Words and music
Novels, memoirs, poetry and other creative works by Concordia alumni
By Ian Harrison, BComm 01
Sarah Thornton, BFA 87, dives into the world of women’s chests in Tits Up: What Sex Workers, Milk Bankers, Plastic Surgeons, Bra Designers and Witches Tell Us About Breasts (WW Norton, $27.99).
After undergoing a double mastectomy, Thornton set out to uncover what had been lost — and gained — in her journey. A New Yorker Best Book of 2024, Tits Up challenges centuries of patriarchal myths and aims to liberate breasts from harmful stereotypes.
History comes to life in A Killer Whisky (BWL Publishing, $18.99), a mystery by Susan Calder, BA 88, set in Calgary during the 1918 influenza pandemic and the final days of the First World War.
When a man dies after drinking whisky laced with a drug that mimics the flu’s symptoms, a doctor’s receptionist teams up with a detective to uncover the truth behind his death.
Tamas Dobozy, MA 93, explores political intrigue and personal despair in Stasio: A Novel in Three Parts (Anvil Press, $22), a detective novel told through three distinct novellas.
The book follows Anthony de Stasio as he gets caught up in a cursed firearm, the torment of a daughter trapped by her father’s control, and a mysterious utopian cult exploiting street kids.
Stories for Geoff: A Memoir in Four Acts (MIRI Productions, $22.95) by Muriel Gold, PhD 94, offers a feminist reflection on love, relationships and career.
Written as stories to her grandson, the memoir traces Gold’s childhood in the 1930s and 1940s, marriage in the 1950s, divorce and her evolution in theatre and the arts.
In Breaking Up With the Cobalt Blues: Poems for Healing (Prolific Pulse Press LLC, $17.95), Lindsay Soberano Wilson, BA 06, MA 09, navigates the painful, messy and often inconvenient parts of life to find peace and light in the darkness.
Through powerful poems on themes such as addiction and intergenerational trauma, Wilson inspires readers to embrace healing and self-empowerment.
Arjun Basu, BA 90, explores family dynamics and societal change in The Reeds (ECW Press, $24.95).
Set in Montreal’s west end, the novel follows a loving yet dysfunctional family navigating a summer of personal transformation amid the shifting landscapes of commerce, fame and global challenges like Brexit and climate anxiety.
Chiara Laricchiuta, MA 09, offers a powerful poetic journey in North Star (AOS Publishing, $19.99), a collection that invites readers to awaken to their true purpose.
Through courage, hard work and self-love, the poems inspire a quest for personal fulfillment and the realization of one’s potential.
Tragedy of a Shapeshifter ($32), a novel co-authored by Leon Botwinik, BSc 82, and his son Nathaniel, follows Alex, who transforms into a different person every month in 1996 New York.
As he grapples with this mysterious condition, Alex faces questions about his identity, stability and the harsh realities of a city filled with discrimination, sexual exploitation and crime.
In Make Life Colorful (Self-published, $19.99), Omid Vafa, BA 97, offers an inspiring guide to living a purposeful life through creativity and personal growth.
With a foreword by the Dalai Lama, the book encourages readers to pursue their passions and embrace change. Vafa, also the founder of the non-profit Runway for Hope, uses his expertise in global business and dedication to youth empowerment to offer practical insights that help readers design a life filled with meaning.
Josée Saint-Martin, BA 90, explores her family’s hidden history in La petite Polonaise (Self-published, $25), a deeply personal journey that begins with the discovery of her biological grandmother’s name — Julia Stasica — after her mother’s death.
Inspired by true events, the story traces Julia’s life from her greatgrandparents’ arrival in Canada in 1917 to her death in 1998.
After studying sound engineering at Concordia, Marc La Ferrière, BA 87, worked in radio and television before transitioning to a job in national security.
His new self-published memoir, D’ici à là, chronicles what became a decades-long career in counterintelligence and counterterrorism with the federal government.
Sue-Anne Hickey, BA 85, has authored Bodytypology: A System for Optimal Health and Weight Loss (Hockwald Press, $21.99), a personalized approach to health that rejects one-sizefits-all diets.
As a naturopath and weight-loss specialist, Hickey offers a customized system based on body type, with easy-to-understand strategies and nutritious recipes for lasting health and weight management.
In Finding the Suite Spot: Preparing YOUR Journey into the Boardroom (Kendall Hunt, $34.55), Constantine Constandis, BComm 79, Matthäus Tekathen, chair and associate professor in Concordia’s Department of Accountancy, and parttime lecturer Ian Gergovich, BComm 80, GrDip 82, delve into the boardroom dynamics faced by C-suite leaders.
Complementing real-life executive experience with academic insight, the authors provide practical guidance for aspiring finance professionals.