I’m the new writer-in-residence for the Saskatoon Public Library
I’ve known about this for a while, obviously, but it just became official today with the sending out of a press release by the library. Which I humbly (or, possibly not-so-humbly) copy below. (I would have liked to have mentioned the Masks of Aygrima trilogy in it, but you can’t list everything, and the E.C. Blake/Edward Willett thing is hard to explain in a press release, never mind the Lee Arthur Chane connection…)
SPL announces Edward Willett as 2019/20 Writer in Residence
One of Saskatchewan’s most prolific authors, Edward Willett, is looking forward to sharing his expertise and passion for prose with the Saskatoon-and-area writing community through Saskatoon Public Library’s Writer-in-Residence program.
An award-winning author based in Regina, Willett has published more than 60 books of science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction for children, teens and adults. Willett also hosts The Worldshapers podcast, which focuses on the creative processes of other fantasy and science fiction writers.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity serve as writer-in-residence at SPL,” said Willett. “Over the years I’ve taught creative writing, mentored writers, and worked as an editor, and I look forward to helping Saskatoon-area writers in any way I can, from discussing ideas to offering advice based on my experience as a published writer to helping edit and improve manuscripts. It’s going to be a great few months and I can’t wait to get started.”
Willett’s novel Marseguro(published by DAW Books in New York) won the 2009 Aurora Award for best English-language science fiction or fantasy book by a Canadian author. He also won a Saskatchewan Book Award for his young-adult fantasy novel Spirit Singer, which was just re-released through Willett’s own recently established publishing company, Shadowpaw Press. He has won or been shortlisted for numerous other awards and his next novel, Master of the World (book number two in his Worldshapers fantasy series), will be released in Sept. 2019. He served as the Writer in Residence at Regina Public Library in 2011/12.
“The Writer-in-Residence program has deep roots in Saskatoon and is always an extremely popular service at SPL,” said Carol Cooley, SPL’s Director of Libraries and CEO. “As one of Saskatchewan’s most productive authors who has published such a wide array of work for all demographics, we very excited to be welcoming Edward Willett to this position. I am confident he will be a valuable resource for our writing community over the coming months.”
Willett’s term as SPL’s Writer in Residence begins in September 2019 and will run until April 2020. He will be SPL’s 39thWriter in Residence since the program was established in 1981. For more information, visit: www.saskatoonlibrary.ca/wir.
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A bit more detail from the website:
About the Program
The Writer in Residence acts as a mentor to writers in the community, reviewing manuscripts and providing criticism and advice about publishing. The Writer offers individual consultations, group workshops and programs, author readings and participates in other special events during their residency.
Working With the Writer in Residence
Edward Willett is available to meet with adults and teens who want feedback and advice about a writing project. His residency at SPL will begin in September 2019.
First, contact Edward by phone or by email to arrange a meeting at his office in the main library:
306 975-7598 / writer@saskatoonlibrary.ca
Edward will offer you a one-hour appointment. His office hours are:
Tuesdays / 11 am – 9 pm
Wednesdays / 10 am – 4 pm
Additional meeting times can be arranged.
Next, send Edward a maximum of 10 typewritten pages (or 2,500 words, double spaced) at least five days prior to your meeting. You can email the work to him or you can deliver a hard copy to the library by leaving your work (in an envelope) at the front desk.
Finally, give some thought to ways in which you’d like your writing to grow or change, and come prepared to talk about these aspirations in the context of your writing sample.
Please note that all meetings with the Writer in Residence are treated as confidential.
Previous Writers in Residence
Anne Szumigalski, 1981 – 82 Patrick Lane, 1982 – 83Guy Vanderhaeghe, 1983 – 84Geoffrey Ursell, 1984 – 85Joe Rosenblatt, 1985 – 86Gertrude Story, 1986 – 87Lois Simmie, 1987 – 88Glen Sorestad, 1988 – 89Samuel Selvon, 1989 – 90 Candace Savage, 1990 – 91Sean Virgo, 1991 – 92Armin Wiebe, 1992 – 93Betsy Warland, 1993 – 94Robert Minhinnick, 1994 – 95Sandra Birdsell, 1995 – 96Steven Ross Smith, 1996 – 97Harry Rintoul, 1997 – 98Elisabeth Harvor, 1998 – 99John Livingstone Clark, 1999 – 2000Edna Alford, 2000 – 2001Dave Margoshes, 2001 – 2002Myrna Kostash, 2002 – 2003Yann Martel, 2003 – 2004J. Jill Robinson, 2004 – 2005Jeanette Lynes, 2005 – 2006Curtis Peeteetuce, 2006 – 2007Terry Jordan, 2007 – 2008John Barton, 2008 – 2009Anne Simpson, 2009 – 2010Alice Kuipers, 2010 – 2011Yvette Nolan, 2011 – 2012David Poulsen, 2012 – 2013Rosemary Nixon, 2013 – 2014John Donlan, 2014 – 2015Dee Hobsbawn-Smith, 2015 – 2016Arthur Slade, 2016 – 2017Katherine Lawrence, 2017 – 18Elizabeth Philips, 2018 – 19
