Rebecca is excited to interview Canadian author Caitlin Galway on this latest episode. Caitlin is a novelist and short fiction writer whose work can be classified as literary realism, surrealism, and magical realism. A Song for Wildcats, her new short story collection published by Dundurn Press, has been named an Indigo Best Book of 2025, and was featured as a must-read in The Globe and Mail, and a most anticipated book in The Toronto Star. She has been the recipient of grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Toronto Arts Council.

https://caitlingalway.wixsite.com/caitlin-l-galway

https://www.dundurn.com/authors_/t156375/p149069-caitlin-galway

https://www.instagram.com/c.l.gals/

Caitlin's books:

• A Song for Wildcats:
  • A Song for Wildcats
  • Heatstroke
  • The Islanders
  • The Wisp
  • The Lyrebird's Bell
• Bonavere Howl

Other books discussed:

• Her Body Among Animals by Paola Ferrante
• We Do Not Part by Han Kang
• Oxford Soju Club by Jinwoo Park
• The Immortal Woman by Su Chang

Tara welcomes Alma Sarai, a Canadian artist, actor, musician, and arts advocate, to promote Tottering Biped Theatre's summer production of "The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged)" at Dundurn Castle Park in Hamilton, ON in August 2025.

Alma graduated from the Theatre and Drama Studies program at the University of Toronto Mississauga, a joint program with Sheridan College. She has been deeply involved with Tottering Biped Theatre (TBT) since 2016, serving as Associate Artistic Director and Associate Producer. Alma has performed in every "Shakespeare by Nature" production since its inception, portraying roles such as Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, among many other roles in numerous plays. Since 2020, she has also been the producing Director of TBT's Summer Shakespeare Project, an annual festival held at Dundurn Castle in Hamilton, co-led with Trevor Copp.

Books mentioned:

• Ruff by Rod Carley
• Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
• How to Make Love in a Canoe: Sex in Canada by Jeff Pearce
• Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench, Brendan O'Hea
• The Great White Bard: How to Love Shakespeare While Talking About Race by Farah Karim-Cooper
• Whenever You're Ready: Nora Polley on Life as a Stratford Festival Stage Manager by Shawn Desouza-Coelho

Event details:

The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged)

August 12-30, 2025 @ 7:00 pm (Tues-Sat)

The Carnival of Animals (live music and mime)

August 17, 24, 31, 2025 @ 7:00 pm (Sun)

Dundurn Castle Park , 610 York Blvd, Hamilton, ON

https://www.totteringbiped.ca/

Join Rebecca and Tara as they review the progress they've made (or not) on their 2025 reading goals.

Rebecca (@canadareadsamericanstyle):

• Currently reading: A Lost Lady by Willa Cather
• 2025 Goals: Complete Anne of Green Gables and The Chronicles of Narnia series and read more Redwall; read children's books that have "mischievous, clever, independent girl characters"; track "mood reads"; plus, a secret goal!

Tara (@onabranchreads):

• Currently reading: The Queen's Spade by Sarah Raughley
• 2025 Goals: Carol Shields Prize for Fiction; Agatha Christie; Helen Humphreys; weed physical TBR; read more short stories

If you have any comments or suggestions that you would like to share with Rebecca and Tara, please email them at craspod2019@gmail.com