Erin Bow Explained

Erin Bow
Birth Name:Erin Noteboom
Birth Place:Des Moines, Iowa, USA
Occupation:Author
Language:English
Citizenship:Dual: American and Canadian
Education:Creighton University
Alma Mater:Creighton University
Period:2001–present
Genre:Young adult, Speculative fiction, Science fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian, Historical fiction, Bildungsroman
Notableworks:Plain Kate
Spouse:James Bow
Children:2 children
Awards:

Erin Bow (née Noteboom; born April 1, 1972) is an American-born Canadian author. Among other awards and honors, she won the 2011 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award for Plain Kate, the 2014 Monica Hughes Award for Sorrow's Knot, the 2016 Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award for The Scorpion Rules, and a 2019 Governor General's Award for Stand on the Sky.

Early life and education

Erin Noteboom was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. She had one sibling, a younger sister named Wendy. As a child, she was interested in science, writing, and exploring the woods.[1] In her eighth grade year, Noteboom moved from a suburb in Des Moines to a suburb in Omaha. She then attended Mercy High School and graduated in 1990. In high school, she founded the math club and was the captain of the debate team.[2]

She graduated from Creighton University, where she studied physics as a major and writing as a minor.[2] Noteboom chose physics because she believed that it was "easier to become a self-taught writer rather than a self-taught physicist."[1]

After her undergraduate, Noteboom attended a doctoral program in particle physics in Twin Cities, Minnesota.[3] As part of her research, she worked a summer student at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) near Geneva, Switzerland. During graduate school, Noteboom was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Though doctors initially thought the tumor was fatal, it was ultimately found to be a removable glioma. This diagnosis contributed to a change of priorities for Noteboom, leading her to drop out of graduate school and return full-time to poetry.

Career

Bow wrote poetry and a memoir before focusing on writing young adult works. During this time, she worked various jobs but all related to her passion as a writer. She was the poetry editor for the New Quarterly and organised writing workshops in Kitchener, Ontario.[4] [5] She also worked as a part-time writer at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, and participated in the Vancouver Writers Fest Writer-in-Residence program at Rossland Summit School.[6]

As part of St. Jerome University's Reading Series, Bow gave a talk on the intersection between science and literature.[7]

Writing influences and themes

Bow's novels typically depict young adults in a science fiction and fantasy setting.[8] She has written a defense of young adult fantasy, arguing that fantasy books help young adults to fall in love with reading. Bow also likes to write about unsolvable questions.

She takes inspiration from places, such as the prairies she grew up on, Saskatchewan, and the Black Hills in South Dakota. Bow also draws influence from Lakota and Russian folklore.[9] Bow's characters rarely have a default race or sexual orientation. Her themes generally cover the concepts of acting on faith,[10] doing what is right, and being human.[11] [12] [13]

Awards and honors

Four of Bow's books are Junior Library Guild selections: Plain Kate (2010),[14] The Scorpion Rules (2015),[15] Stand on the Sky (2019),[16] and Simon Sort of Says (2023).[17]

Bow's works have landed on multiple "best-of" lists. In 2010, Kirkus Reviews named Plain Kate one of the best books of the year.[18] Young Adult Library Services Association included it on their 2011 list of Best Fiction for Young Adults.[19] [20] In 2013, Kirkus Reviews and Quill & Quire named Sorrow's Know one of the best books of the year.[21] [22] In 2015, Chapters and Kirkus Reviews named The Scorpion Rules one of the best books of the year.[23] [24] In 2023, Kirkus Reviews named Simon Sort of Says one of the best middle grade books of the year.[25]

