Diana Atkinson
| Diana Atkinson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Diana Wigod |
| Occupation | novelist |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Period | 1990s |
| Notable works | Highways and Dancehalls |
Diana Atkinson, née Wigod[1] is a Canadian writer, who was a shortlisted nominee for the Governor General's Award for English-language fiction at the 1995 Governor General's Awards for her novel Highways and Dancehalls.[2]
Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis as a child, and underwent frequent surgeries for the condition.[1] By her teenage years, she was psychologically troubled by post-operative trauma from the surgeries, dropping out of high school and spending some time working as a stripper.[1] Highways and Dancehalls was a roman à clef about her experience, although she resisted media attempts to sensationalize her past in the novel's promotion.[1] At the time of the award nomination, Atkinson was completing a degree at Concordia University in Montreal.[3]
The novel was also a shortlisted nominee for the 1995 Chapters First Novel Award.[4] A French-language translation, titled Strip, was published in 1998.[5]
Atkinson won a Western Magazine Award in 2000 for "Falling Slowly", an essay published in Vancouver Magazine,[6] and was nominated for a National Magazine Award in the same year for "From the Gut", an essay published in Western Living.[7]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Author tells how surgery led to life as stripper". Toronto Star, April 8, 1995.
- ↑ "68 finalists for literary awards". Vancouver Sun, October 27, 1995.
- ↑ "Nomination barely interrupts Atkinson's studies". Vancouver Sun, October 27, 1995.
- ↑ "Short list for 1st novel announced". The Globe and Mail, March 1, 1996.
- ↑ "Canadian bookseller waves flag in Paris". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, May 2, 1998.
- ↑ "Mix named top magazine in B.C.". Vancouver Sun, June 23, 2000.
- ↑ "National magazine nominees announced". Vancouver Sun, April 20, 2000.