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Writing

Writing

 

Publications

I’m in the revision and editing stages for my first adult fiction novel and am currently looking for a publisher and/or agent. I’ve also started drafting out a second manuscript and am pulling together a series of poems about being previously employed on the waterfront.


Forthcoming is an essay in the Queer Country Crossroads anthology in October 2025 with Caitlin Press and an essay in the JC Place and Memory Anthology TBD release.

My YA book “Baby Drag Queen” Orca Book Publishers was published on April 11, 2023 - Available at Orca Book Publishers - here, Iron Dog Books - here, Massy Books - here, Cross & Crows Books - here, The Vancouver Public Library - here, Amazon - here or online/bookstores in other countries. It was a finalist for the 2023 City of Vancouver Book Awards!

Three flash fiction pieces in “This Will Only Take a Minute” Guernica Editions, November 2022 - Available at Guernica Editions here or Chapters/Indigo - here or Amazon - here

“Resonance: Essays on the Craft and Practice of Writing” Anvil Press, 2022 - Available at Anvil Press here or Chapters/Indigo - here or Amazon - here

“emerge: The Writer’s Studio Anthology.” Simon Fraser University, 2013 - Kindle Edition, what a steal at $2.99 - Available here

“No sound is dissonant which tells of life.” Artspeak Gallery, 2002 - Still available here

Academic Publications:

Arts-Based Research in Cultural Spaces - July 9, 2024

Virtual Reality in Libraries: Does VR create a Safer Space for 2SLGTBQ+ and IBPOC people? - September 8, 2023

Indigenous Video Games in Libraries - May 9, 2022



Public Readings

  • Saturday, September 20, 2025 - 2SLGBTQI+ Curator for the Word Vancouver Festival (pre-festival event - Writing the Queer in Literature on Monday, August 11, 2025 at Cross & Crows Books). Then at the Word Vancouver Festival on Saturday, September 20, 2025 - The Queer Outsiders and LOL at Word Vancouver events.

  • Saturday, July 26, 2025 - Surrey Muse at the Surrey Public Library

  • Thursday, June 19th at 10:30 am - Libby App Launch for BC Focused e-books with The Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia (Books BC) at McGill Library in Burnaby

  • Sunday, June 8, 2025 - Trauma and Triumph Author Panel at Vancouver International Publishing Conference at the Shipyards

  • Monday, May 12, 2025 - Bridges Panel: Queer Asian Authors on Writing Chosen & Given Family at New West Public Library

  • Wednesday, March 19, 2025 - Undercurrents and Folds, Emily Carr (online)

  • Thursday, Februrary 13, 2025 - UVIC Presentation on Hanafuda Cards

  • Saturday, November 23, 2024 - Blackbird Tokyo Reading

  • Saturday, September 28, 2024 - Writers of the Library at Word Vancouver Robson Square

  • Saturday, June 13, 2024 - Mashed Poetics (Green Day)

  • Wednesday, July 10, 2024 - Flash Fiction TWS Community Workshop

  • Sunday, April 5, 2024 - Wine and Words Dimsum event at Word Vancouver

  • Saturday, April 13, 2024 - Classroom visit with Nootka Elementary School at Cross & Crows Books

  • Wednesday, April 17, 2024 - Incite: All About Love - Vancouver Writers Fest - Vancouver Public Library

  • Monday, March 29, 2024 - I interviewed Kyne Santos (Drag Queen - Math in Drag)

  • Tuesday, March 26, 2024 - UVIC classroom talk about writing for students

  • Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - Trans Voices Panel with the Writers’ Guild of Alberta

  • Tuesday, Jan 6, 2024 - I interviewed Christina Myers for a Fireside Chat with Federation of BC Writers

  • Monday, October 23, 2023 – emerge launch in person at the Vancouver Writers Fest

  • Saturday, October 21, 2023 – Virtual Authors showcase at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference

  • Wednesday, October 11, 2023 – emerge virtual launch

  • Sunday, September 24, 2023 – bao & brew: poetry in plaza at Chinatown Memorial Plaza

  • Sunday, September 17, 2023 – Spoken INK Reading Series

  • Saturday, September 16, 2023 – Word Vancouver: Discovery (YA panel)

  • Saturday, September 16, 2023 – Word Vancouver: On Getting Stuck and Unstuck (panel)

  • Friday, August 18, 2023 – From Queer to Asian to Publication at Massy Arts Society

  • Thursday, August 10, 2023 – Arrivals and Departures at Joy Kogawa House

  • Friday, August 4, 2023 – Wrote foreword for emerge anthology

  • Wednesday, June 7, 2023 – Jury member for Muriel’s Journey Prize

  • Wednesday, May 17, 2023 – Incite: Love, Lives – An Evening with Casey Plett and Hazel Jane Plante (moderator)

  • Sunday, May 7th, 2023 at 11:30-3pm - Wine and Words: Dimsum with the Authors at Floata Seafood Restaurant

  • Saturday, May 6th, 2023 at 1-2:30pm - Now Tell Me: On Crafting of Words and Narratives Speaker Panel at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden

  • Thursday, April 13, 2023 - Orca Hi-Lo Authors Event Online with Zoom

  • Wednesday, Jan 10, 2023 - CANSCAIP New Year, New Creators Event

  • Thursday, February 24, 2022 - Words in the Burbs

  • Wednesday, March 4, 2020 - Massy Books at Aaron Chan’s book launch

  • Friday, March 22, 2019 - People’s Coop Bookstore - Poetry with Jennifer Zilm

  • Thursday, May 10, 2019 - BCLA Variety Show Conference

  • Thursday, June 2, 2016 – TWS Writer’s Studio at Cottage Bistro

  • Friday, September 15, 2017 - Centering Ourselves at Banff Centre

  • Thursday, September 10, 2015 – TWS Writer’s SouthBank Writer’s Series at the Surrey Central Public Library

  • Thursday, September 3, 2015 – TWS Writer’s Series at Cottage Bistro

  • Saturday, May 9, 2015 at VPL Britannia Branch for World Poetry to Celebrate Asian Heritage Month / 1 to 3pm

  • Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at VPL Britannia Branch for Poetic Pairings / 6:30 to 8:30pm

  • February 5, 2015 – TWS Writer’s Series at Cottage Bistro

  • Tuesday, January 20, 2015 - Word Whips in the Gallery, Sidney and Gertrude Zack Gallery

  • Thursday, October 9, 2014 - Southbank Reading Series, Surrey City Centre Library

  • Saturday, September 27, 2014 (private reading) Girl (Boy) in Landscape

  • Saturday, June 14 - Richmond Cultural Centre - Writers International Network Canada (Creative Writing and Community Work Honour)

  • Saturday May 10th, 2014 – World Poetry Vancouver – Britannia Community Centre

  • Saturday, March 3, 2014 – Open Mic at Hogan’s Alley Poetry Readings

  • Thursday, December 5, 2013 – TWS Writer’s Series at Cottage Bistro

  • Thursday, June 6, 2013 – TWS Writer’s Series at Cottage Bistro

Hosting and Organization of Reading Events

  • The New Dominion Reading Series / 2016 - Present

  • January 26th, 2014 – 8 x 8 Reading Series at Blumin Pop Up Shop, The Chinatown Experiment

  • February 24th, 2014 – 8 x 8 Reading Series at Graze Restaurant

Follow @candietanaka


Other

I facilitate SFU’s The Writer’s Studio’s Twitter Monthly Chats #TWSOchat and Sprints #TWSsprints

Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity - Fully Funded Residence 2017

Past Board Member of The Real Vancouver Writer’s Series and WORD Vancouver