Jacob Shymanski

Computer repair shop.

It's pretty eclectic.

Why do you write about and find inspiration from these communities, these places that you're familiar with?

And you do shout out Scarborough directly in the books too.

Like Golden Crescent is like a part of Scarborough or Scarberia as you call it.

You know, I have to say that when it comes to representation in all the books and movies and TV shows that we get,

Every show that's set in North America, for the most part, is in LA and Newark.

Almost always.

Even though Toronto is one of the top five biggest cities in North America.

So why aren't more shows set in Toronto?

Especially considering the fascinating history and the multiculturalism.

It just makes for a great setting.

And that's why I feel like it works.

But Uzma, I do have to say that...

You know, I'm a French-Canadian white guy, and to be immersed in a story set within a Southeast Asian community, albeit a fictional story, but one I know is reflective of reality, is fascinating to me, because characters engage with stuff that, honestly, I'm pretty damn clueless about.

You know, like aunties, and different parenting styles, and Southeast Asian marital customs, and

expectations, arranged marriages, the food, the fashion, the clashes between first and second generation immigrants.

And it's not like you say things like, we do these things these ways because X and Y. It's just your characters live their lives the way they do in a matter-of-fact day-to-day manner that as a reader that's not in those communities...

feels more approachable.

I might not know how a modern arranged marriage is arranged, or how someone can style their hijab with the rest of their outfit, but the Dana Life storytelling is illuminating to me because it answers the why, not just the what and the how.