K.R. Byggdin (born 1991) is a Canadian novelist from Halifax, Nova Scotia.[1]

K.R. Byggdin
Occupationnovelist
NationalityCanadian
Period2020s–present
Notable worksWonder World
Website
krbyggdin.com

Career edit

Byggdin began publishing short fiction in 2018, with publications in The Antigonish Review, Grain, The Quilliad and others.

Their debut novel, Wonder World, was published by Enfield & Wizenty (Great Plains Press) in 2022.[2] The novel tells the story of a 27-year-old pansexual Mennonite man named Isaac Funk who returns to his small Manitoba town after years on the East Coast.[3]

Wonder World won the Thomas Head Raddall Award at the 2023 Atlantic Book Awards,[4] and was a finalist for the 2023 ReLit Award for fiction.[5]

Personal edit

Byggdin grew up in Niverville, Manitoba, where they attended a Mennonite church and due to their close contact with Mennonite communities, says they are "Mennonite by osmosis."[6] They began to pursue writing as a career after being exposed to the writing of Miriam Toews by the town's mayor, while working in a summer job for the town government.[6]

Byggdin studied creative writing at Dalhousie University.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ Nicole Buffie (April 21, 2022). "Niverville expat returns to Southeast with debut novel". The Carillon.
  2. ^ "Byggdin brings debut novel to book club". Winnipeg Free Press. February 17, 2023.
  3. ^ Allison Lawlor (May 1, 2022). "KR Byggdin's debut novel tackles quest for belonging". SaltWire Network.
  4. ^ Morgan Mullin (June 8, 2023). "The speech that stole the show at this year's Atlantic Book Awards". The Coast.
  5. ^ "ReLit Awards announce 2023 long shortlists". Quill & Quire, September 25, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Jennifer Lavin (April 27, 2022). "A Narrative of Hope". Niverville Citizen. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  7. ^ Brian Bradley (June 21, 2022). "Top 10 reads for Pride month". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 18, 2023.

External links edit