I’m very happy to announce that my debut novel, Dreaming Home (Biblioasis, 2023), is the winner of the 2024 Fred Kerner Book Award.

This annual prize from the Canadian Authors Association honours the best book published by one of its members in the previous calendar year. Founded in 1921, the Canadian Authors Association is Canada’s oldest professional association for writers.

Judges comments for Dreaming Home:

“From the opening sentence we know we’re in the hands of a master craftsman. This novel opens up through multiple, connected points of view into a landscape that’s deeply problematic: from the damaged father, through the gay son who refuses to accept the deal he’s been dealt, to the sister who propelled them into this abyss. Trauma impacts them all in unexpected and illuminating ways. Challenging and poignant, but ultimately joyful.”
“A poignant and sensitively written story of the profound repercussions of a forced outage of a young boy by his sibling and the decades-long fallout that ensues for him, his family members, and his lovers. Told from multiple perspectives, the narrative is compelling and heartbreaking, with a gentle hint of humour.”

The awards ceremony was held on October 19 and featured readings by all of the finalists. I’m very honoured to be in the company of these wonderful writers.

Lara Jean Okihiro, Toronto, ON, and Janis Bridger, Vancouver, BC
Obaasan’s Boots (Second Story Press)

Caroline Vu, Montreal, QC
Catinat Boulevard (Guernica Editions)

Ifeoma Chinwuba, Ottawa, ON
Sons of the East (Griots Lounge Canada)

Kathryn Mockler, Victoria, BC
Anecdotes (Book*hug Press)