Souvankham Thammavongsa

Souvankham Thammavongsa is a writer and poet. Her debut short story collection How to Pronounce Knife won the 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize. The title story was a finalist for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Her stories have won an O. Henry Award and appeared in Harper's Magazine, The Paris Review, The Atlantic and Granta. She is also the author of four poetry books: Light, winner of the Trillium Book Award for Poetry; Found; Small Arguments, winner of the ReLit Award; and, most recently, Cluster. 

Born in the Lao refugee camp in Nong Khai, Thailand, she was raised and educated in Toronto, where she is at work on her first novel. CBC Books named her a 2020 writer to watch.

Thammavongsa is a juror for the 2021 CBC Short Story Prize.

• Souvankham Thammavongsa wins $100K Scotiabank Giller Prize for short story collection How to Pronounce Knife
• Souvankham Thammavongsa's stories explore the diversity of the immigrant experience
• Read an excerpt from Scotiabank Giller Prize winner How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa
• The 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize finalists discuss the pandemic, their books and how they plan to celebrate
• Souvankham Thammavongsa, Ilya Kaminsky & Aleš Šteger to judge 2021 Griffin Poetry Prize
• Lee Maracle, Souvankham Thammavongsa and Craig Davidson to judge 2021 CBC Short Story Prize
• The CBC Books Writers to Watch list: 24 Canadian writers on the rise in 2020
• Souvankham Thammavongsa recommends reading New Waves by Kevin Nguyen right now
• Need something to read while you isolate? Here are 73 Canadian short stories available free online
• 15 Canadian books Margaret Atwood and Adrienne Clarkson are looking forward to this spring
• The best Canadian poetry of 2019

Books by Souvankham Thammavongsa

Interviews with Souvankham Thammavongsa

Fun, ferocious moments at centre of Giller Prize-winning book

News

4 months ago

9:15

Giller Prize winner Souvankham Thammavongsa says she wanted to have fun again while writing and that her short story collection is 'built out' from her many years of writing poetry.   9:15

The Morning Edition - K-W7:30Author Souvankham Thammavongsa on 'How to Pronounce Knife'

Author Souvankham Thammavongsa on her collection of short stories 'How to Pronounce Knife.' This interview on Monday morning ahead of learning she made the shortlist for the 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize. 7:30

Mainstreet Cape Breton13:37Cabot Trail Writers Festival: Souvankham Thammavongsa

Souvankham Thammavongsa is a Toronto based author and poet. She was nominated for the 2020 Scotiabank Giller prize for "How to pronounce knife." We speak with her about what it is like to release a book during a pandemic. 13:37

Other media

q7:33Jael Richardson's book pick: How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa

Our books columnist Jael Richardson is back with a new recommendation for something to read while in self-isolation. Her pick is Souvankham Thammavongsa’s collection of short stories, How to Pronounce Knife. 7:33