Laura Manuel has made the 2019 CBC Nonfiction Prize longlist for Chasing Dragons.

Laura Manuel believes squeaky houses and fresh air are necessary ingredients for creativity. She is drawn to stories that explore physical activity, the wilderness and expose silenced voices. Laura has been a finalist in short fiction competitions in Pulp Literature and Room. Her work has also appeared in various Canadian magazines. When Laura is not playing with words, you are likely to find her in Edmonton's river valley. She is an avid long distance trail runner and races dragon boats on the North Saskatchewan River. Laura lives with her large, beautifully complex family in Edmonton.

"Story of Canadian dragon boating."

"At Vancouver's dragon boat festival in 2017, I became hyper aware of the multitude of stories about dragon boating. I wanted to explore the intersection of various stories: my personal discovery of the sport, Canada's dragon boat story and the ancient, mythic origin."

"The world's way is to drift the way the tide runs; Who can stay the same and not change with all the rest?" – Qu Yuan, Li Sao

It is my hand that aches most during paddling. Others imagine it would be my bicep or forearm, but it is the small muscles I notice most. The thenar and hypothenar, the opponens pollicis, the fleshy mounds at the base of the thumb and the palm. The discomfort reminds me to relax, to roll my shoulders fluidly. And indeed, in practice, I release my thumb to the side in an effort to stay loose. I am like a hitchhiker on the river.

The winner of the 2019 CBC Nonfiction Prize will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, have their work published on CBC Books and attend a two-week writing residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Four finalists will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and have their work published on CBC Books.

The shortlist will be announced on Sept. 18, 2019. The winner will be announced on Sept. 25, 2019.