Essay in Globe and Mail: This summer, I wrote about the devastating war in Ukraine and my complicated identity.
NEW ARTICLE: For Audubon, I wrote an ode to common birds and why we should focus our energies on preserving them!
NEW ARTICLE: For En Route Magazine, I wrote about my favorite spring-time malady, warbler neck!
NEW ARTICLE: I wrote a piece about the Canada Jay for Canadian Geographic. It was so much fun to write about the species I hope will finally be (federally) approved as our country’s National Bird!
NEW ARTICLE: I’m thrilled that the article I wrote about the need for more inclusive access to nature is the cover story of ON Nature Magazine!
EXCERPT FROM MY BOOK: I’m thrilled that Canadian Geographic, a magazine I’ve long admired, has reprinted an excerpt from Field Notes.
NEW ARTICLE: I’m delighted to share my first published piece in Audubon. It’s about birds & happiness and it was so much fun to write! I’m thrilled that there’s now scientific evidence to support the main argument of my book: birds make us happier!
NEW SHORT ESSAY: Did you hate the Canada Fitness Test as much as I did? Writing a letter to the thankfully defunct program was strangely therapeutic, and published by the wonderful THIS Magazine (Jan/Feb 2021) and on newsstands right now.
CBC Books picked Field Notes as one of their Top 30 Nonfiction Books of 2020 and The Globe and Mail put Field Notes on their Top 100 Books of 2020!
RADIO INTERVIEW: I had a fantastic time chatting with the amazing Bob LeDrew on CKCUFM 91.3 in Ottawa. Have a listen!
INTERVIEW: The wonderful writer Christine Fischer Guy interviewed me for the Hamilton Review of Books. We covered a lot of ground and it turns out I even have back-up nemesis birds! Read the interview here.
INTERVIEW: I recently had a lovely conversation with Nathan Maharaj at Kobo. You can read it here.
REVIEW: Foreword Reviews has this to say about my book: “Julia Zarankin’s memoir is a moving, and often hilarious, account of how she—a type A, perfectionistic, and nature-avoidant novice—became a bona fide “bird nerd,” transforming her life in the process.”
OH MY GOODNESS! Field Notes just landed on the Globe and Mail Bestseller list!
INTERVIEW: Listen to an interview with me on the Reframe Your Life podcast!
INTERVIEW: I was thrilled to be a guest on the American Birding Association’s podcast. I’ve been a fan of Nate Swick’s interviews for a while now, so this was a serious honor. We had a great chat about birds and words, and also what it takes to be a master at misidentification. Have a listen here. Thanks so much, ABA!
INTERVIEW: Do you speak French? I was just interviewed on Radio Canada about…you guessed it, Birding and my upcoming book! Just call me a “maniaque des oiseaux”!
REVIEW: Laurie Hertzel just gave Field Notes a stellar review in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The book comes out in the US on October 13 and I’m delighted!
REVIEW: I was interviewed about my book by the fantastic Sue Carter for the Toronto Star. You can read the full interview here.
REVIEW: Kirkus Reviews recently praised my book! “Life-affirming, thoughtful, and thoroughly delightful, this book celebrates self-acceptance and the joy of living an unexpected life.”
READ AN EXCERPT: The Toronto Star published an excerpt from Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder. The photos are great.
WATCH MY BOOK LAUNCH: My book launched on September 17, 2020 & it was a fantastic event, hosted by Birds Canada. I was interviewed by Charles Spearin (of Broken Social Scene fame) & musical guests included Ilana Zarankin, Nico Dann, Boris Zarankin & Inna Perkis. The recorded event is here. Co-sponsored by Toronto LitUp.
The Toronto Star included Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder in their Top 25 Fall books! So did CBC Books. Zoomer Magazine Book Club recommends Field Notes alongside Jane Fonda, Jerry Seinfeld and David Chang’s new memoirs! We’re in good company!
NEW ESSAY: I wrote a piece for the Globe and Mail called “The Pandemic Might Turn us all into Birders.”
NEW SHORT STORY: I have just been shortlisted for the 2020 CBC Short Story Prize! You can read my story, Black-legged Kittiwake, on the CBC website.
Julia Zarankin 