KISHKAN, Theresa 1955-

PERSONAL: Born January 6, 1955, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; married John Pass (a poet), October 20, 1979; children: Forrest, Brendan, Angelica. Education: University of Victoria, B.A. (with honors), 1978; University of British Columbia, graduate study. Hobbies and other interests: Natural and regional history, textiles, classical literature, gardening.

ADDRESSES: Home and office—R.R.1, Site 20 C11, Madeira Park, British Columbia, Canada V0N 2H0. Agent—Kathryn Mulders, Transatlantic Literary Agency, 185-911 Yates St., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8V 1R6. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Writer. Teacher of writing classes and workshops; gives readings in Canada and the United States, including appearances in "Birth Project," staged in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 1985, and at University of Washington, Eastern Washington State University, and in Ireland and England; guest on media programs.

AWARDS, HONORS: Canada Council grants, 1978, 2000; Cultural Services Award, Province of British Columbia, 1991-92, 1996; Pushcart Prize nomination, 1999.

WRITINGS:

Arranging the Gallery, Fiddlehead Poetry Books, 1976.

Ikons of the Hunt (poetry), Sono Nis Press, 1978.

I Thought I Could See Africa, High Ground Press, 1991.

Morning Glory, Reference West, 1991.

Black Cup, Beach Holme/Press Porcepic, 1993.

Red Laredo Boots, New Star Books, 1996.

Inishbream: A Novella, Barbarian Press, 1999, published as Inishbream, Goose Lane Editions (Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada), 2001.

Sisters of Grass, Goose Lane Editions (Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada), 2000.

Author of broadsides, "A Shadow of Antlers," Barbarian Press, 1981; and "Ten Small Fingers," High Ground Press, 1985. Work represented in anthologies. Contributor to periodicals, including Brick, Canadian Forum, Fiddlehead, Fine Madness, Grapevine Dublin, Malahat Review, Poetry Canada, Prism International, Quarry, and West Coast Review.

ADAPTATIONS: A cycle of poems from Ikons of the Hunt was set to music by composer Steve Tittle, sung by Rosemarie Landrie as "Charms and Spells" at the Scotia Festival in 1987; it was recorded by CBC Stereo.

WORK IN PROGRESS: A Man in a Distant Field, a novel; Phantom Limb, an essay collection; research on utopian communities in British Columbia prior to World War I, with a novel expected to result.

SIDELIGHTS: Theresa Kishkan told CA: "I write to pursue threads, to understand their significance in the patterns of narrative and also their importance as a means of exploration (think of Theseus in the maze of King Minos). I am interested in history and landscape and how the two influence one another. Places which have witnessed significant history (whether it is human history or natural history) often shimmer with presences and shadows. I tend to imagine the stories associated with these places and try to give them voice."

Kishkan added: "I have lived on both coasts of Canada as well as in Greece, Ireland, and England. I make my home on the Sechelt Peninsula in British Columbia, Canada, with my husband and our three children. I have worked as a freelance writer for twenty years. My writing has appeared in many magazines, anthologies, and books. I have taught writing classes over the years, ranging from workshops for young children to writing courses for adults at the college level. As well as workshops, I have given many public readings of my work and participated in a number of literary festivals."