This month, we are publishing High-Water Mark, an exciting collection of short stories by Bronwen Wallace award–winner, Nicole Dixon, and I am so pleased to announce that in November we will be bringing Nicole here, to Ontario, for a whirlwind author tour.

Travel is a recurring theme in Nicole Dixon's short story collection.

But Nicole is used to travel by now … she has lived all over! Nicole was born in Toronto, grew up in Sarnia, took a creative writing Master’s in Windsor, and has settled (for now) out east in Nova Scotia, dividing her time between Advocate Harbour and New Waterford. In fact, travel is a bit of recurring theme in Nicole’s collection. Each story shows an individual between places, moving from childhood to adulthood, from school to work, from city to country, from east to west. As we are drawn into these liminal lives, we come to realize that their division between places doubles as a division between selves. Nicole’s characters are faced to with hard moves and difficult decisions–each story swoops down on a person, poised to make a defining choice about his or her life. The interweaving of emotional and physical space in Nicole’s collection is brilliant, creating a visceral connection between our lives and the land that readers will revel in.

But most importantly, when writing the stories that make up High-Water Mark, Nicole told PQL that her goal was to “write stories I want to read.” Nicole says she has “a hard time finding stories about contemporary, active women, especially written by Canadian authors,” and so High-Water Mark was designed to fill that void. And does Nicole ever succeed. High-Water Mark is filled with real women making real decisions about their lives–and no apologies are offered. Nicole’s women bravely pursue their romantic and professional desires, constantly questioning their options in love, work, and sex. It’s a inspiring collection by a very inspiring debut author.

.

But you are probably wondering when and where you can see this fabulous new author. Ontario friends, come out and support Nicole Dixon! You won’t be sorry. Catch Nicole at any of the following locations at the listed times as she makes her way across Ontario from November 4–8.

The Lit Live Reading Series in Hamilton
Sunday, November 4, at 7:30pm
SkyDragon Centre, 27 King William Street

Carolyn Smart’s Writers’ Workshops and Readings in Kingston
Monday, November 5, reading at 1pm
Queen’s University, Watson Hall, room TBA

BoneShaker Reading Series in Toronto
Tuesday, November 6, 7pm
St Clair Public Library, 1748 St Clair Avenue

Pivot Reading Series in Toronto
Wednesday, November 7, at 8pm
The Press Club, 850 Dundas Street West

The Book Keeper in Sarnia
Thursday, November 8, at 7pm
500 Exmouth Street

Don’t miss this exciting tour, and check back here for more fun information about Nicole Dixon! Until next time … Porcupette out!

High-Water Mark is Nicole Dixon's debut short story collection.