Lesley Choyce

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Lesley Choyce (born 21 March 1951) is a Canadian writer and publisher based in Nova Scotia. Choyce has written an extensive body of literature consisting of novels, non-fiction, children's literature, young adult novels, and poetry.

Early life and education

Lesley Willis Choyce was born on 21 March 1951 in Riverside, New Jersey, to parents George and Norma Choyce. He graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1972, followed by a Master of Arts in American literature from Montclair State College in 1974, and finally a Master of Arts in English literature from the City University of New York in 1983. Choyce's early career in the United States included roles such as rehabilitation counsellor and writing program coordinator. He moved to Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia in 1978.Template:Sfnmp

Career

After moving to Nova Scotia, Choyce founded the publishing company Pottersfield Press in 1979, primarily publishing books of regional interest to Atlantic Canada. Through Pottersfield Press, Choyce has published a large volume of literature from various authors, many of whom were first-time writers introduced by Choyce. In 1980 he released his first book of poetry, Reinventing the Wheel, followed by the short story collection Eastern Sure in 1981. He began teaching at Dalhousie University in 1981, first as an instructor and later as a professor of English.Template:Sfnmp

Pottersfield Press was substantially funded by provincial and federal arts programs, however the publisher was less affected by the changes in funding policy of the mid-1990s due to Choyce's varied sources of income; while running Pottersfield Press, he was also working as a radio and television presenter, publishing his own books through other publishers, and teaching at Dalhousie University.Template:Sfnmp While employed at Dalhousie, Choyce interacted with the Mi'kmaq communities of the province through his role teaching the Dalhousie University Transition Year Program. These interactions lead to the creation of The Mi'kmaq Anthology, which Choyce co-edited with Rita Joe.Template:Sfnmp

As a writer, Choyce is the author of over 100 books across genres, including fiction, non-fiction, children's literature, and poetry.Template:Sfnmp 40 of his books were written between 1977 and 1997.Template:Sfnmp His young adult novels, such as Skateboard Shakedown (1989), Wave Watch (1990), Roid Rage (1999), and Smoke and Mirrors (2004) often explore themes of sports, nature, and peer pressure, appealing to reluctant readers with engaging plots and an accessible vocabulary. Amongst his literature for adult readers, The Republic of Nothing (1994) stands out as one of Choyce's most well-received novels, having remained in print and being optioned for film. The novel was the winner of the Dartmouth Book Award for Fiction at the Atlantic Book Awards in 1995. Choyce's writing typically reflects his own experiences and personal interests such as surfing and environmentalism.Template:Sfnmp

Choyce hosted the national television talk show Choyce Words beginning in 1985, as well as Off The Page. He was the founding member of the 1990s spoken word rock band The SurfPoets, which produced two albums.Template:Sfnmp His books have been translated into Spanish, French, German and Danish.

Personal life

Choyce is an avid surfer,Template:Sfnmp and has been known to surf year-round, including in the wintertime.Template:Sfnmp In 2004, he participated in a demonstration protesting against the Iraq War called "Paddling for Peace" at Lawrencetown Beach, days before President George W. Bush was due to arrive in Halifax during his first official visit to Canada since he became elected.Template:Sfnmp Choyce reportedly wanted to present Bush with a customized surfboard with the words "Waves, Not War" written on it.Template:Sfnmp

Works

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Recognition

References

Citations

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Sources

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Works cited

Further reading

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  • 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: Thomson 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.
  • International Who's Who. London: Routledge, 2009.
  • 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.

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