Joan Clark
Categories: Female Authors - Anglophone Authors - Authors of Juvenile Fiction; - Novelists - Fundy Coast
Biography
Having decided against joining the Norwegian navy, Joan Clark was persuaded to marry an engineer, Jack Clark, and undertake a peripatetic life across Canada before settling in Newfoundland 24 years ago. A self-taught fiction writer of 15 books for adults and children, she is fascinated by the idiosyncrasies of human nature and inspired by the inseparability of people from the place they call home.
Since beginning to write on the kitchen table while her son napped, Clark’s work has been published in Britain and the United States, Australia and New Zealand as well as being translated into seven foreign languages. The winner of numerous awards including the Newfoundland & Labrador Book Award and the Winterset Award, she is the only Canadian writer to win both the Marian Engel Award (for a body of work in adult fiction), and the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children’s Literature (for a body of work).
How has New Brunswick influenced your work?
New Brunswick has infused much of my work: From a High Thin Wire and Swimming Toward the Light (both short stories, Goose Lane). I am presently working on a novel set in Sussex, New Brunswick, where I grew up, as well as in Sydney Mines, Cape Breton and Liverpool, Nova Scotia.
What is your favourite New Brunswick book, and why?
My favourite New Brunswick book is For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down by David Adams Richards. I consider it a masterpiece.
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Literary prizes |
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| Newfoundland & Labrador Arts Council Arts Achievement Award - 2007 | |
| Writers Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador (lifetime membership) - 2007 | |
| Nomination - Evergreen Award - 2006 | In recognition of: An Audience of Chairs |
| Newfoundland and Labrador Bennington Gate Fiction Award - 2006 | In recognition of: An Audience of Chairs |
| IBBY Honour List (French version of The dream carvers) - 2005-06 | In recognition of: Les sculpteurs de rêves |
| Selected, The Globe100 - 2005 | In recognition of: An Audience of Chairs |
| BMO Winterset Award - 2005 | In recognition of: An Audience of Chairs |
| Nomination - Shortlisted, Newfoundland and Labrador Book Awards - 2004 | In recognition of: The Word for Home |
| Nomination - Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award - 2003-04 | In recognition of: The Word for Home |
| Nomination - Shortlisted, Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award - 2003 | In recognition of: The Word for Home |
| Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People - 2003 | In recognition of: The Word for Home |
| Nomination - Longlisted, International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award - 2002 | In recognition of: Latitudes of Melt |
| BMO Winterset Award - 2002 | In recognition of: The Word for Home |
| Mr. Christie’s Book Award - 2002 | In recognition of: The Word for Home |
| Nomination - Shortlisted, Commonwealth Writers Prize, Canada-Caribbean Region - 2001 | In recognition of: Latitudes of Melt |
| Honorary Doctorate of Letters, Acadia University - 1999 | |
| Vicky Metcalf Award for Children’s Literature - 1999 | |
| Honorary Doctorate of Letters, Memorial University - 1998 | |
| Nomination - Shortlisted, Red Cedar Book Award - 1998 | In recognition of: The Dream Carvers |
| Newfoundland and Labrador Hibernia Children’s/Young Adult Book Award - 1998 | In recognition of: The Dream Carvers |
| Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People - 1995 | In recognition of: The Dream Carvers |
| Mr. Christie’s Book Award - 1995 | In recognition of: The Dream Carvers |
| Hawthornden Castle Fellowship - 1994 | |
| Canada-Scotland Writers-in-Residence Exchange - 1991-92 | |
| Marian Engel Award - 1991 | |
| Canadian Authors Association Award for Fiction - 1989 | In recognition of: The Victory of Geraldine Gull |
| Nomination - Shortlisted, Governor General's Literary Awards - 1989 | In recognition of: The Victory of Geraldine Gull |
| Nomination - Shortlisted, WH Smith Literary Award - 1989 | In recognition of: The Victory of Geraldine Gull |
| Alberta Children and Young Adult Book of the Year Award - 1983 | In recognition of: The Hand of Robin Squires |
| 100 Best Canadian Books for Children, Toronto Public Library | In recognition of: The Hand of Robin Squires |
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Featured Publication |
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Road to Bliss (2009) |
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Find this author in the New Brunswick public libraries catalogue.
Source(s): Author
