Brian Francis (writer)
Encyclopedia
Brian Francis is a Canadian
writer. His 2004 novel Fruit was selected for inclusion in the 2009 edition of Canada Reads
, where it was championed by novelist and CBC Radio One
personality Jen Sookfong Lee
. It finished the competition as the runner-up, making the last vote against the eventual winner, Lawrence Hill
's The Book of Negroes
.
Published in Canada
by ECW Press
and released on May 4, 2004, Fruit is the story of Peter Paddington, a teenager living in Sarnia
. Overweight, gay and a social outsider, Paddington regularly retreats into an active fantasy life which includes his own nipple
s talking to him, and the novel traces his journey toward self-acceptance.
The novel was published in paperback format in the United States
by Harper Perennial
on August 2, 2005 under the title The Secret Fruit of Peter Paddington.
The novel was well-received by critics, with Entertainment Weekly
referring to it as "sweet, tart, and forbidden in all the right places."
Francis' second novel, Natural Order, published by Doubleday Canada
, was released on August 23, 2011. The novel tells the story of a mother coming to terms with the death of her adult son.
Francis, who is gay
, has also worked for the Toronto
publications Xtra!
and NOW
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
writer. His 2004 novel Fruit was selected for inclusion in the 2009 edition of Canada Reads
Canada Reads
Canada Reads is an annual "battle of the books" competition organized and broadcast by Canada's public broadcaster, the CBC.-Overview:During Canada Reads, five personalities champion five different books, each champion extolling the merits of one of the titles. The debate is broadcast over a series...
, where it was championed by novelist and CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
personality Jen Sookfong Lee
Jen Sookfong Lee
Jen Sookfong Lee is the author of The End of East, a novel told through the eyes of its protagonist, Sammy Chan, a 20-something Chinese-Canadian woman...
. It finished the competition as the runner-up, making the last vote against the eventual winner, Lawrence Hill
Lawrence Hill
Lawrence Hill is an award-winning Canadian novelist and memoirist. He is best known for the 2001 memoir Black Berry, Sweet Juice: On Being Black and White in Canada and the 2007 novel The Book of Negroes....
's The Book of Negroes
The Book of Negroes (novel)
The Book of Negroes is a 2007 award-winning novel from Canadian writer Lawrence Hill. In the United States, Australia and New Zealand, the novel was published under the title Someone Knows My Name.-Plot introduction:...
.
Published in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
by ECW Press
ECW Press
ECW Press is a North American small press book publisher located in Toronto, Ontario. It was founded by Jack David and Robert Lecker in 1974 as a Canadian literary magazine named Essays on Canadian Writing. Five years later, ECW published its first books - trade and scholarly titles...
and released on May 4, 2004, Fruit is the story of Peter Paddington, a teenager living in Sarnia
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
. Overweight, gay and a social outsider, Paddington regularly retreats into an active fantasy life which includes his own nipple
Nipple
In its most general form, a nipple is a structure from which a fluid emanates. More specifically, it is the projection on the breasts or udder of a mammal by which breast milk is delivered to a mother's young. In this sense, it is often called a teat, especially when referring to non-humans, and...
s talking to him, and the novel traces his journey toward self-acceptance.
The novel was published in paperback format in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Harper Perennial
Harper Perennial
Harper Perennial is a paperback imprint of the publishing house HarperCollins Publishers. Harper Perennial has divisions located in New York, London, Toronto, and Sydney. The imprint is descended from the Perennial Library imprint founded by Harper & Row in 1964...
on August 2, 2005 under the title The Secret Fruit of Peter Paddington.
The novel was well-received by critics, with Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
referring to it as "sweet, tart, and forbidden in all the right places."
Francis' second novel, Natural Order, published by Doubleday Canada
Doubleday Canada
Doubleday Canada is an imprint of the publishing company Random House of Canada. The company was previously known as Forboys, and was incorporated in 1936 and since 1945, has been known as Doubleday Canada Limited. Since 1986 Doubleday Canada Limited has been owned by Bertelsmann AG.See...
, was released on August 23, 2011. The novel tells the story of a mother coming to terms with the death of her adult son.
Francis, who is gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, has also worked for the Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
publications Xtra!
Xtra!
Xtra! is a gay magazine, on newsprint in tabloid format, published by Pink Triangle Press in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History and content :...
and NOW
NOW (magazine)
Now is a free weekly newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It was first printed on September 10, 1981 by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein. Now is an alternative weekly mixing arts and entertainment news with political coverage....
.