The acclaimed and bestselling author Lindsay Wong, a professor of creative writing at the University of Winnipeg, talks to Joseph Planta, about her new collection of short stories, Tell Me Pleasant Things About Immortality (Penguin, 2023).

Tell Me Pleasant Things About Immortality by Lindsay Wong (Penguin, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Tell Me Pleasant Things About Immortality

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Lindsay Wong joins me now. The acclaimed and bestselling author has a new collection of short stories out, Tell Me Pleasant Things About Immortality. It’s a collection that feature thirteen stories that are often wild, funny, and strange. They’re stories of family, fantasy and fate. There are stories set in 17^th century China, as well as Burnaby, BC’s Crystal Mall. There are stories set in the midst of an apocalypse, as well as one set at Wreck Beach. The characters are familiar. They’re of people in our own families, or that we see at the mall. There are ghost stories too. It’s a collection that will doubtless make readers laugh, and cringe, and sometimes at the same time. I’ll ask Lindsay about how she writes, and the inspiration for the places and people that she writes about. Lindsay Wong teaches creative writing at the University of Winnipeg. She holds a BFA from the University of British Columbia, and an MFA from Columbia University. Her memoir The Woo-Woo was critically acclaimed and a bestseller; and in 2019 was a finalist for Canada Reads. She has also written a YA novel entitled My Summer of Love and Misfortune. The website for more is at www.lindsaywongwriter.com. This new collection is published by Penguin. She joined me from Toronto last week. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Lindsay Wong; Professor Wong, good morning.

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