Novelist Kathy Page let her imagination run free when she was a child.
“I was one of those kids who would make up stories,” said Page.
She once convinced her parents she was in a school play for more than a week, going into detail about the costumes and scenes she would star in.
“I’ve always liked to play with reality and make stories out of it,” said Page.
A vivid imagination is essential for creating stories.
“Writers give themselves permission to put the mental energy to wonder in a big way,” said Page.
She said she is inspired by friends or situations she comes across.
She came across a small child waiting outside a shop, staring through the window, while family members shopped inside. It made her wonder what the story was about and why the child had been left outside the shop. The scene became the inspiration for the short story, Red Dog, which is included in her book of short stories The Two of Us.
The Two of Us was recently placed on the longlist for the prestigious Scotiabank Giller Prize, along with the work of 11 other writers.
“It feels good to be in such good company,” said Page.
She said she’s grateful to have been selected.
Her last series of short stories, Paradise & Elsewhere was also placed on the 2014 Giller Prize longlist.
The Two of Us is a collection of stories focusing on relationships, between lovers, spouses, siblings, a girl and a fox and others.
Page is currently writing a third novel of short stories about a couple that has been married for 70 years.
Page reads from her book during an author reading Oct. 18 in the Malaspina Theatre lobby from 5:30-7 p.m. She’s joined by authors Leon Rook, reading Swinging Through Dixie, and John Metcalf, reading The Museum at the End of the World.
Page lives on Salt Spring Island and teaches in the creative writing and journalism department at Vancouver Island University.
For more information about Page, please go to www.kathypage.info or for the Giller Prize please go to www.scotiabankgillerprize.ca.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com