To map the Governor General's Award is to map both the past and the future of Canadian literature, and to be nominated for my first book is wonderful.

Growing up in Waterloo, the Governor General's Award wasn't something I even thought to wish for.

There is no simple answer for what it means to be Canadian. There are a thousand answers that come together. But part of that is that there is a national mythology.

For 'The Lobster Kings,' I listened to a lot of Johnny Cash. And it makes its way into the book.

I had not expected to ever be in a position to able to say, 'Hey, see the magazine with J. Lo on the cover? They reviewed my book inside.'

I started writing 'The Lobster Kings' the day after I sold my first novel, 'Touch.'