Ami McKay
Ami McKay (born 1968) is a Canadian journalist and novelist.
McKay was born in rural Indiana, but now lives with her husband and two sons on the Bay of Fundy. She began her writing career as a freelancer for CBC Radio. Her work has aired on Maritime Magazine, Outfront, This Morning and The 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.
The Birth House was McKay's first published effort and reached the Number One spot on Canadian best sellers lists[citation needed]. Her second novel, "The Virgin Cure", was published in 2012.
Her first script for the stage,Jerome: The Historical Spectacle was commissioned by Two Planks and a Passion Theatre Company and was staged at The Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, directed by Ken Schwartz in August 2008.
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[edit] Awards and recognition
- 2012 - Atlantic Independent Booksellers' Association "Bookseller's Choice of the Year" award for The Virgin Cure
- 2010 - One of the five finalists in CBC's Canada Reads. Her book is championed by TV host and designer Debbie Travis.
- 2009 - Robert Meritt Award (co-winner with Allen Cole) for Outstanding Sound Design or Original Score for the 2008 production of Jerome: The Historical Spectacle produced by Two Planks and Passion Theatre Company
- Feb 2008 - 2007 Evergreen Award. Presented by the Ontario Librarian's Assoc.
- Nov 2007 - Longlisted for the Dublin IMPAC Award
- June 2007 - Libris Awards for Best Author and Best Fiction Book of 2007. Presented by the Canadian Booksellers Association
- May 2007 - Bookseller's Choice Award at the Atlantic Book Awards
- March 2004 - Second Place in the The H.R.(Bill) Percy Prize for Unpublished Novel by the Writer's Federation of Nova Scotia.
- January 2003 Finalist in the Writers' Union of Canada Short Prose Competition, Illumination
- April 2003 Gabriel Award Nomination, Daughter of Family G
- May 2003 Atlantic Journalism Awards - Excellence in Journalism Award (Finalist in the Feature Writing for Radio Category, Daughter of Family G)
- October 2003 - Daughter of Family G was selected to air on Soundprint, and aired on National Public Radio stations throughout the U.S.
- November 2002 - May 2003 Apprentice in the WFNS Mentorship Program Paired with Richard Cumyn
[edit] Writing credits
- The Virgin Cure: A Novel Published by Knopf(Canada), HarperCollins (US), Orion (UK), Neri Pozza (Italy - de casa della vergini)
- 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, Germany, Spain (la casa de la luna) and Lithuiania(Gimdymo Namai - published by VAGA)
- 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
[edit] 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
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Her personal website Her main website.
- Interview with Ami McKay - Orato
- 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.
- Interview with Ami McKay, online from CBC Words at Large
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