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.

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