Winner: 2020 Penguin Random House MFA Prize

I am honoured to be the winner of the 2020 Penguin Random House MFA Prize for best nonfiction book proposal. "Margaret Lynch, who graduated in May from the University of King’s College with her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction degree, is the winner of the 2020 Penguin Random House Best Nonfiction Book Proposal Prize. Lynch, a Toronto-based storyteller who writes about people, places, and plights, won for her proposal for Transformed: When My DNA Changed, So Did I, her memoir of her journey to “become a better person” after a rare leukemia invaded her body when she was just [...]

By |2023-10-15T21:40:56+00:00June 26th, 2020|MFA, Publication, School, Survivor, Writer|0 Comments
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CMAJ Blog Post

Déjà Vu in the Time of Covid-19 One Monday morning not long ago, I attended my yoga class. We stretched and twisted, breathed and meditated amidst a soundtrack of calming music and the instructor’s soothing voice. It was late January 2020, when we still took for granted our ability to move freely in and around the world. Afterwards, I chatted with another yogini. Standing close together, we discussed the first reported Canadian case of COVID-19. The National Microbiology Laboratory had confirmed the presumptive case two days earlier. We were concerned, but we agreed the problem could be easily contained. [...]

By |2023-10-15T21:41:33+00:00April 24th, 2020|Covid-19, Publication, Survivor, Writer|0 Comments
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My manuscript is finished

That’s a wrap! 2 years, 4 mentors, 11 chapters, a book proposal, numerous essays, op-eds, book reviews, publications, a finished manuscript and an MFA. I’ve enjoyed every minute of the past 20 months, even (especially?) when I was challenged! Going back to school for my MFA at this stage of life has been a gift. One of the many rewards is belonging to the wonderful University of King’s College, Halifax community, which I will carry with me. Thanks to my outstanding mentors Ayelet Tsabari, Wanda Taylor, Jane Silcott, Cooper Lee Bombardier andMFA program faculty Kim Pittaway, Dean Jobb, and [...]

By |2023-10-15T21:42:25+00:00April 9th, 2020|MFA, School, Survivor, Writer|0 Comments
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Launch Party: untethered Issue 5.1

On January 9th, 2020 I was honoured to share the stage with so many talented writers for the launch of untethered issue 5.1 at the Monarch Tavern in Toronto. What a party! Thanks to intrepid editors Stephanie and Nicole for curating this fabulous issue and organizing this fantastic event! Love that cover artwork by Sarah Graham too! Thanks to untethered for the photos! Back to Complete List of Blog Posts:

By |2023-10-15T21:44:03+00:00January 10th, 2020|Publication, Survivor, Writer|0 Comments
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How I Created My Writer Platform

I’m writing this memoir for those who need to see someone standing strong farther down the road they’re travelling. In February of this year, I stood transfixed in my living room listening to my Camino story on CBC Radio’s The Sunday Edition. I hardly recognized my own voice, which sounded like it had received the audio equivalent of airbrushing. But even though I knew the story, I was almost in tears. I had written something that, to me, felt remarkable. Then came the annoying voices in my head: How will I ever write anything this good again? And did I really bare [...]

By |2023-10-15T21:44:38+00:00November 1st, 2019|Publication, Survivor, Writer|0 Comments
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Camino de Santiago

Six years ago on this day, I arrived at Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Over eleven days, I had walked 275 kilometres in the footsteps of pilgrims dating back to the eleventh century. It was an emotional end to my Camino pilgrimage. At the time, I didn't have words to describe the life-changing impact of that journey. But I do now. I'm retracing my steps to write about this trip for the final chapter in my memoir about life and love after leukemia. As I re-read my journal and look at photos, I'm reminded of all the [...]

By |2023-10-15T21:45:32+00:00October 6th, 2019|Survivor, Travel, Writer|0 Comments
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Giving back to the place that saved my life

Leaving a Legacy (From the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation 2019 Annual Report) Margaret Lynch was the first in Canada to receive an experimental bone marrow transplant at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Today, she is healthy and thriving, dedicated to giving back to the place that saved her life. Margaret has cycled in The Ontario Ride to Conquer Cancer nine times, to raise funds for cancer research. “I know firsthand that supporting The Princess Margaret will further cancer research and get us closer to a world without cancer,” says Margaret. Margaret was only 30 years old when she was diagnosed [...]

By |2023-10-15T21:46:13+00:00September 26th, 2019|cycling, Publication, Survivor, Writer|0 Comments
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Back to MFA School

Just finished a wonderful two-week residency in Halifax where I lived, breathed and talked writing. It kicked off the second (and final) year of my MFA program at the University of King's College in Halifax, NS. A big thanks to all the generous mentors and faculty who shared their wisdom and experience so freely, supporting all of us on our writing journey. To my fellow students from the MFA Classes of 2020 and 2021: There were too many special moments to mention. You are all gifted writers and have fascinating stories to tell. I’m inspired by all of [...]

By |2020-01-20T20:05:59+00:00August 20th, 2019|School, Travel, Writer|0 Comments
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Scenes from a northern Ontario cottage

Grass and cedars and Canadian Shield rock frame the lake. Sun-dappled waves ripple towards shore, gurgling, keeping time to an invisible metronome, breaking up as they reach land. Mama Duck and her 9 ducklings mesmerize us as they scoot along the shoreline. She’s preparing them for survival—on water and land—with seemingly endless vigilance and patience, especially for the duckling we nickname No. 9 who lags behind, exploring nooks and crannies, then quickly skims across the water surface, like a roadrunner, to catch up with his family. Mid-afternoon swims cool us from the sun’s searing rays, and dragonflies hitch [...]

By |2020-01-20T19:59:34+00:00July 13th, 2019|Writer|0 Comments
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2019 Ride to Conquer Cancer

What a glorious Ride to Conquer Cancer weekend! 4,573 participants raised over $19.2 million for cancer research. Our 60-person Heme Team raised $212,327 to support blood cancer research at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Over 2 days, I cycled 221 km. It was my ninth ride and 80 donors helped me raise $13,231. However, the numbers don’t tell the whole story. The Ride is an emotional rollercoaster, starting and finishing both days with exuberance. Spirits are high at pit stops along the way as riders consume thousands of bananas, oranges, brownies, and water while waiting for port-a-potties. But it’s [...]

By |2023-10-15T21:46:48+00:00June 10th, 2019|cycling, Survivor, Writer|0 Comments
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