Smoke is award-winning children’s author Nicola Winstanley’s first work for adults and it showcases her ability to create the unforgettable characters she’s known for. This deftly written linked short story collection moves between New Zealand and Canada following the lives of a fascinating collection of characters and considering the impact of intergenerational trauma on them from multiple points of view. Questions of responsibility and fate, and a search for understanding thread through these searing, often heartbreaking stories. Yet even though these are stories of loss, Smoke is ultimately a book about grace, one which calls not only for a rejection of guilt, but also for approaching the world with deep compassion.

Nicola Winstanley is a writer for adults and children. She has been shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award and is the recipient of the Alvin A. Lee Award for Published Creative Non-Fiction. Nicola’s fiction, poetry and comix have been published in the Windsor Review, Geist, the Dalhousie Review, Grain magazine, untethered magazine and Hamilton Arts and Letters, among others. She holds an MA from the University of Auckland, NZ, and an MFA from UBC. Nicola teaches at Humber College in Toronto and lives in Hamilton, Ontario.

Nicola Winstanley's profile page

"With incredible fineness the author slices through these literary lives, each story unwrapping a tiny and perfectly-formed world, coming to life within just a few pages, taking the reader on a deeply emotional journey that is impossible to break away from."

Bookly Matters

"With her nuanced prose and keen insight into the human condition, Nicola Winstanley proves herself a formidable voice in adult fiction with 'Smoke.' This collection is a testament to her storytelling prowess, offering a profound exploration of the ways in which our past shapes our present and how grace can illuminate even the darkest corners of our lives."

Review Tales

"I can't say one damn thing disparaging the collection of stories in Smoke. [...] I would like to see the character possibilities and outcomes stretched to their fullest extent. Smoke, fire, fuel.... More, please, Ms. Winstanley."

EmilyWeedon.com