Kim Echlin
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Kim Echlin (born 1955) is a
Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...
novelist, translator, editor and teacher. She has a PhD in English literature for a thesis about the translation of the
Ojibway The Ojibwe (; Ojibwe writing systems#Ojibwe syllabics, syll.: ᐅᒋᐺ; plural: ''Ojibweg'' ᐅᒋᐺᒃ) are an Anishinaabe people whose homeland (''Ojibwewaki'' ᐅᒋᐺᐘᑭ) covers much of the Great Lakes region and the Great Plains, n ...
Nanabush myths. Echlin has worked for
CBC Television CBC Television (also known as CBC TV, or simply CBC) is a Television in Canada, Canadian English-language terrestrial television, broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcasting, p ...
and several universities. She currently works as a creative writing instructor at the
University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...
School for Continuing Studies. Her 2009 novel, ''The Disappeared'', featured on the shortlist for the 2009
Scotiabank Giller Prize The Giller Prize (known as the Scotiabank Giller Prize from 2005-2023) is a literary award given to a Canadian author of a novel or short story collection published in English (including translation) the previous year, after an annual juried c ...
.


Early life and education

Kim Echlin was born in Burlington,
Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
in 1955. While attending
Aldershot High School Aldershot School is a grade 7–12 school located in Burlington, Ontario. Although the current school building was constructed in 1959-1960 and opened in 1961, the original Aldershot School was built in 1870, making the name the oldest in continu ...
, Echlin's writing was noticed by her English teacher. She studied at
McGill University McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill University, Vol. I. For the Advancement of Learning, ...
and
Paris-Sorbonne University Paris-Sorbonne University (also known as Paris IV; ) was a public university, public research university in Paris, France, active from 1971 to 2017. It was the main inheritor of the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Paris. In 2018, it m ...
, before completing a PhD in English literature at
York University York University (), also known as YorkU or simply YU), is a public university, public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, and it has approximately 53,500 students, 7,000 faculty and staff, ...
, writing a thesis about the translation of the
Ojibway The Ojibwe (; Ojibwe writing systems#Ojibwe syllabics, syll.: ᐅᒋᐺ; plural: ''Ojibweg'' ᐅᒋᐺᒃ) are an Anishinaabe people whose homeland (''Ojibwewaki'' ᐅᒋᐺᐘᑭ) covers much of the Great Lakes region and the Great Plains, n ...
Nanabush myths.


Career

Echlin is a writer, journalist and educator. She has worked as an arts producer for
CBC Television CBC Television (also known as CBC TV, or simply CBC) is a Television in Canada, Canadian English-language terrestrial television, broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcasting, p ...
's ''The Journal'' and has taught journalism and creative writing at a number of Canadian universities. She is currently a creative writing instructor at
University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...
School for Continuing Studies, and previously taught at the
University of Alberta The University of Alberta (also known as U of A or UAlberta, ) is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta, and Henry Marshall Tory, t ...
Women and Words Conference. She was the Mabel Pugh Taylor Writer-in-Residence at
McMaster University McMaster University (McMaster or Mac) is a public research university in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main McMaster campus is on of land near the residential neighbourhoods of Ainslie Wood, Ontario, Ainslie Wood and Westdale, Ontario, Westd ...
and the
Hamilton Public Library The Hamilton Public Library (HPL) is the public library system of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Services HPL services include the Local History and Archives department (formerly called Special Collections), which houses an extensive collection of ...
in 2015–16. Echlin is a founding trustee of the
Loran Scholars Foundation The Loran Scholars Foundation is a national charitable organization founded in 1988 that selects 36 students entering university in Canada each year for the Loran Award. The Foundation looks beyond grades to identify values-driven youth who demons ...
. She is a board member of El Hogar Projects, Canada.


