58. Monique Gray Smith: Sharing the Light

Award-winning author Monique Gray Smith’s books resonate with readers of all generations and backgrounds. In Sharing the Light, she weaves together short stories, poignant reflections, and thoughtful questions that invite readers to pause and reconnect with their inner light. And as an Indigenous author, Smith brings her cultural wisdom and unique perspective to each offering. This healing event will be filled with comforting stories and actionable guidance on how to care for ourselves and the world around us. You’ll leave hopeful and inspired. Moderated by Carleigh Baker.

Presented in partnership with Talking Stick Festival.

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Event Participants:

Carleigh Baker

CARLEIGH BAKER is an author and teacher of Cree-Métis and European descent. Born and raised on Stó:lō territory, she currently lives on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy ̓ əm, Skwxwú7mesh, and səl̓ilwəta. Her debut story collection, Bad Endings, won the City of Vancouver Book Award, and was a finalist for the Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize and the Indigenous Voices Award for fiction. Her short stories and essays have been translated into several languages, and anthologized in North America and Europe. Her new story collection, Last Woman, was a finalist for the 2025 Jim Deva Prize for writing that provokes.

Monique Gray Smith

MONIQUE GRAY SMITH is an award-winning, bestselling author of books for children and adults, as well as an accomplished international speaker and consultant. Of Cree and Scottish descent, she has been sober and on her healing journey for more than thirty-four years. She and her family are blessed to live on the Traditional Territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and WSÁNEĆ Peoples near Victoria, British Columbia.