about the author
Karen McBride is an Algonquin Anishinaabe writer from Timiskaming First Nation in the territory now known as Quebec. She is a storyteller, author, and illustrator whose work focuses on Indigenous identity, cultural traditions, spirituality, and the importance of community. Her debut novel, Crow Winter, was published in 2019 and combines contemporary fiction with Anishinaabe storytelling and mythology.
Before becoming a full-time writer, McBride pursued an education focused on both creativity and teaching. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music and English and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa. She later completed a Master of Arts in Creative Writing at the University of Toronto, where Crow Winter was developed as part of her creative writing studies.
McBride has also worked as an elementary school teacher in her home community. Her connection to education and storytelling influences the way she shares Indigenous knowledge, as she believes stories have the power to preserve culture and create connections between generations.
Why She Wrote Crow Winter
McBride was inspired to write Crow Winter after experiencing the loss of her own father in 2013. Although the novel is not autobiographical, Hazel's journey reflects McBride's exploration of grief and healing. In an interview with the University of Toronto, McBride explained that writing the novel began as a way to process her own emotions, saying:
“It all started as this idea of getting my own grief down on the page.”
— Karen McBride, interviewed by Sarah MacFarlane, University of Toronto (2019)
Through Crow Winter, McBride explores how grief can be understood through Anishinaabe teachings, where relationships with loved ones continue beyond death. By including Nanabush and Indigenous storytelling traditions, she shows that healing does not come from forgetting loss, but from reconnecting with culture, community, and spirituality.
Public Speaking & Community Involvement
McBride has participated in author talks, interviews, and literary events where she discusses Indigenous storytelling, grief, and the creation of Crow Winter. She has taken part in events such as the University of Toronto Alumni Book Club and writers' festivals, where she speaks about the role of culture, mythology, and community in her writing.
more about crow winter by karen mcbride
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