Bridget Canning
Bridget Canning is a Canadian writer from Newfoundland and Labrador. Her first novel, The Greatest Hits of Wanda Jaynes (2017), was adapted into film in 2021. Her second novel, Some People's Children, was a contender for the 2021 N.L. Reads competition.
Biography
Canning grew up in Highlands, Newfoundland and Labrador, and is based in St. John's.[1]
Canning's first novel, The Greatest Hits of Wanda Jaynes (2017), follows a woman struggling with personal issues and problems with her career, with the story taking a dark turn when a shooter opens fire at a grocery store the protagonist is shopping at. Canning described her inspiration for the book as wanting to write about topics which invoke fear in her.[2] The book was adapted into film by Marina Cordoni Entertainment and Rink Rat Productions in 2021.[3]
Canning released her next book, What's Written in the Ladies, in 2018. The book is a collection of photographs of writing on the interior walls of stalls in public bathrooms, with some of the photographs accompanied by a short story using the photograph as a writing prompt.[4]
Canning's second novel, Some People's Children, follows a teenaged girl growing up in rural Newfoundland. The book was well-received by critics who praised its robust plot and Canning's smooth prose.[5] The book was a contender for the 2021 N.L. Reads competition.[6]
In 2022, Canning released her book No One Knows about Us, a collection of 16 short stories taking place in St. John's. The book explores themes of loneliness and substance abuse, with many of the characters portrayed as flawed and unlikeable. The final story in the book, Mindfull, is referred to as a novella and takes place in Toronto. The book was praised for its engaging and provocative plots.[7]
Publications
Books
- — (2017). The Greatest Hits of Wanda Jaynes. St. John's, NL: Breakwater Books. ISBN 978-1-5508-1670-9. OCLC 988383560.[8]
- — (2018). What's Written in the Ladies. Arts NL. OCLC 1089785011.[4]
- — (2020). Some People's Children. St. John's, NL: Breakwater Books. ISBN 978-1-5508-1812-3. OCLC 1122914271.[9]
- — (2022). No One Knows about Us. St. John's, NL: Breakwater Books. ISBN 978-1-5508-1950-2. OCLC 1353583003.[10]
Selected articles
- Canning, Bridget (April 2017). "Writing Wanda Jaynes". The Newfoundland Quarterly. St. John's, NL: Memorial University of Newfoundland.
- — (11 November 2018). "Newfoundland and Labrador Considers How to Maintain its Romance". The Independent. St. John's, NL.
- — (1 December 2020). "The ArtsNL Awards are 35 years old. We're toasting our artists ... from a safe distance". CBC News. Newfoundland: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
- — (6 December 2020). "What's the future of the arts? The pandemic is giving us some clues". CBC News. Newfoundland: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
References
Citations
- ^ Canning.
- ^ Collins (2018).
- ^ CBC Books (2021).
- ^ a b Coles (2018).
- ^ Marr (2020); Sullivan (2020).
- ^ Whitten (2021a); Whitten (2021b).
- ^ Girard (2023); Marr (2023).
- ^ Collins (2018); CBC Books (2021).
- ^ Marr (2020); Sullivan (2020); Deshaye (2021); Whitten (2021a); Whitten (2021b).
- ^ Sullivan (2022); CBC Books (2022); Marr (2023); Flint (2023); Girard (2023).
Sources
- Canning, Bridget. "About". bridgetcanning.com. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- Collins, Dillon (11 April 2018). "Writing World: Bridget Canning". The Newfoundland Herald. St. John's, NL: Sunday Herald. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- Coles, Terri (10 June 2018). "Secrets in the stalls: The 'anonymous forum' of bathroom stall messages inspired a new book". CBC News. Newfoundland: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- Marr, Gemma (13 April 2020). "Some People's Children by Bridget Canning (review)". The Miramichi Reader. Miramichi, NB. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- Sullivan, Joan (16 April 2020). "Bridget Canning delivers energetic, satisfying second novel". The Chronicle Herald. Halifax, NS: Postmedia Network. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- "St. John's writer Bridget Canning to have novel, The Greatest Hits of Wanda Jaynes, adapted into film". CBC Books. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- Deshaye, Joel (6 October 2021). "Bridget Canning. Some People's Children". Newfoundland and Labrador Studies. 36 (1). Érudit: 138–140. doi:10.7202/1082218ar.
- Whitten, Elizabeth (1 November 2021). "The battle of the books is back as N.L. Reads returns". CBC News. Newfoundland: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- Whitten, Elizabeth (9 November 2021). "N.L. Reads: Bridget Canning's latest novel explores Newfoundland rape culture". CBC News. Newfoundland: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- "No One Knows about Us". CBC Books. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- Sullivan, Joan (17 December 2022). "St. John's author Canning has plenty of tricks up her literary sleeve with new collection". PNI Atlantic News. Postmedia Network. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- Girard, Cheryl (18 February 2023). "Grim Newfoundland stories prove provocative". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, MB. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- Marr, Gemma (20 March 2023). "No One Knows About Us by Bridget Canning (review)". The Miramichi Reader. Miramichi, NB. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- "Bridget Canning, Lisa Moore and Annick MacAskill among finalists for 2023 Atlantic Book Awards". CBC Books. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- Flint, Denise (13 September 2023). "Reviewed: New Short Stories from Bridget Canning". Downhome. St. John's, NL. Retrieved 11 June 2025.