Author of A Tale for the Time Being, shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize; resident of B.C.'s Cortes Island and New York City.

Do you consider Cortes Island home?

Yes. And no. It’s complicated. When I’m in New York, I miss the quiet of Cortes. I miss the forest and the ocean, and the cool, damp air. I miss the moss. I miss my running and hiking trails. I miss the long, dark days that are so conducive to writing. I miss my island friends, my turtles and my cat. When I’m on Cortes, more than anything else, I miss the anonymity of New York. I miss being able to go to a coffee shop and sit and write and not know anyone. I miss restaurants and movies and theatre. I miss the high energy of the city. I miss my city friends and my Brooklyn Zen sangha. —as told to Lila MacLellan