“Furniture Broken by Boys” is shortlisted for a Writers Guild of Alberta prize

I’m delighted to share that an unpublished personal essay I wrote, “Furniture Broken by Boys,” has been shortlisted for the Jon Whyte Memorial Essay Award. This award is part of the 2026 Writers Guild of Alberta Literary Awards, and the winners will be announced at a gala on Friday, June 5 in Edmonton. I never miss this gala – I love celebrating the achievements of Alberta writers and, after 20+ years being part of this sprawling writing community, it’s always a happy occasion to come together with writer friends from across the province. And this year, it will be extra sweet. “Furniture Broken by Boys” is very dear to my heart, and while it’s currently unpublished, I hope to rectify that soon. I’m grateful to the Writers Guild of Alberta for their support and celebration of writers, and to the jurors who selected my essay as a finalist for this prize. Find details on all the 2026 WGA literary prizes and shortlisted authors here.