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Anuja
Varghese

Anuja Varghese is a writer and editor whose work has appeared in Hobart, The Malahat Review, The Fiddlehead, and Plenitude Magazine, among others. Her stories have been recognized in the PRISM International Short Fiction Contest, the Alice Munro Festival Short Story Competition, and the Pushcart Prize. Chrysalis is Varghese’s debut book. She lives in Hamilton, Ontario.

Award History

Jury Citation

Chrysalis is an electric array of queer, feminist, and mythical short stories. Varghese uses aspects of Hindu folklore and magical realism to transform her stories into powerful tales. Elements of queerness are sprinkled throughout, turning our perception of love stories on their head. The writing is focused and vivid with characters that are unapologetic and feisty; they love who they love and do not shy away from stepping into their powerful selves. These are not typical diasporic stories of food, identity, and belonging, but rather ones that weave together thematic complexities of the historical horrors of colonialism with queerness and joy.”—2023 Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Writers Jury (S. Bear Bergman, Nicholas Dawson, and Sharanpal Ruprai)

Works recognized by WT