Catherine Lewis 🏳️‍🌈🩷💜💙
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catwrites604.bsky.social
Catherine Lewis 🏳️‍🌈🩷💜💙
@catwrites604.bsky.social
1.8K followers 720 following 93 posts
Author of poetry chapbook ZIPLESS (845 Press), finalist for two Bisexual Book Awards. Chinese Canadian. Banff Centre and Simon Fraser University’s Writer’s Studio alum. Tin House ‘25. she/her/hers

Vancouver, Canada

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catwrites604.bsky.social
So thrilled to be reading at the @deathridesaunicorn.bsky.social Seventeen Syllable Slam at @wordvancouver.bsky.social for a third year in a row! ✨🎉✨

See you at 12:30pm tomorrow at UBC Robson Square, Vancouver! ❤️❤️

www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-sevent...
Event Poster for Seventeen Syllable Slam at Word Vancouver on Saturday Sept 20, 2025 at 12:30pm
September 19, 2025 at 6:23 PM
catwrites604.bsky.social
So honoured to be featured at Vancouver Poetry House’s Vancouver Poetry Slam for the 1st time earlier this spring!! ✨🎉✨

So grateful to share my poetry on the #VanSlam stage, including from my chapbook ZIPLESS & from @pulpliterature.bsky.social! ✨❤️✨
Catherine Lewis up at the mic in a red and black dress. Catherine Lewis up at the mic in a red and black dress, reading from Issue 40 of Pulp Literature. A copy of my chapbook ZIPLESS and of Pulp Literature’s Issue 40 sit on a patterned table next to a mixed-kebab platter. #VanSlam audience fills a restaurant. Slam scorecards are up in the air.
May 24, 2025 at 2:50 AM
catwrites604.bsky.social
Big thanks to queer litmag Plenitude Magazine for publishing my poem “Floss”! ✨🏳️‍🌈🎉

So honoured to be published in Plenitude a second time! ✨✨✨ #queerpoets

This poem was written in Elizabeth Bachinsky’s Poetry class ✨🎉✨❤️✨

plenitudemagazine.ca/floss/
Screenshot of Catherine Lewis’s poem “Floss” Screenshot of Catherine Lewis’s poem “Floss” Screenshot of Catherine Lewis’s bio
May 16, 2025 at 1:08 AM
catwrites604.bsky.social
Thrilled to be presenting a Surrey Muse writing workshop for 2SLGBTQIA+ folks for the second year in a row! ✨❤️🏳️‍🌈❤️✨

Saturday, June 14, at Surrey City Centre Library! ✨✨✨

surreymusewriters.wordpress.com/2025/05/14/p...
Event poster for Pride, the Pen & The Page - Writing Workshop for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community
May 15, 2025 at 7:28 PM
catwrites604.bsky.social
So honoured to attend @tinhouse.bsky.social’s Winter Online Workshop last month! ✨❤️✨

Big thanks to my brilliant workshop leader @chenchenwrites.bsky.social for his generosity & for his craft lecture featuring this @dseuss.bsky.social book!

Thanks to my fellow students for holding space ❤️ #thww
Class photo of Chen Chen’s workshop group at the 2025 Tin House Winter Online Workshop Diane Seuss’s book FRANK: SONNETS rests atop a laptop keyboard while on-screen, the book’s final poem is displayed during Chen Chen’s craft lecture.
April 1, 2025 at 2:42 AM
catwrites604.bsky.social
So cool to see my 845 Press chapbook ZIPLESS on TV news (including The National & CBC Vancouver), as yesterday’s federal election campaigning included a stop at a Toronto bookstore! ✨

Big thanks to Kyle Hawke & @roblucastaylor.bsky.social for spotting my chapbook cover on TV and letting me know! ✨
On CBC Vancouver News, New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh is seated in front of bookshelves. ZIPLESS is displayed on a shelf behind Singh’s left shoulder. CBC Vancouver News anchor Dan Burritt presenting segment about NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, who is seated in front of bookshelves. ZIPLESS is displayed on a shelf behind Singh’s left shoulder. On CBC News, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and two other individuals are seated at a round table, in front of bookshelves. ZIPLESS is displayed on a shelf behind Singh’s left shoulder. On The National, New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh is seated in front of bookshelves. ZIPLESS is displayed on a shelf behind Singh’s left shoulder.
March 26, 2025 at 6:32 PM
catwrites604.bsky.social
So thrilled to be featured at Vancouver Poetry Slam for the 1st time, next Monday, March 24! ✨❤️✨

This event is hybrid, so come to Shamshiri Caveman or join online!

