Michael Christie

Michael Christie is a Canadian author celebrated for his inventive storytelling, richly drawn characters, and ability to weave together themes of family, identity, and the natural world. Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and raised in British Columbia, Christie’s path to becoming a novelist was anything but traditional. Before pursuing writing, he worked as a professional skateboarder, traveling internationally and earning sponsorships. His unconventional background informs his work, which often explores lives lived on the margins of society, resilience, and the unexpected connections that shape human experience.

Christie’s debut short story collection, The Beggar’s Garden (2011), was widely acclaimed and won the Vancouver Book Award. It was also longlisted for the prestigious Scotiabank Giller Prize, establishing him as a strong new voice in Canadian literature. His first novel, If I Fall, If I Die (2015), drew from his personal experiences growing up with a mother who suffered from agoraphobia. The novel received international recognition for its poignant exploration of fear, courage, and childhood in a remote Canadian community.

His most ambitious work to date, Greenwood (2019), is a sweeping, multigenerational saga that examines climate change, deforestation, and the intricate bonds of family. Spanning decades and generations, the novel highlights both humanity’s destructive tendencies and its capacity for care, resilience, and redemption. Greenwood was shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and became a national bestseller, further solidifying Christie’s place among Canada’s most important contemporary writers.

In addition to his novels, Christie has contributed essays and stories to major publications and continues to engage in conversations about the environment, storytelling, and Canadian identity. He lives on Galiano Island, British Columbia, with his family, where he is closely connected to the forests and landscapes that inspire his work. Michael Christie remains a literary voice deeply attuned to the complexities of nature, community, and human connection.