Anuja Varghese

Anuja Varghese is a Canadian writer from Hamilton, Ontario,[1] whose debut short story collection Chrysalis was published in 2023.[2]

Varghese's writing has been published in literary magazines such as The Malahat Review, The Fiddlehead and Plenitude, and has been anthologized in Devouring Tomorrow[3], When Other People Saw Us, They Saw the Dead and Queer Little Nightmares.[4] Her short story "Throwing Salt" was a Pushcart Prize nominee in 2021.[4]

Chrysalis won the 2023 Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBT literature,[5] the 31st annual Hamilton Literary Award for Fiction[6], and the Governor General's Award for English-language fiction at the 2023 Governor General's Awards.[7] Chrysalis was longlisted for the 2024 Carol Shields Prize for Fiction[8], and shortlisted for the 2024 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize[9].

Her debut novel, A Kiss of Crimson Ash, was acquired by Penguin Random House Canada for publication in May 25, 2026[10].

Personal life

Varghese is bisexual.[4] She has a BA from McGill University,[11] and a Creative Writing Certificate from the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies where she has also been an instructor.[12] She was a recipient of the Toronto Metropolitan University's 2025 Isadore Sharp Outstanding Recent Graduate Award after completing a course in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Management.[13]

References

  1. ^ Justin Chandler, "On the scene: Hamilton authors talk queerness and resistance". TVO Today, June 16, 2023.
  2. ^ H. Felix Chau Bradley, "In this debut story collection from Anuja Varghese, horror and shame commingle with joy and transformation". Xtra!, March 14, 2023.
  3. ^ Dupuis, Jeff (2025). Devouring Tomorrow: Fiction from the Future of Food. A. G. Pasquella (1st ed.). Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN 978-1-4597-5498-0.
  4. ^ a b c "Anuja Varghese on Transformation, Literary Anxieties, and Writing for 'Women Who Don't See Themselves in Most Stories'". Open Book, February 22, 2023.
  5. ^ Nicole Thompson, "Kai Thomas wins Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize for debut novel". Toronto Star, November 21, 2023.
  6. ^ "hamilton literary awards". The Silhouette. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
  7. ^ "Anuja Varghese wins Governor General's literary award for fiction". Toronto Star, November 8, 2023.
  8. ^ Spectator, The Hamilton (2024-03-10). "Hamilton's Anuja Varghese nominated for fiction prize". The Hamilton Spectator. ISSN 1189-9417. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
  9. ^ "Tenth annual Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize shortlist announced". Kobo Books Blog. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
  10. ^ "A Kiss of Crimson Ash by Anuja Varghese". Penguin Random House Canada. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
  11. ^ "Alum Anuja Varghese highlighted in McGill News article". Channels. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
  12. ^ "Anuja Varghese | School of Continuing Studies - University of Toronto". learn.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
  13. ^ "Anuja Varghese". Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). Retrieved 2026-02-01.
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