Budge Wilson

Readings

In advance of the session, I ask the organizer to arrange for the students to read a short story or book I have written. Closer to the event, I ask that each participant arrive with at least three questions written on a piece of paper. These may be personal questions (How old are you? Do you have another job?) or ones that have to do with the writing process or the publishing process. These are to be kept by the individual participants, and not given to the teacher or librarian in charge.

I start by giving a brief introduction, speaking of when and how I started to write, and whatever I think might be of interest to that particular group. Then I read aloud an excerpt from a book I have written, or more usually a short story — taking about twenty minutes to do this. If the children are young, I then let them stand up and stretch, or maybe jump up and down — provided the room underneath isn't in use! Then I ask for questions. This is the most valuable part of the session, and almost always leads the group — no matter how young or old — into a wide and varied discussion of creative writing. We usually run out of time before we run out of questions.

Other Presentations

The content of such addresses or sessions depends upon what the group would like Budge to discuss or talk about.

Biography

Budge Wilson was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and graduated from Dalhousie University (B.A., Philosophy & Psychology; Diploma in Education; Phys Ed certificate), followed by graduate studies in English at the University of Toronto. She spent many years in Ontario before returning home to live in a fishing village on the province's South Shore.

She began writing later in life, after commercial art, photography, and twenty years of fitness instruction. Since her first book in 1984, she has published 31 more, with 20 foreign editions in the USA, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Romania, Germany, Italy, Greece, and Australia. Her stories appear in 90 anthologies, in Braillie and 'Talking Books'. In 2003, she was awarded The Halifax Mayor's Award for Cultural Achievement in Literature; and in 2004, the Distinguished Alumnae Award from Ambrae Academy, Halifax. In 2004, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada.

Her awards include: First Prize, CBC Literary Competition; 19 Canadaian Children's Book Centre "Our Choice" awards; City of Darmouth Book Award; Canadian Library Association Young Adult Award; Marianna Dempster Award; Lilla Stirling Award; twice winner of the Ann Connor Brimer Award. Short-listed in 1991 for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book, Canada-Caribbean Region (The Leaving). Appeared in the first Journey Prize Anthology. Her books have been frequently read ("Richardson's Round-up", "Between the Covers") and dramatized on CBC and Danish Radio. Fractures was nominated for the Red Maple Award (2002) and the Tiny Torgi Award (CNIB) 2003. Friendships won the Ann Connor Brimer Award, 2007 and was a finalist for the 2006 Governor General's Award.

In The U.S., The Leaving received many honours, including the Library of Congress's "100 Noteworthy Children's Books, 1992" and the ALA 1994 list of "The 75 Best Children's Books of the Last 25 Years".

Budge was given readings, talks and workshops in libraries, schools and universities in every province and the Yukon; in Lahr, Germany; and at International Book Fairs at Guadalajara and Mexico City. She particularly values her visits to Canada's North, especially in Labrador, and the time spent among Canadian Native Peoples.