Two distinct new voices are showcased in this event—which has become a Festival favourite—moderated by Megan Cole. Author and playwright Deirdre Simon Dore’s debut novel, A Reluctant Mother, praised for its inventive storytelling, is a finalist for the 2025 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. Ardra Shephard was a typical 20-something until she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Her first book, Fallosopy: My Trip Through Life with MS, is a story of possibility, reinvention and the inevitability of uncertainty.
Deirdre Simon Dore is a Canadian writer. Her short fiction has won, among other awards, the Journey Prize and has been published in numerous journals and translated into Italian. Her plays have been produced in Vancouver and Calgary. Originally from New York and a graduate of Boston University, she has an MFA in creative writing from UBC. After homesteading on a remote island in BC, she moved inland where she acquired a woodlot licence on which she planted trees and learned to use a chainsaw. She lives near a large lake in the interior of British Columbia with her husband, black lab and assorted livestock. She has two children.
Ardra Shephard is a trailblazing voice in the MS and disability communities, celebrated for her sharp wit and candid storytelling. She is the creator of the award-winning blog and podcast Tripping On Air, which has built an impressive social media following. Yahoo Lifestyle reported that “@ms_trippingonair is the number-one chronic illness account to follow on Instagram.” Named one of The Kit’s 2023 Changemakers, Ardra’s work has been featured in FASHION, InStyle, WebMD, BezzyMS, Healthline and other magazine and online publications. As the host of AMI-tv’s Fashion Dis and a consultant on various TV projects, Ardra is reshaping the narrative around disability. Her highly anticipated memoir, Fallosophy, continues to explore these themes with her trademark blend of insight and humour. Ardra lives in Toronto, ON. Follow her on Instagram @ms_trippingonair.
Megan Cole is an artist of too many projects. She’s an amateur drummer, dabbler in alternative photography, fibre artist and writer. She believes she has one of the best jobs as the interim Executive Director for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. Her role includes hosting and producing a weekly podcast, and she’s interviewed authors such as Billy-Ray Belcourt, Michelle Good, Joel Bakan and more. Megan lives in qathet on the territory of the Tla’amin Nation.
