated by continents and silence. Moving between the Philippines and Canada, Homecoming weaves together humour, grief and cultural memory in a story that asks whether love can survive distance and time. A Filipinx settler based in Vancouver, Sediego’s ancestral roots trace back to Iloilo, Cebu and Manila and her work—including the ongoing project Engkanto—draws deeply from Filipinx folklore and spiritual safety. 9780369105790
Helen Liang
L is for Liang
Community is essential for humans and the challenges of living together are often solved by engineers, which is the focus of the book Why Communities Need Engineers (Orca $29.95), by Helen Liang. Liang, who earned her Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia, explains to young readers how engineering inventions have been essential to human survival and prosperity for thousands of years. The book explores how engineers are responsible for everything from clean drinking water, managing garbage, safe places to live with electricity and running water, to communication and transportation networks. Liang also holds an associate certificate in technical writing with distinction from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. 9781459840539
Marcus Kliewer
M is for Marcus
Nothing less than the survival of humanity is at stake in the new supernatural horror novel, The Caretaker: A Novel (Emily Bestler Books / Atria Books $26.99), from Vancouver-based writer and stop-motion animator Marcus Kliewer. The story follows Macy Mullins, a debt-saddled college grad who accepts a sinister caretaking job found on Craigslist to provide for her younger sister. Kliewer, whom the author Erin A. Craig calls a “titan of the macabre and unsettling,” quickly reveals that Macy’s responsibilities involve dangerous consequences, warning readers to “Follow the Rites… Follow the Rites…”. Kliewer’s debut novel, We Used to Live Here (Emily Bestler Books / Atria Books, 2024), gained viral attention after starting as a serialized short story on Reddit, with film rights quickly snapped up by Netflix before the book was even completed. 9781668228944
Rosalie Nyce. photo credit: James Nyce.
N is for Nyce
Navigating grief and friendship as a neurodivergent kid is the core inspiration behind the picture book The Crow and the Garden (Orca $21.95), by author and educator Rosalie Nyce. Nyce, a mother, teacher, school counselor and writer, currently lives on Gitxsan territory. Her book tells the story of Maeve, an autistic girl who loves crows and talks to the ghost of her late aunt and her friendship with Fern, a new student mourning the loss of her father. Through their connection, Maeve’s origami crows and Fern’s drawings of her father’s favorite plants bloom into living magic, cultivating a magical garden and an even more magical connection. Nyce has formal degrees in music, psychology and education and previously spent several years on the spoken word poetry festival circuit. 9781459840072
Elizabeth Oldham
O is for Oldham
In her second novel Shadows on the Heart (Doppia Press $17), Elizabeth Oldham explores what happens when life forces you into roles you never expected. This character-driven story follows three generations of women as they navigate love, memory and the long reach of grief. Oldham’s storytelling is gentle, offering a compassionate look at family bonds and personal transformation. Through shifting perspectives, the novel highlights how connection can grow in even the most complicated circumstances. Shadows on the Heart is a testament to resilience and the ways we carry both pain and hope across generations. 9781738822638
Allana Polo
P is for Polo
The complex question of why we eat is the focus of the Amazon Canada #1 Bestseller, The Hunger Code: A New Way to Understand Why We Eat (DAZL press $34.99), by Naturopathic Physician Dr. Allana Polo. The book is not a diet guide, but a compassionate exploration of the six distinct types of hunger that drive eating behaviors, from Dr. Polo’s realization that most people struggle with the reason they are hungry, not willpower. These types are identified as Healthy Hunger, Head Hunger, Heart Hunger, Habit Hunger, Hormone Hunger and Hypersensitivity Hunger. As the founder of Polo Health + Longevity Centre, she specializes in weight management hormone health and longevity medicine in British Columbia. 9781069533500
Christine Quintana
Q is for Quintana
