Waiting for the Cyclone Thirteen Stories

Thirteen stories that expose the complications of women who dare to deviate from the status quo.

"Leesa Dean writes strong, complex, unforgettable female characters I'd like to hang out with. Waiting for the Cyclone is a radiant debut--beautifully written, passionate, and whip smart--from a refreshing new voice bound to make her mark in Canadian literature." --Ayelet Tsabari, author of The Best Place on Earth, winner of the 2015 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature

In the land of fiction, women are too often cast as inherently good--typically kind, always considerate, and traditionally in possession of high morals. Not so in the recklessly audacious stories in Waiting for the Cyclone. A mother in need of rehabilitation, a wife who wakes up in the arms of a man who isn't her husband, a young woman who comes face-to-face with a bully from years ago. These women don't need to be liked, do not comply to set expectations, and are not compelled to make apologies. These women, and a dozen more, are perfectly imperfect.

A collection of short stories that behaves much like the weather pattern it was named for, Waiting for the Cyclone is at times fast and reckless and at others, calm yet under high pressure. A powerful literary debut from one of Canada's most promising young writers.

"A radiant debutbeautifully written, passionate, and whip smart." Ayelet Tsabari, winner of the 2015 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature
In the realm of fiction, women are too often cast as inherently goodtypically kind, always considerate, and traditionally in possession of high morals. Not so in the audacious stories of Waiting for the Cyclone.
Debbie, a seemingly perfect mother, shoots pharmaceuticals at night, and Donna lies to her family about volunteering in Afghanistan so she can parasail in Turkey. There s also Alison, who wakes up in bed with a tattooed Mexican man, instead of the less-interesting man who brought her on vacation (her husband). These women, and a dozen others, don t need to be liked and are not compelled to make apologies. These women are perfectly imperfect.
At times fast and reckless and at others, calm yet under high pressure, this collection is a powerful literary debut from one of Canada s most promising young writers.
"Original, honest. . . Far from shelter, readers will find themselves pulled closer and closer to the eye of this storm. Brace yourself: these women are unflinchingly real. You will not be able to look away. Elisabeth de Mariaffi, giller-nominated author of How to Get Along with Women
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A Trillium Book Award Finalist

Women are too often cast in literature as inherently good and dependable--but this is not the case in the audacious stories of Waiting for the Cyclone.

Mary, a closet drinker, leaver her children with Debbie, a seemingly perfect housewife who shoots pharmaceuticals at night. Alison vacations with her husband, but wakes up in the tattooed arms of another man. Donna lies to her family about volunteering in Afghanistan so she can parasail with a lover in Turkey.

With authenticity and intensity, Dean challenges traditional literary archetypes by revealing female characters that are nuanced, contradictory, and boldly unapologetic.

"In Waiting for the Cyclone, Leesa Dean gives us an original, honest voice. Far from shelter, readers will find themselves pulled closer and closer to the ye of this storm. Brace yourself: These women are unflinchingly real. You will not be able to look away." --Elisabeth de Mariaffi, author of How to Get Away with Women, nominated for the Giller Prize