Eric Wilson (author)

Eric Hamilton Wilson (born November 24, 1940) is a Canadian author of young adult fiction. His detective novels follow the adventures of Tom and Liz Austen, young sleuths in Canada. Wilson has taught elementary and secondary school in White Rock, British Columbia, and has a B.A. from the University of British Columbia.[2]

This article is about the author of young adult fiction. For the author of suspense fiction, see Eric Wilson (suspense writer).
Eric Wilson
Born (1940-11-24) November 24, 1940[1]
Ottawa, Ontario
OccupationAuthor and teacher
LanguageEnglish
NationalityCanadian
Alma materUniversity of British Columbia
Genreyoung adult fiction, detective fiction

In 1990, he won the Arthur Ellis Award for Lifetime Achievement from The Crime Writers of Canada.

The Tom and Liz Austen mysteries

Originally a public school teacher, Wilson's teaching experiences pushed him into writing. Frustrated by some of his slow learners rejecting books as being too boring, Wilson decided to try writing stories himself. His first short stories were popular with his students, but publishers rejected his first five manuscripts.[3]

Wilson developed a formula based on his eighth-grade students' preferences.[3] His books would be short, should always start with a dramatic opening scene, be dialogue heavy, and have abundant "cliffhanger" moments. Wilson's books have similarities to the Hardy Boys adventure series, but also attempt the reader participation of "true" mysteries, such as those by Agatha Christie.[3]

Wilson prominently features Canadian settings and their history in his novels. He also uses topical themes, such as environmentalism, child safety, and drug abuse, to allow teachers a springboard for classroom discussion. Criticism of Wilson's writing includes his use of improbable plotlines and somewhat stilted dialogue.[4]

The Tom and Liz Austen books have won several Canadian book world recognitions, including the Crime Writers of Canada Chairman's Award, and the Canadian Booksellers Association's Author of the Year Award in 1993.[2] Wilson currently lives in Victoria, British Columbia.[5]

Bibliography

Tom & Liz Austen Mysteries
  1. Murder on 'The Canadian' (ISBN 978-1551431512) - 1976
  2. Vancouver Nightmare - 1978
  3. Terror in Winnipeg - 1979
  4. The Lost Treasure of Casa Loma - 1980
  5. The Ghost of Lunenburg Manor - 1982
  6. Disneyland Hostage - 1982
  7. The Kootenay Kidnapper - 1984
  8. Vampires of Ottawa - 1984
  9. Spirit in the Rainforest - 1985
  10. The Green Gables Detective - 1988
  11. Code Red At the Supermall - 1989
  12. Cold Midnight in Old Quebec - 1989
  13. The Ice Diamond Quest - 1990
  14. The Prairie Dog Conspiracy - 1993
  15. The St. Andrews Werewolf - 1993
  16. The Case of the Golden Boy - 1994
  17. The Inuk Mountie Adventure - 1996
  18. Escape from Big Muddy - 1997
  19. The Emily Carr Mystery - 2001
  20. Red River Ransom - 2006

Other novels
  • Summer of Discovery (1984)
  • The Mask of the Raven aka The Unmasking of Ksan (1986)

References
  1. Eric Wilson Canadian Books and Authors, (retrieved 11/20/2012)
  2. Ripley, Gordon M. (1992–93). Who's Who in Canadian Literature. Teeswater, ON: Reference Press. pp. 312–13. ISBN 0-919981-26-7.
  3. Jones, Raymond E.; Jon C. Scott (2000). Canadian Children's Books : a critical guide to authors and illustrators. Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press. pp. 481–83. ISBN 0-19-541222-2.
  4. Jones, Raymond E. (Summer 1983). "Popular Books, the Responsibilities of the Reviewer, and Literary Nationalism: The Case of Eric Wilson". Children's Literature Quarterly (8): 34, 44–5.
  5. "Eric Wilson Books & Biography". HarperCollins.
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