Leslie Shimotakahara

Writer, reader, winner of the Canada-Japan Literary Prize. My new novel SISTERS OF THE SPRUCE will be published in March 2024.

[Leslie Shimotakahara @Ex_Lit_Prof]

On this week's episode of GET LIT, I enjoyed chatting about my latest novel and its sources of inspiration in family secrets unearthed on a road trip around British Columbia in 1990: https://t.co/ghY4HjjSnp @cormorantbooks @TRFNews @jtennant1020

[Leslie Shimotakahara @Ex_Lit_Prof]

Happy to see THE BREAKWATER on this list of the indie books most borrowed from Canadian libraries, along with many other books from my publisher, Cormorant! https://t.co/EBnxMwtIV6 @cormorantbooks @TRFNews

[Leslie Shimotakahara @Ex_Lit_Prof]

A fun literary evening at Flying Books, with Jane Park and Rachel Phan! Warm thanks to Diaspora Dialogues for organizing the event and to Flying Books for hosting it! @cormorantbooks @TRFNews @flyingbooks_to

[Leslie Shimotakahara @Ex_Lit_Prof]

Had a wonderful time last night at the Drunk Fiction Series! I read from THE BREAKWATER, alongside Alexis Stefanovich-Thomson, Stephanie Wyeld and Ken Murray, whose readings I enjoyed. Plus zingy commentary by host Emily Weedon. @cormorantbooks @TRFNews @EmilyWeedon2

[Leslie Shimotakahara @Ex_Lit_Prof]

Happy to see this in today's Globe and Mail! @cormorantbooks @TRFNews

[Leslie Shimotakahara @Ex_Lit_Prof]

Today is Canadian Independent Bookstore Day! Always happy to discover my novel in one of the many indie bookstores in my neighbourhood, like Another Story Bookshop. @cormorantbooks @TRFNews @AnotherStoryTO #cibd2026

[Leslie Shimotakahara @Ex_Lit_Prof]

It always give me a little moment of delight to see my novel at one of the Toronto Public Library's many branches! @cormorantbooks @TRFNews @torontolibrary

[Leslie Shimotakahara @Ex_Lit_Prof]

Warm thanks to everyone who attended the book launch for my new novel, THE BREAKWATER, last night! @cormorantbooks @TRFNews @BenMcNallyBooks

[Cormorant Books @cormorantbooks]

Join us via Zoom with Leslie Shimotakahara on April 23 at 6pm, on her new novel, "The Breakwater", presented by Past Wrongs Future Choices.

Register here: https://t.co/8NXngDsDU5

@LandscapesInjus @Ex_Lit_Prof #ReadCanadian

[Leslie Shimotakahara @Ex_Lit_Prof]

Looking forward to this Diaspora Dialogues event in a couple weeks! @ddialogues @cormorantbooks @TRFNews @flyingbooks_to @HelenWalshBooks

[Leslie Shimotakahara @Ex_Lit_Prof]

Looking forward to this warm literary event in a couple of weeks! @cormorantbooks @TRFNews @EmilyWeedon2 @steph_the_twit

[Leslie Shimotakahara @Ex_Lit_Prof]

I enjoyed writing for the 49th Shelf this annotated reading list of some memoirs and historical novels that I recommend: https://t.co/PxWugzLB4y @cormorantbooks @TRFNews @49thShelf

[Leslie Shimotakahara @Ex_Lit_Prof]

@asiancha Thanks for this thoughtful, nuanced review! It captures the spirit of my novel perfectly.

[Cha: An Asian Literary Journal @asiancha]

𝐍𝐄𝐖 @asiancha—Jonathan Han on Leslie Shimotakahara's latest novel, 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐵𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 (Cormorant Books), came out on Sat 4 April 2026. "... deftly oscillates between the estrangement of two brothers and the history of Japanese Canadians."

⧉ https://t.co/KpQbUsGBh1

[Leslie Shimotakahara @Ex_Lit_Prof]

Thanks CHA journal for this insightful, lovely review of THE BREAKWATER! https://t.co/WcYkty069Y @cormorantbooks @TRFNews @asiancha

[Leslie Shimotakahara @Ex_Lit_Prof]

@myetcetera Thanks Tammy for your keen editorial eye in working with me on this personal essay and for suggesting the addition of old photos!

[t @myetcetera]

Leslie Shimotakahara's new novel 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐵𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 came out on Saturday. We're glad to present her essay reflecting on how a childhood encounter with an institutionalised great-uncle, silenced by internment-era injustice, became her book.
⧉ https://t.co/QZcRIoEwwH

[Leslie Shimotakahara @Ex_Lit_Prof]

Here's my essay in CHA journal about the real life inspiration and family secret behind my latest novel, THE BREAKWATER: https://t.co/GAfY2H3ebE @cormorantbooks @TRFNews @asiancha

[Leslie Shimotakahara @Ex_Lit_Prof]

Thanks to everyone at TRF and Cormorant Books who helped me with this highly personal novel!

[The Rights Factory @TRFNews]

📚 #THEBREAKWATER by @Ex_Lit_Prof is out now from Cormorant Books!

This powerful multigenerational novel follows a family journey from Toronto to Victoria that uncovers a long-buried truth.

📖 Get your copy:
https://t.co/Mqucgw8F05

[Leslie Shimotakahara @Ex_Lit_Prof]

@cormorantbooks Thanks to everyone at Cormorant and The Rights Factory who helped me bring this book into being! @TRFNews