***2021 BMO WINTERSET AWARD – FINALIST***

***2022 ATLANTIC BOOK AWARDS: ALISTAIR MACLEOD PRIZE FOR SHORT FICTION – SHORTLIST***

***2022 NL BOOK AWARDS, FICTION – FINALIST***

***2023 NL READS – FINALIST***

***TOP TEN BOOKS OF 2021, THE TELEGRAM***

Warm, funny, and stylistically savvy, these stories follow an interlocking set of characters and the people they love.

Characters weave their way in and out of The Love Olympics, a collection of short fiction set in St. John’s. The book is about various forms of love—the ways love grips us, shakes us, releases or envelops us. The stories are smart, witty, funny, warm, and surprising; they capture the preoccupations of characters from different generations who are closely or only tangentially connected to one another. This collection explores people’s aspirations, fears, and vulnerabilities; their generosity and desire for connection; their willingness to see past flaws and appreciate other human beings in all their complexity.

Author bio   Claire Wilkshire is a writer, editor, translator and teacher living in St. John’s with her husband, writer Larry Mathews. They have two adult children. Maxine (2013) is Claire’s first novel. Her short fiction has appeared in publications such as Grain, the New Quarterly, Event, and the Fiddlehead. She’s a founding member of the Burning Rock writing group.

Claire Wilkshire's profile page

• Short-listed, NL Reads
• Short-listed, ATLANTIC BOOK AWARDS: ALISTAIR MACLEOD PRIZE FOR SHORT FICTION
• Short-listed, Writer's Alliance of NL Fiction Award
• Short-listed, BMO Winterset Award

“If David Hebert’s prose is excellent and Amber MacMillan’s stories are fresh and original, Claire Wilkshire’s writing is relatable and funny. When the very first story was called 'Mothers' and the first line was 'On Labour Day weekend, mothers across the country mobilize,' I knew I was going to like this book. […] These story collections each have their strengths and I loved them all – the jury has a tough decision to make.”

Consumed by Ink

“Wilkshire demonstrates a virtuoso command of her narrative art: gradually revealing the details of the characters’ lives, seamlessly shifting points of view, and making skilful use of flashbacks and asides to provide a window into the hopes, fears and aspirations that mark each of these women as indelibly individual.

Wilkshire’s stories pulsate with the rhythms of everyday life. Her characters find pleasure in simple acts, in getting things done and seeking connection with others. These are stories of people willing to make themselves vulnerable by expressing their love for another human being.”

The Antigonish Review

"Alors que certaines personnes croient qu’il n’existe qu’une forme d’amour, pour d’autres il y en a deux, trois ou dix. Dans The Love Olympics, Claire Wilkshire cherche à en explorer le plus possible. [...] N’importe quel lecteur ou lectrice peut se reconnaître dans ce livre, car The Love Olympics raconte les histoires de résidents et de résidentes de la ville de St. John’s de milieux vastement différents."

Le Gaboteur

"An all-encompassing take on love [...] Wilkshire approaches each short story with authentic experiences that encourage readers not to put the book down."

TEAGAL Lifestyle

"Claire Wilkshire’s situations are the domestic and quotidian human intersections and interactions, richly textured and wryly observed. There’s a patina of years of association and care, and sparks of unexpected synchronicity. [...] Wilkshire’s writing has wit and muscle and heart."

The Telegram

"A pleasant and humorous collection about love in all forms that follows a set of characters in a community in St. John's, Newfoundland. I absolutely adored this collection!"

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