In celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth, I'm featuring a BIPOC writer for every day of February. And as a special treat for subscribers to my newsletter, every week one lucky winner will win a copy of a book from each of that week's seven featured writers. Winners will be announced right here on the blog, starting today. [Check out our first winner, noted below!] Not a subscriber yet? Scroll to the bottom of this page, and sign up!
Ian Williams is an award-winning poet and novelist, and is currently a professor at the University of British Columbia.
In the before-times, I once had the pleasure of moderating a panel that included Ian, and which addressed the subject of the writing life. What tactics do writers use to make space in their lives to put words on paper? It was a great panel, and Ian offered sage and reasoned advice. Within days, he won the 2019 Giller prize for his novel REPRODUCTION, so I guess it stands to reason that the techniques he suggested that day really do work!
Also? I have to say that the cover of his book ranks among my top three faves of all time. Don't believe me? Check it out!
You can read more about Ian Williams' latest poetry collection, WORD PROBLEMS, right here.
And very shortly, lucky newsletter subscriber Yesica Muños will have the pleasure of reading Ian's work, along with a collection from this week's featured authors, Jenny Heijun Wills, Rahma Rodaah, Beverly Jenkins, Jael Richardson, Tanya Talaga and Angie Thomas, since she is our first winner!
Congratulations, Yesi! I'll be reaching out to you by email to sort out getting you this amazing prize package. WooHOO!
A reminder that this is only the first of FOUR draws this month. The next draw takes place next weekend. Make sure you're signed up at kcdyer.com and watch this space for new feature writers every day in February!
More soon...
~kc