Sofi Papamarko is a former regular columnist for The Toronto Star, Sun Media Newspapers and Metro Canada. She’s also written for The Globe & Mail, Chatelaine, Flare, CBC, Reader’s Digest, Salon, Exclaim! and many other publications, both living and dead. Her short stories have appeared in Taddle Creek, Maisonneuve, Room and The Toronto Star. She lives in Toronto with her partner and his son.
Radium Girl is a collection full of dark wonder where Sofi Papamarko explores the boundaries of love, death, loneliness and justice. In these twelve deft stories, we are introduced to a cast of unforgettable characters: Margie and Lu, teenaged conjoined twins; Rosie who cruises funerals; Pete the predatory magician; the subconscious mind of Marie Curie; Elda the Radium Girl and many more. These are magical stories; they twist and turn in unexpected ways, leaving the reader sometimes shocked, sometimes delighted and often breathless. With pitch-perfect writing, Papamarko shows us how human beings cope, break and triumph in the face of often unbearable circumstances.
ADVANCE PRAISE
“The stories in Radium Girl are majestic, thought-provoking worlds unto themselves, full of wit, humour, big ideas and superlative writing. If there’s any justice in the world, Sofi Papamarko’s brilliant creations will find a wide, dare I say viral, audience not only amongst aficionados of the short story form, but readers of all stripes.”
– Andrew David MacDonald, bestselling author of When We Were Vikings
“So many of these stories lingered with me, whispering in my ear long after I’d finished reading them. They unsettled and alarmed me. Some characters in Radium Girl are trapped in unbearable circumstances. Others say or do upsetting things, or think disturbing thoughts. But Sofi Papamarko has an enormous heart, so she manages – skillfully, tenderly, magically, and with fierce humour – to reveal the deep, yearning humanity in everyone within these pages.”
– Jessica Westhead, author of Worry and Things Not to Do
“Sofi Papamarko is a brilliant observer of her world.”
– Dennis Bock, author of Going Home Again and The Ash Garden
Other Writing
THIS Magazine
July 2012 – Made With Love: Public Displays of Affection create crush-worthy community art and design
Report on Business Magazine
March 2011 – Desperately Seeking Oscar
Sun Media Newspapers (Syndicated nationally)
September 27, 2012 – Pre-marriage doubts can sometimes be a saving grace
September 12, 2012 – Tips to survive long distance relationships
August 29, 2012 – Singles events can help shy guys and gals open up
August 8, 2012 – Fifty Shades of Grey good for opening dialogue
July 18, 2012 – Can men and women really just be friends?
July 4, 2012 – Women hesitant to propose marriage, happy to put on the pressure
June 20, 2012 – Manscaping a hairy business
June 5, 2012 – Sex and the single mom
May 23, 2012 – Sext regret?
May 9, 2012 – Should you date a ‘mamma’s boy’?
April 24, 2012 – ‘Positive power’ of feminist porn
April 11, 2012 – How new parents can find time for sex
April 3, 2012 – Birds, bees? Oh puh-leeze!
March 27, 2012 – Is marriage good for the heart?
March 21, 2012 – Sleeping (around) on the job
March 12, 2012 – Can you survive an on-off relationship?
March 7, 2012 – Younger men are opting for vasectomies
February 29, 2012 – Is ‘living with parents’ a deal-breaker?
February 22, 2012 – Service with a smile
February 15, 2012 – Fromance is in the air
February 8, 2012 – Improving your online odds
February 1, 2012 – Up close and extremely personal
January 25, 2012 – Can open relationships work?
January 18, 2012 – Don’t let winter cool your libido
January 10, 2012 – Resolve to improve your social life
January 4, 2012 – Couples, resolve to get closer
December 28, 2011 – Shy guys finish last
December 20, 2011 – Single bells!
December 7, 2011 – Gifts from the heart
November 29, 2011 – Multiple marriages, multiple questions
November 22, 2011 – Eat – and be merry!
November 16, 2011 – Is Nickelback a dealbreaker?
