Susin Nielsen
{{short description|Canadian writer}}{{Infobox author
| nationality = Canadian
| occupation = Author
| notable_works = The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen
| awards = {{plainlist}}
- Governor General's Award for English-language children's literature (2012)
- Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award (2013)
{{endplainlist}}
| website = {{URL|susinnielsen.com/}}
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1964}}
| spouse = Goran Fernlund
| children = 1
}}
Susin Nielsen (born 1964){{Cite web |title=Nielsen, Susin 1964- (Susin Nielsen-Fernlund) |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/children/scholarly-magazines/nielsen-susin-1964-susin-nielsen-fernlund |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=Encyclopedia.com |archive-date=2021-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925150809/https://www.encyclopedia.com/children/scholarly-magazines/nielsen-susin-1964-susin-nielsen-fernlund |url-status=live }} is a Canadian author for children, adolescents and young adults. She received the 2012 Governor General's Award for English-language children's literature{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=November 19, 2012 |title=Awards: Governor General's; Hilary Weston; New Mexico and Ariz. |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1874 |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=2022-10-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013185406/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1874 |url-status=live }} and the 2013 Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award{{cite web |date=15 April 2013 |title=The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen wins 2013 CLA Book of the Year for Children Award |url=http://www.bookcentre.ca/news/the_reluctant_journal_henry_k_larsen_wins_2013_cla_book_year_children_award |access-date=2015-03-07 |publisher=Canadian Children's Book Centre |archive-date=2015-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091922/http://www.bookcentre.ca/news/the_reluctant_journal_henry_k_larsen_wins_2013_cla_book_year_children_award |url-status=live }} for her young adult novel The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen, which deals with the aftermath of a school shooting.
In 2019, she received the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People.{{Cite web |title=Susin Nielsen |url=https://www.writerstrust.com/authors/susin-nielsen/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=Writers' Trust of Canada |language=en}}
Personal life
Nielsen was raised in London and Chatham-Kent, Ontario.{{Cite web |last=Berry |first=David |date=2020-12-10 |title=The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/reluctant-journal-of-henry-k-larsen |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=The Canadian Encyclopedia |archive-date=2022-12-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205202337/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/reluctant-journal-of-henry-k-larsen |url-status=live }}
Career
Nielsen began her writing career with the Degrassi franchise, writing scripts for the television shows as well as books for the series. Nielsen also played Louella Hawkins the Janitor in Degrassi Junior High. Following her work with Degrassi, Nielsen wrote for many other Canadian television series such as Heartland, What About Mimi?, and Braceface.{{cite web|url=http://www.susinnielsen.com/|title=Welcome - Susin Nielsen (Author's website)|access-date=2015-03-07|archive-date=2015-02-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228052703/http://susinnielsen.com/|url-status=live}} While working on these shows she produced three children's picture books: Hank and Fergus, Mormor Moves In, and The Magic Beads.
Her first independent novel, Word Nerd, deals with bullying, a theme she returns to in The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen. Her books often describe the effect of broken families on children.
Nielsen's 2015 book, We Are All Made of Molecules, about two step siblings trying to form a bond with each other, was shortlisted for the Governor General's Award.
Nielsen's books have been translated into Dutch, French, Portuguese, Italian, German and Polish (In the Polish language, not all of them have been translated).
Nielsen's 2021 book, Tremendous Things, was nominated for the 2022 Ontario Library Association's Red Maple Award for Fiction.
Awards and honors
In 2019, Nielsen was honored with the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People, which honors writers and illustrators whose body of work has been "inspirational to Canadian youth."{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-11-07 |title=Awards: Writers' Trust of Canada Winners |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3616 |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=2022-05-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520004454/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3616 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Hunter |first=Emma |date=2019-11-06 |title=Susin Nielsen Wins The Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People |url=https://bookcentre.ca/news/susin-nielsen-wins-vicky-metcalf-award-literature-young-people |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=Canadian Children's Book Centre |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204151758/http://bookcentre.ca/news/susin-nielsen-wins-vicky-metcalf-award-literature-young-people |url-status=live }}
Two of Nielsen's books are Junior Library Guild selections: No Fixed Address (2018){{Cite web |title=No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen |url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/book/landing/detailedview?itemcode=9781524768355J&name=No_Fixed_Address |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=Junior Library Guild}} and Tremendous Things (2021).{{Cite web |title=Tremendous Things by Susin Nielsen |url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/book/landing/detailedview?itemcode=9781524768393J&name=Tremendous_Things |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=Junior Library Guild}}
In 2015, The Globe and Mail,{{Cite web |date=2015-12-04 |title=The Globe 100: The best books of 2015 |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/the-globe-100-the-best-books-of-2015/article27607992/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA |archive-date=2023-03-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309103805/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/the-globe-100-the-best-books-of-2015/article27607992/ |url-status=live }} Kirkus Reviews,{{Cite web |title=Best of 2015 |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/best-of/2015/young-adult/books/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=Kirkus Reviews |language=en |archive-date=2022-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101223522/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/best-of/2015/young-adult/books/ |url-status=live }} Quill & Quire, and The Telegraph{{Cite news |last=Chilton |first=Martin |date=2015-07-16 |title=The best young adult books of 2015 |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/young-adult-books/best-of-2015/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=2022-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010032154/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/young-adult-books/best-of-2015/ |url-status=live }} included We Are All Made of Molecules on their list of the best young adult novels of the year.
Bibliography
= Picture books =
- The Magic Beads, illustrated by Geneviève Côté (2007)
- Princess Puffybottom . . . and Darryl , illustrated by Olivia Chin Mueller (2019)
- All Cats Welcome, illustrated by Vivian Mineker (2022)
= Middle grade and young adult books =
- Mormor Moves In (2004)
- Hank and Fergus (2005)
- Word Nerd (2008)
- Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom (2010) – also published as My Messed-Up Life
- The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen (2012)
- We Are All Made of Molecules (2015)
- Optimists Die First (2017)
- No Fixed Address (2018)
- Tremendous Things (2021)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/reluctant-journal-of-henry-k-larsen The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen on The Canadian Encyclopedia]
- [http://www.quillandquire.com/authors/susin-nielsen-the-queen-of-tragicomedy/ "Susan Nielsen: The Queen of Tragicomedy" by Cheri Hansen], Quill & Quire, March 2015
- [http://www.susinnielsen.com/ Official website]
{{Portal |Children's literature}}
{{Governor General's English children's literature|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nielsen, Susin}}
Category:Canadian women novelists
Category:Governor General's Award–winning children's writers
Category:21st-century Canadian novelists
Category:21st-century Canadian women writers
Category:Canadian women television writers
Category:Canadian television writers
Category:Canadian television producers
Category:21st-century Canadian screenwriters
Category:Canadian women television producers