Canada Reads live chat with Ami McKay

Join us on Wednesday, January 5 from 2-3pm ET to chat with Ami McKay, author of The Birth House.

The Birth House is set in rural Nova Scotia nearly a hundred years ago, but this remarkable story didn't find its way onto the page until an aspiring American writer, Ami McKay, relocated from Chicago to Scots Bay, Nova Scotia, to be with her husband and to start a family. She became pregnant shortly after settling in and the community rallied around the new Nova Scotian, sharing with her tales of her new home and her new town. When she discovered that the house she moved into was originally the community's birth house, Ami was inspired to start work on a fictional tale based on this tidbit of historic fact. It became The Birth House, her debut novel.

The story that came to life in Ami's imagination captivated book clubs across the country when it was first published in 2006. Five years later, design maven Debbie Travis is giving the tale of Dora Rare new life by defending it in this year's Canada Reads debates.

Ami will be joining us from her home in Nova Scotia to discuss The Birth House, the Canada Reads experience and any other questions you may have for her! We'll also be giving away a Canada Reads prize pack, consisting of signed copies of all five books and an always practical and extremely fashionable Canada Reads tote bag.

Sign up for an email reminder for the chat below!

And don't forget to join us next week when we talk to Terry Fallis, author of The Best Laid Plans on Thursday, January 13 at 2pm ET! Sign up for this chat here.