Ami McKay is a Canadian novelist, playwright and journalist. McKay was born in rural Indiana, but now lives with her husband and two sons on the Bay of Fundy. She began her writing career as a freelancer for CBC Radio. Her work has aired on Maritime Magazine, Outfront, This Morning and The Sunday Edition. Her documentary, Daughter of Family G won an Excellence in Journalism Medallion at the 2003 Atlantic Journalism Awards. She was a finalist in the Writers' Union of Canada's Short Prose Competition as well as the recipient of a grant from the Nova ScotiaDepartment of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. The Birth House was McKay's first published effort and reached the Number One spot on Canadian best sellers lists. Her second novel, The Virgin Cure, was published in 2012. Her first script for the stage, Jerome: The Historical Spectacle was commissioned by Two Planks and a PassionTheatre Company and was staged at The Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, directed by Ken Schwartz in August 2008.
Awards and recognition
2012 - Established Artist Recognition Award—Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council / Province of Nova Scotia
2012 - Atlantic Independent Booksellers' Association "Bookseller's Choice of the Year" award for The Virgin Cure
2010 - One of the five finalists in CBC's Canada Reads. Her book is championed by TV host and designer Debbie Travis.
2009 - Robert Meritt Award for Outstanding Sound Design or Original Score for the 2008 production of Jerome: The Historical Spectacle produced by Two Planks and Passion Theatre Company
Feb 2008 - 2007 Evergreen Award. Presented by the Ontario Librarian's Assoc.
April 2003 Gabriel Award Nomination, Daughter of Family G
May 2003 Atlantic Journalism Awards - Excellence in Journalism Award
October 2003 - Daughter of Family G was selected to air on Soundprint, and aired on National Public Radio stations throughout the U.S.
November 2002 - May 2003 Apprentice in the WFNS Mentorship Program Paired with Richard Cumyn
Writing credits
Half Spent was the Night: : A Witches' Yuletide Published by Knopf
The Witches of New York Published by Knopf, HarperCollins, Orion
The Virgin Cure: A Novel Published by Knopf, HarperCollins, Orion, Neri Pozza
Jerome: The Historical Spectacle Published by Gaspereau Press 2008. First staged by Two Planks and Passion Theatre Company 1 Aug - 17 Aug 2008 at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts.
The Birth House: A Novel Published by Knopf, 4th Estate, Harper Collins, also in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Lithuania
