Member Profile

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Carol Shaben

Carol Shaben

Photo: THNK

Carol Shaben is an award-winning author and journalist. Her first book, Into the Abyss, was a national bestseller, selected as a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers pick, a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week, and an Amazon.com Book of the Month. Carol’s most recent book, The Marriott Cell, co-written with Egyptian-Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy, was long listed for the 2018 RBC Taylor Prize, named one of The Globe & Mail’s 100 Best Books of the Year, and won the Ontario Historical Society Huguenot Award. Carol is the recipient of two National Magazine Awards, including a Gold Medal for Investigative Journalism, and was nominated for Best New Magazine Writer. She is an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia School of Creative Writing, a Mentor in Dalhousie University's MFA in Creative Nonfiction, and Faculty Editor in the Literary Journalism Program at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.  

Email:
cnshaben@gmail.com
City:
Vancouver
Province:
BC
Genre:
Creative nonfiction, literary journalism
I write professionally in the following language(s):
English

Publications

The Marriott Cell. 2016, Penguin Random House Canada
Into the Abyss. 1012, Penguin Random House Canada

Awards

Edna Staebler National Award for Nonfiction for Into the Abyss, 2013
National Magazine Awards Gold Medal for Investigative Journalism for The Walrus, 2009
Links:
http://www.carolshaben.com/
http://www.carolshaben.com/
,
Eligible for National Public Readings Program:
Yes

WITS

Are you available for public presentations and/or workshops:
Yes
Presentation Description

I present on a range of subjects in creative nonfiction (essay, voice, research and reporting, narrative structure, crafting winning book proposals), etc. I am a dynamic and engaging presenter with many years of experience teaching and public speaking.

Presentation Length:
45 minutes to 1 hour
Genre:
Creative nonfiction, literary journalism
Grades:
Middle & High School, University, General Public
Audience Size:
any
Presenation:
negotiable
Workshop Description:

As above, I can provide school or public workshops on a range of craft techniques as they relate to creative nonfiction, including:

-intro to creative nonfiction

-voice, POV & narrative distance

-research and reporting for story

-profiles & character

-narrative structure

 

Workshop Length:
variable according to client/learner needs
Workshop Intended Audience:
high school to post secondary
Workshop Audience Size:
Any
Workshop Fee:
negotiable
Are you available for school visits?:
Yes
School Presentation Description:

I specialize in creative, generative and fun approaches to writing. Sessions are lively, interactive and often involve movement, discussion or small group work.

School Presentation Length:
variable
School Intended Audience:
middle to high school
School Audience Size:
30
School Presentation Fee:
negotiable
Interested in participating in the Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program:
No
Interested in participating in the Northern Ontario WITS program:
Yes

Equity Initiative

As part of the Union’s Equity Implementation Plan, we are committed to increasing awareness of authors who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQI2S, or living with a disability. This author identifies as:

  • Black, Indigenous, and/or racialized