Exploring identity, belonging, and the quiet ways change begins
Stories are how I make sense of the world — and how I invite others to do the same.
My writing sits at the intersection of the personal and the political, exploring how identity, displacement, and resilience shape who we are and how we connect. Across fiction, non-fiction, graphic forms and essays, I’m drawn to questions of belonging, silence, and what it means to find one’s voice.
Books & Projects
Atomweight (Tidewater Press, 2023)
A debut novel about resilience, inheritance, and the delicate balance between strength and vulnerability.
Set between Japan and Canada, Atomweight follows a young woman navigating the expectations of family and culture while finding her own place in the world.
Making Sunlight (in development)
A forthcoming graphic memoir created in collaboration with illustrator Marsha Sasagawa, exploring memory, migration, and the small, luminous moments that help us heal.
Selected Works
“Dad’s the Word” — Shortlisted, 2024 CBC Non-Fiction Prize
A deeply personal essay about fatherhood, silence, and the complicated love between who we come from and who we become.
“Lessons from a Peach” — Shortlisted, 2025 CBC Short Story Prize
A tender story about memory, inheritance, and the fruit that becomes a bridge between generations.
Writing as Practice
For me, writing isn’t separate from the work I do as a communicator and consultant.
It’s another way of asking questions, of making sense, of listening. The same skills that guide inclusive communications—curiosity, empathy, clarity—are at the heart of my creative process too.
Connect
For literary inquiries, collaborations, or speaking invitations related to writing, please reach out via the request form.
Emi Sasagawa 