05 JANUARY 2014

Nalo Hopkinson

FIVE BLACK CANADIAN NOVELISTS YOU SHOULD KNOW

How many black Canadian novelists can you name? Top marks if you were able to name two. There are many more but they tend to be under the radar. Here is our list of five of the best black novelists in Canada.

Nalo Hopkinson. This fantasy and science fiction writer has published 10 novels and many short stories. Hopkinson is originally from Jamaica. Her best sellers include Brown Girl in the Ring and The Salt Roads. Hopkinson’s latest book is Sister Mine. Nalo Hopkinson

Dany Laferriere. This Haitian-Canadian writer is best known for How to Make Love to a Negro, Without Getting Tired. Laferriere has a wicked sense of humour. His other novels include I am a Japanese Writer and Dining with the Dictator. Dany Laferriere

Lawrence Hill. This lyrical writer has published novels and memoirs. My favourite are Any Known Blood and The Book of Negroes (Someone Knows my Name). The latter won the Commonwealth Writers’ prize. Hill’s latest book is the non-fiction Blood: The Stuff of Life. Hill’s parents are black and white Americans. Lawrence Hill

Austin Clarke. He is the grandfather of Caribbean-Canadian writing. Clarke has won the Giller and the Commonwealth Writers’ prizes. My favourite of his books are Growing Up Stupid Under the Union Jack, and The Polished Hoe. Clarke is originally from Barbados. His latest book is More. It won the City of Toronto Book Award. Goodreads, Austin Clarke

Esi Edugyan. Her second novel, Half Blood Blues, made Edugyan a publishing sensation. It won the Giller Prize. Edugyan was born in Canada to parents from Ghana.Esi Edugyan Photo: Nalo Hopkinson © Jacqueline L. Scott is a writer in Toronto, Canada. She writes on travel, race and culture.

>via: http://anancymag.com/5-black-canadian-novelists-you-should-know/