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This year's new voices are new in more ways than one. Their first books are daring, stylistically innovative and fresh in content. These two young authors see their time and place in new ways and both are high on "to be watched" lists.

Théodora Armstrong

The work of Vancouver poet and fiction writer Théodora Armstrong has appeared in numerous literary magazines including Event, Prairie Fire, The New Quarterly and Contemporary Verse 2. Her first book of short stories, Clear Skies, No Wind, 100% Visibility, is peopled with a variety of imperfect yet compelling characters whose stories are set, to great effect, in a variety of British Columbia locations. Words such as: brash, brainy, breathtakingly insightful and startlingly intimate have been used to describe her writing.

Bradley Somer

Bradley Somer, too, has been widely published in literary magazines and anthologies. He likes his fiction to flirt with fantasy and border on the absurd. This is abundantly apparent in his fantastic and fantastical first novel, Imperfections. The characters are eccentric, the plot is offbeat and unpredictable, the ending is implausible but completely germane and the book is unputdownable. Imperfections explores the boundaries between the beautiful and grotesque, the hilarious and horrific. The Australia-born author lives in Calgary, Alberta.

This event will be moderated by Susan Swan (see Event #2).

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