Barbara Sibbald

Barbara Sibbald is an award-winning journalist and editor living in Ottawa, Canada.

Her latest novel (Fall 2025) is "Almost English" (Bayeux Arts). It is a compelling read about the racism and poverty endured by a Eurasian family in their struggle to belong to the Indian Raj. Set in the exotic Northwest Frontier of India 1885-1912, this novel is based on the author’s great-grandparents life.

"Almost English" is endorsed by Governor-General’s Award-winning novelist Diane Schoemperlen: “The movement through time and the character development are consistently captivating and intriguing. I also learned so much about the history of India at this time. A rewarding and illuminating read!”

Barbara's short fiction collection, "The Museum of Possibilities" (Porcupine's Quill, 2017), won a gold Foreword Indies Award and silver eLit. Her novel "Regarding Wanda" (Bunkhouse Press, 2006) was short-listed for the Ottawa Book Award and "The Book of Love: Guidance in Affairs of the Heart" (General Store Publishing House 2012) was favourably reviewed

In a stylistic experiment, the "Kitchen Chronicles" was published as an online narrative in 52 installments by Ottawa Magazine and is available free on her website.

Barbara also wrote the text for the best-seller, "The Back Forty: Farm life in the Ottawa Valley" (General Store Publishing House, 1990).

She participated in the Banff Writer’s Studio and Humber College’s School of Writing, received numerous writing grants and is a Fellow of Massey College, where she taught health humanities.