For Carol Windley, short stories are in her blood.
The Nanaimo writer has recently completed a collection of seven stories called Home Schooling which has been long listed for the Giller Prize. The short list will be announced in early October. Windley's publisher phoned her with the good news in early September. The book will be launched in Nanaimo on Nov. 15 at a location to be announced.
"He was very pleased," she said of her publisher's reaction to the news. "I was very surprised, it was very exciting. It's a wonderful literary prize. This is the first time there's been a long list. . . and I think it's a wonderful idea because it gives more books more attention."
Despite the accolade and the fact that she' hard at work on her second novel- her first novel Breathing Underwater was published in 1998- Windley says she still is drawn to writing more short stories.
"I can't stay away from short stories," she said. "I love reading them, I think some of the best writing is in the short story form."
Windley lists Alice Munroe as one of her favourite writers. The idea for Home Schooling started 10 years ago when Windley was asked by the editor of a short story anthology to contribute something on art. While it was daunting to be asked to produce a story 'out of thin air' she said she had an idea about a family in Great Britain. The story became the The Joy of Life about a young girl who accompanied her mother to an artist colony in Wales in the 50s. The theme of family and learning stuck with her and Windley was inspired to write more. Many of the stories are set on Vancouver Island, where's she lived most of her life and in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. Windley says she's not an autobiographical writer but sometimes after she's finished a story she'll notice some similarities with her own life.
"I just thought it was really intriguing, within families learning is passed down from one generation to the next but it's not always the learning you expect it to be," she said. While the life of a writer can be an isolated, lonely one, Windley said it's perfect for her.
"I just really like writing," she said. "I have no problem with being alone and working alone. I'd say I'm a natural introvert so it works nicely."