John Wilson is a Canadian author.

Biography

John Wilson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on August 2, 1951. He grew up on the Island of Skye

Skye

Skye or the Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills...

, and in Paisley

Paisley

Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...

. According to Wilson, he could speak some Gaelic but now his primary language is English.

After university, where he obtained an Honours degree in Geology

Geology

Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...

, Wilson worked as a geologist in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...

, before moving to Canada. For nine years, he worked for the Alberta Geological Survey

Alberta Geological Survey

Alberta Geological Survey is part of the Energy Resources Conservation Board, a provincial agency of the Government of Alberta. Alberta Geological Survey provides geological information and expertise to government, industry and the public about Alberta’s Earth resources and geological processes for...

 in Edmonton

Edmonton

Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...

.

In 1989, Wilson wrote an article that was published by the Globe and Mail. This success prompted him to become a full-time writer. A self-proclaimed history addict, Wilson writes historical fiction and non-fiction for kids teens and adults. He is the author 31 books, 300 articles and essays, 30 poems and hundreds of book reviews. Wilson tours schools across Canada talking to kids of all ages about his writing, research and books.

Wilson now lives in Lantzville on Vancouver Island.

Awards

Written in Blood—Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Awards, short list, 2012; TriState YA Book of Note 2011
Death on the River— TriState YA Book of Note 2010
Crusade: The Heretic’s Secret Book I—Geoffrey Bilson Award short list
Germania—Resource Links Best Book 2008; CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens, (starred title of “exceptional calibre”).
The Alchemist's Dream—Governor General's Award, finalist, 2007; Geoffrey Bilson Award short list; Moonbeam Award, Silver Medalist, 2007; Shiela Egoff Prize (BC Book Prize), Honour Book; Chocolate Lily Award, short list; ForeWard Book of the Year, (Young Adult), finalist.
Where Soldiers Lie—Geoffrey Bilson Award, Honour Book; Red Maple short list, 2008; Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice (SYRCA) Snow Willow Award; CCBC Our Choice, 2007
Red Goodwin—Red Maple short list, 2007; Chocolate Lily short list, 2007/8; CCBC Our Choice, 2007.
Four Steps to Death—White Pine short list, 2007; Shiela Egoff Prize (BC Book Prize), Honour Book; Manitoba Young Reader's Choice Award, short list, 2006; Geoffrey Bilson Award Honour Book; Society of School Librarians International, Honour Book 2006; Stellar Award short list; Isinglass Award, short list; CCBC Our Choice (starred) 2006.
Battle Scars—CCBC our Choice 2006
Flags of War—CCBC Our Choice 2005
Flames of the Tiger—White Pine short list, 2005; New York Public Library Selection, Best Books for the Teen Age List, 2004; Manitoba Reader's Young Choice Award Honour Book, 2005; Society of School Librarians International, Honour Book; Stellar Award short list; CCBC Our Choice 2004
And in the Morning—White Pine short list, 2004; New York Public Library Selection, Best Books for the Teen Age List, 2004; Chocolate Lily Award Nominee; Stellar Award short list; CCBC Our Choice (starred) 2003 .
Adrift in Time—Chocolate Lily Award Nominee.
Lost in Spain—New York Public Library Selection, Best Books for the Teen Age List, 2000.
Across Frozen Seas—Geoffrey Bilson Award, short list; Shiela Egoff Prize (BC Book Prize) Honour Book; CCBC Our Choice.
Desperate Glory: The Story of WWI—Red Maple short list, 2009; OLA Best Bets
Dancing Elephants and Floating Continents: The Story of Canada Beneath Your Feet—Science in Society Book Award short list; Shiela Egoff Prize (BC Book Prize) Honour Book; Hackmatack Award short list, 2004/5; CCBC Our Choice 2004
Discovering the Arctic: The Story of John Rae—Norma Fleck Award short list, 2004; CCBC Our Choice.2004
Righting Wrongs: The Story of Norman Bethune—Norma Fleck Award short list, 2002.