Latest news with #StephenLeacockMemorialMedalforHumour
Calgary Herald
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Q and A with Calgary author Natalie Sue, winner of the 2025 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour
Article content Natalie Sue was busy working on revisions for her upcoming sophomore novel when she let an incoming phone call go to voicemail. Article content It turns out it was someone from Stephen Leacock Associates calling to tell her she had made the list for the prestigious $25,000 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour, which she won this weekend at a gala in Orillia, Ont. Leacock, who wrote comical CanLit classics such as Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town in the early 20th century, lived in Orilli,a and it is home to the Leacock Museum. Article content Article content The win tops off what has been a remarkable ride for Sue and her debut novel, I Hope This Finds You Well. After writing three novels and receiving no interest from publishers or agents, Sue changed her style and pitched a book with a lighter tone and an ensemble cast of characters. She received offers from 10 literary agents, and I Hope This Finds You Well eventually had 10 publishers bidding for it. Released in early 2024 by Harper Collins Canada, it has been described as 'The Office meets Fleabag' with its tale of a burned-out twenty-something office outcast named Jolene who catches flak when unflattering online messages about her co-workers that she thought were private come to light. When she accidentally becomes privy to her co-workers' similarly disparaging DMs, she decides to use them to climb the corporate ladder. Article content Article content Local writers have a strong track record with the Leacock Medal. In 2024, B.C.-born novelist Patrick deWitt won the award for The Librarianist, but the runner-ups were Calgary authors Ali Bryan and Deborah Willis for Coq and Girlfriend on Mars, respectively. Article content Article content Past winners have also included Calgary's Will Ferguson, who has won the medal three times. Ferguson's brother Ian has also won the award, as did the late W.O. Mitchell. Article content For me, I try to prioritize the storytelling. I don't want to say comedy comes naturally, because I do think about my jokes. Sometimes I do get a little wrapped up in them, trying to make things funny. Before writing this book, I had written a few suspense (novels) and I think the biggest problem with me writing suspense was that I was throwing a few jokes in and it wasn't really the right tone. So, now, when I decided to write something a little lighter in tone, it matched much more. That's when I was finally able to find an agent and all that.
Hamilton Spectator
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Natalie Sue wins Leacock Medal for Humour for novel ‘I Hope This Finds You Well'
Natalie Sue's debut novel 'I Hope This Finds You Well' has won this year's Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. The $25,000 award is given to the best Canadian book of literary humour published in the previous year. The novel follows the story of an office worker in her early thirties who one day stumbles upon all of her colleagues' private emails and decides to use their gossip to help save her job. 'I Hope This Finds You Well' was published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. Sue is a Calgary-based author of Iranian and British descent who spent her early years living in western Canada. Runners-up, who received $5,000 each, were Greg Kearney for 'An Evening With Birdy O'Day,' about an aging hairstylist who lost connection with his childhood best friend when he left to pursue a pop music career, and Patricia J. Parsons for 'We Came From Away: That Summer on the Rock,' which follows one woman's attempt to reconnect her family with Newfoundland. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Natalie Sue wins Leacock Medal for Humour for novel ‘I Hope This Finds You Well'
Natalie Sue's debut novel 'I Hope This Finds You Well' has won this year's Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. The $25,000 award is given to the best Canadian book of literary humour published in the previous year. The novel follows the story of an office worker in her early thirties who one day stumbles upon all of her colleagues' private emails and decides to use their gossip to help save her job. 'I Hope This Finds You Well' was published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. Sue is a Calgary-based author of Iranian and British descent who spent her early years living in western Canada. Runners-up, who received $5,000 each, were Greg Kearney for 'An Evening With Birdy O'Day,' about an aging hairstylist who lost connection with his childhood best friend when he left to pursue a pop music career, and Patricia J. Parsons for 'We Came From Away: That Summer on the Rock,' which follows one woman's attempt to reconnect her family with Newfoundland. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2025.
Global News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Global News
Alberta writer Natalie Sue sees her debut novel become finalist for Leacock humour writing prize
Calgary writer Natalie Sue's debut novel about the absurdities of office life is one of three finalists for the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. The $25,000 award, named for essayist and humorist Stephen Leacock, honours the best Canadian book of literary humour published in the past year. Sue's I Hope This Finds You Well, which centres on a burnt-out office worker whose unsent email drafts accidentally go public, is on the short list. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Also making the cut is Toronto author and playwright Greg Kearney's An Evening With Birdy O'Day, about an aging hairstylist revisiting his friendship with a washed-up pop idol. Rounding out the list is Toronto writer Patricia J. Parsons' We Came From Away: That Summer on the Rock, which follows a feuding family's Newfoundland road trip. Story continues below advertisement The winner will be announced June 21 at a gala dinner in Orillia, Ont.
Toronto Star
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Natalie Sue's ‘I Hope This Finds You Well' among Leacock humour writing prize finalists
Calgary writer Natalie Sue's debut novel about the absurdities of office life is one of three finalists for the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. The $25,000 award, named for essayist and humorist Stephen Leacock, honours the best Canadian book of literary humour published in the past year. Sue's 'I Hope This Finds You Well,' which centres on a burnt-out office worker whose unsent email drafts accidentally go public, is on the short list. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Also making the cut is Toronto author and playwright Greg Kearney's 'An Evening With Birdy O'Day,' about an aging hairstylist revisiting his friendship with a washed-up pop idol. Rounding out the list is Toronto writer Patricia J. Parsons' 'We Came From Away: That Summer on the Rock,' which follows a feuding family's Newfoundland road trip. The winner will be announced June 21 at a gala dinner in Orillia, Ont. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 20, 2025.
