James Bow

Readings

I talk about the joy of writing. Although I was published at 33, I started writing when I was 14. I wrote fan fiction, I produced amateur magazines, I posted stories online, wrote blogs, and more. Through all the jobs that I've had, writing was my favourite part of them. I talk about the challenges that exist to being published and the value of persistence and doing what one loves. I talk about the joy of writing for small audiences, on blogs or online, with the point that all writing is of value.

I also talk about young adult literature, and the books that inspired The Unwritten Girl. I talk about why I enjoy reading young adult literature, and the themes in the genre. Talks can be tailored to specific topics on request. I close with a short reading and a question and answer session, and I distribute a signed bookmark to each student.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Workshops

I offer a confidence developing professional development workshop with writing exercises. Students are given an opportunity to free-write, and then read the results to their fellow students.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Biography

I was born in downtown Toronto on April 19, 1972 and lived there until my folks moved up to Kitchener in 1991 so I could attend the University of Waterloo. I've lived in Kitchener ever since. I've been trained as an urban planner, and I've worked as a database manager, web designer, circulation manager, administrative assistant, layout designer and office manager. The one consistent thing about my varied academic and professional career has been a love of writing.

I practised my craft by writing Doctor Who fan fiction. I started at it when I was fourteen, and was coached ahead by a number of fellow-fans. I was a member of the Doctor Who Information Network and I rose in the ranks, finally editing my own fan fiction magazine, as well as their official fiction publication Myth Makers. It was 2001 before I decided I was ready to write fiction in my own universe, and I started work on the story that would become The Unwritten Girl.

It was through fan fiction that I met a number of important people in my life, the most important of which was Erin Noteboom, who became my wife. So, if you want to write, fan fiction is an excellent way to practise, and meet good people as well. I'm currently living in Kitchener, Ontario with Erin and our daughter Vivian. I have written a number of non-fiction articles for my local paper, business publications and the Internet. My work paid off with the publication of The Unwritten Girl in 2006 and its sequel, Fathom Five in 2007. I am currently working on the third book of the Unwritten Books trilogy and a fourth book featuring a new set of characters and problems.