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A photo of writer Natalie Appleton. She is a light skin toned woman with auburn coloured hair pulled back, wearing a dark sweater and a stone pendant. She sits outside, with wild grasses and a bare tree in soft focus behind her. There is an inset photo of her book, I Want to Die in My Boots. The text reads "Interview with Natalie Appleton."

Author Interview

“I think she made my job a lot easier” – An interview with Natalie Appleton

In her debut novel, the literary western I Want to Die in My Boots (Touchwood Editions), Natalie Appleton fictionalizes the little-known figure Belle Jane, a cattle rustler operating on the US-Canada border. We discuss fictionalizing facts, women in history, and the western as a genre ripe for subverting in this interview with the author.

A photo of writer Irena Karafilly in a book-lined study. She is a light skin-toned woman with grey-blonde hair cut into bangs, sitting at ease in a navy armchair with her legs crossed.

Author Interview

Writer’s Block: Irena Karafilly

A graphic with the text "The short of it: Short Story Month on All Lit up" with the cover of Scandal at the Alphorn Factory by Gary Barwin and an inset photo of the author.

Short Story Month

The Short of It: Gary Barwin & Scandal at the Alphorn Factory

More from our editors

Spring Staff Picks

What are ALU staffers reading as the days get longer (and the snow melts, fingers crossed)? Browse our picks for the season below:

The cover of Ransacking Troy by Erin Shields

Ransacking Troy

By (author): Erin Shields

After nearly a decade of the Trojan War, the women of Greece are growing restless. Led by the indomitable Penelope and t….
The cover of The Road Between Us by Bindu Suresh.

The Road Between Us

By (author): Bindu Suresh

A lover’s knot of a novel that spans continents and decades, The Road Between Us delves into the entangled lives of its ….
The cover of Palace Trash by Roger Fodjo

Palace Trash

By (author): Roger Fodjo

Cyprian Ghezo, crown prince of Dahomey (now Benin), is a student at Sorbonne University. Passionate about history and ar….
The cover of I Want to Die in My Boots by Natalie Appleton

I Want to Die in My Boots

By (author): Natalie Appleton

A debut novel by an exciting new voice in Canadian literature, I Want to Die in My Boots weaves fact and fiction to tell….
The cover of A Story Can Be Told About Pain by Lisa Martin

A Story Can Be Told About Pain

When an accident upends their lives, fourteen-year-old Shiloh and her mother Ruth must leave their idyllic home to make ….
The cover of Ransacking Troy by Erin Shields

Ransacking Troy

By (author): Erin Shields

After nearly a decade of the Trojan War, the women of Greece are growing restless. Led by the indomitable Penelope and t….
The cover of The Road Between Us by Bindu Suresh.

The Road Between Us

By (author): Bindu Suresh

A lover’s knot of a novel that spans continents and decades, The Road Between Us delves into the entangled lives of its ….
The cover of Palace Trash by Roger Fodjo

Palace Trash

By (author): Roger Fodjo

Cyprian Ghezo, crown prince of Dahomey (now Benin), is a student at Sorbonne University. Passionate about history and ar….
The cover of I Want to Die in My Boots by Natalie Appleton

I Want to Die in My Boots

By (author): Natalie Appleton

A debut novel by an exciting new voice in Canadian literature, I Want to Die in My Boots weaves fact and fiction to tell….
The cover of A Story Can Be Told About Pain by Lisa Martin

A Story Can Be Told About Pain

When an accident upends their lives, fourteen-year-old Shiloh and her mother Ruth must leave their idyllic home to make ….
The cover of Ransacking Troy by Erin Shields

Ransacking Troy

By (author): Erin Shields

After nearly a decade of the Trojan War, the women of Greece are growing restless. Led by the indomitable Penelope and t….
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Popular Categories

Literary Fiction
short stories
mystery / thriller
poetry
memoir / biography
canadian plays

Indigenous Litspace

Discover fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, and kids’ books by Indigenous authors and #ReadIndigenous.

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Poetry Litspace

We don’t tell you what the poets are doing, we show you with a dedicated home for poetry recordings, interviews, excerpts, and more.

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Kids Litspace

The ALU Kids Litspace is a home for the finest in kids lit, for young, middle-grade, and teen readers (and all of those who are young-at-heart).

MORE

Congratulations to the Amazon First Novel Award finalists!

These books from independent Canadian literary publishers are up for debut fiction’s top prize in 2025.

The cover Subterrane by Valerie Bah.

