Sebright Author Wins Canadian Book Club Award

—submitted

It was announced in September that Susan Wadds had been selected as a finalist in the fiction category of the Canadian Book Club Awards, for What the Living Do. On Wednesday, her publicist announced the book had won.

“With equal measures of compassion and bite, What the Living Do plumbs the twisted depths of survivor’s guilt and childhood trauma to grapple with the question of self-worth. This is a powerful and timely book that grapples with women’s reproductive rights and sexuality, as well as survivor’s guilt,” describes River Street Writing.

The book was inspired by Wadds’s personal struggles.

“At 41, I discovered that I was pregnant. With active cancer. My oncologist advised a full hysterectomy in order to ‘kill two birds with one stone,’ since he was of the opinion that birthing a child would spread cancer throughout my body,” she said. “I disregarded his insistence. I also turned away from the invasion of amniocentesis, a recommendation for geriatric mothers.”

Kristain Oliveira-Barnes, program director with the Canadian Book Club Awards, said the 2024 winners “epitomize the power of storytelling.”

“They represent a spectrum of experiences, voices, and genres that have resonated deeply with readers across the country. We are proud to celebrate these outstanding contributions to Canadian literature.”

Wadds was emotional about the big win. “My feet haven’t touched solid ground quite yet. I’m so grateful to the Canadian Book Club Awards and all the verified readers who made this possible,” she said.

She added, “So far, the feedback for What the Living Do has been so heartening. It took six years to find a publisher, so having this response from the reading public is intensely gratifying.”

The Canadian Book Club Awards is Canada’s largest reader’s choice award, dedicated to celebrating an inclusive literary industry in Canada. Open to all authors, CBCA aims to amplify diverse voices and connect readers with compelling stories across a wide range of genres.

Through its unique voting process, Verified Readers play an integral role in selecting winners, ensuring that each award reflects the tastes and preferences of the Canadian readers community. Founded with the mission to honor exceptional storytelling, CBCA continues to support authors and foster a love for reading nationwide.

A complete list of winners can be found here.

Future plans for Wadds? Fans will be pleased to know that she has a second novel on submission, and is currently on a writing retreat to pull a third novel together. As well, the audio book of What the Living Do is available on most platforms.

“My publicist has also submitted the novel for film consideration!” Wadds disclosed. “So, fingers crossed!”

What the Living Do is available at local bookstores in Orillia and Barrie, and online through Amazon.