'Touching the heart of the world'

 

“Don'tforget - no one else sees the world the way you do, so no one else can tell thestories that you have to tell.” – Charles de Lint
 Born in The Netherlands on this date in 1951, de Lint emigrated to Canada with his family that same year.    Multi-talented and multi-faceted, he has published many dozens of books plus numerous novellas, short stories, worksof poetry, and song lyrics.  Among his works are the best-selling The Newford Series (Dreams Underfoot,Widdershins, The Blue Girl, The Onion Girl, Moonlightand Vines, and Someplace to be Flying), and stand-alone novels like Moonheart,The Mystery of Grace, and A Circle of Cats.    Also a noted essayist, critic andfolklorist he frequently writes book reviews for The Magazine of Fantasy& Science Fiction and has served as a judge for the Nebula Award, theWorld Fantasy Award, and the Bram Stoker Award.  
A frequent lecturer and teacher at creative writingworkshops in both Canada and the U.S., he and his wife Mary AnnHarris have produced several musical albums (heplays several different instruments).  And, he maintains a wonderful exuberance abouthis writing.
“Life is like art. You have to workhard to keep it simple and still have meaning,” de Lint said.“I want to touch the heart of the world andmake it smile.”