Subterrane

By (author): Valérie Bah

A speculative comedy comprised of a carousel of Black and Queer voices being pushed further underground by urban prosper….

Juiceboxers

By (author): Benjamin Hertwig

A powerful debut novel about four young soldiers serving in Afghanistan, and the devastating aftermath of war.”An unvarn….

When We Were Ashes

By (author): Andrew Boden

When the grey bus came to take Rainor Schacht and his friends in the ward for disabled children to a remote hospital cal….
The cover Subterrane by Valerie Bah.

Subterrane

By (author): Valérie Bah

A speculative comedy comprised of a carousel of Black and Queer voices being pushed further underground by urban prosper….

Juiceboxers

By (author): Benjamin Hertwig

A powerful debut novel about four young soldiers serving in Afghanistan, and the devastating aftermath of war.”An unvarn….

When We Were Ashes

By (author): Andrew Boden

When the grey bus came to take Rainor Schacht and his friends in the ward for disabled children to a remote hospital cal….
The cover Subterrane by Valerie Bah.

Subterrane

By (author): Valérie Bah

A speculative comedy comprised of a carousel of Black and Queer voices being pushed further underground by urban prosper….

Juiceboxers

By (author): Benjamin Hertwig

A powerful debut novel about four young soldiers serving in Afghanistan, and the devastating aftermath of war.”An unvarn….

When We Were Ashes

By (author): Andrew Boden

When the grey bus came to take Rainor Schacht and his friends in the ward for disabled children to a remote hospital cal….
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Globe Spring Picks

The Globe and Mail highlighted these books from independent Canadian publishers as must-reads for the
season ahead.

Skin

By (author): Catherine Bush

Now, for the first time, a blistering book of short fiction from one of Canada’s most loved novelists. In Skin, Ca….

Horsefly

By (author): Mireille Gagné

Translated by: Pablo Strauss

A chilling tale about what happens when we mess with nature.In 1942, a young entomologist, Thomas, is sent o….

Encampment

By (author): Maggie Helwig

An activist priest provides sanctuary for an encampment of unhoused people in her churchyardWe think, maybe, that homele….
The cover of I Want to Die in My Boots by Natalie Appleton

I Want to Die in My Boots

By (author): Natalie Appleton

A debut novel by an exciting new voice in Canadian literature, I Want to Die in My Boots weaves fact and fiction to tell….

I Remember Lights

By (author): Ben Ladouceur

The first novel from award-winning poet Ben Ladouceur, I Remember Lights depicts a time when the world promised everythi….

Old Romantics

By (author): Maggie Armstrong

Shortlisted for the Kate O’Brien Award • Shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year….

Ripper

By (author): Mark Bourrie

As Canada heads towards a pivotal election, bestselling author Mark Bourrie charts the rise of Opposition leader Pierre ….

Skin

By (author): Catherine Bush

Now, for the first time, a blistering book of short fiction from one of Canada’s most loved novelists. In Skin, Ca….

Horsefly

By (author): Mireille Gagné

Translated by: Pablo Strauss

A chilling tale about what happens when we mess with nature.In 1942, a young entomologist, Thomas, is sent o….

Encampment

By (author): Maggie Helwig

An activist priest provides sanctuary for an encampment of unhoused people in her churchyardWe think, maybe, that homele….
The cover of I Want to Die in My Boots by Natalie Appleton

I Want to Die in My Boots

By (author): Natalie Appleton

A debut novel by an exciting new voice in Canadian literature, I Want to Die in My Boots weaves fact and fiction to tell….

I Remember Lights

By (author): Ben Ladouceur

The first novel from award-winning poet Ben Ladouceur, I Remember Lights depicts a time when the world promised everythi….

Old Romantics

By (author): Maggie Armstrong

Shortlisted for the Kate O’Brien Award • Shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year….

Ripper

By (author): Mark Bourrie

As Canada heads towards a pivotal election, bestselling author Mark Bourrie charts the rise of Opposition leader Pierre ….

Skin

By (author): Catherine Bush

Now, for the first time, a blistering book of short fiction from one of Canada’s most loved novelists. In Skin, Ca….
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Congratulations to the books on the
Dublin Literary Award longlist!

As chosen by librarians all over the world, these books from independent Canadian literary presses are literally world famous!

ebooks for everyone

In 2022 All Lit Up launched the ebooks for everyone collection: 600+ books that were converted to fully-accessible epub formats for readers with print disabilities. Browse some handpicks from our collection below.

VIEW ALL accessible EBOOKS