November 9, 2011 – Online obsession
October 31, 2011 – Busy singles turning to modern-day Cupids
October 26, 2011 – Signs he’s having an affair
October 18, 2011 – Reignite your relationship spark
October 22, 2011 – Fun with fertility
October 5, 2011 – Equal love, but different paycheques
September 21, 2011 – Can annoying habits cause breakups?
September 14, 2011 – Short, dark and handsome
August 31, 2011 – Staying safe on school grounds
August 24, 2011 – Nerd love
August 17, 2011 – The lowdown on breakups
August 9, 2011 – Unattainable beauty
July 12, 2011 – Navigating toxic in-laws
July 7, 2011 – First date tips for clueless dudes
June 28, 2011 – Out in the open
June 22, 2011 – Divorce parties can mark a new, fresh start
June 14, 2011 – Losing weight, gaining problems
June 8, 2011 – The dark side of online dating
May 30, 2011 – Smartphone dating apps localize love
May 25, 2011 – Forgiving infidelity
May 15, 2011 – Couples want weddings to have a personal touch
May 10, 2011 – Website matches suitors and dream dates – for a price
May 4, 2011 – Political bedfellows
April 27, 2011 – Bedroom aids due for a natural update
April 19, 2011 – Texting and dating
April 12, 2011 – Love really is a pain
April 4, 2011 – Finding love is all about timing
March 30, 2011 – Women still the victim in the blame game
March 21, 2011 –Teenage highs on heartthrobs
March 14, 2011 – The science behind beer goggles
March 9, 2011 – Finding love in 140 characters
March 1, 2011 – Is female sexual dysfunction fact or fiction?
February 22, 2011 – The six real reasons why women are single
February 15, 2011 – The art of ‘picking up’
February 2, 2011 – The mystery of male attraction
Chatelaine
May 2019 – Why Dating in Your Thirties and Forties Can Be Pure Hell
May 2019 – How The New TV Comedy Shrill Helped Me Love My Body
April 2014 – The Secret Life of Vivian Maier
August 2012 – Ms. Chatelaine: Tanis Rideout
September 2011 – Radioactive Fears
Flare
October 2013 – Ark Angel
August 2014 – Sartorial Matchmaking
Reader’s Digest
February 2014 – 13 Things Your Matchmaker Won’t Tell You
The Globe & Mail
September 13, 2012 – Conan O’Brien broke my heart
August 2, 2012 – Tawkify: Online dating with a traditional twist
October 13, 2011 – For transgender singles, online dating is a minefield
February 3, 2011 – Love the one who loves what you love
The Toronto Star
September 6, 2016 – Couples should invest in talking about money matters
August 23, 2016 – Hiring a cleaner can save your marriage
August 2, 2016 – Male fertility has less longevity than you might think
July 19, 2016 – Dating when you reach a certain age is a liability
June 27, 2016 – Stop turning down men under six feet tall
May 24, 2016 – Apartners are long-term couples who choose not to live together
April 28, 2016 – Grieving the beautiful strangers
April 12, 2016 – Words of advice for the baby boys
March 28, 2016 – The strange allure of narcissism
February 16, 2016 – Banish your inner Bridezilla before she emerges
February 9, 2016 – Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be full of self-pity if you’re single
January 26, 2016 – As Valentine’s Day approaches, be kind to singles
January 14, 2016 – Why decluttering guru Marie Kondo is wrong
December 30, 2015 – How to have a less-terrible-than-usual new year’s eve
December 8, 2015 – 33 ways to tell if you’re a grown-up
December 1, 2015 – Eight creative holiday gifts for people in new relationships
November 24, 2015 – Should ma’am offend me? How about miss?
October 6, 2015 – How to avoid awkward family conversations this Thanksgiving
September 14, 2015 – 10 rules for being a good roommate
May 19, 2015 – Sorry hipsters, but it’s time to shave!