Set in a Mexican resort, the lives of Sarah, a cynical Canadian wedding guest, and Adriana, a perfectionist hotel floor manager, intersect in unexpected ways in Christine Quintana’s latest play, Espejos: Clean (Playwrights Canada Press $19.99). Sarah’s pessimism and Adriana’s quest for order mask deeper anxieties, which come to light as their parallel realities collide. Through poignant and often humorous monologues, the bilingual play delves into themes of female strength, solidarity, and the struggles each woman faces in navigating her world. Speaking directly to the audience, their stories reveal both contrasts and commonalities, magnifying their shared pain and resilience. The play was adapted and translated into Spanish by Paula Zelaya-Cervantes. 9780369104588
Yolanda Ridge
R is for Ridge
Focusing on the necessity of preserving “planet A,” the book Beyond Earth: How Space Exploration Affects Life at Home (Orca $21.95) is the latest nonfiction work from Yolanda Ridge. Ridge, who holds a Master’s Degree in Science, splits her writing time between middle-grade novels and science books for children. Beyond Earth dives into the impact of space exploration, questioning whether the costs—such as using fossil fuels for rockets—are justified, but emphasizing that research from space has led to breakthroughs like easier water purification and harnessable solar power that improve life on Earth. Ridge previously spent ten years working as a Genetic Counsellor and her other juvenile nonfiction titles include What Poo Can Do: How Animals Are Fighting the Climate Crisis (Orca, 2024). 9781459842199
Pat Sullivan
S is for Sullivan
When art world egos collide, no frame can contain the fallout. In Pat Sullivan’s debut novel, In the Frame (Iguana Books $20.99) the fictional Toronto Art Gallery has just undergone a re-branding exercise. Now TAG is gearing up for a pivotal fund-raiser when disaster strikes–a rambunctious kids’ camp and a tour of art-loving naturists wander into the picture on the very same night. As chaos spreads through every corner of the gallery, clashing ambitions and fragile reputations hang in the balance. Now each staff member must confront the turmoil, outmaneuver the madness and salvage what they can in this behind-the-scenes art-world caper. Sullivan grew up in Cornwall, Ontario, and studied English at York University, later obtaining her master’s in art history from Queen’s, which led to her career as an educator at the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, and at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Kingston. She lives in Vancouver. 9781771807333
Léa Taranto
T is for Taranto
A disabled Chinese Jewish Canadian writer and alumna of the University of British Columbia’s MFA program, Léa Taranto is an author whose work explores mental health and neurodivergence. Her debut YA novel, A Drop in the Ocean (Arsenal Pulp Press $19.95), is a finalist for the Governor General’s Young People’s Literature – Text Award and addresses the dehumanizing stigma around mental illness. The novel follows sixteen-year-old Mira Durand, who is checked into a treatment centre for obsessive compulsive and comorbid disorders after years of worsening OCD and anorexia. Mira’s brutal religious compulsions, which she believes keep her mother safe, lead to her only friend being her journal. Taranto writes the literature she yearned for during her adolescence, which she spent certified in various inpatient facilities for life-threatening OCD, creating stories where neurodivergent and Mad readers can see themselves reflected. 9781551529813
Uma Krishnaswami
U is for Uma
In Uma Krishnaswami’s final instalment of the Book Uncle trilogy—the middle grade novels set in India about the power of grassroots activism and how kids can make a difference—The Sunshine Project (Groundwood $11.99), the karate-loving Anil and his friends have been championing a solar energy project. Anil doesn’t like speaking up, for, as his karate sensei says, “best fight, no fight.” But when he learns that the new solar panel factory the city is planning will threaten plant and animal species, Anil takes action with help from Yasmin and Reeni (the main protagonists, respectively, of the first two titles). Just how loudly will he have to speak up? Illustrations by Julianna Swaney. 9781779460530
Vikram Vij
V is for Vikram
