Bio 

Heather Birrell is the author of I know you are but what am I? (Coach House Books, 2004), a collection of stories. Her stories have been shortlisted for both the Western and National Magazine Awards and have appeared in numerous Canadian literary journals, including The New Quarterly, Matrix, Descant, Prism international and the online magazine bookninja.  I know you are but what am I? was also longlisted for Canada's ReLit Award.  New work appears in the anthology Toronto Noir (Akashic Books) and the American journal Hobart.      

“BriannaSusannaAlana”, Heather's third story to be included in the annual Journey Prize Anthology, was awarded The Writers' Trust of Canada/McClelland & Stewart 2006 Journey Prize in February 2007.  Heather was fortunate enough to share the stage with writer and activist June Callwood (1924-2007) at the award ceremony.

As a book reviewer, Heather has contributed to such publications as the Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, Quill and Quire, Books in Canada and The Believer. She is also a fellow of several writers' residencies: Spain's Fundacion Valparaiso, the MacDowell Colony in the US, and Scotland's Hawthornden Castle. In 2006, Heather conducted an on-line interview with a short story writer she has long admired, Deborah Eisenberg.  You can find the text of that interview at bookninja.com.   

Heather is now busy with a new collection and a novel about a tire factory, Cuba, teenaged love and a draft dodger.  She also works as a high school teacher and a creative writing instructor.  She does all of this - barely - in Toronto, where she lives with her husband, teacher and illustrator (and all-round alliterative wonder), Charles Checketts.