Five Writers - Blogging it Forward

This past week I was spotlighted on Susan Toy’s blog Island Editions along with four amazing authors. Click here to check out the post, along with information on Island Shorts, an imprint that will be publishing poetry as well as short stories and non-fiction.In the spirit of blogging it forward, I thought I would choose five writers that I am excited about. Some I have met and worked with, others I admire from afar, but all of them are talented and worth checking out.Diana DavidsonDiana Davidson is an Edmonton writer whose first novel, Pilgrimage is being released by Brindle and Glass in a matter of days. Pilgrimage is an ambitious, beautifully-written novel. It opens in 1891, at Lac St. Anne, in a time when colonial, religious and indigenous tensions run high.I first read Diana’s work when her essay “Ahead of the Ice” won the Jon Whyte Memorial Essay prize and was published in Alberta Views. Her short story, "A Good Night," has just been published at Little Fiction. You can find more information on Diana at her website, here.Anne LazurkoAnne Lazurko is a fellow Coteau author whose book Dollybird really brought out my Saskatchewan pride. Anne’s descriptions of the prairie, the sunsets that paint the land, and the people who live there made me homesick for the province where I was born. Dollybird is a well-researched novel about a part of Saskatchewan history that gets very little attention – the women who stood behind those men that broke through the tough soil to forge a new life in a sometimes inhospitable land. Anne's blog can be found here.Sonal ChampseeSonal Champsee is an extraordinary short story scribe (and playwright, and poet) from Toronto. I had the privilege to read an early draft of Sonal’s short story “The Wedding,” a tale about an argument that takes place via text in the midst of the swirling colours, sounds and smells of a traditional Indian celebration of marriage. “The Wedding” appears in the much-anticipated anthology Friend. Follow. Text. alongside many CanLit luminaries, including Steven Heighton. Sonal has also been chosen to assistant teach Sarah Selecky’s Story Intensive master class with Margaret Atwood. More information about Sonal’s forthcoming work can be found at her blog, here.Lauren CarterI first heard of Lauren Carter when I read her piece on CBC’s Hyperlocal contest earlier this year, though she’s been on the CanLit scene much longer than that. I noticed she had posted from the town where my novel is set (The Pas, MB), so I did what anyone would do. I creeped her blog, then followed her on Twitter. She was recently named to the CBC Writes Poetry Contest longlist. Her celebrated collection of poems is called Lichen Bright. She is also a past Journey Prize nominee. Lauren’s novel Swarm is described at Brindle and Glass's website as a story about "persevering in a time of shrinking options, and coming to terms with regrettable choices." It's out this fall as well. You can follow Lauren on her blog, here.Danny GoodmanAnd finally - This summer I followed a Twitter link to an author on FoundPress via an endorsement from Joseph Boyden. Danny Goodman blew me away with his story "Somehow There Was More Here." This of course led me down the interweb rabbit hole of finding more of this fabulous writer’s work. There is a lot to be found. I’m particularly fascinated by the links between many of his stories and their characters. I do the same thing, and reading Danny Goodman’s work has put my mind at ease when it comes to working (and re-working) with established characters and settings. He knows his characters inside and out, and inspires me to do the same. His language is crisp and sharp, his characters are broken and beautiful and real. And yeah - New York City. You can't go wrong. Danny is also the editor of FWRICTION:REVIEW, a literary journal.You can connect with Danny here.