An award-winning writer, playwright, and filmmaker, Debra Anderson is the recipient of the Writers' Trust of Canada's prestigious third annual Dayne Ogilvie Grant for an emerging gay Canadian author (2009). She is a graduate of the York University Creative Writing Program.

A regular on the Toronto reading scene, Debra's writing has been anthologized in Persistence: All Ways Butch and Femme (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2011), Geeks, Misfits and Outlaws (McGilligan Books, 2003), Bent On Writing: Contemporary Queer Tales (Women's Press, 2002), and the Lambda-nominated Brazen Femme: Queering Femininity (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2002). Literary journal credits include Fireweed, Xtra, The Church-Wellesley Review, Tessera, periwinkle, Zygote, Acta Victoriana, Hook & Ladder, and dig as well as the now defunct Siren and Queers On-Line.

Most recently she has read at the Brockton Writers Series (Toronto, 2011), Trigger Festival (Toronto, 2010), Word on the Street (Toronto, 2009), was the guest author at York University's Canadian Writers in Person Reading Series (2009) and read in the Proud Voices Reading Series as part of Pride Toronto (2009). She has been a guest author at the now defunct IV Lounge reading series (Toronto, 2007), Lit Live (Hamilton, 2007), and read at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre at various cabarets (Toronto).

She has performed at the tenth anniversary of the Thin Air — Winnipeg International Writers Festival (2006), The Robson Reading Series (Vancouver, 2006), Festival Voix d'Ameriques (Montreal, 2006), and at Durtygurls Reading Series (Ottawa, 2006). Debra was the guest author in 2007 at Pink Ink - a Toronto writing group for queer/trans youth organized by Supporting Our Youth (SOY) and also recently faciliated a creative writing workshop at Word on the Street (Toronto, 2007).

Debra Anderson's animated short film, Don't Touch Me, premiered at the Inside Out Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival (1998) and has been screened internationally at independent film festivals. Her play withholding was workshopped at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in the Ante-Chamber Workshop Series. She was the winner of the prestigious George Ryga Award for Playwriting (York University, 1997).

Debra Anderson currently resides in Toronto, and toured her first novel, Code White (McGilligan Books, 2005) on a cross-Canada tour in 2006. Debra visited Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver, and Victoria, performing with amazing local authors in each city at various events which ranged from appearances at literary festivals and reading series, to bookstore readings and spoken word cabarets held in bars, cafes, and restaurants.

Debra is also the organizer and promoter of Get Your Lit Out, an ongoing reading series based in Toronto that promotes local female authors. She also organizes and promotes additional local literary events. To find out more information please email.

Debra sometimes writes book reviews for Shameless Magazine and Queeriesmag.com.

Contact Debra for if you are interested in having her write reviews for your publication.

Debra has read at numerous events across Canada including literary festivals, reading series, and at book launches. She has appeared in bookstores, cafes, bars, ceremonies, salons, restaurants, and cabarets.

Debra has also performed and given talks at Canadian universities and high schools. She has faciliated creative writing workshops for writing festivals and youth groups. She is a dynamic speaker on a wide variety of topics, among them: the creative writing process, the publishing process, feminist issues in texts, gender and sexuality, the outsider, finding your voice, creating characters who speak from a marginalized perspective, performing your work, and creating successful writing groups.

To book Debra to be a guest author, give a lecture, artist talk or workshop, or to schedule her for festival events, book club appearances or readings, or to find out more information please email.

To contact Debra for an interview, or to receive a press copy of Code White and promotional materials for review, please email.

As well as being a novelist, Debra is a trained freelance editor with additional experience and expertise in the field of publicity. Her training in the field of publishing and writing includes Ryerson's Certificate of Publishing, York University's Creative Writing Program, an Honours BA in Women's Studies (York University), and George Brown's Certificate in Desktop Publishing. In addition, Debra has successfully completed Simon Fraser University's Book Publishing Immersion Workshop.

She has completed freelance work for Colborne Communications, a well-known publishing services company based in Toronto. She additionally excels in corporate copywriting and proofreading, and has recently worked on successful corporate partnership proposals with Fortune 500 companies for non-profit agencies.

Debra has wide experience completing thorough and helpful reader's reports for publishing companies, as well as working on non-fiction and fiction projects. Debra is a creative problem-solver, brings a keen eye for detail to every manuscript she reviews, and thrives working under tight deadlines.

If you require any assistance around publicity or freelance editorial work—whether you are interested in Debra completing thoughtful reader's reports for your company or if you are an emerging or established author looking for a manuscript assessment, email Debra to discuss your project and deadline, as well as to find out about rates.

Debra is able to offer assistance in the areas of manuscript consultation, substantive or stylistic editing, copyediting, copywriting, or proofreading, as well as publicity services to help get the word out about your upcoming book launch or event.