K.R. Byggdin (born 1991) is a Canadian novelist from Halifax, Nova Scotia.[1]

K.R. Byggdin
Occupationnovelist
NationalityCanadian
Period2020s–present
Notable worksWonder World
Website
krbyggdin.com

Career

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Byggdin began publishing short fiction in 2018, with publications in The Antigonish Review, Grain, and others.

Their debut novel, Wonder World, was published by Enfield & Wizenty (Great Plains Press) in 2022.[2] The novel tells the story of a 27-year-old pansexual Mennonite man named Isaac Funk who returns to his small Manitoba town after years on the East Coast.[3]

Wonder World won the Thomas Head Raddall Award at the 2023 Atlantic Book Awards,[4] and was a finalist for the 2023 ReLit Award for fiction.[5]

Personal

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Byggdin grew up in Niverville, Manitoba, where they attended a Mennonite church and due to their close contact with Mennonite communities, jokes that they are "Mennonite by osmosis."[6] They began to pursue writing as a career after being exposed to the writing of Miriam Toews by the town's mayor, while working in a summer job for the town government.[6]

Byggdin studied creative writing at Dalhousie University.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Nicole Buffie (April 21, 2022). "Niverville expat returns to Southeast with debut novel". The Carillon.
  2. ^ "Byggdin brings debut novel to book club". Winnipeg Free Press. February 17, 2023.
  3. ^ Allison Lawlor (May 1, 2022). "KR Byggdin's debut novel tackles quest for belonging". SaltWire Network.
  4. ^ Morgan Mullin (June 8, 2023). "The speech that stole the show at this year's Atlantic Book Awards". The Coast.
  5. ^ "ReLit Awards announce 2023 long shortlists". Quill & Quire, September 25, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Jennifer Lavin (April 27, 2022). "A Narrative of Hope". Niverville Citizen. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  7. ^ Brian Bradley (June 21, 2022). "Top 10 reads for Pride month". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
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