Marilyn Bowering was born in Winnipeg and grew up in Victoria, BC. She received her M.A. Degree from the University of Victoria where she studied with Robin Skelton. A novelist, poet, and librettist, her work has been published and performed internationally. Her first novel, To All Appearances A Lady, was a New York Times Notable Book. Her second novel, Visible Worlds , was shortlisted for the Orange Prize, nominated for the Dublin IMPAC Prize, and awarded the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. Her most recent novel is What It Takes To Be Human. A new novel, The Unfinished World, is forthcoming in 2025. Her poetry has twice been short-listed for the Governor General’s Award: her most recent book of poetry is What Is Long Past Occurs in Full Light. Frayed Linens, a new book of poetry, will be published in 2025. Bowering has taught fiction and poetry at the University of Victoria and at Vancouver Island; and has  held a variety of short-term residencies from St. John’s to Wallawa. She was a Fulbright Scholar at NYC.  Her opera about Marilyn Monroe (Marilyn Forever) with the composer, Gavin Bryars has received new productions in the USA, Australia, United Kingdom, Austria and Germany. Marilyn's most recent work is the literary investigation and memoir More Richly in Earth: A Poet's Search for Mary MacLeod, which tells the story of a 17th century female Scottish Gaelic bard. It was long-listed for the Saltire Prize, Scotland's National Book Award.