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Morgan Murray
Morgan Murray
Morgan Murray
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Morgan Murray is a Canadian writer, whose debut novel Dirty Birds was published in 2020.[1] It was shortlisted for both the ReLit Award for fiction[2] and the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour in 2021.[3]

Originally from Caroline, Alberta,[4] he studied at the University of Calgary and Memorial University of Newfoundland.[1] While living in Newfoundland he took a creative writing workshop led by Lisa Moore, and co-founded a writing group whose members included novelist Sharon Bala.[1]

Dirty Birds centres on the experiences of Milton Ontario, a young aspiring writer who leaves his hometown of Bellybutton, Saskatchewan, to move to Montreal in the hopes of following in the footsteps of his idol, Leonard Cohen.[5] In addition to its literary nominations, the book was named to the initial longlist for the 2021 edition of Canada Reads, but was not one of the final five titles selected for the competition.[4]

As of 2021, he lives in Mabou, Nova Scotia, with his wife, cartoonist Kate Beaton.[6]

References

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Morgan Murray

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Morgan Murray is a Canadian writer based in Cape Breton, . He is best known for his Dirty Birds (2020), a satirical quest blending elements of coming-of-age, romance, , and thriller genres, centered on a young man's pursuit of fame and love in amid the . The book was longlisted for the 2021 competition and shortlisted for the Thomas Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award, the Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association Best Atlantic-Published Book Award, and the Margaret and John Savage First Book Award (Fiction). It also won the 2022 IPPY Independent Voice Award and received an Honourable Mention in the Commercial Fiction category, a finalist placement in General Fiction, and a finalist for the First Horizon Award at the 2022 Book Awards. Born and raised on a farm near Caroline, —the same rural area as figure skater —Murray has lived and worked across and in roles including farmer, reporter, and tour guide. He holds a BA in Canadian Studies from the , a certificate in Central and Eastern from the University of Economics in , and an MPhil in Humanities from . Murray lives in the backwoods of Cape Breton with his wife, the acclaimed cartoonist Kate Beaton, and their two children. His short stories have appeared in magazines including The Scope, The Walrus, Newfoundland Quarterly, and Echolocation. His 2013 short story "KC Accidental" won the Broken Social Scene Story Contest and was later included in the 2015 anthology Racket, which he edited. Dirty Birds further earned a silver medal in the Foreword INDIES Humour Award (2020), the Relit Award (2021), and a nomination for the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour (2021).

Early Life and Education

Upbringing in Alberta

Morgan Murray was born and raised on a near Caroline, a small in west-central , , located in territory. This rural setting, characterized by its backwoods environment, provided Murray with an early immersion in Alberta's prairie culture, where vast open landscapes and agricultural rhythms defined daily life. Caroline, with a population of around 500, is also the hometown of Olympic figure skater , underscoring the village's modest yet notable place in Canadian history. Murray's childhood on the family involved hands-on experiences typical of rural , including participation in the Little Britches 4-H Club, where he earned a participation ribbon for beef calf showmanship. These activities exposed him to the demands of ranching and farming, fostering a deep connection to the land that later evoked sensory memories, such as the familiar scent of . The isolation of farm life in this remote area, surrounded by expansive prairies and limited urban proximity, contributed to a sense of and that permeated his early years. This upbringing in a tight-knit, rural shaped Murray's keen interest in small-town dynamics, including the interplay of community bonds and quirks within such environments. Additionally, growing up near the homestead of Icelandic Stephan G. Stephansson—a key figure in Alberta's literary and immigrant history—exposed him to the region's layered narratives of settlement and cultural complexity, influencing his appreciation for complicated local histories.

University Studies and Move East

After completing his secondary education in rural Alberta, Morgan Murray pursued undergraduate studies at the , where he earned a in Canadian Studies. He subsequently earned a Certificate in Central and Eastern European Studies from the University of Economics in . This program allowed him to explore themes of and regional cultures, laying a foundational interest in narrative and place-based storytelling that would later influence his literary pursuits. Following his studies in , Murray relocated to , enrolling at for graduate studies, where he obtained a in Humanities. This move from the prairies to Newfoundland's coastal environment marked a significant geographic and cultural shift, immersing him in a vibrant literary scene that contrasted sharply with his upbringing and began to shape his development as a . During his time at Memorial University, Murray actively engaged with creative writing through a workshop led by acclaimed Newfoundland author Lisa Moore, which provided hands-on guidance in craft and community building. This experience proved pivotal, inspiring him to co-found The Port Authority Writing Group alongside peers, including novelist Sharon Bala, whose collaborative meetings fostered early experimentation with fiction and short-form works. The group's efforts, which extended beyond the classroom to produce an anthology titled Racket, highlighted Murray's emerging commitment to collaborative literary endeavors in his new eastern home.

