

Keynote Speaking at Bishop House
This June, I had the opportunity to travel to Nova Scotia for an exciting, once in a lifetime opportunity: I was invited to be one of the...

Leesa Dean is an award-winning multi-genre writer, editor and teacher living in rural British Columbia on unceded Sinixt Territory. Waiting for the Cyclone, her acclaimed short story collection about misbehaving women (Brindle & Glass), was nominated for the 2017 Trillium and Relit Awards. Her novella in verse, The Filling Station, was published in 2022 (Gaspereau), and she is the author of two poetry chapbooks (above/ground press). Her third book, Interstitial , was published in March 2026 by Gaspereau Press. She is a dedicated mentor to emerging writers and can often be found in the community, encouraging writers to rise up and share their stories with the world.
"These poems reverberate with tenderness and fierce intelligence as they chart the beauty and messiness of imperfectly lived lives, laying bare damage and repair through a family lineage."
-Renee Harper, author of Boundary Territory
"Every word in Interstitial is unreplacable. Inventive, precise, tender, honest--this is a book you will treasure."
-Sarah Tsiang, author of Grappling Hook
"Composed as a lyric of detail, both meticulous and sketched, and incorporating visual elements, Dean quilts Interstitial with incredible precision...holding a fine balance between what needs to be said and what can’t be easily held."
-rob mclennan, publisher and author of 20+ books