Awards for Bow's writing!Year!Title!Award!Result!
2001Ghost Maps: Poems for Carl HruskaCBC Canadian Literary Award[26]
2003Kitchener Waterloo Arts Award – Literary Award[27]
2004Acorn-Plantos Award for Peoples Poetry, Ontario Poetry Society[28] [29]
Pat Lowther Memorial Award
2010Plain KateCybils Award for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction[30]
2011Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award[31]
CBC Reader's Choice Award
Sunburst Award for Young Adult Work[32]
TD Canadian Children's Literature Award for English Language[33] [34] [35]
2014Sorrow's Knot CBC Reader's Choice Award[36]
Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy[37]
Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award[38] [39]
Sunburst Award for Young Adult Work[40]
2016Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Young Adults Award[41]
2017Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award[42]
2019Stand on the SkyGovernor General's Award for English-language children's literature[43]
2023Simon Sort of SaysNational Book Award for Young People's Literature[44]
Newbery Medal[45]
Schneider Family Book Award for Middle-Grade[46]

Personal life

In 1997, Noteboom moved to Canada. There, she married fellow author and Canadian James Bow.

In 2005, her younger sister, a painter named Wendy Ewell, drowned.

Bow lives with her husband, two children, and two pets in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.[47] She writes in a modified backyard shed[48] [49] and enjoys cooking.[50]

Works

Fiction

Standalone novels

Prisoners of Peace series

Prisoners of Peace is a book series set in a future dystopia on the prairies of Saskatchewan.[57] Children of rulers are hostages to be killed if their country goes to war. The hostages are kept together in a school and must obey the governing AIs who manage it.

Short fiction

Collaborating with her husband James Bow, Erin Bow published a short piece of fiction titled "A Stone of the Heart" in 2001. "A Stone of the Heart" was published in Missing Pieces (2001), a collection of Doctor Who stories.

Poetry

Under her maiden name Erin Noteboom, Bow published two volumes of poetry:

Her poetry was also published in other collections, including The Malahat Review, PRISM International, Prairie Fire, and online in Rattle.[60]

