Lesley Choyce

Photo credit: Daniel Abriel

Lesley teaches part-time at Dalhousie University, runs Pottersfield Press and has published over 70 books for adults and kids. His Young Adult novels concern things like skateboarding, surfing, racism, environmental issues, organ transplants, and rock bands. Lesley surfs year round in the North Atlantic and is considered the father of transcendental wood-splitting. He's worked as a rehab counsellor, a freight hauler, a corn farmer, a janitor, a journalist, a lead guitarist, a newspaper boy and a well-digger. He lives in a 200 year old farm house at Lawrencetown Beach overlooking the ocean. He also hosts a nationally syndicated TV talk show on Vision TV. His recent novel, Cold Clear Morning, is currently being developed as a feature length movie. In 2002, Goose Lane Editions published Choyce's best-selling circumferential history book, The Coasts of Canada. That same year, his animal epic film, The Skunk Whisperer, was broadcast across Canada and heralded at the Maine International Film Festival. Along with the Surf Poets, he has released two poetry/music albums, Long Lost Planet and Sea Level.

To read excerpts from Lesley's books and download free samples of his music, visit www.lesleychoyce.com

Selected List of Publications

Running the Risk. Victoria: Orca, 2009. ISBN 1554690269. The Discipline of Ice. Victoria: Ekstasis, 2009. ISBN 9781897430217. Living Outside the Lines. Toronto: Red Deer, 2009. ISBN 9780889954359. Last Chance. Toronto: Lorimer. 2009. ISBN 9781552774441. Living Outside the Lines. Toronto: Red Deer, 2009. ISBN 9780889954359. Los Pandemonium. Victoria: Orca, 2009 Seven Ravens. Hamilton: Wolsak & Wynn, 2009. ISBN 9781894987394. Skate Freak. Victoria: Orca, 2008. ISBN 1-55469-042-0. Hell’s Hotel. Toronto: Lorimer, 2008. ISBN 9781552770382. Peggy’s Cove: the Amazing History of a Coastal Village. E. Lawrencetown: Pottersfield, 2008. ISBN 978-1897426005. Nova Scotia: Shaped By the Sea, Revised Edition. E. Lawrencetown: Pottersfield, 2007. ISBN 978-1-895900-94-1. The Book of Michael. Red Deer Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-88995-417-5 The End of the World as We Know It. Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 2007. ISBN 978-0889953796. Wave Warrior. Orca Soundings, 2007. ISBN: 9781551436470. Skunks for Breakfast. Nimbus, 2006. ISBN 1551095866. Driving Minnie's Piano. Pottersfield Press, 2006. ISBN 1-895900-81-6. Sudden Impact. Orca Book Publishers, 2005. ISBN 1551434768.      Click here for WFNS' description of this book. Smoke and Mirrors Dundurn Group, 2004. $12.99 ISBN 1-55002-534-1.      Click here for WFNS' description of this book. Sea of Tranquility. Simon & Pierre, 2003. ISBN 1-55002-440-X.      Click here for WFNS' description of this book. The Coasts of Canada: A History. Goose Lane Editions, 2002. ISBN 0-86492-360-0.      Click here for more information on this book. Shoulder the Sky. The Dundurn Group, 2002. ISBN 1-55002-415-9.      Click here for WFNS' description of this book. Winner of the 2003 Ann Connor Brimer Children's Literature Prize and the 2003 Young Adult Canadian Book Award. "Dance the Rocks Ashore." Atlantica: Stories from the Maritimes and Newfoundland. Edited by Lesley Choyce. Goose Lane Editions, 2001. ISBN 0-8692-309-0.      Click here for WFNS' description of this book. Carrie's Camping Adventure. Illustrated by Mark Thurman. Formac Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-88780-534-5.         Click here for WFNS' description of this book. "These are urban children who have little experience outdoors and show very typical attitudes when they are removed from their TVs, video games and the local fast food outlets."      - Resource Links "Girls may enjoy the obvious superiority in competence of the female characters."         - from "Carrie's Camping Adventure. (First Novels. The New Series)," a review by Gillian Richardson, CM Magazine, Vol. 8, No. 5 (November 2, 2001). Cold Clear Morning. Beach Holme, 2001. ISBN 0-88878-416-3.         Click here for WFNS' description of this book. Your Guide to... Getting Published: Creativity & craft, Contracts & editing, Fiction, kids' books, poetry & periodicals. Coles Notes, Coles Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0-7740-0615-3. Caution to the Wind. Ekstasis Editions, 2000. "Choyce's poetics owe more to Henry Thoreau than Allen Ginsberg, more to self-reliant transcendentalism than beat Buddhism. His American vision opposes Americanization - that is, (sub)urbanization and consumerism.... Trust his perfectly clear images... his warmth and kindness."      - George Elliott Clarke, "Choyce words for Lesley," Chronicle-Herald, 10 December 2000.

