Photo Credit:
Photo credit
Ponders Photography, 2026
Sydney Hegele
BIO
Biography

Sydney Hegele is the author of Bird Suit (Invisible Books, 2024) and The Pump (Invisible Books, 2021). They are the winner of the ReLit Literary Award for Short Fiction, and a finalist for the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature and the Trillium Book Award. Their essays have appeared in the Toronto Star, Catapult, Electric Literature, and many others. Their essay collection Bad Kids: A Polyphony is forthcoming with Invisible Books in 2028. They live with their husband and French Bulldog on Treaty 13 Land (Toronto). 

ADDRESS
City: Toronto, Province/Territory: Ontario
EMAIL
GENRE
Literary fiction, creative nonfiction, personal essays, poetry
LANGUAGES
English
PUBLICATIONS
Publications
Title
Bird Suit
Publisher
Invisible Books
Year
2024
Title
The Pump
Publisher
Invisible Books
Year
2021
AWARDS
Awards
Name
ReLit Award for Short Fiction
Publication
https://www.cbc.ca/books/short-fiction-from-norma-dunning-david-huebert-alix-ohlin-among-works-shortlisted-for-2022-relit-awards-1.6446211?msclkid=b04d2effd06111ec85134ac878fe8117
Year
2022
Name
Finalist for the Trillium Book Award
Publication
https://ontariocreates.ca/our-sectors/book/trillium-book-award/finalists-2021-trillium-book-award?msclkid=39e9d2f4d06111ec8edd697cac80529e
Year
2022
Name
Finalist for the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic
Publication
https://www.cbc.ca/books/nalo-hopkinson-and-canisia-lubrin-shortlisted-for-the-2025-sunburst-award-1.7590884
Year
2025
LINKS
Links
Website
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
Workshop details
Audience Size
5-30
Intended Audience
Adult writers, beginners to published authors
Workshop Length
1.5 Hours
Workshop Description
Workshop description

The Craft of Fanfare

You’ve learned the craft of creative writing and likely learned to despise your book in the process: now what? In this workshop, we’ll approach our work from the perspective of a fan, honing in on the themes, details, and easter eggs we love most, in order to get a sense of genre, audience, and our book’s market value. Learn to love your work again, and you’ll be in a better position to pitch it. 

Workshop Fee(s)
Sliding Scale
School presentation details
Audience Size
30
Intended Audience
Grades 4-12
Presentation Length
1-2 hours
Presentation Description
Presentation description

Introduction presentations to poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction. 

Presentation Fee(s)
Sliding Scale
EQUITY INITIATIVE
As part of the Union’s Equity Implementation Plan, we are committed to increasing awareness of authors who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQI2S, or living with a disability. This author identifies as:
Members who identify as:
LGBTQI2S
Living with a disability
Programs & Interests
Interested in participating Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program:
All members are eligible for the Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program. Are you interested in participating in this pro
Yes
Interested in participating in the Northern Ontario WITS program:
The Union’s Northern Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program funds in-person visits to northern Ontario schools when possible. Ar
Yes