Writing Career

Early Publications and Short Fiction

Morgan Murray began his writing career with short fiction and non-fiction pieces that often drew from his experiences in and Newfoundland, blending humor with reflections on personal and regional life. His early works appeared in several Canadian literary magazines and journals, including The Scope, , Newfoundland Quarterly, and Echolocation, where he explored themes of identity, place, and everyday absurdities. These publications marked his initial forays into both and . A notable early achievement came in 2013 when Murray's short story "KC Accidental" won the House of Anansi Story Contest, part of a project inspired by the band's album . The story, which humorously navigates personal misadventures, was later anthologized in Racket: New Writing from Newfoundland, which he edited, published by Breakwater Books in 2015. This piece exemplified Murray's emerging style, using comedic elements to probe themes of displacement and self-discovery tied to his trans-Canadian background. On his personal website, Murray has shared additional short works such as "Racket," "I Saw Thee," "I Saw Thee Finale," and "IceCaps," which further highlight his interest in personal misadventures and satirical humor.

Debut Novel: Dirty Birds

Dirty Birds is the debut novel by Canadian author Morgan Murray, published in August 2020 by Breakwater Books. Set against the backdrop of the 2008 global financial crisis and Barack Obama's presidential rise, the story follows protagonist , a young aspiring writer from the rural town of Bellybutton, who relocates to in pursuit of fame, fortune, and love. Idolizing , Milton seeks to emulate his hero's bohemian life in the city's neighborhood, only to grapple with a series of misadventures involving questionable companions and failed ambitions. The novel blends elements of a coming-of-age tale, , and crime farce, centering on Milton's quest for purpose amid art, money, power, and petty crime. Key themes include the struggles of a "dull " navigating urban versus rural life, the irony of millennial mediocrity, and critiques of through Cohen's idealized yet flawed as a and romantic figure. It also explores , including the protagonist's ignorance of Indigenous history, with an irreverent humor that underscores the protagonist's self-sabotaging tendencies. Murray incorporates semi-autobiographical elements, drawing from his own upbringing in rural and visits to Riverhurst, , as well as his aspirations as a young moving eastward. The narrative's ironic tone highlights the contrast between Milton's grand dreams and his mundane realities, positioning the book as a modern quest where the hero's primary antagonist is his own unremarkable nature. Critics have praised Dirty Birds for its hilarious and irreverent style, describing it as a "quest for the twenty-first century" that captures the absurdities of pursuing artistic success in contemporary .

Recent and Ongoing Projects

Following the success of his debut , Morgan Murray has been actively developing new material without a second full-length book published as of November 2025. In early 2024, he announced plans for a centered on the "complicated history" of Caroline, the small village where he grew up, drawing from local events in the late and early 1990s, including industrial developments like a major plant and social tensions involving extremist groups. This project remains in its preliminary research phase, with Murray reviewing archival newspaper clippings to inform the narrative. Murray also shared updates on another manuscript titled Elmer, a draft of which was under review by his agent as of March 2024. Complementing these longer works, he published the personal essay "Not Quite Busted Legs and Other Miracles" on his in July 2024, reflecting on a childhood incident from his farm life. These efforts highlight his continued focus on autobiographical and regional themes. Through his platform, relaunched in 2024 after a hiatus, Murray has engaged supporters with behind-the-scenes insights into his writing process, including progress reports and occasional readings. As an emerging Canadian , he maintains an active presence on social platforms like and X (formerly ), where he discusses his ongoing creative endeavors, though no major new releases have followed his 2020 debut.

Personal Life

Family and Residence

Morgan Murray has been married to cartoonist since at least 2021. They have two children, including daughter Mary. The couple also shares their home with a including a dog, cats, and chickens. The couple resides in , in the Cape Breton region, within a backwoods setting that provides a secluded environment conducive to Murray's creative work as of 2025. This move to followed nearly a decade spent by Murray in Newfoundland, allowing the family to establish a stable rural base that supports his writing routine.

Influences from Personal Background

Murray's upbringing on a near the rural village of Caroline in profoundly shaped the themes of isolation and small-town idiosyncrasies in his fiction, drawing from the backwoods environment that fostered a sense of remoteness and community peculiarities. This background also informed explorations of historical complexities, particularly Canada's colonial past and Indigenous reconciliation, as seen in the protagonist's journey in Dirty Birds, which mirrors Murray's own reflections on growing up in territory as a . The farm life near Caroline, akin to the fictional Bellybutton, in his work, underscores a tension between rural stagnation and the pull toward broader horizons. His series of relocations—from Alberta to Calgary, Paris, Prague, Montreal, Chicoutimi, and St. John's, Newfoundland, before settling in Nova Scotia—infuse his narratives with motifs of movement, evolving identity, and cultural adaptation. These transitions, including a pivotal year in Montreal in 2007 that directly inspired elements of Dirty Birds, highlight the disorientation and growth experienced by characters navigating unfamiliar landscapes and social milieus. Such experiences contribute to a thematic emphasis on personal reinvention amid shifting regional identities, from prairie isolation to Atlantic maritime influences. Murray's partnership with cartoonist has notably influenced the humorous and ironic tones in his writing, as he credits her with teaching him to craft printed humor effectively. Living together in Cape Breton, her comedic style—evident in works like —has encouraged Murray to blend irony with deeper inquiries into human folly. Additionally, Murray's longstanding admiration for directly impacts the structure and protagonist of Dirty Birds, where the hero, , embarks on a quixotic quest to emulate Cohen as a in , satirizing artistic aspirations and mentorship. This influence stems from Cohen's persona as a , reimagined through Murray's lens to explore themes of inspiration and disillusionment.

