About Me

Memoirist. Essayist. Prose poet.

I’ve always embraced the concept “feel the fear and do it anyway.” Whether it’s been earning a master’s degree in history, backpacking Europe solo for six weeks, or teaching English in South Korea for six years, I gravitate to new challenges. At fifteen, I escaped from an abusive home and embarked on a quest to heal. This often arduous process is ongoing, but through it I’ve discovered a deep inner resiliency, embraced optimism as my lifeline, and learned how to finally and fully love and accept myself.

Writing has always been my gateway to self-discovery. My creative projects address the mother-child relationship, childhood abuse, body image, sexuality,  sexual assault, and living with a hearing impairment in the context of a worldwide search for self. In my short-form essays, prose poems, and upcoming memoir, I lay clues to my path of healing, breadcrumbs I hope readers can use to journey through their own weeds of discovery. I also share the healthier ways I’ve learned to write about trauma in my ongoing series with Hippocampus Magazine. I believe with persistence and tenacity, anyone can mend their deepest wounds and step into their power. 

Some interesting tidbits:

My self-care routine includes near-daily meditation, yoga, and chocolate. I’ve won National Novel Writing Month eleven years in a row. My name is pronounced “yo-LAND.” Batgirl is my favourite superhero.

 

Media Bio

Yolande House’s creative writing has appeared in literary magazines such as The Rumpus, Grain, PRISM international, Joyland, and the Humber Literary Review. Her writing has made it to the finalist round at Creative Nonfiction three times, and her Entropy essay was selected as one of the magazine’s “Best of 2018.” She can be found on Instagram (healthruwriting) and Twitter (herstorian). Currently, she’s revising a completed childhood memoir.

My Work

Mausoleum

Entropy Magazine

Studying the Conversation

Joyland Magazine

This Global Life

Porcupine Literary 

Yolande gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, Access Copyright, and the Ontario Arts Council.

Canada Council for the Arts logo
On the left, a stylized logo reads "OAC." To the right, it reads "ONTARIO ARTS COUNCIL: an Ontario government agency" in French and English

Photo credits: Roy Cruz (top), Sarah McCarthy-Sitthiket (Batgirl tee)