Roid Rage. Harbour Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-55017-206-9.
     Click here for WFNS' description of Roid Rage.

Carrie's Crowd. Halifax, Formac, 1998. ISBN 0-88780-464-0.

Famous at Last. East Lawrencetown, Pottersfield Press, 1998. ISBN 1-895900-11-5.

Beautiful Sadness. Victoria, Ekstasis Editions, 1998. ISBN 1-896860-30-3.

"When Choyce takes readers on these journeys, they have a companion with the excellent combination of a critical mind, an eye for beauty, a quick wit and compassion."
     - "Journeys of beauty." Leigh Anne Williams. The Sunday Herald, 30 August 1998.

World Enough. Fredericton, Goose Lane Editions, 1998. ISBN 0-86492-246-9.
     Click here for WFNS' description of this book.

"It's a contemporary novel, about life and death and the whole thing."
     - Lesley Choyce

Dance the Rocks Ashore: Stories New and Selected. Fredericton, Goose Lane Editions, 1997. ISBN 0-86492-218-3.

"Dance the Rocks Ashore compiles the best of the broad scope of Choyce's writing. Well-chosen and carefully assembled, it is a self-assured, cohesive collection."
     - from "Season's Choyce." Review by Josephine Walsh. Atlantic Books Today, Spring 1997.

Go For It, Carrie. Halifax, Formac, 1997.

"Highly recommended."
     - "Lilly to the Rescue/Duff the Giant Killer/Go For It, Carrie." Review by Irene Gordon. CM Magazine, Vol. IV, No. 2, September 19, 1997.

The Mi'kmaq Anthology. Edited, with Rita Joe. E. Lawrencetown, Pottersfield Press, 1997.

TrapDoor to Heaven. Kingston, Quarry Press, 1996. ISBN 1-55082-157-1.

Falling Through the Cracks. Halifax: Formac, 1996.

Nova Scotia: Shaped by the Sea. Toronto, Viking Penguin, 1996. ISBN 0-670-86507-9.

Big Burn. Thistledown Press, 1995. ISBN 1-895449-43-X.

"This is a thoughtful novel that will no doubt encourage discussion about a timely and important theme. It would be especially relevant for units on environmental studies or pollution. Most important, it encourages kids to stand up for their own values and principles."
     - from "Big Burn", a book review by Jennifer Sullivan, CM: Canadian Review of Materials, Vol. 3, No. 4 (October 18, 1996).

The Coastline of Forgetting. Halifax, Pottersfield Press, 1995.

The Republic of Nothing. Fredericton, Goose Lane Editions, 1994. ISBN 0-86492-153-5.
     Winner of the 1995 Dartmouth Book Award.

"The sea surrounding the Republic of Nothing shimmers with myth and mystery. It yields an array of items including a circus elephant, a shipload of furniture and two-headed fish. . . . On the island itself, assassination attempts, near-death experiences and a long-dead Viking who saves the island from the Americans help create a bizarre and captivating world."
     - from "Nothing comes from nothing." Review by Jay Romkey. Halifax Mail Star, January 27, 1995.

Dark End of Dream Street. Halifax: Formac, 1994.

Transcendental Anarchy: Confessions of a Metaphysical Tourist. Kingston, Quarry Press, 1993. ISBN 1-55082-073-7.

Full Tilt. Toronto: Maxwell-MacMillan, 1993.

Good Idea Gone Bad. Halifax, Formac, 1993.

Ecstacy Conspiracy. Montreal, Nuage Editions, 1992. ISBN 0-921833-19-9.

Clearcut Danger. Halifax, Formac, 1992. ISBN 0-88780-213-3.

Magnificent Obsessions. Kingston, Quarry Press, 1991. ISBN 1-55082-020-6.

Wave watch. Halifax, Formac, 1990. ISBN 0-88780-080-7.

The Second Season of Jonas MacPherson. Saskatoon, Thistledown, 1989. ISBN 0-920633-67-6.

Skateboard Shakedown. Halifax, Formac, 1989. ISBN 1-88780-073-4.

