Tim Wynne-Jones

Tim Wynne-Jones

Tim Wynne-Jones, author (born at Cheshire, UK 12 Aug 1948). After emigrating to Canada in 1952, Tim Wynne-Jones spent his remaining childhood years in both Vancouver and Ottawa, where his family moved in 1958. Following the completion of a BA in Fine Arts from the UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO and a MFA in Visual Arts from YORK UNIVERSITY, Wynne-Jones began to pursue his creative interests professionally, becoming an author of CHILDREN'S LITERATURE, including picture books and NOVELS for children and young adults, and novels for adults. Wynne-Jones also has many musical writing credits to his name, including a children's MUSICAL, Mischief City (1990), an OPERA book and LIBRETTO, A Midwinter Night's Dream (1988), a dozen RADIO DRAMAS, and the lyrics to 16 SONGS for the CBC/Jim Henson television series Fraggle Rock.

Although most of Wynne-Jones' acclaim has been for his works of children's literature, his first literary success came with his first adult novel. In 1979, Wynne- Jones wrote his debut novel, a mystery thriller called Odd's End, the story of a couple who move into an old mansion and soon begin to live in fear of an evil stranger. Wynne-Jones wrote the novel's first draft during a 6-week period, and entered it into the Seal First Novel competition run by publishers Bantam Books and MCCLELLAND & STEWART. The manuscript won, and Wynne-Jones was awarded $50,000 and a 3-publisher book contract, which saw the book come out in Canada, the United States and England in 1980.

Despite his early success in adult fiction, Wynne-Jones has since shifted most of his focus to children's literature, penning over 25 picture books and young adult novels since the early 1980s. In his children's books Wynne-Jones captures the mystery, fantasy and wonder of childhood, while also putting a focus on many childhood concerns, such as conquering fears and coping with an ever-changing relationship with one's parents. Many of his young adult novels are also coming-of-age tales, such as The Maestro (1995), which tells the story of young Burl, who runs away from home and must come to terms with his new life in the Canadian wilderness, and a budding friendship with an eccentric musical genius. The Maestro won the GOVERNOR GENERAL'S LITERARY AWARD for English language children's literature in 1995 and the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book of the Year Award in 1996.

Other notable awards received by Wynne-Jones include the Governor General's Literary Award for English language children's literature for Some of the Kinder Planets (1993); the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Juvenile Crime Book and the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Book for The Boy in the Burning House (2000); and the VICKY METCALF AWARD, for a writer whose body of work has been "inspirational to Canadian youth," in 1997. He was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada in 2011.