So lovely to get to know Gail Kirkpatrick, the author of Sleepers and Ties, which was published by NON (Now Or Never Publishing).

​Gail Kirkpatrick lives and writes in beautiful Victoria, BC. She has worked as a freelance writer, government policy analyst and adjudicator, and as a researcher profiling innovators and scientists.

Gail is a woman on the move, she surfs, cold water plunges, hikes. Watch her tell us all about it!

​Some wills ask the executor to make sure a favourite niece gets a particular necklace or that a pet be sent to live with a friend. Margaret’s sister has asked her to rebuild an abandoned railway line.

Can you imagine? Gail did. She discusses what inspired her debut novel Sleepers and Ties ​and how her book came together. 

Welcome! Today's AACB guest is award-winning Toronto author and co-founder of the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction, Susan Swan. And Susan is on a mission to uplift women and non-binary writer’s voices. 

Let's find out more, but before we do Susan shares some lovely memories about the beloved award-winning American-Canadian writer Carol Shields.

To find our more about this THRILLING new literary award that celebrates Canadian and U.S. women and non-binary writers creativity and excellence in fiction, and to check out all the fabulous authors and of course the winner Fatimah Asghar for When We Were Sisters

A HUGE congrats to Fatimah, all the finalists, to Susan and all the women who made this prestigious award happen. Yay!

​For more author interviews

I had the privilege of interviewing Canadian author Logan Macnair back in September 2020. Logan was one of my very first guests--6th to be exact and we discussed his debut novel Panegyric. Now Logan is back to discuss his second novel Troll.

Troll explores the nature of connection, alienation, and the occasional ugliness of the modern digital age. 
​
When aspiring actor Peter Riley is given the assignment in his drama class to perform in a YouTube-style video, he creates the character of ‘Petrol Riley,’ a satire of a politically extreme right-wing conspiracy theorist. Peter is soon surprised to learn that the video he has uploaded has gone unexpectedly viral, with thousands of viewers misinterpreting his satirical performance as genuine.

Seeing this as his path toward fame, Peter commits to portraying the hatemongering character of Petrol full-time, building a devout and rabid fanbase of online supporters that only grow more loyal and extreme the more hateful Petrol’s rhetoric becomes. As his reach grows, Peter must reconcile with his notoriety and decide whether this newfound fame is worth the influence he is having on his legions of impressionable online admirers.

Striking and timely, Troll offers a meditation and authentic critique on the unique conditions and occasional ugliness of modern online communication.

Logan Macnair (PhD)is a college professor and novelist based out of Burnaby, BC. and his academic research is primarily focused on the online narrative, recruitment, and propaganda campaigns of various political extremist movements.

I couldn't put Troll down. I feel like Logan introduced me to a world I know very little about but should know about. My heart goes out to all those online and off who feel disconnected.

A HUGE thank you to Logan. ​ Thanks SO much for watching. ​

For more fabulous author interviews, you can find all about canadian books on YouTube. And don't forget to subscribe (PLEASE). Click on that great big button below and it'll take you there.