The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections(102)

More than one of your characters struggles with their mental health. Do you think the stigma attached to mental health is decreasing? Do you have any advice for people who are struggling?

I think little by little the stigma is decreasing. But I worry that while people now understand that mental illness is illness, not a character defect, they are still unsure about how to support the people in their lives who may be suffering from mental illness. So my advice is not for people who are struggling with depression or other mental health challenges, it’s for those who aren’t. My advice is to seek resources from your local health authority so that you can be a supportive partner, coworker, employer, or friend.

Which books are on your bedside table these days?

It’s a big pile! But if I push aside the overdue library books, there are a few that stand out. There’s Mort sur le Nil, a translation of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile that I’m using to practice my French. I’ll be able to say “She’s been shot!” before I can successfully order dessert en fran?ais. I’m also savoring Where the Wild Ladies Are by Matsuda Aoko. It’s a collection of short stories that are retellings of Japanese folk tales and ghost stories. They’re moody and spooky and feminist and surprising. Lastly, I just read Rumaan Alam’s Leave the World Behind in one sitting. At one point it stressed me out so much I threw it across the room. I’m keeping it close so I can eventually reread it.





Acknowledgments


I’m everlastingly indebted to my agent and fairy godmother, Erin Clyburn, for finding a home for my book and answering my thousands of questions. Thank you to Anna Michels at Sourcebooks for her excitement about the book from day one and to Heather VenHuizen and Kelly Lawler, the creative team who turned the idea of my book into something beautiful I can hold in my hand. And to Kimberly Glyder for the beautiful cover design. For the incredible publicity, marketing, and sales folks who made sure that my book made it into the hands of readers—there are too many of you to name but I’m forever in awe of your creativity and energy.

Many thanks are owed to everyone at the University of Toronto Libraries, my professional home, with particular gratitude to the welcoming and wise and endlessly interesting staff of the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library who welcomed me there: Anne Dondertman, Luba Frastacky, Phillip Oldfield, Pearce Carefoote, Natalya Rattan, Elizabeth Ridolfo, Graham Bradshaw, Susan Chater, Linda Joy, John Shoesmith, Tom Reid, Jennifer Toews.

For providing the precious minutes of childcare that allowed me to write this book, thank you to Francine St. Pierre, Bronislawa Jurczyk and Carol Shapiro. And of course, thanks to my delightful little family, Matthew and Henryk Valentine, for being infuriating and distracting but always making me want to make you proud.