About

The Author . . .

A resident of Oshawa, Canada, Ruth E. Walker is a novelist, poet, playwright, editor, and creative writing workshop facilitator. Her work has appeared in Canada, the US, and the UK, in many publications, including Prairie Fire, The Montreal Poetry Prize Anthology, CV2, Geist, River King Poetry Supplement, Rain Dog, Chapman, and others. She twice won the Dan Sullivan Memorial Poetry Contest, was a semi-finalist in the Chapters/Robertson Davies First Novel Competition, placed 3rd in the 2007 Banff Centre Bliss Carman Poetry Award competition, was long-listed for the Montreal Poetry Prize, and nominated for a National Magazine Award. Her most recent book is the novel Living Underground, published by Seraphim Editions.

As a playwright, her work has been staged in local community theatres and public venues, including the Whitby Courthouse Theatre, StoneCircle Theatre, and Driftwood Theatre’s “Trafalagar 24” play creation festival.

Ruth is a graduate of Trent University, and before retiring, was a professional writer and editor for the Ontario government. She is also: a member of The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC); a founding editor and publisher of the literary journal Lichen (1998-2007); a past president and long-time member of The Writers’ Community of Durham Region (WCDR); a founder and former organizing committee member of the acclaimed Words in Whitby Reading Series; a former member of the Driftwood Theatre Group’s Board of Directors; a long-serving volunteer on various non-profit arts initiatives; an artist-in-residence Durham Alternative Secondary School; and a creative writing instructor and workshop facilitator.

The Writing Instructor . . .

Throughout the year, Ruth provides private editing services for fiction and creative nonfiction manuscripts. She also facilitates numerous creative writing workshops and retreats, with business partner Gwynn Scheltema. For more information, contact Ruth or visit Writescape Writing Retreats.

A note from Ruth . . .

“I remember the moment I first learned to read; my stubby toddler finger following the path my mother’s long elegant fingernail travelled beneath the simple words of Fun With Dick and Jane. Once I saw the pattern of matching symbol to sound, I knew right away, ‘this is magic, this is power, this is the key.’ Ironically, it wasn’t until I’d nearly reached my fortieth year that I began to creatively mine the motherlode of language. Now, more than a decade later, I’m still tapping it, trailing rich veins of words. And every day, something new, maybe even astonishing, reveals itself.”

Media Information . . .

Click thumbnails for larger image.

Printable CV and publishing history.

View Ruth’s Writers’ Union of Canada member profile.

Home | About | Books | News | Connect

Save