Coming up for Air. Creative Publishers, 1988. ISBN 0-920021-55-7.

December Six/The Halifax Solution. Pottersfield Press, 1988. ISBN 0-919001-45-9.

An Avalanche of Ocean. Fredericton, Goose Lane Editions, 1987. ISBN 0-86492-069-5.
     Finalist for the 1989 Stephen Leacock Award for Humour.

The Dream Auditor. Charlottetown, Ragweed Press, 1986. SBN 0-920304-63-X.

Conventional Emotions. St. John's, Creative, 1985. ISBN 0-920021-27-1.

The End of Ice. Fredericton, Goose Lane Editions, 1985. ISBN 0-86492-054-7.

Billy Botzweiler's Last Dance. Toronto, blewointment, 1984. ISBN 0-8897-099-6.

Down Wind. Creative Publishers, 1984. ISBN 0-920021-08-5.

Fast Living. Fredericton, Fiddlehead Press (now Goose Lane Editions), 1982. ISBN 0-86492-026-1.

Eastern Sure. Halifax, Nimbus Publishing Ltd, 1980. ISBN 0-920852-08-4.

Awards

Finalist for the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Award, 1981.
First place in short fiction and the novel: Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia Literary Awards.
Pierian Spring Editor's Award for poetry.
The Order of St. John Award of Merit.
Short-listed for The Stephen Leacock Medal, 1987.
The Dartmouth Book Award, 1990, 1995; short-listed 1991, 1992, 1993.
Event magazine's Creative Nonfiction Competition, winner 1990.
Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children's Literature, 1994, 2003; short-listed 1992, 1993.
Manitoba's Young Reader's Choice Award, finalist, 1994, 2008.
Authors Award, Foundation for the Advancement of Canadian Letters, co-winner, 1995.
Short-listed for the Hackmatack Award for children’s writing, 2000.
Short-listed for White Pine Award, 2004, 2008.
Finalist for Canadian Library Association Young Adult Award, 2005.
Short-listed for Stellar Book Awards, 2007.
America Library Association Quick Pick, 2008.
Short-listed for the Foreword Magazine Book Award, 2008
Finalist for the Alberta Book Award, 2008.
First Place: Canadian Surfing Championships, 1995.
Landmark East Literacy Award, 2000.
Poet Laureate for the Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf Tournament, 2000.
Best Writer of Halifax (Coast Magazine): 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006.
Finalist: Book of the Year Award –ForeWord Magazine
Teaching Excellence Award – Dalhousie University Student Union, 2009.
Short-listed for Red Cedar Award, 2009.

Biographical Reference Sources

Canadian Who's Who. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, etc..
Contemporary Authors, Volume 130. Chicago: Gale Research, 1989.
Contemporary Authors, Volume 211. Chicago: Thompson Gale, 2004. (feature biography).
Dictionary of International Biography. Cambridge: International Bibliographic Centre, 1999.
International Authors and Writers Who's Who. Cambridge: Int. Bibliographic Centre, 1996.
Something About Authors. Chicago: Gale Research, 1997.
Who's Who in America. Chicago: Marquis Publishing, 1985.
Who's Who of North American Poets. Cornwall, Ont.: Vesta Publishing, 1987.
Who's Who in Canadian Literature. Toronto: Reference Press, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, etc.
Who's Who in the World. Eight Ed. Wilmette, Ill.: Marquis, 1993.
Who's Who in Entertainment. New Providence, NJ: Marquis, 1997.

Websites

http://www.LesleyChoyce.com
http://myspace.com/lesleychoyce
http://lesleychoyce.wordpress.com
http://www.youtube.com/lesleychoyce
http://www.myspace.com/choycelesley
http://blog.myspace.com/lesleychoyce
http://lesleychoyce.blogspot.com
http://pottersfieldpress.blogspot.com
http://youngadultnovels.blogspot.com
http://www.squidoo.com/lesleychoyce
http://www.PottersfieldPress.com

What they say about Lesley Choyce...

"Choyce has a feeling for the young and dispossessed, for the terrible angst of adolescence and the rituals of rebellion."
     The Globe and Mail

"He risks everything."
     The Calgary Herald

"He looks just like Keith Richards."
     Vicki Gabereau, CBC Radio

"Like Stephen Leacock meets Shirley MacLaine."
     The Globe and Mail

"A very nice man without an ounce of Howard Stern in him."
   Eye Magazine

You can send mail to Lesley Choyce
c/o Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia