Christie Blatchford Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

About Christie Blatchford

A Canadian author, columnist and reporter, Christie Blatchford was highly respected during her lifetime, largely due to her in-depth reporting. The first female sports columnist in Canada, she would come to pioneer the field for numerous fellow reporters following in her footsteps. Publishing humor as well, she was also known for her wit, along with her clear and authentic style of writing. Her contributions to the field would inspire many like her, as she wrote in a voice that was powerful and genuine, with her writing being easily accessible to many.

Starting out in journalism, Blatchford would find herself as a writer on the job, regularly delivering articles for a large audience. This would raise her profile in time, with her becoming a daily fixture for many, starting out in sports, and then moving on to reporting on criminal proceedings. Following this she’d then transition to become a columnist, writing about her own life and relationships in a witty and fun manner. Gaining a loyal following of readers, she’d accumulate an audience of her own, as she’d become a household name for many.

Always outspoken, she would opine on a number of different issues, largely focusing on her own column and reporting. This would evolve over time, allowing her to become a far more prominent figure and personality within the publishing industry. Writing a number of non-fiction titles, she’d report on various topics, including reporting from war torn zones, embedding herself deep within areas of conflict. Over time this has led many to regard her as a notable presence when it comes to both journalism and reporting.

Early and Personal Life:

Born in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, on the 20th of May in 1951, Christie Blatchford would grow up with a keen passion for writing. When she was eleven her family would move to Toronto, as she would later go on to study a journalism, something which ran in the family with her grandfather. He worked as a sports writer and editor in Canada, a practice that Blatchford herself would continue later on.

Attending the North Toronto Collegiate Institute, she’d go on to graduate in 1970, followed by Ryerson University, where she studied journalism. During this time she would work on the student newspaper, ‘The Ryersonian’, which allowed her to practice the tools of her craft. Inducted into the Canadian News Hall of Fame towards the end of her life, she’d leave behind a strong legacy throughout the industry.

Writing Career:

Releasing her first two books in the eighties, she’d start out with ‘Spectator Sports’ in 1986, which was a collection of her columns. This was later followed up in 1988 with ‘Close Encounters’, and both were humorous, collecting together many of her contributions to the Toronto Sun. With a well known profile, she wrote for a number of other different publications too, creating a name for herself as a reporter and as a columnist.
In 2007 Blatchford would then turn to reporting with full length books, the first of which was titled ‘Fifteen Days’. This would take a look at the Canadian Army, understanding who they are and how they operate, along with other titles like ‘The Black Hand’ in 2008, looking at the life of a Mexican mob killer. Receiving awards, such as the National Newspaper Award in 1999, she’d gain numerous plaudits throughout her life, leaving behind the body of work she’s known for today.

Life Sentence

Going under the subheading of ‘Stories From Four Decades of Court Reporting; Or, How I Fell Out of Love With the Canadian Justice System’, this was first brought out in 2013 on the 29th of October. Released through the ‘Doubleday Canada’ publishing label, this would originally work as a stand-alone non-fiction title. Compiling a series of cases that Blatchford reported on during her life, it brings them together here in one complete collection.

Beginning in 1978, this follows the career of Christie Blatchford reporting from the Canadian courtrooms, giving a behind the scenes look at it all. It shows how judges deal with the politics of their surroundings, and how the judicial system of law is laid out. Getting to the heart of it, she gives an inside look at the various issues surrounding this system, providing readers with another angle. Not holding back, Blatchford makes sure to voice her own opinions along the way, keeping it genuine and honest.

It doesn’t leave anything out, as it’s direct and to the point, with its straightforward, no nonsense style of recounting details and dates. Giving its audience an alternative view on the world of law, there’s plenty to get invested in here, for both those interested in the legal field, as well as new comers. The writing is accessible, allowing its audience in easily, making sure to give them all the details along the way.

Fifteen Days

This would be the first non-fiction title coming out from Christie Blatchford, with it going under the subheading of ‘Stories of Bravery, Friendship, Life and Death From Inside the New Canadian Army’. Initially published through the ‘Anchor Canada’ imprint, it first published on 9th of October in 2007, setting up the non-fiction work of Blatchford. Reporting from within the army, it provides a first-hand account of everything that went on there, and what she got to witness during her time reporting.

Giving an account of the individuals that served in the Canadian forces, Blatchford brings their time in Afghanistan to life. Dealing with it with tact and sensitivity, she manages to get inside what it was really like for them, as she hears their story. Talking to the members of the 1st Battalion, of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, she looks at what it was like away, and when they returned. The stories are true, and therefore all the more hard-hitting when being recounted, making for an entirely real and authentic read. Providing testament to their experiences, it tells their story, as it documents military life in modern times, and what it means in the twenty-first century.