PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: A new review of PEDAL on Publishers Weekly has this to say: “This is not an easy read. Julia is brash and sometimes violent, and the subject matter is consistently unnerving. But readers who push through will find an intelligent, incredibly well reasoned book that manages to uncover humanity in the internal struggle potentially faced by some pedophiles.”

WEST KINGS DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL: my Nova Scotian high school invited me to give the commencement speech at this year’s graduation ceremony. I spoke about being a bully in junior high and the Big Lessons that taught me how my own fear of rejection enabled me to treat others poorly. I told students to beware loyalty–it blinds you to abuse–and to be kind.

CCWWP: Michael V. Smith and I held a panel called HOW TO APPROACH A SILENCE at the 2016 Canadian Writers Summit in Toronto.

LOCUTION: A dream come true, to read at my alma mater’s reading series! Hosts Matthew Walsh and Clara Kumagai were absolutely delightful. I love UBC Creative Writing forever.

BC BOOK PRIZES: I was thrilled, absolutely thrilled, to be a judge for the Ethel Wilson BC Book Prize in Fiction this year. It was very difficult to choose a best book; my top vote went to AMITY by Nasreen Pejvack, a difficult tale about Yugoslavian and Iranian refugees. Congratulations to winner Alix Hawley!

VERSES FESTIVAL OF WORDS: What an incredible festival whose Artistic Director Jillian Christmas also read at this event tonight called POINT OF INFLECTION. I read a piece about rape, written over 1.5 years ago after my friend confided in me she had been assaulted by a member of our community. VERSES is my favourite literary festival in Vancouver and I was so honoured to participate.