Writing

''Elephant Winter'', the story of a young woman who returns to her rural
Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
home to tend to her dying mother and finds her life altered due to a romantic relationship with a wildlife caretaker at a neighboring safari park. The book was described as "enormously engaging" by Maureen Garvie in ''
Quill & Quire ''Quill & Quire'' is a Canadian magazine about the book and publishing industry. The magazine was launched in 1935 and has an average circulation of 5,000 copies per issue, with a publisher-claimed readership of 25,000. ''Quill & Quire'' reviews ...
''. Frank Moher further observed in a '' Saturday Night'' review of the novel that Sophie's growing empathy is reflected by "prose that is as extravagant in feeling as it is in expression".
Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus. The magazine's publisher, Kirkus Media, is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fiction, no ...
described the book as a "sometimes emotionally scattered debut" but praised it for its "intriguing lore". Echlin draws on the ancient myths of
Demeter In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, Demeter (; Attic Greek, Attic: ''Dēmḗtēr'' ; Doric Greek, Doric: ''Dāmā́tēr'') is the Twelve Olympians, Olympian goddess of the harvest and agriculture, presiding over cro ...
and
Persephone In ancient Greek mythology and Ancient Greek religion, religion, Persephone ( ; , classical pronunciation: ), also called Kore ( ; ) or Cora, is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She became the queen of the Greek underworld, underworld afte ...
, as well as on the story of
Inanna Inanna is the List of Mesopotamian deities, ancient Mesopotamian goddess of war, love, and fertility. She is also associated with political power, divine law, sensuality, and procreation. Originally worshipped in Sumer, she was known by the Akk ...
, in her second novel, ''Dagmar's Daughter'', in which a motherless teen is almost drowned before finding safety on a small island. The woman's story is interwoven with those of three generations of gifted Gaelic-speaking women into a novel that, although difficult, "rewards the effort", according to ''
Canadian Woman Studies ''Canadian Woman Studies'' (French: ''Les cahiers de la femme'') is a bilingual feminist quarterly academic journal covering women's studies. It is published by Inanna Publications and was established in 1978 by Marion Lynn and Shelagh Wilkinson. ...
'' reviewer Clara Thomas. Noting that the novel's plot moves at a brisk pace, Elaine Jones added in ''Resource Links'' that ''Dagmar's Daughter'' relates "a powerful and intriguing story". Echlin has adapted the ancient Sumerian myth of
Inanna Inanna is the List of Mesopotamian deities, ancient Mesopotamian goddess of war, love, and fertility. She is also associated with political power, divine law, sensuality, and procreation. Originally worshipped in Sumer, she was known by the Akk ...
for an illustrated book, ''Inanna: From the Myths of Ancient Sumer'', published in 2003. Associated with the planet Venus, Inanna is an ancient goddess that figured prominently in the civilization that existed in the location of modern-day Iraq over four thousand years ago. Although lost for centuries, her stories, carved on stone tablets, were recently recovered by archeologists. Sister to
Gilgamesh Gilgamesh (, ; ; originally ) was a hero in ancient Mesopotamian mythology and the protagonist of the ''Epic of Gilgamesh'', an epic poem written in Akkadian during the late 2nd millennium BC. He was possibly a historical king of the Sumer ...
, Inanna grows to maturity and through her determination, wisdom, and ambition she learns the extent of her own destructive and creative powers. In ''Inanna'' Echlin relates the warrior goddess's story in poetic form, from her birth as the daughter of the
moon god A lunar deity or moon deity is a deity who represents the Moon, or an aspect of it. These deities can have a variety of functions and traditions depending upon the culture, but they are often related. Lunar deities and Moon worship can be foun ...
to her growing desire for her handsome shepherd brother Dumuzi, her death and descent into the underworld, and her fight to regain her place on Earth as well as her power within the pantheon of Sumerian gods. Noting that the book, which is illustrated by European artist Linda Wolfsgruber, would be most valuable to young-adult readers, Patricia D. Lothrop wrote in ''
School Library Journal ''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, wi ...
'' that Inanna "could be an enticing introduction to a little-known figure from ancient Near East myth". In crafting her book-length story, Echlin positions traditional stories about the goddess "in chronological order, following Inanna's development from an eager, ambitious goddess to the position of the all-powerful queen whose 'light shines through everything,'" according to ''Resource Links'' contributor Joan Marshall. Marshall dubbed the book a "fascinating tale of a young goddess who knows how to get the power she wants". Echlin's 2009 novel, ''The Disappeared'' was shortlisted for the 2009
Scotiabank Giller Prize The Giller Prize (known as the Scotiabank Giller Prize from 2005-2023) is a literary award given to a Canadian author of a novel or short story collection published in English (including translation) the previous year, after an annual juried c ...
. ''The Disappeared'' deals with
Cambodian genocide The Cambodian genocide was the systematic persecution and killing of Cambodian citizens by the Khmer Rouge under the leadership of Pol Pot. It resulted in the deaths of 1.5 to 2 million people from 1975 to 1979, nearly 25% of Cambodia's populati ...
and its connection to Canadian history. ''Under the Visible Life'' was published in 2015. The
Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of more than 6 million in 2024, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it fall ...
called it "a love song to music itself," while
Khaled Hosseini Khaled Hosseini or Khalid Husseini (; Pashto/Persian: , ; born March 4, 1965) is an Afghan-American novelist, UNHCR goodwill ambassador, and former physician. His debut novel '' The Kite Runner'' (2003) was a critical and commercial success; ...
, author of ''
The Kite Runner ''The Kite Runner'' is the debut novel of Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini. Published in 2003 by Riverhead Books, it tells the story of Amir, a young Afghan boy from Wazir Akbar Khan, Kabul. The story is set against a backdrop of tumul ...
,'' said "this story of motherhood and friendship, anchored by two extraordinary heroines, will stay with me for a long time.” In 2015, Echlin also published ''Inanna: A New English Version'', a new translation of the Inanna myth with extensive linguistic and cultural notes. ''Speak, Silence'' was published in 2021 and won the 2021
Toronto Book Award The Toronto Book Awards are Canada, Canadian literary awards, presented annually by the City of Toronto government to the author of the year's best fiction or non-fiction book or books "that are evocative of Toronto". The award is presented in the ...
. Weaving a fiction story against the Bosnian war crimes trial at the Hague, the Toronto Book Award jury described ''Speak, Silence'' as 'impeccably researched' and as 'a story of tragedy and community rebuilding that hooks the reader from the beginning to the last page.' ''Speak, Silence'' is also among ten finalists for the 2022 Evergreen award, run by
Forest of Reading The Forest of Reading is Canada's largest recreational reading program, featuring ten award programs and run by the Ontario Library Association (OLA). Programs are primarily geared towards French and English readers in kindergarten to grade twelve ...
In Katherine Ashenburg's extensive review of Echlin's fiction work in the
Literary Review of Canada The ''Literary Review of Canada'' is a Canadian magazine that publishes ten times a year in print and online. The magazine features essays and reviews of books on political, cultural, social, and literary topics, as well as original Canadian poet ...
she wrote "Echlin’s books, difficult as their subjects can be, are much more than worth the pain. Beyond their considerable literary merit and pleasure, they offer a richer, deeper, truer entrée than non-fiction can provide into happenings we would often prefer to ignore. They give us a peerless chance to listen."


