Calgary is home to many talented writers. Some have ventured out and built their careers across Canada and beyond, while others have made a name for themselves locally. Here’s a list of some of Calgary’s finest authors, as featured on calgarynka.
Nancy Huston
Nancy Huston, a novelist and essayist, moved to Germany at the age of six to live with her stepmother, where she became fluent in German. Her mother’s decision to leave the family deeply impacted her, inspiring works like Kontredanse, which explores themes of abandonment and self-discovery.
Later, Nancy lived briefly in Calgary with her father and stepmother before moving to Wilton, USA, in 1968. In 1973, she relocated to Paris, where she completed a master’s thesis on swearing and vulgar language. It was there that she began writing prose in French.
Nancy discovered that writing in a non-native language allowed her to choose words more deliberately. Her critically acclaimed novels, such as The Mark of the Angel and Dolce Agonia, have been translated into numerous languages. Recognized for her literary contributions, she has won prestigious awards, including the Governor General’s Award, the Prix Femina, and the Order of Canada in 2005.
Suzette Mayr
Suzette Mayr is the author of several acclaimed novels that have won literary awards. A Canadian of German and Afro-Caribbean descent, Mayr often explores themes of race, identity, and gender, infusing her work with humor, surreal imagery, and mythological references.
Initially aspiring to become a scientist, Suzette shifted her focus to humanities due to her strong command of English. She studied creative writing at the University of Calgary, where she decided to pursue a career as a writer. Before becoming a professional author, she worked as a waitress and sandwich maker.
Her notable novels include Moon Honey, The Widows, and Venous Hum. In 2002, Suzette participated in the Calgary Distinguished Writers Program at her alma mater, where she later began teaching creative writing and contemporary literature.
Gail Sidonie Sobat
Gail Sidonie Sobat’s fiction primarily targets young adults, tackling controversial themes. Her first published work, Today She’s Wearing the Blue, appeared in Edges Literary Magazine in 1986. Her books include Jamie’s Got a Gun, Ingermard’s Tale, and A Winter’s Tale. Sobat has also authored poetry collections like How the Light Is Spent and Aortic Caprice.
In 1996, Gail founded YouthWrite, a multidisciplinary camp for young writers, where aspiring authors learn about poetry, fiction, playwriting, and more. In 2015, she launched a similar camp for adults called JustWrite.
Beyond writing, Gail is also a teacher and singer. She taught at the University of Alberta and later at MacEwan University in Edmonton, specializing in creative writing and communications. Sobat also founded a spoken word youth choir, which debuted in 2007 during Edmonton’s The Roar Spoken Word Festival.
Esi Edugyan
Esi Edugyan is a novelist whose works explore complex truths about race and ethnicity, becoming an influential part of Canadian literature. Born to Ghanaian immigrants, Esi experienced racial discrimination, which shaped her perspective and writing.
Encouraged by a teacher, she pursued creative writing at the University of Victoria, earning her BA in 1999 and later an MA from Johns Hopkins University in 2001. Her debut novel, The Second Life of Samuel Tyne, was published when she was just 24. After facing difficulties publishing her second manuscript, Esi wrote Half-Blood Blues, a story about a mixed-race jazz musician. The novel, released in 2011, won several awards.
In 2018, Esi published Washington Black, which also garnered numerous accolades. Both Half-Blood Blues and Washington Black won the Giller Prize, making her the third writer to win the award twice.
A. M. Dellamonica
Alexandra Margaret Dellamonica, better known as A. M. Dellamonica, is a science fiction and fantasy writer. Her works have appeared in anthologies such as Year’s Best Science Fiction (2002, 2007).
Dellamonica’s historical story A Key to the Illuminated Heretic was nominated for the Sidewise Award in 2005. Her debut novel, Indigo Springs, earned her the Sunburst Award in 2010, and her novel Daughter of No Nation won the Prix Aurora Award in 2016.
Scaachi Koul
Scaachi Koul is a writer and journalist of Indo-Canadian descent. In March 2015, she published her essay collection, One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter. The book explores themes of family, race, and feminism, blending humor with sarcasm and sentimentality. In 2018, Scaachi was nominated for the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour.
Fiona Patton
Fiona Patton is a fantasy author with over 50 short stories in the genres of heroic fantasy, horror, and science fiction. Although born in Calgary, she moved to the U.S. with her family at the age of four, returning to Canada nine years later to settle in Toronto. Patton is best known for her Warriors of Estavia series.