Swing in the House and Other Stories by Concordia alumna Anita Anand | Photo courtesy of Véhicule Press
Anand’s novel Swing in the House and Other Stories (Véhicule Press) garnered the Concordia University First Book Prize — one of five awards that recognize English writers in Quebec. Winners were announced at the QWF’s gala on November 18.
“It felt right!” she says of the accolade. “It’s fitting that a Concordian would be up for a prize sponsored by the university.”
Anand’s short story collection features rocky marriages, feuding siblings and racism — informed by her experiences as an Indo-Canadian.
“The title story was written 11 years ago,” says Anand, an English as a second language teacher by day. “I would take leave each summer to work on it.”
Anand’s Concordia connection runs deep. Her mother, Kailash Anand, taught at the university’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics for 37 years until her retirement.
Anita Anand, winner of Concordia University First Book Prize | Photo courtesy of the author