On November 26 & 27 we’re hosting our second-ever AugurCon, our virtual celebration of speculative literatures! We’re joined by over 45 amazing guests, including authors, poets, editors, and publishing professionals, to explore the intersections of the world we know—and the ones we dare to imagine.

We connected with Trynne Delaney, author of the half-drowned and A House Unsettled, who is a panelist at this year’s AugurCon.

Get your ticket to attend their panel:

Stories for the Futures We Need; Or, How to Write With Hope
Saturday, November 26 at 3:30–4:30 PM EST / 12:30–1:30 PM PST

To see the full weekend program schedule, visit our website.

Tell us about your writing process! How did you start writing? Plus: Do you have any favourite writing haunts (i.e. places) or rituals?

I started writing when I was very young by journaling or through school projects. I loved the idea of having the space for a little world that I’d made all by myself. As I got older it became a place for me to process the world around me and think through difficult situations. Right now my favourite place to write is my studio, which I came to through what felt like fate or destiny. I share the studio with a few other writers and artists. I have my desk there and it’s quiet. I can go for a walk if I need. Solitude is important to the actual writing part of being a writer but spending time with friends and community is just as important to direct my attention to what matters to me enough to write about.

When you think about your career so far, what’s one of the moments that keeps you going? A career highlight, or a beautiful moment, an inspiring mentor, or something you’re just incredibly proud of? How has that impacted your journey?

I recently visited a book club called A Room of One’s Own in Toronto right after my book A House Unsettled came out—it was amazing to get to talk directly with youth about their love for reading and be a part of their school day. Someone said to me after that maybe the kids would tell their parents about the book club when they came home from school. Honestly, if any of them did talk about their time at the book club that day I would be so humbled and honoured.

Your books centre Black characters, surrealism, exploration, and the future. What kinds of stories by, about, and for Black people, do you hope persist into the future?

I hope stories that are full and surprising and challenging persist into the future. Black artists have a long history of doing this; working to make this world more liveable and more celebratory. I guess I hope that hope itself persists!

We hear a lot about how creative writing is a precarious field, but we think it’s still important to dream. What are your dreams for your writing?

My dream is to have time: time to be with friends, time to sit down or move when I want to, time to know when and what and who I want to become, to make things for the people I love, time to not think about doing anything at all, time to devote myself to things that don’t make any sense!

Hear more from Trynne: Get your ticket to AugurCon 2022

Trynne Delaney is a writer currently based in Tiohtiàh:ke (Montreal). They grew up in the Maritimes and they like to garden. In 2022 they released their first and second books: the half-drowned and A House Unsettled.

Join Trynne at AugurCon! Our panel on Stories for the Futures We Need; Or, How to Write With Hope takes place on Saturday, November 26. Get your ticket to AugurCon 2022 now!