A Tale of Two Residencies

This past year, I was lucky enough to participate in two different writers' residency programs: one at the Banff Centre for the Arts and one in Barcelona. 

In Barcelona, I was living at Jiwar Creation and Society. The founders organized a six-week residency to coincide with Festa de San Jordi, a Valentine's Day-like holiday when people exchange both flowers and books with their sweethearts. (This is obviously my new favourite holiday.) At the end of my Jiwar stay, I was invited to do a public reading in the garden. It was an unforgettable experience to read from my novel in the same neighbourhood where the work was originally inspired. I'm so grateful to have spent time in both of these artist-supportive and beautiful places.

My cabin in the Leighton Artists’ Colony at the Banff Centre for the Arts

The magical garden at Jiwar