Beth Powning

Beth Powning is the author of four novels, The Sister’s Tale, A Measure of Light, The Sea Captain’s Wife, and The Hatbox Letters, and three works of literary non-fiction, Edge Seasons, Shadow Child and Home: Chronicle of a North Country Life. Her works have been published in both Canada and the U.S. 

Three of her novels were long-listed for the Dublin International Literary Award. She has won the N.B Award for Literary Fiction twice, and been shortlisted for the Thomas Raddall Book Award, the Words Worthy Award, and the Edna Staebler Award. Her books have been on the Globe and Mail and Maclean’s Bestseller’s Lists, as well as earning Globe and Mail Best Book titles.

Her articles and essays have been widely anthologized, as well as appearing in magazines including Chatelaine, Branta Literary Journal, The Toronto Star, Canadian Home and Country, and Harrowsmith.

A photographer, she has photographed four books, “Roses for Northern Gardens,” “Hardy Trees and Shrubs,” “Roses for High Latitudes and Cold Climates,” and “Hardy Apples.”

She has appeared at literary festivals and given readings across Canada, in the USA, and in England and Ireland, including the West Cork Literary Festival, The Vancouver International Readers and Writers Festival, The Frye Festival, The Ottawa Writer’s Festival and the Blenheim Castle Literary Festival.

She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Sarah Lawrence College (1972) with a major in creative writing. She holds an Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree from the University of New Brunswick (2013), an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Mount Allison University (2022), as well as the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for High Achievement in English Literary Arts (2010.) 

She has just finished the 4th draft of a new novel, working title “The Women of Creek Road”, the third novel in a trilogy.

She lives in rural New Brunswick with her husband, artist Peter Powning.