Lisa Moore

Lisa Moore was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1964. She spent most of her childhood in this area, and the connection she has with her surroundings is reflected in her detailed descriptions in her writing. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, and has an attention for fine detail which is evident in her writing style. She also studied creative writing at Memorial University in Newfoundland. She wrote radio plays for the CBC by the age of 20, and had short stories published in various anthologies. She became a member of The Burning Rock collective of writers.

Moore’s writing style combines and contrasts the extremes with the trivial and mundane. She offers detailed description, and uses rich imagery while often making little use of dialogue. Her stories offer a detailed look at life in contemporary St John’s, dealing with such various issues as poverty and oppression, love affairs, and regrets. Moore’s writing style aims to keep the reader’s attention through breaking the parameters of the expected. Her narration style is often non-linear, and she makes use of a wide range of voices and narration, thus offering a portrait of St. John’s as it may be seen through various perspectives.

In addition to her collections of short stories and novels, Moore has also written for television, radio, and magazines and newspapers. She currently resides in St. John’s with her husband and their two children. She teaches creative writing workshops across Canada.

Bibliography
Degrees of Nakedness (1995)
Open (2002)
Alligator (2005)
February (2009)

Awards
Short-Listed: Giller Prize (2002) - for Open
Canadian Author’s Association Jubilee Prize for Short Fiction (2002) - for Open
Nomination: Giller Prize (2005) - for Alligator
Commonwealth Prize for the Canadian Caribbean Region (2006) - for Alligator
ReLit Award (2006) - for Alligator