Fred Stenson

Fred Stenson, a writer based out of Alberta, was UNB’s 28^th writer-in-residence for the 2009-2010 academic year. He was born in Pincher Creek, Alberta on the 22^nd of December, 1951. He was educated at the University of Calgary, recieving his BA in 1972. He published his first novel Lonesome Hero in 1974, and since has published several works of fiction, alongside having authored over 150 film and video scripts. His novels The Trade and Lightning both won the Grant MacEwan's Author's Prize, while The Trade was also nominated for the Giller Prize and the IMPAC Dublin Award. His novel which he published the year he was writer-in-residence at UNB, The Great Karoo, was also nominated for the IMPAC Dublin Award.

Born in Alberta, Stenson has proved his loyalty to his province in his capacity as a writer by bolstering literary arts at home. He is a founding member of the Writer's Guild of Alberta, having served also as its president in 1996. Since 1999 he has been the the humour columnist for Alberta Views Magazine, and since 2001 he has served as the director of the Wired Writing Studio at the Banff Centre. Additionally, he has edited two collections of Albertan writing, Alberta Bound (1986) and The Road Home (1992).

He gave a reading on September 16^th, 2009 in the Alumni Memorial Lounge, and read at an odd sundays event at Molly's Coffee House, Janary 31^st, 2010.

Fred Stenson was preceded by Gerard Beirne, and succeeded by John Barton.

"If it was someone who wanted to make a living as a writer, I would recommened that they take on all forms of writing, and just kind of not turn anything down. You can always learn. You need material and freelance writing of various kinds is a great way to get material for fiction, to learn about the world."

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Source(s):

UA Case 191;Section 2; Fred Stenson