Memoir

Other

In 2013, Bow wrote A Defense of Fantasy: Classical Literature v. Modern YA (2013) for YA Interrobang.[61] She also published short essays for the Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sing . Stewart Ah . Author Interview with author, editor, and poet Erin Bow . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160901114046/http://www.scribophile.com/blog/author-interview-with-author-editor-and-poet-erin-bow/ . September 1, 2016 . October 18, 2016 . Scribophile .
  2. Web site: Grace . Erin . October 16, 2015 . Grace: Forget the false choices, writer and Omaha Mercy alumna says, and do it all . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405101243/https://omaha.com/columnists/grace-forget-the-false-choices-writer-and-omaha-mercy-alumna/article_ccf2f330-294c-5988-8af5-6d95ad42f8d8.html . April 5, 2023 . October 21, 2016 . .
  3. Web site: Jones . Michael M. . August 25, 2015 . Q & A with Erin Bow . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161020011451/http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/67891-q-a-with-erin-bow.html . October 20, 2016 . October 18, 2016 . Publishers Weekly.
  4. Web site: Erin Noteboom . Wolsak and Wynn . 28 May 2007 . October 18, 2016 . September 10, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160910102613/http://wolsakandwynn.ca/authors/42 . live .
  5. Web site: About the Author Erin Noteboom . October 21, 2016 . All Lit Up.
  6. Web site: Novak . Chelsea . October 27, 2016 . Award-winning YA author is writer-in-residence at Rossland Summit School . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161029111732/http://www.rosslandnews.com/community/398884631.html?mobile=true . October 29, 2016 . October 28, 2016 . Rossland News .
  7. Web site: 20 July 2011 . Erin Noteboom Bow: Physicist, Poet. . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022101702/https://quarc.wordpress.com/read/erin-bow-video/ . 22 October 2016 . October 21, 2016 . The Quarc Issue.
  8. Web site: Posesorski . Sherie . January 14, 2011 . Curses in the Air . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181221182753/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/books/review/Posesorksi-t.html?_r=0 . December 21, 2018 . October 21, 2016 . The New York Times.
  9. Web site: Di Gregorio . Vanessa . September 19, 2010 . Plain Kate / Erin Bow Blog Tour: Interview and Plain Kate Giveaway! . October 21, 2016 . Let The Words Flow . July 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240715034707/https://letthewordsflow.wordpress.com/2010/09/19/erin-bow-blog-tour-interview-and-plain-kate-giveaway/ . live .
  10. Fawcett . Christina . 2015 . Speculative Fiction and Faith . live . Jeunesse: Young People, Texts, Cultures . 7 . 2 . 194–205 . 10.1353/jeu.2015.0016 . 163062853 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022162039/https://muse.jhu.edu/article/610721/pdf . October 22, 2016 . October 21, 2016.
  11. Web site: Into the Future with Erin Bow . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022094309/http://writersfest.bc.ca/2016/events/43-future-erin-bow . October 22, 2016 . October 21, 2016 . The Vancouver Writer's Fest.
  12. Spisak . April . December 2015 . The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow (review) . live . . 69 . 4 . 185 . 10.1353/bcc.2015.0913 . 201768235 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022162303/https://muse.jhu.edu/article/601112/summary . October 22, 2016 . October 21, 2016.
  13. Web site: April 15, 2016 . THE SCORPION RULES WINS CLA'S 2016 BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR YOUNG ADULT AWARD . October 21, 2016 . Canadian Library Association.
  14. Web site: Plain Kate . 2024-07-15 . Junior Library Guild . en . 2024-07-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240715034731/https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/plain-kate-9780545166645j . live .
  15. Web site: The Scorpion Rules . 2024-07-15 . Junior Library Guild . en . 2024-07-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240715034710/https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/the-scorpion-rules-9781481442718j . live .
  16. Web site: Stand on the Sky . 2024-07-15 . . en.
  17. Web site: Simon Sort of Says . 2024-07-15 . . en . 2024-07-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240715034711/https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/simon-sort-of-says-9781368082853j . live .
  18. Web site: Plain Kate . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161019080140/http://www.erinbow.com/plain-kate . October 19, 2016 . October 18, 2016 . Erin Bow.
  19. Web site: 2011 Best Fiction for Young Adults . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170327171424/http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawards/booklists/bestficya/bfya2011 . March 27, 2017 . October 21, 2016 . .
  20. Web site: 2011-02-15 . Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2011 . 2024-07-15 . . 2022-01-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129072813/https://www.booklistonline.com/Best-Fiction-for-Young-Adults/pid=4654033 . live .
  21. Web site: Best Teen Books of 2013 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022025323/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/issue/best-of-2013/section/teen/ . October 22, 2016 . October 21, 2016 . Kirkus Reviews.
