Canada Reads American Style Canada Reads American Style

Rebecca is excited to speak with Sydney Hegele, a queer Anglo-Catholic writer from the Greenbelt in Southern Ontario. They are the author of Bird Suit (Invisible Publishing, May 7, 2024) and The Pump (Invisible Publishing 2021), which was the winner of the 2022 ReLit Literary Award for Short Fiction and a finalist for the 2022 Trillium Book Award. Their essays have appeared in Catapult and Electric Literature, EVENT, and have been featured by Lithub, The Poetry Foundation, and Psychology Today. Their essay collection Bad Kids is forthcoming with Invisible in Fall 2025. Sydney’s work often explores small-town queerness, environmental justice, mental illness, religious life, and the complicated relationships between these things. They live with their husband and French Bulldog on Treaty 13 Land (Toronto, Canada).
https://www.sydneyhegele.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydneyhegele/
Titles mentioned:
Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” by Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Walker (Foreword)
Play by Jess Taylor

 Imagining Imagining: Essays on Language, Identity and Infinity by Gary Barwin

Rebecca is excited to chat with Heather Stemp, author of the Ginny Ross historical fiction series for tween and teen readers.  Rebecca also recommends it for adult fans of Anne of Green Gables.
Heather’s paternal roots lie in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland.  After 30 years as an English teacher, she retired to research her family history, discovering her Aunt Ginny’s friendship with Amelia Earhart in the process.  As a result, she began writing the Ginny Ross Series.  Amelia and Me was shortlisted for the 2014/2015 Red Cedar Award.  Under Amelia’s Wing was shortlisted for the 2021 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People and the 2022 Red Maple Award.  Beyond Amelia, will be released April 16, 2024.
When not writing, Heather loves traveling with her husband, Don, and spending time at the cottage with her grandchildren and grand dogs.
https://www.heatherstemp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/authorheatherstemp/
https://visitatchison.com/highlight/amelia-earhart-festival
https://visitatchison.com/highlight_type/amelia-earhart
When the Dikes Breached by Martha Attema
Winterkill by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Dreadfall Water series by Thomas King 
 

Tara chats with Vince R. Ditritch, the author of the Tony Vicar series which includes The Liquor Vicar, The Vicar's Knickers, and The Vicar Vortex.  He is also the drummer and manager of the band Spirit of the West.  He has circled the world, earned more than a dozen gold and platinum albums, and been enshrined in several Halls of Fame.  Vince currently lives on Vancouver Island.
 
 

Rebecca and Tara celebrate their 100th episode as co-hosts by sharing ten facts about themselves and their top three podcasts.  Interestingly, they both had near death experiences and divulged youthful criminal secrets.
Rebecca:
I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity by Izzeldin Abuelaish
Podcast episodes: Mark Tewksbury -- March 14, 2022 and April 30, 2022; Ali Hassan most recently on March 17, 2024; Adam Shoalts on December 11, 2024
Tara:
The Hapless Milliner (Miss Austin Investigates #1) by Jessica Bull
Podcast episodes: Keegan on July 24, 2022; Vince Ditrich mid-April 2024
 
 

Rebecca and Tara discuss their latest reads!
Rebecca (@canadareadsamericanstyle):
There There; Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
The Street by Ann Petry
The Fountain Overflows by Rebecca West
Sisters of the Spruce by Leslie Shimotakahara
My Ántonia by Willa Cather
Wrong Time Wrong Place by Gillian McAllister
Tara (@onabranchreads):
Peril in Pink by Sydney Leigh
The Song of Achilles; Circe by Madeline Miller
Son of Elsewhere: A Memoir in Pieces by Elamin Abdelmahmoud; Commotion (CBC Radio One)
Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey
Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World; The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed; The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant
The Lost Garden by Helen Humphreys
World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Fumi Nakamura (illustrator)
Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World by Christian Cooper
A Man Downstairs by Nicole Lundrigan
 

Rebecca and Tara chat with CBC's Canada Reads host Ali Hassan about the 2024 debates!  Ali's website includes information about his stand-up comedy, public events, acting, memoir, hosting, podcasts, etc.  He may be the busiest man in Canada! 
https://standupali.com/
https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads
https://www.loveclosely.com/
https://allpoetry.com/Do-Not-Ask-My-Love
Prairie Edge by Conor Kerr:
https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/prairie-edge