Robert Paul Weston
Encyclopedia
Robert Paul Weston is a British
-born Canadian
children's author. His debut was the award-winning novel-in-verse
, Zorgamazoo
. His short fiction has appeared in literary journals in Canada, the UK and the United States.
His second novel, a dark fantasy for young adults entitled Dust City, was published in October 2010. The story is narrated by the son of the wolf who killed Little Red Riding Hood
.
, England
. He graduated from Queen's University
in 1998 with a BA in Film and Sociology. From 2002 to 2004, he worked in Japan
as a high school teacher. In 2006, he completed an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia
. Weston currently lives in Toronto
, where he teaches courses in young adult fantasy fiction and writing for young adults in the School of Continuing Studies at the University of Toronto
.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
-born Canadian
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...
children's author. His debut was the award-winning novel-in-verse
Verse novel
A verse novel is a type of narrative poetry in which a novel-length narrative is told through the medium of poetry rather than prose. Either simple or complex stanzaic verse-forms may be used, but there will usually be a large cast, multiple voices, dialogue, narration, description, and action in a...
, Zorgamazoo
Zorgamazoo
Zorgamazoo is Canadian children's author Robert Paul Weston's first novel. The work is a fantasy adventure, written entirely in rhyming anapestic tetrameter....
. His short fiction has appeared in literary journals in Canada, the UK and the United States.
His second novel, a dark fantasy for young adults entitled Dust City, was published in October 2010. The story is narrated by the son of the wolf who killed Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood, also known as Little Red Cap, is a French fairy tale about a young girl and a Big Bad Wolf. The story has been changed considerably in its history and subject to numerous modern adaptations and readings....
.
Personal life
Robert Paul Weston was born October 21, 1975 in DoverDover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He graduated from Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
in 1998 with a BA in Film and Sociology. From 2002 to 2004, he worked in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as a high school teacher. In 2006, he completed an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. Weston currently lives in 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...
, where he teaches courses in young adult fantasy fiction and writing for young adults in the School of Continuing Studies at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.
Prizes and honours
- 2011 California Young Reader MedalCalifornia Young Reader MedalThe California Young Reader Medal is an award given annually to books nominated and voted on by children in California. The medal was established in 1974 and encourages recreational reading...
(for Zorgamazoo)
- 2010 Silver Birch Fiction award (for Zorgamazoo)
- 2009 Shortlisted, E.B. White Read Aloud Award (for Zorgamazoo)
- 2009 Children’s Literature Association Notable Books for 2009 (Zorgamazoo)
Novels
- ZorgamazooZorgamazooZorgamazoo is Canadian children's author Robert Paul Weston's first novel. The work is a fantasy adventure, written entirely in rhyming anapestic tetrameter....
(2008) Penguin/RazorbillPenguin GroupThe Penguin Group is a trade book publisher, the largest in the world , having overtaken Random House in 2009. The Penguin Group is the name of the incorporated division of parent Pearson PLC that oversees these publishing operations... - Dust City (2010) Penguin/RazorbillPenguin GroupThe Penguin Group is a trade book publisher, the largest in the world , having overtaken Random House in 2009. The Penguin Group is the name of the incorporated division of parent Pearson PLC that oversees these publishing operations...
Short stories
- “Mourning Sickness”, On Spec, No. 62, Winter 2005
- “The Light Switch Method”, Kiss Machine, No. 10, June 2005
- “Thinking of Alice”, Crimewave Magazine, Vol. 9, Fall 2006
- “Stop Plate Tectonics”, On Spec, No. 68, Spring 2007
- “Paris, France (Somnumbulitis)”, The New Orleans Review, Vol. 33, No. 1, Fall 2007
- “Hummingbirds and Pie”, Postscripts, Vol. 12, Autumn 2007
- “Salve”, Postscripts, Vol. 14, Spring 2008