The Dirty Dozen with Katherena Vermette

Katherena Vermette's The Break (House of Anansi Press) was nominated for both the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize and the Governor General's Literary Award this year, a rare feat for a first novel. The story of a young Métis mother who witnesses a crime, The Break is a layered and uneasy narrative told in multiple voices, and achieves that rare balance of being equal parts page-turner and stunning literary accomplishment. The powerful nature of Katherena's voice was also on display in her first book, a collection of poetry called North End Love Songs, which snagged a Governor General's Literary Award in 2013. 

We're thrilled to speak to Katherena today as part of our Dirty Dozen series, where we ask authors to get up close and personal by spilling twelve unexpected facts about themselves. Katherena tells us about the dog that you're definitely going to want to meet, which TV shows to talk about in order to fit in at her house, and the process of making a home in writing.

Katherena Vermette's Dirty Dozen

1. I am a huge fantasy fan (I think I mentioned this ad nauseum in my last dirty dozen) but I read so many things. I like serious then not so serious. Life is balance.

2. Speaking of balance, I have practice yoga for 20 years and about to start Teacher Training (life goals achieving).

3. I think about my dog a bit too much, especially when I am traveling because - worry. I have become one of those people who find any excuse to talk about my dog. He's a lab whippet cross named Sam Winchester.

4. Supernatural is a big deal in my house.

5. I'm currently listening to a lot of Sia. And that Justin Timberlake song "Can't Stop the Feeling!" is my secret jam (mom dancing included).

6. I found novel writing very hard. I don't recommend it.

7. Poetry is my real home. Poetry is also hard, but home is like that. Difficult maybe, but there's no place like it.

8. I like to crochet and drink a lot of tea. I am pretty much an 80-year old woman on the inside. I also complain about the technology.

9. I think I'm really funny (and know I am not). I write about serious things but don't take myself seriously at all.

10. I have two teenage daughters. Hence, the Supernatural (and the empty nest dog loving)

11. I love Winnipeg but really hate winter (winter is always coming in Winnipeg).

12. Can I talk about my dog again? He's scared of everything like Lorelei's dog Paul Anka (Gilmore Girls is also pretty important in my house).

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Katherena Vermette is a Métis writer from Treaty One territory, the heart of the Métis nation, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Her first book, North End Love Songs (The Muses Company) won the 2013 Governor General’s Literary Award for Poetry. Her literary work has appeared in several magazines and anthologies, and she recently completed work on a short documentary, this river produced by the National Film Board of Canada (2016). The Break is her first novel.