Gillian Sze is a Canadian writer. She has won one Quebec Writers' Federation Award and been a finalist seven times across four different categories.
Gillian Sze | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | writer |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Genre | poetry, picture books |
| Notable awards | carte blanche Prize (2011) |
| Website | |
| www | |
Biography
editSze's parents are Chinese immigrants, and she grew up speaking the Hokkien dialect of Mandarin at home.[1] She was raised in Winnipeg.[2][3]
After graduating from high school, Sze studied at the University of Winnipeg for one year to study medicine,[1] after which she transferred to Concordia University to study creative writing.[2] She later received a Master of Arts in creative writing from Concordia University,[3] as well as a Ph.D. in English Studies from the Université de Montréal.[2]
Sze presently lives in Montreal.[2] Since 2017, she has worked in the English Department at John Abbott College.[4]
Awards and honours
editMy Love for You is Always received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews.[5]
The Night is Deep and Wide received a starred review from Publishers Weekly.[6] The book was also named one of the best children's books of the year by New York Public Library (2021)[7] and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (2022).[8]
The Globe and Mail included Quiet Night Think: Poems & Essays in their list of the best 100 books of 2022.[9] CBC Books also included in on their "Best Canadian Poetry of 2022" list.[10]
| Year | Title | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Fish Bones | McAuslan First Book Prize | Shortlist | [11] |
| 2011 | "Like This Together" | carte blanche Prize | Winner | [12] |
| 2014 | Peeling Rambutan | A. M. Klein Prize for Poetry | Shortlist | [13] |
| 2016 | Redrafting Winter | A. M. Klein Prize for Poetry | Shortlist | [13] |
| 2018 | Panicle | A. M. Klein Prize for Poetry | Shortlist | [13][14][15] |
| 2022 | Quiet Night Think | A. M. Klein Prize for Poetry | Shortlist | [13][16][17][18] |
| 2022 | You Are My Favorite Color | Janet Savage Blachford Prize | Shortlist | [17][18] |
| 2023 | Quiet Night Think | Pat Lowther Award | Shortlist | [19] |
Publications
editChildren's books
edit- My Love for You Is Always, illustrated by Michelle Lee (2021, Philomel, ISBN 9780593203071)
- The Night Is Deep and Wide, illustrated by Sue Todd (2021, Orca Books, ISBN 9781459824812)
- You Are My Favorite Color, illustrated by Niña Mata (2022, Philomel, ISBN 9780593203101)
- When Sunlight Tiptoes, illustrated by Soyeon Kim (2023, Orca Book Publishers, ISBN 9781459834507)
- The Little Green Envelope, illustrated by Claudine Crangle (2023, Groundwood)
Poetry
edit- Fish Bones (2009, DC Books, ISBN 9781897190494)
- The Anatomy of Clay (2011, ECW Press, ISBN 9781770410145)
- Peeling Rambutan (2014, Gaspereau Press, ISBN 9781554471331)
- Fricatives (2015, Gaspereau Press, ISBN 9781554471539)
- Redrafting Winter, with Alison Strumberger (2015, BuschekBooks, ISBN 9781894543859)
- Panicle (2017, Misfit Book, ISBN 9781770414051)
- Quiet Night Think: Poems & Essays (2022, Misfit Book, ISBN 9781770416253)
References
edit- ^ a b Drudi, Cassandra (2022-04-06). "In her new collection, Gillian Sze ruminates on family and origins". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
- ^ a b c d "Gillian Sze". Penguin Random House Canada. Archived from the original on 2023-03-18. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
- ^ a b "Gillian Sze – Asian Heritage in Canada". Toronto Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 2022-11-07. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
- ^ "Sze, Gillian". John Abbott College. Archived from the original on 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
- ^ "My Love for You is Always". Kirkus Reviews. 2021-07-14. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ^ "The Night Is Deep and Wide by Gillian Sze". Publishers Weekly. 2021-03-04. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ^ "Best Books for Kids 2021". The New York Public Library. Archived from the original on 2023-03-08. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
- ^ "Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Announces 2022 Best Books for Babies List". Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. 2022-04-25. Archived from the original on 2022-12-06. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
- ^ "The Globe 100: The best books of 2022". The Globe and Mail. 2022-12-02. Archived from the original on 2023-03-18. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
- ^ "The best Canadian poetry of 2022". CBC Books. 2022-12-08. Archived from the original on 2022-12-27. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
- ^ "The Concordia University First Book Prize". Quebec Writers' Federation. Archived from the original on 2022-11-01. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ "carte blanche Prize". Quebec Writers' Federation. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ a b c d "The A. M. Klein Prize for Poetry". Quebec Writers' Federation. Archived from the original on 2022-12-08. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ "Rawi Hage, Paige Cooper among finalists for 2018 Quebec Writers' Federation literary awards". CBC Books. 2019-02-28. Archived from the original on 2019-02-28. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ Mudaly, Lee-Ann (2018-11-21). "4 Concordians shortlisted for Quebec Writers Federation awards". Concordia University. Archived from the original on 2023-03-18. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
- ^ "The QWF Spoken Word Prize". Quebec Writers' Federation. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ a b "Rawi Hage and Sina Queyras among finalists for Quebec Writers' Federation Literary Awards". CBC Books. 2022-10-20. Archived from the original on 2022-11-01. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ a b Drudi, Cassandra (2022-10-19). "Shortlists announced for 2022 QWF awards". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on 2022-11-16. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
- ^ Cassandra Drudi, "League of Canadian Poets announces 2023 Book Awards shortlists". Quill & Quire, April 20, 2023.