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Lesley Choyce

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Lesley Choyce
Born21 March 1951
Riverside, New Jersey, United States
Occupation
  • Writer
  • publisher
  • educator
CitizenshipCanada
Alma mater
Genres
  • Fiction
  • non-fiction
  • children's literature
  • young adult literature
Notable awardsAward of Merit, Order of Saint John (1986)
Website
www.lesleychoyce.com

Lesley Choyce (born 21 March 1951) is a Canadian writer and publisher based in Nova Scotia. Choyce has written an extensive body of literature consisting of novels, non-fiction, children's literature, young adult novels, and poetry.

Early life and education

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Lesley Choyce was born on 21 March 1951 in Riverside, New Jersey, to parents George and Norma Choyce. He graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1972, followed by a Master of Arts in American literature from Montclair State College in 1974, and finally a Master of Arts in English literature from the City University of New York in 1983. Choyce's early career in the United States included roles such as rehabilitation counsellor and writing program coordinator. He moved to Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia in 1978, where he established the publishing company Pottersfield Press a year later in 1979.[1]

Career

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Choyce's career is multifaceted, encompassing writing, publishing, education, and broadcasting. He founded the publishing company Pottersfield Press in 1979, which focuses on Atlantic Canadian literature. Through Pottersfield Press, Choyce has published a large volume of literature from various authors, many of whom were first-time writers introduced by Choyce. He began teaching at Dalhousie University in 1981, first as an instructor and later as a professor of English.[1]

As a writer, Choyce is the author of over 100 books across genres, including fiction, non-fiction, children's literature, and poetry.[1] 40 of his books were written between 1977 and 1997.[2] His young adult novels, such as Skateboard Shakedown (1989), Wave Watch (1990), Roid Rage (1999), and Smoke and Mirrors (2004) often explore themes of sports, nature, and peer pressure, appealing to reluctant younger readers with engaging plots and an accessible vocabulary. Amongst his literature for adult readers, The Republic of Nothing (1994) stands out as one of Choyce's most well-received novels, having remained in print and being optioned for film. Choyce's writing frequently reflects and incorporates his own personal interests such as surfing and environmentalism.[1]

Choyce is the founding member of the 1990s spoken word rock band The SurfPoets, and hosted the national TV show Off The Page for many years. His books have been translated into Spanish, French, German and Danish, and he has been awarded the Dartmouth Book Award and the Ann Connor Brimer Award. He lives at Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia.

Personal life

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Choyce is an avid surfer,[3] and has been known to surf year-round, including in the wintertime.[4] In 2004, he participated in a demonstration protesting against the Iraq War called "Paddling for Peace" at Lawrencetown Beach, days before President George W. Bush was due to arrive in Halifax during his first official visit to Canada since he became elected.[5] Choyce reportedly wanted to present Bush with a customized surfboard with the words "Waves, Not War" written on it.[6]

Works

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For a listing of Choyce's works, see Lesley Choyce bibliography.

Recognition

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  • Award of Merit, Order of Saint John (1986)[7]
  • Dartmouth Book Award (1990, 1995)[7]
  • Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children's Literature (1994, 2003)[7]
  • Authors Award, Foundation for the Advancement of Canadian Letters (1995)[7]
  • First Place Award, Canadian Surfing Championships (1995)[7]
  • Landmark East Literacy Award (2000)[7]
  • Poet laureate, Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf Tournament (2000)[7]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d Colombo (1997); Gale (2010).
  2. ^ Colombo (1997).
  3. ^ Marchand (2003); The Canadian Press (1989a).
  4. ^ MacLeod (1989); The Canadian Press (1989b).
  5. ^ Toughill (2004).
  6. ^ The Canadian Press (2004).
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Gale (2010).

Sources

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Further reading

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  • Canadian Who's Who. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, etc..
  • Contemporary Authors, Volume 130. Chicago: Gale Research, 1989.
  • Contemporary Authors, Volume 211. Chicago: Thomson Gale, 2004. (feature biography).
  • Dictionary of International Biography. Cambridge: International Bibliographic Centre, 1999.
  • International Authors and Writers Who's Who. Cambridge: Int. Bibliographic Centre, 1996.
  • International Who's Who. London: Routledge, 2009.
  • Something About Authors. Chicago: Gale Research, 1997.
  • Who's Who in America. Chicago: Marquis Publishing, 1985.
  • Who's Who of North American Poets. Cornwall, Ont.: Vesta Publishing, 1987.
  • Who's Who in Canadian Literature. Toronto: Reference Press, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, etc.
  • Who's Who in the World. Eight Ed. Wilmette, Ill.: Marquis, 1993.
  • Who's Who in Entertainment. New Providence, NJ: Marquis, 1997.
[edit]
Archives at
LocationDalhousie University Archives
IdentifiersMS-4-254
SourcePottersfield Press fonds
How to use archival material
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