By Thandiwe McCarthy, Frye Correspondent
The author I’m checking in with today is Madhur Anand whose first book of creative non-fiction “This Red Line Goes Straight to Your Heart” (Strange Light 2020) won the Governor General’s literary award for non-fiction. Her poetry books, “A New Index for Predicting Catastrophes” ( McClelland & Stewart 2015) and “Parasitic Oscillations (McClelland & Stewart 2022) were both finalists for the Trillium Book Award for Poetry. Anand is a professor and the director of the Global Ecological Change and Sustainability Laboratory at the University of Guelph Ontario. I was able to ask her a few questions about her creative career and her new book “To Place a Rabbit” (Knopf Canada 2025).
What book had the greatest impact on you and why?
N/A. I cannot narrow it down to a single book!
What was the spark that inspired “To Place a Rabbit”?
Much like the protagonist described happened to her in “To Place a Rabbit,” I got the spark to write a novel at a literary festival. I realized that I needed to immerse myself in some French fiction written by someone else to find my own words (in English) to tell an unconventional love story that I have been wanting to write about for quite a while now.
Let’s hear about your writing practice, how it’s grown, and why it works for you?
I started out as a poet, but to my great surprise I have now published books of creative nonfiction and fiction as well. I’m working on poetry again now. I don’t see any patterns in my practice. There are not enough data points yet. But what I can say so far is that what works for me is that every book must have its own unique structure.
What part of your writing career brings you the most joy?
I’ve realized that I love reading from my work to live audiences. Though I feel joy at many points along the way of writing, I think I may feel the joy of the work most then, when the words are lifted off the page by my voice, and I know they have reached the reader.
When deadlines are close and life gets heavy what is something that brings you peace?
The loveliness of my family. I’m grateful for them all.
Frye Festival 2026, what are you looking forward to? Is this your first time in Atlantic Canada?
I have three events at Frye which I am equally excited about. This bilingual festival is perfect for presenting my novel “To Place a Rabbit” which involves, in part, a translation from the French into English. I’m excited to read and discuss my novel with other novelists writing in English, to have my novel discussed by translators, and to have an interview with a publisher of French language books!
I had a fun time checking in with Madhur Anand and I hope everyone supports their newest novel “To Place a Rabbit” available at your local bookstores and online. And if you want a chance to hear Madhur Anand speak about her book come to the 2026 Frye Festival April 24 – May 4 in Moncton, New Brunswick. Hope to see you all there,
With Love and Respect
To cite this article:
Madhur Anand is coming to the Frye Festival!
- Entangled Lives — April 25, 2026 · 3 PM
- Translation in/of Fiction, Fiction in/of translation — April 27, 2026 · 1:30 PM
- Literary Lunch: To Place a Rabbit — April 30, 2026 · 11:45 AM
Thandiwe McCarthy
Thandiwe McCarthy is a 7th generation African Canadian spoken word poet, writer, public speaker, and the culture correspondent for Maritime EDIT magazine, where he highlights Black community leaders and artists. Known for his unique “Vibe Harvesting” performances, he creates poetry spontaneously at events across the Maritimes.
Thandiwe has co-founded the New Brunswick Black Artists Alliance and organized the provincial event Emancipation Celebration. He played a key role in having August 1st recognized as Emancipation Day in New Brunswick. Though he has stepped back from volunteer work, his contributions have left a lasting impact on the community.
The “Still Here Initiative,” celebrating fifteen generational Black New Brunswick families, is gearing up for a national art exhibition at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery and a globally distributed book published by Goose Lane Editions, both launching in July 2025.
Thandiwe’s memoir, “Social Oblivion: Raised Black in New Brunswick,” is available now.
Madhur Anand
