Jennifer Quist is a Canadian author, novelist, and critic based in Edmonton. Despite her relatively young age, she has already penned three novels. Her debut novel was even longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award, but it took 50 rejections before it was finally published. In this article, we explore her journey and discover how she achieved her success. Read on at edmontonka.
A Life in Motion
Jennifer was born in the northern mainland of British Columbia and moved frequently throughout her childhood, a consequence of her parents being very “ambitious and restless.” She attended 11 different schools, and it was her siblings who saved her from loneliness. However, this solitude often spurred her imagination, leading her to constantly invent stories in her mind. This was how her passion for writing was born.
Jennifer eventually moved away from her parents, which allowed her to stay in one place and successfully graduate from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.
After university, Jennifer Quist married a “young and handsome, but very poor” man, and together they had five sons.
She later earned a PhD in Comparative Literature, researching theoretical and practical alternatives to traditional Anglocentric writing. This strong academic background, combined with her natural talent, opened the doors to her future success.
Forging a Career
Early in her career, Jennifer worked with Indigenous communities in Alberta, focusing on public health and education issues. She then took on roles as a freelance researcher, columnist, and reporter in Fort McMurray. Following this, Jennifer began her tenure at the University of Alberta, where she continues to teach English literature, creative writing, and composition in the Department of English and Film Studies. Alongside her academic work, she has always dedicated time to her own creative and independent writing.
Jennifer Quist began writing seriously straight after graduating from university, producing both prose and poetry. When she completed her first novel, she struggled for a long time to find a publisher. She submitted her manuscript 50 times, only to receive a positive response on the 51st attempt. Jennifer recalls this period as incredibly difficult and harrowing; she would stand in the shower, crying and praying for the rejections to stop.
In addition to her own writing, Jennifer also reviews books. Her articles have been featured in literary journals such as The Rusty Toque, The Puritan, and Dialogue. Her academic articles can be found in the journal New Writing and in the collections Responding to Creative Writing and Queer China TV. Some of her short prose has been published in Prairie Fire and NorthWord, with several pieces nominated for the Howard O’Hagan Award.
For Quist, a major achievement and a dream come true was when one of her works appeared in a college textbook as an example of a blended essay. She describes it as a risky essay form that one should not “try at home.” Jennifer Quist has a sharp sense of humour and isn’t afraid to laugh at herself.
Themes in Quist’s Novels
Her novels are best described as family comedies with elements of dark tragedy. It could be said that her own family history inspired the macabre undertones in her work. Her parents hailed from the dark, inland forests of New Brunswick and grew up in families where ghost stories were a beloved tradition. Jennifer cherishes these stories and occasionally weaves them into her own writing.
A common thread in Jennifer Quist’s work is a profound focus on themes of death, love, family ties, and the search for self. She explores how to navigate loss while maintaining dignity and warmth, even in the most challenging of circumstances. For Quist, death is not just an end but a part of life that can reveal new meanings.
Another key theme is the journey of self-discovery. Her characters often find themselves in crisis situations that force them to re-evaluate who they are. Jennifer herself has undergone a similar journey, as her path to success was far from easy. She faced doubt, tears, and uncertainty, but she never gave up. It is this perseverance that has enabled her to become an acclaimed author who continues to share her unique stories with the world.