Waubgeshig

Rice

Bestselling Fiction Writer

Journalist

Travels from: Sudbury, ON

“This slow-burning thriller is also a powerful story of survival and will leave readers breathless.” — Publishers Weekly

Waubgeshig Rice is an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation on Georgian Bay. His first short story collection, Midnight Sweatlodge, was inspired by his experiences growing up in an Anishinaabe community, and won an Independent Publishers Book Award in 2012. His debut novel, Legacy, followed in 2014. Moon of the Crusted Snow, his breakthrough novel, was published in 2018 and became a national bestseller. It received widespread critical acclaim, including the Evergreen Award in 2019. The sequel, Moon of the Turning Leaves, arrived in late 2023. His books have been translated into French and German, and his short stories and essays have been published in numerous anthologies.

His journalism experience began in 1996 as an exchange student in northern Germany, writing articles about being an Anishinaabe youth in a foreign country for newspapers back in Canada. He graduated from the journalism program at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2002. He spent most of his journalism career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a video journalist, web writer, producer, and radio host. In 2014, he received the Anishinabek Nation’s Debwewin Citation for excellence in First Nation Storytelling. His final role with CBC was host of Up North, the afternoon radio program for northern Ontario. He left daily journalism in 2020 to focus on his literary career.

Waubgeshig's Featured Titles

Moon of the Turning Leaves

Random House Canada |

October 10, 2023

Literary Fiction

Twelve years after the lights go out . . .

An epic journey to a forgotten homeland

The hotly anticipated sequel to the bestselling novel Moon of the Crusted Snow

It’s been over a decade since a mysterious cataclysm caused a permanent blackout that toppled infrastructure and thrust the world into anarchy. Evan Whitesky led his community in remote northern Ontario off the rez and into the bush, where they’ve been living off the land, rekindling their Anishinaabe traditions in total isolation from the outside world. As new generations are born, and others come of age in the world after everything, Evan’s people are in some ways stronger than ever. But resources in and around their new settlement are beginning to dry up, and the elders warn that they cannot afford to stay indefinitely.

Evan and his fifteen-year-old daughter, Nangohns, are elected to lead a small scouting party on a months-long trip to their traditional home on the north shore of Lake Huron–to seek new beginnings, and discover what kind of life–and what dangers–still exist in the lands to the south.

Moon of the Turning Leaves is Waubgeshig Rice’s exhilarating return to the world first explored in the phenomenal breakout bestseller Moon of the Crusted Snow a brooding story of survival, resilience, Indigenous identity, and rebirth.

BIPOC Representation, Fiction, Native American & Indigenous Heritage, Natural World

Moon Of The Crusted Snow

ECW Press |

October 2, 2018

Fiction

National Bestseller Winner of the 2019 OLA Forest of Reading Evergreen Award Shortlisted for the 2019 John W. Campbell Memorial Award Shortlisted for the 2019/20 First Nation Communities READ Indigenous Literature Award 2020 Burlington Library Selection; 2020 Hamilton Reads One Book One Community Selection; 2020 Region of Waterloo One Book One Community Selection; 2019 Ontario Library Association Ontario Together We Read Program Selection; 2019 Women’s National Book Association’s Great Group Reads; 2019 Amnesty International Book Club Pick January 2020 Reddit r/bookclub pick of the month

With winter looming, a small northern Anishinaabe community goes dark. Cut off, people become passive and confused. Panic builds as the food supply dwindles. While the band council and a pocket of community members struggle to maintain order, an unexpected visitor arrives, escaping the crumbling society to the south. Soon after, others follow. The community leadership loses its grip on power as the visitors manipulate the tired and hungry to take control of the reserve. Tensions rise and, as the months pass, so does the death toll due to sickness and despair. Frustrated by the building chaos, a group of young friends and their families turn to the land and Anishinaabe tradition in hopes of helping their community thrive again. Guided through the chaos by an unlikely leader named Evan Whitesky, they endeavor to restore order while grappling with a grave decision. Blending action and allegory, Moon of the Crusted Snow upends our expectations. Out of catastrophe comes resilience. And as one society collapses, another is reborn.

BIPOC Representation, Fantasy, Speculative & Science Fiction, Fiction, Friendship & Community, Native American & Indigenous Heritage

Legacy

Theytus Books |

August 28, 2014

Fiction

Bold, envisioned storytelling. A hands down pleasure to read. –Richard Wagamese

In the winter of 1989, Eva Gibson is a university student living in downtown Toronto. She’s homesick and anxious to finish her education and return home to serve her Anishinaabe community. Then tragedy strikes and it becomes the Gibson family’s legacy. Back on the rez, Eva’s brothers and sister struggle to cope with their losses and redefine their legacy. Some turn to ceremony; some turn to vice. All the while, they contend with a creeping sentiment of revenge.

BIPOC Representation, Fiction, Grief & Loss, Native American & Indigenous Heritage

Midnight Sweatlodge

Theytus Books |

June 23, 2011

Fiction

Midnight Sweatlodge tells the tale of family members, friends and strangers who gather together to partake in this ancient healing ceremony. Each person seeks wisdom and insight to overcome their pain and hardship. Through their stories we get glimpses into their lives that are both tearful and true. Capturing the raw emotion and unique challenges of modern Indigenous life, this book offers an unflinchingly realistic and genuine look at the struggles First Nations people face.

BIPOC Representation, Fiction, Inspiration & Spirituality, Native American & Indigenous Heritage

Book Readings and Discussions

Waub is always available to read from any of his books, discuss their origins, and answer questions about them.

