Heather Smith, a resident of Waterloo, shared her journey of overcoming academic challenges to become an award-winning author. Her novel, “Tig,” which recently received the Governor General’s Literary Award, narrates the story of siblings Tig and Peter, who find refuge with their uncle and his partner after a period of parental absence.
Smith discussed her achievement and the inspiration behind “Tig” in an interview with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo’s “The Morning Edition” hosted by Craig Norris. Winning in the Young People’s Literature category was a pleasant surprise for Smith, who described the moment of realization upon waking up to congratulatory messages on her phone.
For Smith, the award holds significant meaning as it validates the impact of her solitary writing process. She emphasized that recognition through awards like this is one way for authors to gauge the reach and resonance of their work with readers.
“Tig” delves into themes of trust, love, and resilience as Tig navigates the challenges of abandonment and rebuilding a sense of security. Smith revealed that the novel’s inspiration stemmed partly from a real-life experience shared by a friend of her daughter, highlighting the importance of addressing darker themes in literature to engage readers authentically.
The underlying message of “Tig” revolves around perseverance and seeking support during tough times, reflecting Smith’s belief in the resilience of readers to confront difficult narratives. Through the process of writing “Tig,” Smith discovered her ability to take creative risks and identified with the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery, drawing parallels to her own struggles with academic self-doubt in the past.