List of works


Books

* ''Elephant Winter'' (1997) * ''Dagmar's Daughter'' (2001) * ''Inanna: From the Myths of Ancient Sumer'' (2003) * ''Elizabeth Smart: A Fugue Essay on Women and Creativity'' (2004) * ''The Disappeared'' (2009) * ''Under the Visible Life'' (2015) * ''Inanna: A New English Version'' (2015) * ''Speak, Silence'' (2021)


Other writing

*(Translator and editor with Nie Zhixiong) Yuan Ke, ''Dragons and Dynasties: An Introduction to Chinese Mythology'' (London: Penguin, 1991), *(Editor) ''To Arrive Where You Are: Literary Journalism from the Banff Centre for the Arts'' (Banff, Alberta: Banff Centre Press, 1999) *(Co-translator) Rasha Omran,
Defy the Silence
' (Hamilton: Hamilton Arts & Letters, 2018)


Awards and honors

*2022: Nominated: Evergreen Book Award,
Forest of Reading The Forest of Reading is Canada's largest recreational reading program, featuring ten award programs and run by the Ontario Library Association (OLA). Programs are primarily geared towards French and English readers in kindergarten to grade twelve ...
, for ''Speak, Silence'' *2021: 1st Prize,
Toronto Book Awards The Toronto Book Awards are Canadian literary awards, presented annually by the City of Toronto government The municipal government of Toronto ( incorporated as the City of Toronto) is the local government responsible for administering the cit ...
for ''Speak, Silence'' *2011: 1st Prize: Barnes and Noble Discovery Writer for ''The Disappeared'' *2011: Nominated (long list): Impac
Dublin Literary Award The International Dublin Literary Award (), established as the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award in 1996, is presented each year for a novel written or translated into English. It promotes excellence in world literature and is solely ...
for ''The Disappeared'' *2009: Nominated:
Scotiabank Giller Prize The Giller Prize (known as the Scotiabank Giller Prize from 2005-2023) is a literary award given to a Canadian author of a novel or short story collection published in English (including translation) the previous year, after an annual juried c ...
for ''The Disappeared'' *2006: 1st Prize for Creative Non-Fiction, CBC/Air Canada Literary Awards: for ''I, Witness'' (on the
Cambodian genocide The Cambodian genocide was the systematic persecution and killing of Cambodian citizens by the Khmer Rouge under the leadership of Pol Pot. It resulted in the deaths of 1.5 to 2 million people from 1975 to 1979, nearly 25% of Cambodia's populati ...
). *1997: Torgi Award, for ''Elephant Winter'' *1997: Nominated, Chapters/Books in Canada First Novel Award for ''Elephant Winter'' *1986: Nominated,
National Magazine Award The National Magazine Awards, also known as the Ellie Awards, honor print and digital publications that consistently demonstrate superior execution of editorial objectives, innovative techniques, noteworthy enterprise and imaginative design. Or ...
for Travel Writing for "Island Sacrifices"


References


External links


Official website
* "My Country is The World" issue of HA&L magazine, guest-edited by Kim Echli

* Material collected by Kim Echli
(Kimberly Echlin Collection of Elizabeth Smart Letters, Scrip, and Photographs, R12501)
are held at
Library and Archives Canada Library and Archives Canada (LAC; ) is the federal institution tasked with acquiring, preserving, and providing accessibility to the documentary heritage of Canada. The national archive and library is the 16th largest library in the world. T ...
. The collection consists of materials gathered by Kim Echlin while she conducted research for her biography of Elizabeth Smart, including publicity photographs of Smart; a radio script from a BBC production; and letters. * To break the silence: an interview with Kim Echlin https://www.raintaxi.com/to-break-the-silence-an-interview-with-kim-echlin/ {{DEFAULTSORT:Echlin, Kim 1955 births Living people Canadian children's writers Canadian women novelists Canadian women children's writers People from Burlington, Ontario 21st-century Canadian novelists 21st-century Canadian women writers McGill University alumni Novelists from Ontario