Vancouver culinary icon Vikram Vij is known for revolutionizing Indian cuisine in Canada. His flagship restaurant, Vij’s, has been praised by The New York Times as “easily among the finest Indian restaurants in the world” and earned a Bib Gourmand designation from the Michelin Guide in 2023 and 2024. Vij’s newest book, My New Indian Kitchen (Figure 1 Publishing $40), features 80 easy-to-follow recipes that marry the vibrant flavors of Indian cuisine with elegant culinary techniques. Recipes are designed for the home chef and include dishes like Chilled Pea Soup with Fried Mint, Gnocchi with Garam Masala Tomato Sauce and Paneer. The book also traces Vij’s culinary journey, sharing stories of the people, travels and ingredients that have inspired him. 9781773272610
Paul Wong
W is for Wong
The boundary-pushing career of curator and artist Paul Wong is highlighted by his latest project, curating the photography retrospective Enemy Alien: Tamio Wakayama (Figure 1 $45) for the Vancouver Art Gallery, opening in March 2026. Wong is known as a bold pioneer in Canadian visual and media art, with a career spanning over five decades. The heavily illustrated book features Wakayama’s unpublished memoir, Soul on Rice, along with essays by Eva Respini and an interview with his partner, Mayumi Takasaki. Wong’s artistic output is celebrated for fiercely embodying his queer, Asian and Canadian identities and challenging stereotypes. He is currently the Artistic Director and curator of On Main Gallery and holds the 2024–2025 Artist in Residence position at UBC. Wong’s recent works also include the award-finalist book 身在唐人街/OCCUPYING CHINATOWN (On Main Gallery, 2021). 9781773272801
Mary Fox
X is for Fox
Renowned potter Mary Fox shares her knowledge of glazing in Developing Glazes: Low-Fire Reduction and Oxidation (Harbour Publishing $44.95), a guide that encourages ceramic artists to experiment with confidence. Rather than relying on ready-made glazes, Fox invites potters to explore the use of minerals and clay slips, offering step-by-step instructions and techniques for low-temperature firing. All royalties are donated to the endowment fund for the Legacy Project, which supports the careers of emerging potters through apprenticeships, residencies, studio space and a library of instructional videos. A self-taught exploratory potter, Fox moved with her family to British Columbia in 1966. She has worked exclusively as an artist since then, developing an international reputation for her sculptural ceramic vessels. In Developing Glazes, she extends this mentorship to readers, blending her creative philosophy with practical techniques to help others discover joy and freedom in the glazing process. 9781998526253
Terence Young
Y is for Young
A profound meditation on regret, resilience and the fragile beauty of human connection forms the heart of Give Us This Day (Signature Editions $21.95), a new collection of short fiction by Terence Young. The stories explore the weight of the past through a kaleidoscope of voices and styles, capturing the quiet reckonings of everyday existence. His subjects range from retired grandparents thrust into unexpected childcare and young labourers adrift in mines and road crews to teachers struggling to find meaning and couples at a crossroads. Young is a prolific author who recently retired from teaching English and creative writing at St. Michaels University School and is a co-founder of The Claremont Review, an international literary journal for young writers. In 2008, he was awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. 9781773241616
Ziyad Saadi
Z is for Ziyad
Set over a single, chaotic day in Detroit, this debut novel follows queer Palestinian refugee Firas Dareer as he plans to come out to his family at an elaborately staged birthday dinner, only to find his orchestrated reveal thrown into disarray by a chain of escalating crises. Three Parties (Hamish Hamilton $34.95) explores Palestinian diasporic life, generational trauma and the pressure of queer self-revelation with humour and emotional depth. It’s a story of self-presentation, fractured families and the quiet dignity of choosing to be known on one’s own terms. Ziyad Saadi is a Palestinian Canadian writer and filmmaker based in Vancouver. A Nicholl Fellowship semi-finalist and winner of the MPAC Hollywood Bureau pilot writing competition, his writing has appeared in Indiewire, The Independent and The Gay & Lesbian Review. His short story “The Third or Fourth Casualty” appears in the speculative fiction anthology Thyme Travellers (Fernwood, 2024). 9780735250963