The top 4 competitors from that night’s 2-round slam will qualify for Van Slam Finals!

www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/event/vancou...
Event poster for March 24 Van Slam, featuring Catherine Lewis: Shamshiri Caveman (139 Keefer) & Online Doors at 7pm | Sign up at 7:30pm | Show at 8pm $8 advance tickets | $10 to 15 sliding scale at door (No one turned away for lack of funds) Catherine Lewis’s Artist Bio: Born in Hong Kong and raised in Canada, Catherine Lewis (she/her) is a Chinese Canadian writer whose debut poetry chapbook ZIPLESS (845 Press) is a finalist for two Bisexual Book Awards. Her work has been published in PRISM international, The Fiddlehead, The Humber Literary Review, Pulp Literature, and Plenitude Magazine. She has performed at Verses Festival of Words, the Poets Corner Reading Series, and Word Vancouver. About the Slam: March 24th features a 2-round poetry slam. The 4 highest-scoring poets qualify for VAN SLAM FINALS on April 7th - and a chance to rep Vancouver in CIPS! How the slam works: - 10 spots available in-person on line (if more than 10 signed up, random draw decides who gets in) - 3-minute time limit both rounds - All poets perform one poem in the 1st round - 5 highest-scoring poets perform a second poem in the 2nd round BUT AS ALWAYS: The point is NOT the points: the point is the POETRY!
March 17, 2025 at 6:33 PM
catwrites604.bsky.social
So grateful for in-person @tinhouse.bsky.social Winter Online Workshop hangouts in Vancouver, Canada! ✨✨✨

Yesterday I finally met the one fellow Vancouverite in my recent Tin House workshop… turns out Prachi Kamble & I graduated from Simon Fraser University’s Writer’s Studio a year apart! #thww
Selfie of Catherine Lewis with Prachi Kamble at a café table A cappuccino on a café counter
March 4, 2025 at 2:54 AM
catwrites604.bsky.social
So honoured to read at my @tinhouse.bsky.social Winter Online Workshop today! 🎉🎉🎉

Big thanks to my fellow workshop students for the wonderfully warm reception for my funny & sexy queer poem, and for your amazing readings! ✨🏳️‍🌈❤️

It’s such a delight to be in community with you all! ❤️❤️❤️ #thww
Catherine Lewis on screen on Zoom Participant Readings Zoom reading signage Catherine Lewis’s desk holding a MacBook, a ring light, a keyboard, and a monitor. Selfie by Catherine Lewis. She is a Chinese Canadian woman with long black hair, wearing a flowered pink dress and a rainbow Pride Apple Watch band.
February 9, 2025 at 10:48 PM
catwrites604.bsky.social
So glad to restock Chinatown bookstore @massybooks.bsky.social with more copies of my chapbook ZIPLESS! Always a delight to see owner Patricia Massy herself! ✨❤️✨

I still remember posting about my chapbook being published and Massy Books reaching out to ask about stocking it! ❤️❤️❤️
Holding up three copies of my chapbook ZIPLESS outside Massy Books Catherine Lewis standing with Patricia Massy at the Massy Books counter. Patricia is holding the chapbook ZIPLESS. Selfie of Catherine Lewis with Patricia Massy.
February 9, 2025 at 5:10 AM
catwrites604.bsky.social
So honoured to be Featured Poet for the 1st time, at the annual @gunghaggis.bsky.social Banquet celebrating Chinese New Year & Robbie Burns Day! ✨🧧❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿✨

I read a poem by Robert Burns & my Chinese New Year poem “Golden” from @pulpliterature.bsky.social, and ate haggis wonton & haggis lettuce wrap! 🎉🎉🎉
Catherine Lewis reading on stage from Pulp Literature’s Issue 37 Event organizer Todd Wong on stage in a traditional Chinese jacket and a kilt Gung Haggis Fat Choy signage at Floata Seafood Restaurant Haggis lettuce wrap, deep-fried haggis wonton dumplings, and jellyfish on serving platters
February 6, 2025 at 12:16 AM
catwrites604.bsky.social
So honoured to read at a Robbie Burns Day celebration for the 1st time, between bagpipe segments! ✨🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿✨

