Elizabeth Hay

Novelist and writer

Elizabeth Hay is a novelist and writer of fiction, nonfiction and essays. She is an award-winning and best-selling author, as well as an accomplished journalist. Born in Saskatchewan, Canada, she was raised in the small town of Wawa, Ontario, where she attended high school. Her first book, Small Beneath the Sky, was released in 2001 and was nominated for a number of literary awards, including the Giller Prize in 2002. She has gone on to write a number of novels, including Late Nights on Air, which won the Scotiabank Giller Prize in 2007, a Governor General’s Award in 2008 and the CBC Short Story Prize in 2009. In addition to writing novels and short stories, she has also released four non-fiction books; Garbo Laughing, All Things Consoled, His Whole Life and A Student of Weather. Alongside her writing career, Elizabeth Hay has worked as a journalist and magazine editor. She has written for numerous publications, such as The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and The Walrus. She was also the Editor-in-Chief for the prestigious literary magazine, The Descant. In addition to her work as a journalist and editor, she is also an experienced broadcaster. She spends her time teaching creative writing classes and workshops across the country, and inspiring aspiring authors to write. In her writing and teaching, Elizabeth Hay continues to challenge the preconceived conventions of the literary form. In her works, she demonstrates a mastery of word craft, precision and poignancy. A master storyteller, she has the ability to take readers on an emotional journey, whether it is through her stories or her nonfiction works. With her writing, she offers a new and insightful perspective on the world around us. Her writing is gripping, substantial and deeply moving. An inspiring author and a passionate teacher, Elizabeth Hay is revered and respected in both the Canadian and international literary communities.