May 6, 2011 – Childless by choice through sterilization
January 12, 2011 – Taped Crusaders
September 9, 2010 – Quilt complex
February 15, 2009 – Songs in the key of heartache
The Toronto Sun
October 23, 2010 – Clear your desk, clear your head
EYE Weekly
November 12, 2008 – Goodbye, greasy spoon
The Kingston Whig-Standard
May 14, 2005 – Kingston’s “I Hate Sally” Get Punk’d
May 5, 2005 – When good deeds go bad (2 pages, cover story)
May 3, 2005 – Collective Soul: The world anew
April 30, 2005 – Brushes with fame (profile on Sarah Fairbairn)
April 23, 2005 – Pillow Talk with the Tijuana Bibles
April 23, 2005 – Malcolm singing for the shelter
The Montreal Gazette
November 28, 2004 – The truth will set you free, but not everywhere
Exclaim!
May 2009 – King Khan @ The Shrines Have Answers
September 2007 – Lee Hazlewood Profile: Psychedelic Cowboy Rides Off
Chart Magazine
September 2005 – Cuff The Duke take their success and run
The Queen’s Alumni Review
Spring 2010 – Former GW editor celebrates life’s Awesome Things
Metro Canada
June 17, 2010 – Good dads remember the rules of every card game
June 03, 2010 – Love can have a way of coming back around
May 06, 2010 – Couples choose to live together…alone
May 06, 2010 – Mother (sometimes) knows best
April 22, 2010 – Inspiring teachers will never be forgotten
March 25, 2010 – Read between the lines
March 25, 2010 – Think outside the jewelry box for that special ring
March 11, 2010 – Charting the hazards of ‘peep culture’
February 25, 2010 – The smart guy’s guide to meeting women
February 11, 2010 – Plotting the perfect, no frills wedding
February 11, 2010 – The lady in red is never out of style
January 28, 2010 – Adding bitter foes to Facebook to keep the ego in check
January 14, 2010 – Sometimes old friends just happen to fade away
December 31, 2009 – New Year’s, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing
December 17, 2009 – Potential pitfalls of the office Christmas party
December 03, 2009 – Tiptoeing around your friend’s sub-par partner
December 03, 2009 – Drawing relationship battle lines
November 19, 2009 – Facebook status updates as pixelated PDAs
November 05, 2009 – Do funny girls have the last laugh?
October 22, 2009 – Check your inhibitions
October 15, 2009 – A fresh style (Joe Mimran profile)
October 08, 2009 – Embrace breakups
September 30, 2009 – A fashion innovator (Coco Chanel)
September 24, 2009 – Textual innuendo
September 10, 2009 – Take time to know thy neighbour
September 10, 2009 – Victoria’s Secret coming to Canada
August 27, 2009 – Silver foxiness is a powerful force
August 13, 2009 – Saluting gay boyfriends
July 30, 2009 – Girls (not) gone wild
July 16, 2009 – It’s all in the approach
July 13, 2009 – Beautiful hair, naturally
May 28, 2009 – Pretty and fragrant fingers
March 4, 2009 – Torontonian joins Best Job finalists
Yahoo! Shine
May 11, 2012 – Are we more attracted to those that others find attractive?
May 10, 2012 – Interactive music lessons for babies improves brain development: study
May 9, 2012 – Is the lunch break becoming obsolete?
May 8, 2012 – Caviar potato chips? Pepsi cappucino? Companies cater to unusual flavours overseas
May 8, 2012 – “Plus Ones” at weddings: new rules have emerged and not everyone’s following them
May 7, 2012 – Bride gives birth on wedding day, still makes it to evening reception
May 4, 2012 – When it comes to workplace discrimination, body size matters: but is this news?
May 3, 2012 – BBC ‘Play School’ hosts stoned during 1970’s children’s show
May 3, 2012 – Uggs awarded $686M in lawsuits against Chinese counterfeit boots
May 2, 2012 – Mom takes 5-year-old to tanning salon, makes court appearance
May 2, 2012 – Pacifiers don’t interfere with breastfeeding: study
May 1, 2012 – Baby Boomer models are on the rise, catering to consumers of their generation
May 1, 2012 – Birth control failures are more common than women think: study
April 30, 2012 – Christian wife stands by her man
April 27, 2012 – Are refreshing summer drinks sabotaging your diet?