I read the poem “My Heart’s in the Highlands” during my 1st visit to the Robert Burns Memorial statue, wearing the Harris Tweed hat I got while hubby & I visited Scotland to explore his heritage!
Catherine Lewis reading at the base of Robert Burns Memorial Statue in Stanley Park Catherine Lewis and event organizer Todd Wong standing on the base of Robert Burns Memorial Statue Todd Wong reading at the Robert Burns Memorial Statue Bagpipers playing at the Robert Burns Memorial Statue
February 2, 2025 at 5:48 AM
catwrites604.bsky.social
So glad to restock the always-delightful East Vancouver queer bookstore Cross and Crows with more copies of my chapbook ZIPLESS and to get some shopping done recently… I gawked at their beautiful rainbow merch and finally nabbed a copy of Melissa Febos’ Girlhood! ✨🏳️‍🌈❤️🏳️‍⚧️✨
Catherine Lewis in a tartan dress standing next to in-store display of her chapbook ZIPLESS Display rack containing zines and chapbooks including ZIPLESS Black T-shirt and tote bag with rainbow screen-printed Cross & Crows logo Melissa Febos’s Girlhood
February 1, 2025 at 6:31 PM
catwrites604.bsky.social
Huge thanks to the League of Canadian Poets for publishing my poem “I Will Never Know” in today’s Poetry Pause! This poem was an Honourable Mention for the League’s 2024 Summer Lovin’ Contests!

Written in solidarity with all women, cis and trans… you are all my sisters ❤️❤️❤️

poets.ca/i-will-never...
Poem “I Will Never Know” in Poetry Pause
January 7, 2025 at 5:50 PM
catwrites604.bsky.social
Beyond thrilled to be attending the 2025 @tinhouse.bsky.social Winter Online Workshop this February with faculty member @chenchenwrites.bsky.social! ✨🎉✨🏳️‍🌈✨

My first Tin House workshop! 🎉🎉🎉
Acceptance note for 2025 Tin House Winter Online Workshop Chen Chen’s books WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE A LIST OF FURTHER POSSIBILITIES and YOUR EMERGENCY CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED AN EMERGENCY on a white table
January 6, 2025 at 11:19 PM
catwrites604.bsky.social
So delighted that my poem “I Will Never Know” was selected as an Honourable Mention in the League of Canadian Poets’ 2024 Summer Lovin’ Contests and is forthcoming in Poetry Pause! ✨✨✨

Congrats to the winners and to the other honourable mentions! ✨✨✨

poets.ca/summerlovin2...
Honourable Mentions listing Winners of the 2024 Summer Lovin’ Contests: Lesley Strutt Poetry Contest winner Cheryl Chen for “God’s Love Language is Physical Touch”, and Arts & Letters Club of Toronto Foundation Poetry Award winner Pujita Verma for “WE BUY GOLD”
January 1, 2025 at 1:44 AM
catwrites604.bsky.social
This Halloween, it was so fabulous to be a featured poet at @deathridesaunicorn.bsky.social’s Famous Last Words for the 1st time, as part of the Heart of the City Festival! ❤️❤️❤️

So honoured to read with @kevinspenst.bsky.social, RC Weslowski, & Dina Del Bucchia, hosted by Sara Bynoe! ✨✨✨
Group photo of Andrew Sutherland, Sean McGarragle, Dina Del Bucchia, Catherine Lewis, Kevin Spenst, Sara Bynoe, Meris Goodfellow, and RC Weslowski, in our Halloween costumes RC Weslowski, Dina Del Bucchia, Catherine Lewis, Kevin Spenst, and host Sara Bynoe seated on stage Catherine Lewis up at the mic, holding a Kermit the Frog puppet Heart of the City 2024 Festival Program
December 31, 2024 at 9:19 PM
catwrites604.bsky.social
This fall, I was so delighted to take part in the @deathridesaunicorn.bsky.social Seventeen-Syllable Slam at Word Vancouver for the 2nd year in a row… my 3rd consecutive year in this festival!

Congrats to Leslie Stark on being crowned the winner 👑 & thanks to @mcgarragle.bsky.social for the invite!
Group shot of Erin Kirsh, Catherine Lewis, Sonya Littlejohn, RC Weslowski, Leslie Stark, Duncan Shields, Sean McGarragle, Jenny Gatchalian, Trevana Spilchen, Warren Dean Fulton, Kayla Price, Kyle Hawke, Amanda Eagleson, David Geary, Vitamin F Catherine Lewis up at the mic Leslie Stark being crowned the winner by organizer Sean McGarragle Word Vancouver flyer and program stating “Celebrating Community: 30 Years of Word Vancouver”
December 31, 2024 at 3:53 PM
catwrites604.bsky.social
This fall, I was so delighted to host Ellen Chang-Richardson’s Vancouver launch for their full-length debut BLOOD BELIES at Massy Arts Society! 🎉🎉🎉

