By Sara Laux, Faculty of Humanities
Authors Lisa Richter, Elizabeth Ruth and Lisa Ko have been named the Mabel Pugh Taylor Writers in Residence over the next three years, each serving an eight-month term from September to May.
A collaboration between McMaster’s Department of English & Cultural Studies, McMaster University Libraries, and Hamilton Public Library, the writer in residence program invites a well published Canadian author to work at the Hamilton Public Library and on the McMaster main campus to mentor creative writers from the university and the Hamilton community.
The award is named for Mabel Pugh Taylor, who graduated from McMaster in 1922 – the first woman in her family to attend university. The award was jointly funded by the Taylor family, the Department of English & Cultural Studies, and the Canada Council for the Arts.
“We are thrilled to be welcoming these three talented authors to the writer in residence program,” said Susie O’Brien, chair of the Department of English & Cultural Studies. “Their unique voices, distinct experiences and range of approaches to their craft will hugely benefit the creative writers who participate in the program over the next three years.”
Here’s a little more about the next three writers in residence.
Lisa Richter (Writer in Residence, 2026-2027)
Lisa Richter is an award-winning poet, writer and educator who has written three books of poetry: Closer to Where We Began, Nautilus and Bone, which won the Canadian Jewish Literary Award for Poetry, and Sublunary, which was listed in 49th Shelf’s Most Anticipated Spring 2026 Poetry Preview.
Her poetry has been published widely in literary journals and anthologies, including Best Canadian Poetry, The Fiddlehead, The Malahat Review, The New Quarterly, and Locations of Grief.
“For me, writing and teaching have always gone hand-in-hand,” she said. “I am thrilled and deeply honoured to be the next Mabel Pugh Taylor Writer in Residence, joining a legacy of distinguished Canadian writers who have worked closely with McMaster University and the Hamilton Public Library communities to engage, support, mentor and inspire. As a passionate educator, I am excited to create opportunities for diverse writers at all stages of development to expand their creative practice.”
Elizabeth Ruth (Writer in Residence, 2027-2028)
Elizabeth Ruth is the author of the novels Ten Good Seconds of Silence, Smoke, Matadora, and Semi-Detached, as well as a collection of poetry, This Report Is Strictly Confidential.
Her work has been recognized by the Writers’ Trust of Canada Fiction Prize, the City of Toronto Book Award, the Amazon First Novel Award, and One Book One Community. CBC named her “One of the Ten Canadian Women Writers you must read.”
She is also the author of a plain-language novella for adult literacy learners called Love You to Death and the editor of the anthology, Bent on Writing: Contemporary Queer Tales.
“I’m thrilled to have been selected as the Mabel Pugh Taylor Writer in Residence for 2027-2028,” she said. “It’s an honour to join in partnership with the excellent teams at McMaster University and the Hamilton Public Library, who bring this valuable program to the public. I very much look forward to connecting with aspiring writers in the Hamilton region, sharing knowledge, creativity and inspiration.”
Lisa Ko (Writer in Residence, 2028-2029)
Lisa Ko is the author of the new novel Memory Piece, and the nationally bestselling novel The Leavers, which was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction and the PEN/Hemingway Award, and winner of the PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction.
Ko’s writing has appeared in Best American Short Stories, McSweeney’s and The Believer.
“I’m looking forward to working with writers in the McMaster and Hamilton communities as I continue writing my next book,” Ko said.
Learn more
For more information, visit the Mabel Pugh Taylor webpage.
