Penny Ferguson

Born in 1957 in Storeytown, New Brunswick, Penny Ferguson attended Nova Scotia Teachers College (A.Ed.) and Acadia University (B.Ed., & B.A.). While studying at Acadia, Penny edited Alpha Arts Magazine for three years. She taught full and part-time in public and private schools in Nova Scotia, served as the Writer-in-residence at the N.S.T.C., and visited numerous schools and colleges to give writing workshops. She also participated in many public readings and offered workshops in Canada and in England.

Her poetry, short stories and art work have appeared in publications in Canada, the US and England in The New Quarterly, Room of One's Own, The Antigonish Review, Cormorant, A Maritime Christmas, New Stories and Memories of the Season (2008), In The Open (Roseway, 1996), The Nashwaak Review, Pottersfield Portfolio, Canadian Author, Minus Tides, Shout and Speak Out Loud, Tulane Review, Poetechniciens, The Gentle Reader and other journals.

Her work has been broadcast on Bragg Community Network TV; CBC Radio Weekend (Nfld.); Ashes, Paper and Beans (radio, NB); Ryerson Radio (Toronto); University of Toronto Radio and BBC (Newcastle, England).

A founding member of The Amethyst Review, Penny also freelanced with Truro Magazine, judged provincial and national poetry and short story competitions and edited two books of poetry. Penny is a past president of the Canadian Poetry Association. She also writes gospel songs, with four CDs to her credit (Going to Live Forever; Let the Rafters Ring; Oh, How the Angels Sang; and On that Day). Let the Rafters Ring (2006), Oh, How the Angels Sang (2006) and On that Day (2007) were nominated by Music Nova Scotia for Inspirational Recording for the Year.

Selected List of Publications

Clarity That Is Darkness: Selected & New Poems. Borealis, 2003. ISBN 0-88887-191-0.
     Click here for WFNS' description of this book.

Runaway Suite: Two Voices. Toronto, Hidden Brook Press, 1997. ISBN 0-9699598-1-8.

SEEDS. A Poetry Anthology, 12 Canadian Poets. Hidden Brook Press, 1998. ISBN 0-9699598-5-0.

Degrees of Closeness. The Canadian Poetry Association's Signature Series. Truro, NS: Marcasite Press, 2001. ISBN 0-9689145-0-0.

Productions

Glorious Morning. Performed by The Truro Heights United Baptist Choir, 1997.

Awards

Winner, Weekly Record's 1993 Christmas Short Story Contest
Shortlisted for the 1998 Acorn-Rukeyser Chapbook Award
Shortlisted for the 1998 Sandburg-Livesay Poetry Award
Editor's Choice Award for SEEDS. A Poetry Anthology, 12 Canadian Poets. 1998

You can send mail to Penny Ferguson
c/o Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia