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Photo of Alan Cumyn

Alan Cumyn

Author

Ottawa, Ontario
Email: acumyn@yahoo.com
Web: www.ncf.ca/~ag002

Biography

Alan Cumyn has written two novels for children, both of which have garnered many honours. The Secret Life of Owen Skye won the Mr. Christie's Book Award and the Hackmatack Children's Choice Award, while its sequel, After Sylvia, has been short-listed for four national awards, including the prestigious TD Children's Literature Award. Cumyn's theatre adaptation of After Sylvia was recently presented by the Ottawa School of Speech and Drama. Cumyn's six novels for adults include Burridge Unbound, a Giller Prize nominee, and most recently The Sojourn, a novel of the Great War. Alan Cumyn has taught creative writing in China and Indonesia and now serves as a writing mentor through the Humber School for Writers. He often presents his work in schools. Cumyn lives in Ottawa with his wife and two daughters. He started writing children’s literature for his own kids, who are pressuring him to write more books for younger readers.

Published Works

For children

After Sylvia, Groundwood Books, 2004.
The Secret Life of Owen Skye Groundwood Books, Douglas & McIntyre, 2002.

For adults

The Sojourn. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, forthcoming May 2003.
Losing It. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 2001.
Burridge Unbound. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 2000.
Man of Bone. Fredericton: Goose Lane Editions, 1998.
Between Families and the Sky. Fredericton: Goose Lane Editions, 1995.
Waiting for Li Ming. Fredericton: Goose Lane Editions, 1993.

Awards

Hackmatack Children's Choice Award 2004
Mr. Christie's Book Award 2002
Finalist:
Red Maple Award 2006
TD award for Children's Literature Award 2005
Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children 2005
Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award 2005
Children's Choice Award (Pacific Northwest Libraries Association) 2005
Rocky Mountain Book Award 2004
Governor-General's Award for Children's Literature 2002
Ruth Schwartz Award 2002

Other Memberships

The Writers Union of Canada, PEN Canada, MASC, The Canadian Children's Book Centre

Available For

Readings and workshops.