“Short stories are my absolute favourite form to work in. Done right, they’re like the most innovative and striking of pieces hanging in a gallery; framed-in so that you can appreciate each one individually and get completely lost in a relatively tiny piece of geography. I love that indulgent shock when you wade in; like being a kid and jumping in a puddle only to find out its super deep and soaks you over your boots.”

Cherie Dimaline is the author of the novels Red Rooms, The Girl Who Grew A Galaxy, and, most recently the collection of short stories titled A Gentle Habit. The stories centre “on the addictions of a diverse group of characters attempting normalcy in an unnatural world.” The inspiration for the collection comes from a quote by American Poet Charles Bukowski: “in between the punctuating agonies, life is such a gentle habit.” While her focus may be on the everyday aspects of life, praise for her work has been anything but ordinary. Joseph Boyden calls her “a fantastic writer, her prose a gorgeous tightrope walk between the traditional and contemporary. One of our most fresh and exciting voices.” In another review, Fellow Kingston WritersFest author Waubgeshig Rice states that Cherie “has strongly established herself as a gifted, essential voice in the vibrant realm of global Indigenous literature. The compelling journeys she creates for her richly complex characters invoke the profound storytelling of her Anishinaabe heritage. With A Gentle Habit, Dimaline delivers yet another beautiful set of influential stories that take modern Indigenous writing on a bold, exciting path forward.”

In addition to writing, Cherie has edited numerous publications including Spirit, FNH and Muskrat magazines. Cherie was named the 2014 Emerging Artist of the Year – Ontario Premier’s Award, and was named the first Writer in Residence – Aboriginal Literature for the Toronto Public Library. She also held the position of Writer in Residence for First Nations House at the University of Toronto.

Cherie currently lives in Toronto, Ontario, where she coordinates the annual Indigenous Writers’ Gathering and is at work on her next book.

Appearing: 27. (Re)visions: The Indigenous Voice in Fiction

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www.cheriedimaline.blogspot.ca
www.kegedonce.com/authors/item/67-cherie-dimaline
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