Lee Maracle, Kamal Al-Solaylee

In this episode:

* Lee Maracle onCelia's Song
* Lennie Gallant onThe Lord God Birdby Tom Gallant
* Kamal Al-SolayleeonIntolerable. It's a contender in Canada Reads 2015.
* How I Wrote It: Marissa Stapley onMating for Life
* David Bergen, author ofLeaving Tomorrow, answers the Proust Questionnaire

BONUS:

Shelagh's extended conversation with Lee Maracle

In our occasional series "Master Class", we meet the all-stars of Canadian writing, authors with remarkable skills and years of experience, both in writing and in life.

Lee Maracle fits that bill. If you look her up in the Canadian Encyclopedia, it says she's one of "Canada's most prolific Aboriginal writers." Lee is also a teacher, a life-long political activist, and an expert on First Nations culture and history. She was born in 1950 and grew up in North Vancouver. Her mother was Metis, her father Salish, and Lee is one of twenty-three siblings.

• Lee Maracle'sI Am Womanis on the longlist for Canada Reads 2017

Lee published her first book in 1975. It was an autobiographical novel called Bobbi Lee: Indian Rebel, and it was one of the first Aboriginal works published in Canada. Since then Lee has written award-winning and critically acclaimed books in almost every genre. To date, she's published twelve books of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and short stories. She laid the groundwork for a generation of indigenous writers.

Lee uses traditional myths as a framework to spin modern tales that tackle issues of race, gender, and class.Her newest book is called Celia's Songand it offers a glimpse at people at their rawest and the restorative power of traditions.

We hope you enjoy this extended version of Shelagh's conversation with Lee Maracle.