Jessica Johns Explained

Jessica Johns
Language:English
Education:
Notable Works:Bad Cree

Jessica Johns is a Cree writer from Canada, whose debut novel Bad Cree was published in 2023.

Early life and education

Johns is a member of the Sucker Creek First Nation in northern Alberta.[1] She grew up on her traditional territory in Treaty 8. She lived in Adelaide, Australia from ages 14 to 16.[2] Johns majored in English at Grant MacEwan University and has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia.[3]

Career

While she was an MFA student, a creative writing teacher told John's class to never write about dreams. Johns wrote Bad Cree in part as a response to this, advice which Johns disagreed with due to the importance of dreams in Cree culture.[4] It was expanded from her earlier short story of the same name, which won the Journey Prize in 2020.[5]

Bad Cree was published in 2023 by HarperCollins Canada.[6] The novel was a shortlisted finalist for the 2023 Amazon.ca First Novel Award.[7] Bad Cree was selected for the 2024 edition of Canada Reads, where it was defended by Dallas Soonias.[8] [9]

Awards and honours

Awards for Johns's writing!Year!Title!Award!Result!
2019How Not to SpillbpNichol Chapbook Award
2020"Bad Cree"Journey PrizeWinner
2023Bad CreeAmazon.ca First Novel AwardShortlist
2024ALA Alex AwardWinner[10]
Audie Award for Thriller/SuspenseFinalist[11]
CBC Canada ReadsNominee[12]
Georges Bugnet Award for FictionShortlist[13]

Personal life

Johns divides her time between Edmonton and Vancouver and has a cat named Alfredo.

Publications

Notes and References

  1. News: Bell . Justin . 2023-04-18 . Bookmarks: A dream world from local Cree author Jessica Johns . 2024-02-26 . Edmonton Journal . April 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230421165555/https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/local-arts/bookmarks-a-dream-world-from-local-cree-author-jessica-johns . live .
  2. Web site: Haynes . Nalini . 2023-02-06 . Jessica Johns on being Cree, Queer, and representation . 2024-02-26 . Dark Matter Zine . en-US . February 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226162755/https://www.darkmatterzine.com/jessica-johns/ . live .
  3. Web site: Cyca . Michelle . 2023-01-05 . In her debut novel Bad Cree, Jessica Johns has dreamed up a horror story anchored by a Cree matriarchy . 2024-02-26 . Quill and Quire . en . June 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230612190142/https://quillandquire.com/authors/in-her-debut-novel-bad-cree-jessica-johns-has-dreamed-up-a-horror-story-anchored-by-a-cree-matriarchy/ . live .
  4. Michelle Cyca, "In her debut novel Bad Cree, Jessica Johns has dreamed up a horror story anchored by a Cree matriarchy" . Quill & Quire, January 2023.
  5. Web site: 4 emerging Canadian writers receive $10K prizes from Writers' Trust of Canada . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20230221211748/https://www.cbc.ca/books/4-emerging-canadian-writers-receive-10k-prizes-from-writers-trust-of-canada-1.5770790 . 2023-02-21 . 2024-04-25 . CBC Books.
  6. Justin Bell, "Bookmarks: A dream world from local Cree author Jessica Johns" . Edmonton Journal, April 18, 2023.
  7. Web site: Drudi . Cassandra . 2023-05-04 . Billy-Ray Belcourt, Jessica Johns among 2023 Amazon Canada First Novel finalists . 2024-04-25 . . en . May 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230520031855/https://quillandquire.com/omni/billy-ray-belcourt-jessica-johns-among-2023-amazon-canada-first-novel-finalists/ . live .
  8. Web site: 2024-03-01 . Meet the Canada Reads 2024 contenders . 2024-04-25 . . January 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118092323/https://www.cbc.ca/books/meet-the-canada-reads-2024-contenders-1.7073689 . live .
  9. News: 2023-01-11 . Jessica Johns's novel Bad Cree is a story about grief, guilt and healing — read an excerpt now . 2024-04-25 . . February 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240219202224/https://www.cbc.ca/books/jessica-johns-s-novel-bad-cree-is-a-story-about-grief-guilt-and-healing-read-an-excerpt-now-1.6707897 . live .
  10. Web site: 22 January 2024 . YALSA announces 2023 Alex Awards . 22 January 2024 . News and Press Center . ALA American Library Association . en . February 5, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205122728/https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2024/01/young-adult-library-services-association-announces-2024-alex-awards . live .
  11. Web site: 2024 Audie Award Winners . 2024-04-25 . . en-US . March 8, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240308015617/https://www.audiopub.org/2024audieawards-winners/ . live .
  12. Web site: 2024-02-26 . Dallas Soonias is bringing his A-game to Canada Reads for Jessica John's Bad Cree . 2024-04-25 . . March 21, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240321012437/https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/dallas-soonias-is-bringing-his-a-game-to-canada-reads-for-jessica-john-s-bad-cree-1.7073241 . live .
  13. Web site: 2024-04-25 . 2024 Alberta Literary Awards shortlists . 2024-04-25 . . en . April 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240425152620/https://quillandquire.com/omni/2024-alberta-literary-awards-shortlists/ . live .

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