Author. Science Communicator. Futurist.
Nemertes Research Fellow
Author.
Widely published, widely honoured, internationally best-selling author. Published six novels and inked six-figure deals with publishers like Simon and Schuster and Disney. Range takes in historical high fantasy, futuristic science fiction, far- flung adventure stories, and funny slice-of-the-absurd-life novels. Writes mostly for young audiences, and awards include that Oscar of the children’s book world, the Newbery Honor.
Science Communicator.
Trained as a particle physicist, and for decades made a living as a science writer. Worked with scientists from students to Nobelists, covering some of the most complex and groundbreaking discoveries coming out of contemporary physics. Written and ghosted countless essays, articles, and marketing pieces. Speechwriting clients have included physicist and futurist Stephen Hawking, smart phone inventor Mike Lazaridis, and US President Bill Clinton – and many more who chose to remain anonymous.
Futurist.
Believe that the stories we tell shape the world we live in – and the future we build. Done wonky policy storytelling, including Generation Energy, the Canadian Government’s project to reimagine the future of power generation and the grid. Done big public-facing events, such as running the Canada-at-150 writing contest for kids imagining Canada at 300 and opening for Margaret Atwood in her event “Technology, Feminism, and the Future.” At work on a coaching program for scientists because we need better stories about science.
Credentials
Bachelor of Science in Physics (Creighton University, 1995); Eighteen months on-site research at Los Alamos Labs and CERN; National Science Foundation Fellowship; Academic All American; One of Nebraska’s two nominees for the Rhodes Scholarship
Major science writing experience: Senior science writer for the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics (2011-2022); Sole writer for Canada’s top engineering university, The University of Waterloo (2004-2009)
Major literary awards: The Newbery Honor (2024); Schneider Family Book Honor for putting the disability experience on the page (2024); Governor General’s Award for young people’s literature (2019); Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy written for young audiences (2014 and 2016); TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award (2011)
Books include:
- Simon Sort of Says (Disney, 2023)
- The Scorpion Rules and The Swan Riders (McElderry Books at Simon and Schuster, 2015 and 2016)
- Plain Kate (Arthur A. Levine Books at Scholastic, 2010)