At this event, we also celebrated Patrick Grace’s full-length debut DEVIANT, and heard some fabulous work from @davidlywrites.bsky.social! ✨✨✨
Ellen Chang-Richardson up at the mic, reading from their book BLOOD BELIES Patrick Grace up at the mic, reading from his book DEVIANT David Ly up at the mic, reading from his book DREAM OF ME AS WATER Catherine Lewis up at the mic, holding a copy of Ellen Chang-Richardson’s book BLOOD BELIES
December 31, 2024 at 7:25 AM
catwrites604.bsky.social
So thrilled to read at @deathridesaunicorn.bsky.social’s Liars of Orpheus series for the 1st time this summer… it was such an honour to read with Franz Seachel, Jillian Christmas, & RC Weslowski, hosted by SJ Valiquette at The Pleasant! ✨✨✨

Squeezing truths into a pack of lies was sooo difficult! 🤣
Catherine Lewis up at the mic Franz Seachel up at the mic Jillian Christmas up at the mic RC Weslowski up at the mic
December 31, 2024 at 2:25 AM
catwrites604.bsky.social
To kick off Pride Month 2024, I was so honoured to read at Pride and Plenitude, presented by queer litmag Plenitude Magazine at the Vancouver Public Library! Loved reading with Plenitude's Managing Editor Patrick Grace & Founding Editor Andrea Routley, along with fellow Plenitude contributors! ✨🏳️‍🌈❤️🏳️‍⚧️✨
Patrick Grace, Catherine Lewis, Andrea Routley, Shaelin Bishop, David Ly, and Meghan Kemp-Gee standing on stage Cross and Crows bookseller Nena and Patrick Grace seated behind a book sales table Patrick Grace up at the mic Catherine Lewis up at the mic
December 30, 2024 at 8:42 PM
catwrites604.bsky.social
This summer, I was so honoured to curate & host a Vancouver Poetry House edition of Royal City Literary Arts Society’s Poetry in the Park featuring Franz Seachel and Sonya Littlejohn, who routinely bring their talents to classrooms via VPH's WordPlay program! Thanks to Janet Kvammen for the invite ❤️
Sonya Littlejohn, Franz Seachel, Janet Kvammen, and Catherine Lewis posed around banners reading “Verses Festival of Words” and “Poetry in the Park” Sonya Littlejohn on stage, with a mic in hand Franz Seachel up at the mic Catherine Lewis up at the mic
December 30, 2024 at 7:56 PM
catwrites604.bsky.social
So honoured to serve as TriCities Poetry’s first-ever feature poet, at this summer’s PRIDE POURS poetry night at Brave Brewing Company! 🏳️‍🌈

Big thanks to Aaron Hunter for the invitation - you’ve done such fabulous work with this fun open mic
series! ✨✨✨
Catherine Lewis up at the mic, reading from her chapbook ZIPLESS Catherine Lewis up at the mic, reading from her chapbook ZIPLESS TriCities Poetry organizer Aaron Hunter up at the mic Frontage of Brave Brewing Company in Port Moody
December 30, 2024 at 1:18 AM
catwrites604.bsky.social
For Pride Month 2024, I had the honour of designing/facilitating my 1st Creative Writing Workshop: Pride, the Pen and the Page, for LGBTQ+ folks, presented by Surrey Muse Writers. Big thanks to the wonderful organizing team for the invite! Thanks so much to the folks who braved the rain to attend! 🏳️‍🌈
Catherine Lewis standing next to a banner with the text “Surrey Muse: An Interdisciplinary Art & Literature Presentation Group” View of Surrey City Centre Library’s atrium Signage stating “LGTBQ+ Writing Workshop with Catherine Lewis” Trays of veggies, fruit, and cookies on a table
December 29, 2024 at 10:47 PM
catwrites604.bsky.social
On Mother’s Day 2024, I was so delighted to read with Kawika Guillermo & @candietanaka.bsky.social & moderator @isabellawangbc.bsky.social on the panel Queer Asian Authors on Writing Chosen & Given Family, at the inaugural Bridges Literary Festival, presented by New Westminster Public Library! 🏳️‍🌈❤️
Catherine Lewis, Candie Tanaka, Isabella Wang, and Kawika Guillermo standing in front of a wood-toned wall Catherine Lewis, Candie Tanaka, Kawika Guillermo, and Isabella Wang seated behind a long table for a panel discussion Catherine Lewis reading from her chapbook ZIPLESS while seated behind a long table New Westminster Library signage for the event “Panel: Queer Asian Authors on Writing Chosen & Given Family”
December 29, 2024 at 7:44 PM