Transatlantic is excited to announce that SONG OF THE SPARROW: A MEMOIR by Tara MacLean has been shortlisted for the 2024 Prince Edward Island Book Awards in the Non-fiction category!

PEI Book Awards highlight the Island’s best published writings, and demonstrate excellence in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and children’s literature. The nominees represent a diverse group of talented writers, editors, and creators whose work has made a significant impact on Island culture. 

The awards ceremony will take place at the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre on Thursday, May 30, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

About SONG OF THE SPARROW:

An astonishing memoir about how song saved a life.

Singer/songwriter Tara MacLean has had an extraordinary musical career. From being discovered singing on a BC ferry to touring with Dido, Tom Cochrane and Lilith Fair, her solo albums and those with the band Shaye have touched legions of fans. But she hasn’t, until now, disclosed the details of how the power of song saved her from a childhood filled with danger.

From her earliest days in the backwoods of Prince Edward Island, Tara was surrounded by nature, the songs of her musician father and the love of her actor mother. But love was not enough to feed their growing family, nor were the Wiccan, then evangelical Christian teachings her parents followed. Poverty and uncertainty were constant companions, as were the dangers that began to enter her world. Predators can come in many forms from even the most trusted circles, and Tara soon learned that a young girl is never safe. It was only through Tara’s inner strength and the sanctuary she found in singing that she created a refuge and a future for herself.  

Song of the Sparrow is a daring, heartbreaking and provocative memoir of a life filled with music, told with the same raw, open and elegant poetry that Tara’s fans have come to expect. From Tara’s childhood in PEI through her teenage years in BC to her meteoric rise in music, Song of the Sparrow reveals her remarkable strength and shows that a song and a wide-open heart are the best weapons for fighting monsters.

Tara is represented by Carolyn Forde.

Congratulations!

Share: