Ami McKay

Ami McKay began her writing career as a freelancer for CBC Radio. Her work has aired on "Maritime Magazine", "Outfront", "This Morning" and "Sunday Edition". Her documentary, "Daughter of Family G" won an Excellence in Journalism Medallion at the 2003 Atlantic Journalism Awards. She was a finalist in the Writers' Union of Canada's Short Prose Competition as well as the recipient of a grant from the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. McKay was born in rural Indiana, but now lives with her husband and two sons on the Bay of Fundy.

"The Birth House" is McKay's first published effort and reached the number-1 spot on Canadian best sellers listsFact|date=February 2007.Her next novel, "The Virgin Cure", is due for publication Fall 2009.Her first script for the stage,"Jerome: The Historical Spectacle" was commissioned by Two Planks and a Passion Theatre Company and will be staged at The Ross Creek Centre for the Arts in August of 2008.

Awards and Recognition

*November 2002 - May 2003 Apprentice in the WFNS Mentorship Program Paired with Richard Cumyn
*October 2003 - "Daughter of Family G" was selected to air on Soundprint, and aired on National Public Radio stations throughout the U.S.
*May 2003 Atlantic Journalism Awards - Excellence in Journalism Award (Finalist in the Feature Writing for Radio Category, "Daughter of Family G")
*April 2003 Gabriel Award Nomination, "Daughter of Family G"
*January 2003 Finalist in the Writers' Union of Canada Short Prose Competition, Illumination
*March 2004 - 2nd Place in the The H.R.(Bill) Percy Prize for Unpublished Novel by the Writer's Federation of Nova Scotia.
*May 2007 - Bookseller's Choice Award at the Atlantic Book Awards
*June 2007 - Libris Awards for Best Author and Best Fiction Book of 2007. Presented by the Canadian Booksellers Association
*Nov 2007 - Longlisted for the Dublin IMPAC Award
*Feb 2008 - 2007 Evergreen Award. Presented by the Ontario Librarian's Assoc.

Writing Credits

*Jerome: The Historical Spectacle [play] Published by Gaspereau Press 2008. First staged by Two Planks and Passion Theatre Company 1 Aug - 17 Aug 2008 at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts.
*The Birth House: A Novel Published by Knopf(Canada),4th Estate (UK), Harper Collins (US), also in Holland and Germany
*Christ on a Bike, Short Story, Room of One's Own Magazine
*Daughter of Family G, Feature Documentary for CBC Radio's The Sunday Edition.
*Kitchen Ghosts, Feature Documentary for CBC Radio's Outfront
*The Midwife House, Feature Webumentary for CBC Radio's Outfront
*From Smart Girl to Scat Girl, Feature Documentary for CBC Radio's Outfront
*Learning to Box, Personal Essay for CBC Radio's First Person Singular

Affiliations

*The Writers Federation of Nova Scotia - Writer's Council Member
*PEN Canada & the PEN Canada Rapid Action Network
*Writing Fellow at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts

ee also

*List of Canadian writers

External links

* [http://www.orato.com/womens-health/2007/11/29/giving-life-birth-house Interview with Ami McKay - Orato]
* [http://www.thebirthhouse.com Her website] with many extras about her book, her writing and a Hysteria Quiz.
* [http://www.amimckay.blogspot.com/ Her Blog] A regularly updated blog that goes back several years. Very interesting for those who want to track a writer's journey from dreamy, unpublished obscurity to international bestselling author.
* [http://www.cbc.ca/wordsatlarge/features/feature.php?storyId=462 Interview with Ami McKay] , online from CBC Words at Large