Ami McKay

Background

McKay was born in rural Indiana, but now lives with her husband and two sons on the Bay of Fundy. Her documentary, Daughter of Family G won an Excellence in Journalism Medallion at the 2003 Atlantic Journalism Awards.

Career

She began her writing career as a freelancer for Canadian Broadcasting Company Radio. Her work has aired on Maritime Magazine, Outfront, This Morning and The Sunday Edition. She was a finalist in the Writers" Union of Canada"s Short Prose Competition as well as the recipient of a grant from the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage.

The Birth House was McKay"s first published effort and reached the Number One spot on Canadian best sellers lists.

Her second novel, The Virgin Cure, was published in 2012. Her first script for the stage,Jerome: The Historical Spectacle was commissioned by Two Planks and a Passion Theatre Company and was staged at The Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, directed by Ken Schwartz in August 2008.

2012 - Established Artist Recognition Award—Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council / Provident of Nova Scotia May 2007 - Bookseller"s Choice Award at the Atlantic Book The Writers Federation of Nova Scotia - Writer"s Council Member Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelists association Canada & the Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelists association Canada Rapid Action Network Writing Fellow at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts.

Achievements

• 2012 - Established Artist Recognition Award—Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council / Provident of Nova Scotia 2012 - Atlantic Independent Booksellers" Association "Bookseller"s Choice of the Year" award for The Virgin Cure 2010 - One of the five finalists in Canadian Broadcasting Company"s Canada Reads. Her book is championed by television host and designer Debbie Travis. 2009 - Robert Meritt Award (co-winner with Allen Cole) for Outstanding Sound Design or Original Score for the 2008 production of Jerome: The Historical Spectacle produced by Two Planks and Passion Theatre Company February 2008 - 2007 Evergreen Award. Presented by the Ontario Librarian"s Associate November 2007 - Longlisted for the Dublin IMPAC Award June 2007 - Libris Awards for Best Author and Best Fiction Book of 2007. Presented by the Canadian Booksellers Association May 2007 - Bookseller"s Choice Award at the Atlantic Book Awards March 2004 - Second Place in The Hassaram Rijhumal(Bill) Percy Prize for Unpublished Novel by the Writer"s Federation of Nova Scotia. January 2003 Finalist in the Writers" Union of Canada Short Prose Competition, Illumination April 2003 Gabriel Award Nomination, Daughter of Family G May 2003 Atlantic Journalism Awards - Excellence in Journalism Award (Finalist in the Feature Writing for Radio Category, Daughter of Family G) October 2003 - Daughter of Family G was selected to air on Soundprint, and aired on National Public Radio stations throughout the United States. November 2002 - May 2003 Apprentice in the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Mentorship Program Paired with Richard Cumyn.