Community Roots of Storytelling Careers

Growing up in Wasauksing First Nation on Georgian Bay, I learned about Anishinaabe stories and traditions from family, community elders, and the school on-reserve. This cultural foundation empowered me to study journalism and eventually write fiction. I can share how cultural revitalization and Indigenous-focused learning led me to a career at CBC and becoming a best-selling author, and how a similar path can inspire others to pursue their passions.

Anishinaabe History and Writing the Future

Moon of the Turning Leaves was largely inspired by Anishinaabe history, culture, and my upbringing in his home community of Wasauksing First Nation. In many ways, I looked to the past to consider how to write about the future. This talk highlights historical, cultural, and speculative themes readers can explore when engaging with this book and others by Indigenous authors.

From Spoken to Written: Adapting Oral Storytelling to Literature

Passing stories down orally from generation to generation is a foundational cultural practice for people around the world. Today, writers capture, adapt, and document spoken stories in many ways. In this talk, I discuss how the oral stories of my Anishinaabe heritage influence my fiction writing. I share tips on adapting oral traditions to written forms, with a focus on dialogue and character development.

The Walrus: Waubgeshig Rice: I discovered change could happen through the written word

DWF Live! with Waubgeshig Rice: Author and Journalist

Book Talk: Moon of the Crusted Snow with Waubgeshig Rice

Ontario Creates | Homegrown Author Series – Waubgeshig Rice

Mississauga Library Author Talks | Waubgeshig Rice

“Patrons were really engaged and asked several questions at the end of the presentation. The majority of attendees stood in line to get both of Waub’s books signed. We collect event surveys at the end, and here are some comments from patrons: ‘Loved it!’ ‘Wonderful experience! Will recommend to others,’ ‘Interesting and inspiring,’ ‘Excellent! Thank you!’ ‘Great event, great speaker.’” — Grand Rapids Public Library, 2024

“Waubgeshig Rice’s visit to Milton was unforgettable. His storytelling is profound. This was a truly memorable experience. Thank you to Milton Public Library for bringing this opportunity to our community.” — One Book, One Milton, 2024

“Last night’s event was truly memorable. Over 400 community members were captivated by the thoughtful and engaging conversation between the two of you. Waub, your insights and storytelling brought both Moon of the Turning Leaves and Moon of the Crusted Snow to life in such a meaningful way. There was a line up to purchase Moon of the Crusted Snow after participants heard you speak.” — One Book, One Milton, 2024

“The enthusiasm in the room was evident, from the high demand for Waub’s books to the long line of attendees eager to meet you personally. Waub, it’s clear that your time with us left a lasting impression, and we are so grateful for your warmth and generosity with our audience.” — One Book, One Milton, 2024

“Waubgeshig is an excellent writer and speaker. He conveys so much intention behind his works. He was engaging, spoke with an easy sense of humor, and still effectively talked about the reality of historical traumas that impact people today.” — King County Library System, 2024

“Waubgeshig Rice is an accomplished author and excellent speaker. He shared with our organization his lived experience as an Indigenous person in Canada, in a way which was very meaningful, engaging and heartfelt. All participants came away with a much deeper understanding and appreciation of the impacts of colonization, but also of the reasons to be hopeful for reconciliation. We thank Waub sincerely for being so generous with his time and personal insights and experiences.” — Hicks Morley, 2024

“KPDSB’s Summer Book Club was overwhelmingly pleased with the 2024 books we selected for our readers. Waubgeshig Rice’s Moon of the Crusted Snow and Moon of the Turning Leaves were ideal choices for over 200 readers to engage in throughout July. Feedback from our participants was immediate and ongoing with comments directed at an appreciation of the author’s work, his engagement with us and the reflection and thinking prompted through the texts. Our two virtual sessions were also well-received, with many attendees noting how easily Waubgeshig Rice brought us into his writing and life experiences. We highly recommend this author and these books.” — Keewatin-Patricia District School Board, 2024

“Waub Rice is a professional, his evening event was very enjoyable as he talked about the writing process. He connected with the people, he answered all questions and stayed to chat and sign books for everyone. Our committee is beyond thrilled with how successful our event was.” — Jabbawong Storytelling Festival, 2024

“Waubgeshig Rice is an outstanding Indigenous Author whose works provide profound insights into the experiences and cultures of Indigenous Peoples. His storytelling is marked by a deep sense of authenticity and commitment to preserving and sharing Indigenous narratives. Rice’s ability to weave traditional knowledge with contemporary themes makes his writing both engaging and educational. His novel “Moon on Crusted Snow” is particularly notable for its vivid depiction of community resilience and impact of societal collapse. Rice’s contributions to literature are invaluable, offering a vital perspective that enriches the broader literacy landscape.” — Halton Catholic District School Board, 2024

“Having Waub Rice attend our corporate event was an enlightening experience. His storytelling captured the heart of Indigenous culture and created a powerful connection to our audience. Waub’s ability to blend tradition with contemporary issues was both inspiring and thought-provoking. Highly recommend Waub’s work to anyone seeking a profound literary journey.” — Ontario Northland, 2024

“Waub is fantastic! He was very engaging, and provided great insight into his background and personal cultural journey. He also responded to every student question.” — Upper Canada District School Board, 2024

“Rice seamlessly injects Anishinaabe language into the dialogue and creates a beautiful rendering of the natural world … This title will appeal to fans of literary science-fiction akin to Cormac McCarthy as well as to readers looking for a fresh voice in indigenous fiction.” — Booklist

“This slow-burning thriller is also a powerful story of survival and will leave readers breathless.” — Publishers Weekly

Waubgeshig Rice’s Recent Writings

Moon of the Crusted Snow Reading Guide

Honors, Awards & Recognition

Canadian National Bestseller
OLA Forest of Reading Evergreen Award
Independent Publishers Book Award
Debwewin Citation for Excellence in First Nation Storytelling | 2014