Awards and Recognition

Nominations for Dirty Birds

Upon its publication in 2020, Morgan Murray's Dirty Birds garnered significant recognition through multiple award nominations in 2021, highlighting its satirical take on coming-of-age themes set against economic downturns. The book was shortlisted for the ReLit Award for Fiction, an annual prize celebrating independently published , among 38 titles selected from submissions. It was also shortlisted for the Memorial Medal for Humour, recognizing excellence in humorous Canadian writing, as one of three finalists from an initial longlist of 10 books. In addition, Dirty Birds was shortlisted for the Thomas Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award for outstanding fiction by an Atlantic Canadian author and the Margaret and John Savage First Book Award for debut works of fiction, , or at the 2021 Atlantic Book Awards. It won the APMA Best Atlantic-Published Book Award, honoring outstanding books published by Atlantic Canadian publishers. The novel was longlisted for CBC's competition in 2021, a prominent program championing one book to represent , though it did not advance to the final five titles debated by celebrity panelists. Dirty Birds received a silver medal in the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards in the category (2020), won the Independent Voice Award at the International Publishers Association (IPPY) Awards (2022), and earned honorable mentions in the Book Awards (Commercial Fiction and General Fiction, 2022). Murray has wryly referred to Dirty Birds as "one of 2021's most award-losing books," alluding to its string of shortlistings that did not culminate in wins for these major prizes.

Other Literary Honors

Morgan Murray's "KC Accidental" won the House of Anansi Story Contest in 2013. The piece, inspired by the band's music, was later anthologized in Racket: New Writing from Newfoundland in 2015, highlighting his early success in short fiction. From 2021 onward, Murray has been featured in author spotlights by the Writers' Federation of , recognizing his contributions to Atlantic Canadian literature. He has also participated in literary festivals, including multiple appearances at the Writers Festival in 2020, 2022, and 2024, where he read from his work and hosted panels on publishing. These inclusions underscore Murray's recognition as an emerging voice in Atlantic Canadian writing. As of November 2025, his major literary honors include the 2013 contest win and multiple accolades for Dirty Birds.

References

  1. https://breakwaterbooks.com/products/dirty-birds
  2. https://www.cbc.ca/books/dirty-birds-1.5693494
  3. https://transatlanticagency.com/2023/06/14/transatlantic-extends-a-warm-welcome-to-morgan-murray/
  4. https://www.hofferaward.com/First-Horizon-Award-finalists.html
  5. https://writers.ns.ca/author-spotlights/author-spotlight-morgan-murray/
  6. https://www.morganmurray.ca/about
  7. https://miramichireader.ca/2021/01/dirty-birds-by-morgan-murray/
  8. http://robmclennan.blogspot.com/2020/06/12-or-20-second-series-questions-with_28.html
  9. https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/books/alberta-expat-morgan-murray-finds-success-with-debut-novel-dirty-birds
  10. https://www.invernessoran.ca/entertainment/1728-mabou-s-morgan-murray-over-the-moon
  11. https://www.mabouvillage.ca/our-people/morgan-murray
  12. https://atlanticbooks.ca/authors/morgan-murray
  13. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/writing-group-book-racket-published-lisa-moore-breakwater-books-1.3277856
  14. https://www.mun.ca/hss/news-articles/creative-writing-class-results-in-racket.php
  15. https://www.cbc.ca/books/literaryprizes/meet-the-2021-cbc-short-story-prize-readers-1.5970015
  16. https://thinairwinnipeg.ca/festivals/thin-air-2020/writers/morgan-murray/
  17. https://www.morganmurray.ca/
  18. https://www.cbc.ca/books/morgan-murray-s-novel-dirty-birds-is-about-the-misadventures-of-a-dull-everyman-named-milton-ontario-1.5868757
  19. https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-book-who-dis-101491798
  20. https://www.patreon.com/morganmurray
  21. https://www.instagram.com/morganeliasmurray/
  22. https://x.com/memurray
  23. https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/cape-breton-cartoonist-back-home-after-success-on-new-york-citys-arts-scene-451634
  24. https://www.invernessoran.ca/entertainment/1627-mabou-writer-launches-first-novel-to-great-acclaim
  25. https://www.cbc.ca/books/38-books-shortlisted-for-2021-relit-awards-1.5993333
  26. https://leacock.ca/pdfs/2021_Leacock_Medal_Shortlist.pdf
  27. https://writers.ns.ca/award-news/aba-2021-shortlists/
  28. https://www.cbc.ca/books/tyler-leblanc-alison-taylor-among-2021-atlantic-book-award-winners-1.6029840
  29. https://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Birds-Morgan-Murray/dp/1550818074
  30. https://www.morganmurray.ca/filter/Awards/about
  31. https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/cabot-trail-writers-festival-announces-first-six-authors-484930
  32. https://www.facebook.com/AtlanticBookAwards/posts/friday-may-31-700-pmwriting-a-best-published-book-hosted-by-morgan-murraypresent/846375220854267/
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