Hiromi Goto is a writer and editor who can't stop writing across genres. Her first novel, Chorus of Mushrooms, was published in 1994. Since then she's published numerous books — she is medium-old. Recently she moved from Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-waututh Territories to W̱SÁNEĆ Territory where she can still be seen wearing her blue backpack and taking photographs of birds, trees, lizards and fungi. Hiromi's most recent book, Shadow Life (2021) with artist Ann Xu and published by First Second Books, is her first graphic novel.

Bios

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Hiromi's first novel, Chorus of Mushrooms (1994), received the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book in the Caribbean and Canada region and was co-winner of the Canada-Japan Book Award. Her short stories and poetry have been widely published in literary journals and anthologies. Her second novel, The Kappa Child (2001), was a finalist for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best Regional Book, and was awarded the James Tiptree Jr. Memorial Award. Her first children’s novel, The Water of Possibility, was also published that year. Hopeful Monsters, a collection of short stories, was released in 2004. Her YA/Crossover novel, Half World (2009), was long-listed for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and received the 2010 Sunburst Award and the Carl Brandon Society Parallax Award. Her long poem, co-written with David Bateman, came out in Fall 2009. Wait Until Late Afternoon is her first book-length poetry publication. Darkest Light, companion book to Half World was the first book released under the new Razorbill Imprint of Penguin Canada. She was 2014 Guest of Honour, with N.K. Jemisin, at WisCon38.

Her newest book, Shadow Life (March 2021), is a graphic novel for an adult audience. It is a fresh, funny and layered representation of an older Japanese Canadian bisexual woman who is intent on living her best life on her own terms. Shadow Life is illustrated by Ann Xu.

 

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Hiromi Goto has been a trail-blazing author in Canada for over twenty years. Recognized both at home and abroad, many of her award-winning books have been translated into French, Italian, Japanese, Hebrew, and German. Her literary fiction traces the lives of Japanese Canadian women— through migration, across generations. Her works that explore the fantastic weave across cultures casting mythologies, feminism and agency into contemporary frameworks. Her newest book, Shadow Life, is a graphic novel for an adult audience. It is a fresh, funny and layered representation of an older Japanese Canadian bisexual woman who is intent on living her best life on her own terms. Hiromi Goto is a seasoned speaker who is comfortable on the international stage and speaking to diverse audiences. Her distinct voice and sense of humour shine.

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Hiromi Goto is an emigrant from Japan who gratefully resides in Lekwungen Territory. Her first novel, Chorus of Mushrooms, was the 1995 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize Best First Book, Canada and Caribbean Region, and co-winner of the Canada-Japan Book Award. Her second book, The Kappa Child, received the 2001 James Tiptree Jr. Memorial Award (now known as the Otherwise Award). She’s published three novels for children and youth, a book of poetry, and a collection of short stories. Her other honours include The Sunburst Award and the Carl Brandon Parallax Award. Her first graphic novel, Shadow Life, with artist Ann Xu, was published in March of 2021 with First Second Books. Hiromi is currently at work trying to decolonize her relationship to writing and the land.

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Hiromi Goto is an emigrant from Japan who gratefully resides in Lekwungen Territory. Her first novel, Chorus of Mushrooms, won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize Best First Book, Canada and Caribbean Region, and was co-winner of the Canada-Japan Book Award. Her second book, The Kappa Child, received the James Tiptree Jr. Memorial Award for gender-bending speculative fiction. She’s published three novels for children and youth, a book of poetry, and a collection of short stories. Her other honours include The Sunburst Award and the Carl Brandon Parallax Award. Shadow Life is her first graphic novel.

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Hiromi Goto is an emigrant from Japan who gratefully resides in W̱SÁNEĆ Territory. Some of her award-winning titles include Chorus of Mushrooms, The Kappa Child, and Half World. Her first graphic novel, Shadow Life, was published in March of 2021 with First Second Books.