How do addiction and memoir writing intersect? In this episode, we sit down with Erin Steele, author of Sunrise Over Half-Built Houses, as she shares how her eclectic upbringing, personal battles, and vivid memories shaped her writing journey.

Erin reflects on identity, compassion, and the stigma of addiction, offering a fresh perspective on trauma, vulnerability, and the cycles of life choices. She opens up about the delicate balance of honesty and privacy in memoir writing, revealing the cathartic power of storytelling to transform isolation into connection.

Erin Steele is a writer, low-key philosopher and insatiably curious explorer of life. She writes On Being Human on Substack, is a 2022 Writing by Writersfellow and has been published in Human Parts by Medium. She currently lives in Kelowna, BC, Canada, where she studies all limbs of yoga, runs long distances on trails and nerds out on nature—particularly when the arrowleaf balsamroot explodes the hills yellow. Sunrise over Half-Built Houses is her first book.

https://www.instagram.com/erinsteelewrites/

https://caitlinpress.com/Contributors/S/Steele-Erin

https://erinsteele.com

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Curious how family stories shape a writer's voice? Join us with Linda Quennec as we explore her novel Fishing for Birds. Influenced by her grandmother’s life and British Columbia’s coast, Linda's work reflects her rich heritage. She shares her journey from student to writer, inspired by family tales and classic stories.

We'll discuss the highs and lows of writing, from rejection to creating memorable characters like Kate, Nora, and Rachel. Linda also talks about tackling themes of grief and how her academic background influences her writing. If you’re into writing or love a great story, this episode is packed with insights.

https://www.lindaquenneccounselling.com

https://a.co/d/aNhxqF0

https://a.co/d/8gD2Dkw

https://www.inanna.ca/product/fishing-birds/

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Barbara Black’s newest book, Little Fortified Stories, published by Caitlin Press in 2024, is now available in stores. In this episode, Barbara delves into her creative process and shares how a literary workshop in Lisbon, complete with port wine and tiny notebooks, inspired this compelling collection of microfiction and flash fiction.

We explore how memory influences creativity, examining how experiences that feel like amnesia can play a crucial role in storytelling. Barbara, a versatile artist whose talents span writing, editing, and performance, has journeyed from North Vancouver’s natural beauty to the stages of classical and jazz music. Her work includes acclaimed poetry and fiction, alongside recent projects like a song cycle based on the Egyptian Book of the Dead.

Barbara’s artistic spirit extends to her garden, where she finds a blend of order and chaos that mirrors her writing.

https://barbarablack.ca
https://www.facebook.com/barbarablackwriter
https://x.com/BarbaralbBlack
https://www.instagram.com/bblackwrites/
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/barbara-black?list=about

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