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Home > AS Penne

AS Penne [1]

Listed as: 
Fiction Writer, Creative Nonfiction Writer
Public address: 
Sechelt, BC
Canada
British Columbia CA
Email: 
aspenne@gmail.com
Bio: 

A.S. Penne’s work has been published on both sides of the Atlantic, winning the UK’s acclaimed Ian St James Award (1996 and 1994) and the USA’s Writers’ Digest award (1994).  In Canada her work has been a finalist in the prestigious Western Magazine Awards (2000) as well as honourably mentioned in the Norma Epstein Creative Writing Competition (1993).  She has been a participant at both the Iowa Writers Workshop as well as the Banff Writing Studio.

Penne’s short fiction in Reckoning (Turnstone, 2008) focuses on relationships – how they work or don’t work – and how communication affects relationship.  After living at various times in Montreal, France, London, Sacramento, Glasgow and Gloucestershire, Penne now resides on BC’s Sunshine Coast where she is a freelance editor and continues to write stageplays, momfiction and fiction.  Penne has been a participant at both the Banff Writers' Studio and the Iowa Writers Workshop.

The story behind her literary nonfiction book, Old Stones, came full circle during a year spent in Gloucestershire at the change of millenium.  Through a circuitous route, Penne was contacted by the French family who had rescued her wounded RCAF father in 1942.  Crossing the Channel to meet and thank them brought home the recognition that without their intervention, her own life would never have existed.

Reviewers have said:

 “…a powerful and captivating story that resonates on multiple levels.  …literate, original, entertaining, emotionally rewarding, deftly written, and highly recommended reading.”  The Bookwatch, Midwest Book Review.

“An unusually well-written account of the author's research into her parents’ origins.”  Family History Monthly  (London).

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
In which languages are you fluent?: 
English
French
Born in: 
Vancouver, BC
Canada
British Columbia
Raised in: 
Vancouver, BC
Canada
British Columbia
Prizes won: 

2020:  Finalist, Carter V. Cooper Short Fiction competition (Exile, Montreal) for All That Can Be Done.

2013:  Finalist, Canada Writes CBC Competition (for In The Blood).

2011:  Access Copywright Professional Development Grant, for  Coming Back (stageplay); 

2011:  Finalist, Women’s Playwrites International competition (Sweden) for Soldier On (stageplay).

2010:  Finalist, Moondance International Film Festival, Boulder, Colorado: The Possibility of Jack.

2008:  BC Arts Council, Project assistance for travel to New Pacific Studio, Masterton, New Zealand.

2004:  Canada Council for the Arts (for Banff Writing Studio).

2003:  Winner, BC Federation of Writers, Quesnel Lake, BC.

2001:  Winner, BC Federation of Writers’ Writing Slam, May 12, 2001, Victoria, BC (Once City).

2000:  Finalist, Western Magazine Awards for Dark Journey (in Prairie Fire, 20/3, Winnipeg, 1999).

2000:  Winner, Iceberg Short Fiction Competition, Quarry Hill Publishing, Cheshire, UK, July 2000.

1999:  Prairie Fire Creative Nonfiction Contest Winner,  for Dark Journey; Prairie Fire (Vol. 20, No. 3) Winnipeg, 1999.

1996:  Winner, Ian St. James Awards (Kent, UK) for Homing Instinct (Angela Royal Pub., London, 1997).

1994:  Winner, Ian St. James Awards (Kent, UK) for The Possibility of Jack (Harper-Collins, London, 1994);

1994:  Winner, Writer's Digest (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1994 Writing Competition for “How to Take a Lover.”

1993:  Honourable Mention, 1993 Norma Epstein Creative Writing Competition (University College,Toronto);

1993:  Helen Badenoch Scholarship for journalism, UBC.

1992:  Winner, Canadian Writers' Journal (Victoria, B.C.) for “What's A Mother To Do?"

Education: 
University of British Columbia
Agent/Agency name: 
Robert Lecker Agency (Montreal)
Writers Retreats: 
Wordplay
Write on the Sound
Identifies as: 
British
White
Prefers to work with: 
Adults
Incarcerated Individuals
Seniors
Teachers
Veterans

Source URL:https://www.pw.org/directory/writers/as_penne

Links
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