Iain
Lawrence
Iain Lawrence was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and grew up in Toronto, Calgary, and on the West Coast. He studied journalism in Vancouver and worked for 10 years at the Prince Rupert Daily News in northern B.C., eventually becoming editor. He has worked at many odd jobs, including fish farm worker and travel writer. Lawrence is the author of many acclaimed novels, including Ghost Boy, Lord of the Nutcracker Men, and the High Seas Trilogy of The Wreckers, The Smugglers, and The Buccaneers. In 2007 he received a Governor General’s Literary Award for Gemini Summer. Lawrence now lives on Gabriola Island, British Columbia.
Award History
Jury Citation
“In his extensive array of novels for the young, Iain Lawrence ranges from the realms of early 19th century seafarers to a remote, 20th century lighthouse off B.C.’s north coast; from Cold War rural America to a southern English village at the height of World War I. Lawrence builds on the traditions of Treasure Island and other boys’ adventures in many of his stories, but his convincing evocation of period, setting and character make these as much studies of human nature as they are tales of excitement, suspense, fear, and sometimes, sorrow. He is well able to sustain both a rousing pitch of action and complex, reflective male protagonists.”
— 2011 Vicky Metcalf Award Jury (Deiredre Baker, Ron Jobe, and Julie Johnston)