April 27, 2012 – Botox provides mild relief for chronic migraine sufferers: study
April 27, 2012 – Mom punishes daughter on Facebook profile image
April 26, 2012 – Left side of face looks best, says study
April 25, 2012 – Teens getting drunk on hand sanitizer: the latest trend?
April 25, 2012 – Controversial Miss Travel website proves there’s no such thing as a free trip
April 24, 2012 – “Six Weeks to OMG” diet preaches black coffee, cold baths
April 24, 2012 – Study claims some canned foods healthy as fresh, cheaper too
April 24, 2012 – Nudie website founder has a change of heart
April 23, 2012 – Scientists predict sexual activity, weight-gain in female university students
April 20, 2012 – Commentary: Is Earth Day still relevant?
April 20, 2012 – Nerdy Lothario tracks online dates on spreadsheet
April 19, 2012 – Dutch sperm donor has fathered 87 children the natural way
April 19, 2012 – Morning-after pill delivered by courier in the UK
April 18, 2012 – Online dating sites not helping those who need it
April 18, 2012 – Choosing career over family tied to lack of marriageable men
April 17, 2012 – Tube-feeding diet used by U.S. bride to slim down
April 17, 2012 – International survey says women more moral than men
April 13, 2012 – H&M’s eco-conscious red carpet collection hits stores
April 13, 2012 – “Chork” combines chopsticks and fork in one utensil
April 13, 2012 – Biologist fathered hundreds at own fertility clinic
April 12, 2012 – Pheromone parties attempt to match singles by scent
April 12, 2012 – Niceness may be genetic, says new research
April 11, 2012 – Are there fewer job opportunities for attractive women?
April 10, 2012 – Condiment woes: is relish on its way out?
April 10, 2012 – Ashley Judd’s “puffy face” essay launches a thousand tweets
April 9, 2012 – Video games foster cooperation, says new study
April 5, 2012 – Samantha Brick defends cattiness claims: don’t hate her because she’s beautiful
April 5, 2012 – Can the likeliness of divorce be ingrained in a woman’s genes?
April 4, 2012 – Labour takes longer than 50 years ago: study
April 3, 2012 – Girlfriend for hire? New website gives single guys fake companionship for a price
April 2, 2012 – Play date waivers: A bizarre new trend in parenting
iVillage.ca
July 13, 2014 – Are Chafing Thighs Ruining Your Summer? 6 Chub Rub Methods Tested
June 3, 2014 – Post-Baby Body? Breasts Surgically Removed? Cellulite Everywhere? Put a Bikini On It!
April 25, 2014 – New Kitestring App Contacts Loved Ones If You Don’t Make It Home
April 23, 2014 – When To Ignore Your First Impression And Go On A Second Date
April 6, 2014 – Are Your Coupled Friend Thwarting Your Dating Life?
March 19, 2014 – Your Awesome Wedding Invitation Gives Me The Single Girl Blues
March 11, 2014 – The Lammily Effect: Finding a Doll That Looks Just Like Me
March 4, 2014 – Idina Menzel Lets It Go With Jimmy Fallon (Take That, Travolta!)
February 5, 2014 – I Don’t Care If I Look Fat In This Photo
September 19, 2013 – Online Dating: What You’re Doing Wrong and How To Fix It
The National Post
September 2014 – “The Answer to Everything” by Elyse Friedman (reviewed)
Now Magazine
April 2015 – R&D restaurant (review) and sidebar of Canadian masterchefs
She Blinded Me With Science (Krista Foss, 49th Shelf, 03/29/2021)
Radium Girl is included on this list of books featuring women in STEM.
58 Canadian works of fiction coming out in spring 2021 (CBC Books, 02/02/2021)
Radium Girl makes the CBC’s list of 58 Canadian works of fiction coming out in spring 2021.
2021 Spring Preview: Fiction (Quill & Quire, 11/01/2021)
Radium Girl is mentioned in Quill & Quire’s Spring Preview
Most Anticipated: Our 2021 Spring Fiction Preview (49th Shelf, 07/01/2021)
Radium Girl is one of 49th Shelf’s most anticipated!