Picture a Nova Scotian storyteller who spins tales of family, loss, and resilience with a Mi’kmaq heartbeat—meet Amanda Peters! This mixed-race author of European and Mi’kmaq ancestry has captivated readers with her debut novel, The Berry Pickers, a heart-wrenching yet hopeful story that’s earned accolades across North America. From her roots in the Annapolis Valley to her rise as a literary star, Peters’s work bridges cultures and generations with lyrical prose and unflinching honesty.
The Making of Amanda Peters
Born and raised in Falmouth, Nova Scotia, Amanda Peters grew up immersed in the stories of her Mi’kmaq heritage, thanks to her father’s tales of berry-picking summers in Maine. A member of the Glooscap First Nation, she embraced her mixed identity, which later fueled her writing. Peters honed her craft with a certificate in creative writing from the University of Toronto and a Master of Fine Arts from the Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico, where she found her voice as an Indigenous storyteller. Her early work, including short stories like Pejipug (Winter Arrives), earned her nominations and awards, setting the stage for her literary breakthrough.
Amanda Peters’s Unforgettable Stories
Peters’s debut novel, The Berry Pickers (2023), is a haunting tale of a Mi’kmaq girl who vanishes from a Maine blueberry field, unraveling her family and echoing the real-life traumas of Indigenous communities. Written in crystalline prose, the novel weaves dual perspectives—Joe, the girl’s brother, and Norma, the girl herself, raised unaware of her origins. It won the 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and the 2023 Barnes & Noble Discover Prize, cementing Peters’s reputation. Her short story collection, Waiting for the Long Night Moon (2024), explores Indigenous experiences across time, from early settler encounters to modern water rights struggles, blending traditional storytelling with spare, evocative prose. Peters’s style is intimate yet universal, tackling themes of grief, identity, and resilience with a poet’s touch.
Her work often draws from personal connections, like her Nan’s dementia-inspired tale in The Birthing Tree or her father’s berry-picking stories. Critics praise her ability to craft flawed, relatable characters who linger long after the final page, making her a standout in contemporary Indigenous literature.
Why Amanda Peters Matters
Amanda Peters is more than a writer—she’s a cultural bridge, amplifying Mi’kmaq voices in a literary world hungry for diverse perspectives. Her stories confront systemic racism and historical wounds while celebrating the resilience of Indigenous communities, resonating with readers globally (her work is translated into 17 languages!). As an Associate Professor at Acadia University, she mentors aspiring writers, particularly women of color and Indigenous women, inspiring the next generation to tell their stories. Peters’s impact lies in her ability to make the personal universal, turning family sagas into profound reflections on human endurance.
- Birthplace: Falmouth, Nova Scotia
- Key Works: The Berry Pickers (2023), Waiting for the Long Night Moon (2024)
- Awards: 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medal, 2023 Barnes & Noble Discover Prize, 2021 Indigenous Voices Award
- Fun Fact: Peters lives with her fur babies, Holly and Pook!
Snag The Berry Pickers or Waiting for the Long Night Moon and dive into Amanda Peters’s soul-stirring world of Indigenous storytelling!