About
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Jen Sookfong Lee writes, talks on the radio and loves her slow cooker.
In 2007, Knopf Canada published Jen’s first novel, The End of East, as part of its New Face of Fiction program. Hailed as “an emotional powerhouse of a novel,” The End of East shines a light on the Chinese Canadian story, the repercussions of immigration and the city of Vancouver.
Shelter, Jen’s first fiction for young adults, was published in February 2011 as part of Annick Press’ Single Voice series. It follows a young girl as she struggles to balance her first and dangerous love affair with a difficult and demanding family.
Called “straight-ahead page-turning brilliance” by The National Post and shortlisted for the City of Vancouver Book Award, The Better Mother, Jen’s sophomore novel, was published by Knopf in May 2011. Set in Vancouver during the mid-20th century and early 1980s, The Better Mother is about the accidental friendship between Miss Val, a longtime burlesque dancer, and Danny Lim, a wedding photographer trying to reconcile his past with his present.
A popular radio personality, Jen was the writing columnist for CBC Radio One’s On the Coast and All Points West for three years. She appears regularly as a columnist on The Next Chapter and Definitely Not the Opera, and is a frequent co-host of the Studio One Book Club. Jen is a member of the writing group SPiN and is represented by the Carolyn Swayze Literary Agency.
Born and raised in East Vancouver, Jen now lives in North Burnaby with her husband, son and hoodlum of a dog.
Dear Jen,
I listened to you today on Shelagh Rogers’ show and I felt a lot of affinity for the sorts of things you write about. I have a book that came out with a small press this year about a family of Tamil Immigrants in Canada. Despite being a strong story and a strong commendation by Alan Moore, it hasn’t gotten any press or reviews. As far as we know, it’s the first book of fiction about Tamil immigrants in Canada. I was wondering if you’d be interested in reviewing it on either of the shows you contribute to. This is the webpage for the book:
http://www.quattrobooks.ca/quattro-fiction/the-panic-button
thanks,
Koom Kankesan
Hey,
check out my book trailer!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNaua0kqEXE&feature=youtu.be
D.
Jen Thank you so much for writing “the end of east”. I have not yet finished reading the story, but I lived on Keefer (at Campbell) for over 30 years it’s nice to have all that in my mind again.
I now live in Japan & your images of the Asian (Japanese in my case) mother-in-law ring so true.
I look forward to reading more of your works, if I can find them (English language -anything- is in short supply here. I found “the end of east” at the main Yokohama library, there appears to be a book-connection between sister cities Yokohama 7 Vancouver. A special section highlights many Canadian authors.
That should read: “Yokohama & Vancouver”!
Thanks for the nice comment, James. I think I knew something about Yokohama and Vancouver being literary sister cities. It pleases me that my book has a life in Japan! You may be able to get copies of my other books through used bookstores online. I don’t know. My sister in Singapore couldn’t get them though.
Thanks Jen – I have mentioned “the end of east” on my facebook page and a friend in San Francisco has ordered a copy.
That makes me happy!
Me too!
[...] and entertainment, but also had a splendiferous blue pencil edit with the most lovely of writers Jen Sookfong Lee. (pictured on the left..such a sweet photo of a truly sweet person). She was friendly and kind; [...]