  22. Web site: December 5, 2013 . Quill & Quire's Books of the Year 2013 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022022506/http://bookcentre.ca/quill_quires_books_year_2013/ . October 22, 2016 . October 21, 2016 . Canadian Children's Book Centre.
  23. Web site: Indigo's Best Books of 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022085319/https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/best-of-2015 . October 22, 2016 . October 21, 2016 . Indigo.
  24. Web site: Best Teen Science Fiction & Fantasy of 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160910214104/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/lists/best-teen-science-fiction-fantasy-2015/ . September 10, 2016 . October 24, 2016 . .
  25. Web site: Best of 2023 . 2024-07-15 . . en . 2024-06-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240630062618/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/best-of/2023/middle-grade/books/ . live .
  26. Web site: Winners and Jurors 2001 – 2010. . October 21, 2016 . CBC Radio-Canada.
  27. Web site: Previous Arts Awards Recipients . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190115192808/http://www.artsawardswaterlooregion.ca/previous-arts-awards-recipients/ . January 15, 2019 . October 21, 2016 . artsawards waterloo region.
  28. Web site: The Acorn-Plantos Award for Peoples Poetry . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181007102212/http://www.theontariopoetrysociety.ca/contest_Acorn%20Plantos.htm . October 7, 2018 . October 21, 2016 . The Ontario Poetry Society.
  29. Web site: 12 March 2010 . Acorn-Plantos Award . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022085402/http://www.geist.com/blogs/daniel/acorn-plantos-award/ . 22 October 2016 . October 21, 2016 . Geist.
  30. Web site: 31 December 2010 . 2010 Finalists: Fantasy & Science Fiction (Young Adult) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160816221359/http://www.cybils.com/2010/12/2010-finalists-fantasy-science-fiction-young-adult.html . August 16, 2016 . October 16, 2016 . Cybils Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards.
  31. Web site: March 1, 2011 . Shortlists for the 2011 CLA Book Awards Announced . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022022700/http://bookcentre.ca/shortlists_2011_cla_book_awards_announced/ . October 22, 2016 . October 21, 2016 . The Canadian Children's Book Centre.
  32. Web site: 2011 Shortlists . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022024334/http://www.sunburstaward.org/node/79 . October 22, 2016 . October 21, 2016 . The Sunburst Award Society.
  33. Web site: October 5, 2011 . Plain Kate wins $25K children's book award . October 24, 2016 . . July 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240715034738/https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/plain-kate-wins-25k-children-s-book-award-1.1000448 . live .
  34. Web site: Baker . Deirdre . October 4, 2011 . Plain Kate a beauty of a book . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161025045133/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2011/10/04/plain_kate_a_beauty_of_a_book.html . October 25, 2016 . October 24, 2016 . .
  35. Web site: October 5, 2011 . CCBC Announces the Winners of the 2011 Canadian Children's Literature Awards . October 21, 2016 . The Canadian Children's Book Centre . July 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240715034713/https://bookcentre.ca/ccbc_announces_winners_2011_canadian_childrens_literature_awards/ . live .
  36. Web site: Sorrow's Knot . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161019143156/http://www.erinbow.com/sorrowsknot . October 19, 2016 . October 18, 2016 . Erin Bow.
  37. Web site: Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022023001/http://bookcentre.ca/programs/awards/monica-hughes-award-for-science-fiction-and-fantasy/ . October 22, 2016 . October 21, 2016 . Canadian Children's Book Centre.
  38. Web site: Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161118224132/http://ontarioartsfoundation.on.ca/pages/ruth-sylvia-schwartz-awards . 2016-11-18 . 2016-11-18 . Ontario Arts Foundation.
  39. Web site: April 16, 2014 . Shortlist for 2014 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Awards Announced . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160628162923/http://www.arts.on.ca/Page5438.aspx . June 28, 2016 . October 21, 2016 . Ontario Arts Council.
  40. Web site: 2014 Shortlists . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022025032/http://www.sunburstaward.org/node/86 . October 22, 2016 . October 21, 2016 . The Sunburst Award Society.
  41. Web site: April 15, 2016 . Kenneth Oppel, Erin Bow and Sydney Smith win Canadian Library Association literary awards . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161013223416/http://www.cbc.ca/books/2016/04/kenneth-oppel-erin-bow-and-sydney-smith-win-canadian-library-association-literary-awards.html . October 13, 2016 . October 21, 2016 . CBC Books.
  42. Web site: 2017 MYRCA Nominees . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022085533/http://www.myrca.ca/2017-myrca-nominees/ . October 22, 2016 . October 21, 2016 . Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Awards.
  43. Web site: van Koeverden . Jane . October 29, 2019 . Here are the winners of the 2019 Governor General's Literary Awards . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20191029142321/https://www.cbc.ca/books/here-are-the-winners-of-the-2019-governor-general-s-literary-awards-1.5335565 . October 29, 2019 . July 15, 2024 . CBC Books.
  44. Web site: Kantor . Emma . 2023-09-13 . 2023 NBA Longlist for Young People's Literature Announced . 2024-07-15 . . en . 2024-05-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515120614/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/93167-2023-nba-longlist-for-young-people-s-literature-announced.html . live .
  45. Web site: Roback . Diane . Kantor . Emma . Jones . Iyana . Eggers, Harrison, King Win 2024 Newbery, Caldecott, Printz Awards . 2024-01-24 . . en . 2024-03-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330091657/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/94147-eggers-harrison-king-win-2024-newbery-caldecott-printz-awards.html . live .
  46. Web site: 2024-02-02 . Kitchener author Erin Bow wins major American children's literature award . 2024-07-15 . CBC Books.
  47. Web site: Samson . Natalie . October 2010 . Erin Bow Coming through shadow . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022092954/http://www.quillandquire.com/authors/coming-through-shadow/ . October 22, 2016 . October 21, 2016 . Quill & Quire.
  48. Web site: Hicks . Jeff . April 24, 2016 . Kitchener sci-fi author Erin Bow finds her muse in backyard shed . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160530023543/http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6512094-kitchener-sci-fi-author-erin-bow-finds-her-muse-in-backyard-shed/ . May 30, 2016 . October 21, 2016 . The Record .
  49. Web site: October 1, 2016 . Erin Bow may be writing in a garden shed right now . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161013224304/http://www.cbc.ca/books/2015/10/magic-8-erin-bow.html . October 13, 2016 . October 21, 2016 . CBC Books.
  50. Web site: Bio . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161019143405/http://www.erinbow.com/about . October 19, 2016 . October 18, 2016 . Erin Bow.
  51. Web site: August 16, 2010 . Plain Kate . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161025110457/http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-545-16664-5 . October 25, 2016 . October 24, 2016 . .
  52. Web site: Craig . Amanda . March 19, 2011 . Bracelet of Bones by Kevin Crossley-Holland, Wood Angel by Erin Bow . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161025044710/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/books/childrensbooks/article2949742.ece . October 25, 2016 . October 24, 2016 . The Times.
  53. Web site: Hogan . Phil . April 2, 2011 . Fiction for older children – reviews . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161025061639/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/apr/03/alex-rider-wood-angel-teen-fiction . October 25, 2016 . October 24, 2016 . The Guardian.
  54. Quealy-Gainer . Kate . December 2013 . Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow (review) . live . . 67 . 4 . 203–204 . 10.1353/bcc.2013.0892 . 142439297 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022163232/https://muse.jhu.edu/article/526169/summary . October 22, 2016 . October 21, 2016.
  55. Web site: 2019-01-24 . Stand on the Sky by Erin Bow . 2024-07-15 . . 2024-07-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240715035218/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781328557469 . live .
  56. Web site: 2023-01-26 . Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow . 2024-07-15 . . 2023-12-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231226163040/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781368082853 . live .
  57. Web site: September 22, 2016 . Author envisions dystopia with Saskatchewan as the setting . October 21, 2016 . . July 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240715035220/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/author-erin-bow-saskatchewan-1.3773299 . live .
  58. News: Ozirny . Shannon . November 30, 2015 . Review: The Scorpion Rules is the craziest and best book you'll read all year . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405101338/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/incoming/review-the-scorpion-rules-is-the-craziest-and-best-book-youll-read-all-year/article27525735/ . April 5, 2023 . October 24, 2016 . .
  59. Web site: Roy . Leila . August 24, 2015 . Keeping the Peace . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161025060335/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/keeping-peace/#continue_reading_post . October 25, 2016 . October 24, 2016 . .
  60. Web site: "Curie in Love" by Erin Noteboom. October 27, 2015. Rattle. Rattle #49, Fall 2015. October 21, 2016. October 22, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161022095514/http://www.rattle.com/curie-in-love-by-erin-noteboom/. live.
  61. Web site: A defense of fantasy: classical literature v. modern YA . Bow . Erin . October 27, 2013 . YA Interrobang . October 21, 2016 . October 22, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022152134/http://www.yainterrobang.com/a-defense-of-fantasy-classical-literature-v-modern-day-ya/ . live .

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