ABOUT THIS EPISODE:In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to E.G. Alaraj. Evangelene is the author of When Stars Arise, which was a finalist for the 2024 Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize. In their conversation Evangelene talks about how her own kids bedtime routine inspired her first book. She also talks about how her own creative childhood inspired her.

2024 BC and Yukon Book Prizes shortlists: https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/winners-finalists/#2024

Visit BC and Yukon Book Prizes: https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/

About When Stars Arise: https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/project/when-stars-arise/

ABOUT E.G. Alaraj:E.G. Alaraj grew up in the magical place that every child knows, where ideas look like pictures drawn from crayons, paint or ink and sound like stories from long ago and far away. The youngest of six girls in a homeschool family, she spent her childhood with her nose in storybooks, art books, music books, notebooks and trouble—especially trouble. In fact, she thinks trouble and imagination are best friends. E.G. lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

ABOUT MEGAN COLE:Megan Cole the Director of Programming and Communications for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based on the territory of the Tla'amin Nation. Megan writes creative nonfiction and has had essays published in Chatelaine, This Magazine, The Puritan, Untethered, and more. She has her MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of King's College and is working her first book. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com

ABOUT THE PODCAST:Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen.

Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.