Kenneth Oppel
| Kenneth Oppel | |
|---|---|
|
Oppel (2016 at international literature festival berlin) | |
| Born |
August 31, 1967 Port Alberni, British Columbia |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Period | 1985–present |
| Notable works |
|
| Notable awards |
Governor General's Literary Award 2004 Airborn The Times Children's Novel 2005 Skybreaker |
| Spouse | Philippa Sheppard |
| Children | 3 |
| Website | |
|
kennethoppel | |
Kenneth Oppel (born August 31, 1967) is a Canadian children's writer.
Biography
Oppel was born in Port Alberni, and spent his childhood in Victoria, British Columbia and Halifax, Nova Scotia. He also lived in Newfoundland and Labrador, England, and Ireland.
In 1985, Oppel wrote his first book Colin's Fantastic Video Adventure,[1] while at St. Michaels University School. He attended at the same time as actors Andrew Sabiston and Leslie Hope, fellow writers John Burns and Bert Archer, and just before the NBA's Steve Nash and Flickr founder Stewart Butterfield. Oppel forwarded the newly completed manuscript to a family friend who knew Roald Dahl, who in turn recommended it to his agent. Oppel went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts degree in cinema studies and English at Trinity College in the University of Toronto, writing The Live-Forever Machine (1992) during his final year. Oppel moved to England and wrote a number of books during that period, gleaning several ideas while working at typing students' papers. From 1995 to 1996, Oppel worked as an editor at Quill and Quire, the trade magazine of the Canadian publishing industry.
He wrote four books for the novel series, such as Silverwing, Sunwing, Firewing and Darkwing. He also wrote another series for the Matt Cruise saga, including Airborn (2004), Skybreaker (2005) and Starclimber (2008).
Oppel won numerous literary awards, including the 2004 Governor General's Literary Award for English language children's literature, a Printz Honor Award from the American Library Association (both for Airborn) and The Times Children's Novel of 2005 (for Skybreaker, named a 2006 Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association).
Oppel married Philippa Sheppard, a Shakespeare scholar and instructor at the University of Toronto.[2][3] They lived in Toronto with three children, Sophia, Nate and Julia.
Selected works
Young adult fiction
The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein
Silverwing seriesMain article: Silverwing (series)
Airborn series
Other
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Children's fictionBarnes and the Brains
Other
Adult fiction
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References
- 1 2 "Colin's fantastic video adventure". Library of Congress Catalog Record. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
- ↑ http://www.english.utoronto.ca/facultystaff/facultyprofiles/SheppardP.htm Philippa Sheppard faculty profile (utoronto.ca)
- ↑ "300-Level Courses". English University of Toronto (english.utoronto.ca). Academic year 2012–13. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
- ↑ http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1096530.The_Devil_s_Cure
- Other sources
- CM magazine profile of Oppel, incorporating material from a 1996 interview
- Interview by ACHUKA's Canadian Correspondent, Andrea Deakin (2000)
- Kenneth Oppel at CANSCAIP Members (archived 2010-10-17), with short autobiography
- Red Cedar Awards Profile
External links
- Official website
- Kenneth Oppel at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Kenneth Oppel at Library of Congress Authorities, with 23 catalog records