In the world of environmental activism and free speech, Franke James stands out as an unstoppable force. Her book, Banned on the Hill: A True Story about Dirty Oil and Government Censorship, didn’t just win the Gold IPPY Award for Best Regional Non-Fiction (Canada-East) in 2014—it became a rallying cry for artists and activists everywhere.

We sat down with James to talk about her creative process, the challenges of fighting censorship, and what keeps her inspired to continue pushing boundaries.

What Winning an IPPY Meant to James

For James, the Gold IPPY Award was more than just a trophy—it was validation. “It felt great. It was international recognition and confirmed the worthiness of Banned on the Hill to outsiders,” she recalls. “The issue of speaking up on important matters is universal, crossing all territorial boundaries and reinforcing our freedoms in a democracy.”

She adds that the recognition snowballed into other accolades, including a BC Civil Liberties Award in 2014 and a PEN Canada prize in 2015.

The Moment That Sparked the Book

The journey to Banned on the Hill began with a shocking revelation. “I had a chilling talk with the organizer of my European art show,” James explains. “She told me that powerful people in the (then right-wing) Canadian government were not happy. She told me they were afraid I would exhibit art that was critical of the emissions and pollution coming from Alberta’s oil sands. That conversation was when I first discovered that I was being censored.”

Armed with 2,172 government documents obtained through Freedom of Information requests, James uncovered the extent of the censorship she was facing. One bureaucrat even noted that her work was “advocating a message that was contrary to the government’s policies.” That discovery only strengthened her resolve.

From Activism to Art: A Unique Creative Process

James’s background as both an artist and writer shaped the format of Banned on the Hill. “Because I’m an artist and writer, I started drawing pictures and writing descriptive sentences,” she explains.

The result? A vibrant, graphic-style format that makes her story both visually engaging and deeply personal. “It’s a series of illustrated short stories that chart my activist journey. I documented my process by recording everything with audio, photos, video and FOI documents. That became my raw material for the book. It was hard work, but it was exciting!”

Standing Up When Others Stay Silent

James’s journey wasn’t without its challenges. When she couldn’t find a Canadian publisher willing to take on the controversial subject, she turned to self-publishing in the United States.

Hosting a “Blacklisting Fundraising Party” was another bold move to spread the word and fund her fight. But she quickly learned that not everyone shared her courage. “Some guests declined to come,” she says. “One guest attended the party but asked me not to post any photos of him. He was reluctant to risk his job by speaking up.”

Despite these setbacks, James raised enough money to install protest billboards in Ottawa, steps away from the Prime Minister’s office.

The Message at the Heart of the Book

At its core, Banned on the Hill is about the intersection of climate change, censorship, and free expression. James hopes readers walk away inspired to speak up. “Free expression—speaking your mind—is worth fighting for,” she asserts. “In a democracy, you’d think that every citizen should be free to speak up publicly. I certainly felt that way. But all that was threatened, so I spoke up, flipping the story and amplifying it through international news. Proving that censorship is hard to enforce if you wield a paintbrush or pen.”

Advice for Aspiring Authors

James’s advice for writers reflects her own bold approach. “Don’t be afraid to self-publish. It gives you power,” she says. She emphasizes the freedom to maintain creative control and the ability to bring your work to market faster.

She also shares a hard-earned lesson about traditional publishing: “I wish I’d known that signing with a big U.S. publisher is wrong for me. After signing a contract to publish my first book, I realized I’d given a lot of control away.” That realization led her to cancel the contract and take control of her publishing journey—something she still celebrates today.

What’s Next for Franke James

These days, James is busy promoting her latest book, Freeing Teresa, which has already racked up an impressive sixteen awards. But she’s already looking ahead to her next project, Escape to Lotusland, the sequel to Freeing Teresa.

“In it, my sister Teresa uses her voice to speak up—and changes everything!” she teases.