Canadian Ginger

From strawberry blonde to carrot-top to deep auburn, the work in Canadian Ginger explores the meaning, myths, and stereotypes of being a ginger. Red hair is considered a genetic mutation, with only 2% of the world’s population born with it. Historically, prized as slaves or burned at the stake, the uniqueness of redheads made them both seductress and scapegoat. In the twentieth-century red hair is more desirable and less rare, due to hair dyes and henna treatments, but the labels “unpredictable” and “hot-tempered” remain. This unconventional and fun anthology brings together poems, short stories, essays, and drama excerpts from writers across Canada to tell the comical, powerful, tender, sexy, and sometimes tragic tales about their ginger tresses.

• Margaret Atwood • Aidan Chafe • Carolyn Clink • Anita Dolman • David Fraser • Maureen Foss • Kim Goldberg • Heather Haley • Carla Hartsfield • Tracy Hamon • Penn Kemp • Kateri Lanthier • Joanne Levy • Winona Linn • Christine Lowther • Bruce Meyer • Rebecca Pǎpucaru • Charlie Petch • Rachael Preston • Heather Spears • Diane Tucker • Jordan Watkins •  Lizzie Violet • Darryl Whetter • Jennifer Zilm