Tanya Boteju talks about how books create belonging for young readers

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: On this episode of Writing the Coast, Tanya Boteju talks about her book Messy Perfect. Messy Perfect is a finalist for the 2026 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize. In his conversation with host Megan Cole, Tanya talks about how books can be safe spaces for young readers and why books weren't safe spaces for her when she was young. For more about Messy Perfect: https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/project/messy-perfect/ To view the 2026 BC and Yukon Book Prizes shortlists: bcyukonbookprizes.com/2026/04/14/ann…es-shortlists/ ABOUT TANYA BOTEJU: Tanya Boteju lives on unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations (Vancouver, BC). Part-time, she teaches English to clever, sassy young people. The rest of her time, she uses writing as an excuse to eat pastries. Her debut novel, Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens, was named a Top Ten Indie Next Pick by the American Booksellers Association. In both teaching and writing, Tanya looks to bend the universe even the tiniest bit toward justice. ABOUT MEGAN COLE: Megan Cole is the Executive Director for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based on the territory of the Tla'amin Nation. Megan writes creative nonfiction and has had essays published in Chatelaine, This Magazine, The Puritan, Untethered, and more. She has her MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of King's College and is working her first book. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com ABOUT THE PODCAST: Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen. Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.