蘑菇视频 Reads Winter 2026
鈥淲rite and forget the noise,鈥� advised Gladwell Pamba.
Pamba was speaking to students and faculty in the packed amphitheatre at the Winter 2026 edition of Dawson Reads, sponsored by the English Department.
蘑菇视频 literature student Dorji Dhatsenpa opened the event by reading six original poems.
English teacher Sarah Burgoyne introduced the main speaker,聽saying, 鈥淕ladwell creates characters that shimmer off the page.鈥�
Gladwell Pamba is a prize-winning Montreal-based writer from Kenya who is currently doing her PhD in English at Concordia University. She read her story 鈥淟ittle Paradiso,鈥� winner of the 2025 Malahat Review Far Horizons Award.
The story is told from the point of view of Cheche, an orphan in rural Kenya, for whom a marriage has been arranged. Cheche is a child with no idea what to do, but she knows she has to escape from this situation.
Pamba said she loves to write from a child鈥檚 perspective. 鈥淵ou get away with so much. My characters end up saying things that are controversial, but they are not questioned!鈥�
One student asked what the message of the story was.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 even know!鈥� Pamba laughed. Then she thought for a few seconds and said, 鈥淢aybe it鈥檚 courage. Sometimes courage is just going into the dark. Taking a leap into the dark.鈥�
Her counsel for younger writers?
鈥淭ry to believe in yourself. Don鈥檛 look for approval or validation,鈥� Pamba suggested.
Near the end of the long and lively Q&A, one student asked for more advice on how to become a better writer.
鈥淩ead,鈥� Pamba said. 鈥淛ust read.鈥�
by Sarah Gilbert
