Wesley King
{{Short description|Canadian author}}
{{Infobox writer
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| notable_works = The Wizenard Series with Kobe Bryant, OCDaniel, The Vindico Series
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| citizenship = Canadian
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| name = Wesley King
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| birth_name = Wesley Thomas King
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}}Wesley King is a Canadian author of young adult fiction books.{{Cite web|title="Wesley King" Book Results on Simon & Schuster|url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/search/books/_/N-/Ntt-Wesley+King|access-date=2020-08-03|website=www.simonandschuster.com}} Both his novels with Kobe Bryant debuted at #1 on The New York Times Best Seller list.{{Cite web|last1=Haring|first1=Bruce|date=2020-04-09|title=Kobe Bryant Book For Children And Young Adults Hits No. 1 On NY Times Bestseller List|url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/kobe-bryant-book-for-children-young-adults-hits-no-1-on-ny-times-bestseller-list-1202904300/|access-date=2020-08-03|website=Deadline|language=en}} He currently resides in Lake Echo, Nova Scotia.
Biography
King was born in Ajax, Ontario and graduated with a journalism degree from Carleton University. He began working on his first novel soon after, The Vindico, and has written 13 novels as of 2022.
In 2016, King was approached by Kobe Bryant to collaborate on a new children series. The first installment, Training Camp, was released in 2019 and debuted as a #1 New York Times bestseller.{{Cite news|title=Children's Middle Grade Hardcover Books - Best Sellers - April 7, 2019 - The New York Times|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2019/04/07/childrens-middle-grade-hardcover/|access-date=August 3, 2020|issn=0362-4331}} The second installment, Season One, was released in March 2020 after Bryant's death and also became a #1 New York Times bestseller.{{Cite web|first=Elizabeth|last=Leonard|title=Kobe Bryant 'Was Focused on Changing Kids' Lives,' Says Friend and Collaborator Wesley King|url=https://people.com/sports/kobe-bryant-was-focused-on-changing-kids-lives-says-friend-and-collaborator-wesley-king/|access-date=August 3, 2020|website=People|language=EN}}
King publicly discusses his struggle with mental health, specifically surrounding obsessive–compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. He wrote the bestselling novel OCDaniel in 2016 which described his experiences growing up and won an Edgar Award.{{Cite web|date=May 1, 2017|title=Wesley King wins Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award|url=https://quillandquire.com/awards/2017/05/01/wesley-king-wins-mystery-writers-of-america-edgar-award/|access-date=August 3, 2020|website=Quill and Quire}} He published a prequel to the series in 2020.{{cite web|title=Bestselling author pens moving story about understanding and accepting mental illness|url=http://www.ctv.ca/Your-Morning/Video/Bestselling-Canadian-author-pens-moving-story-about-understanding-and-accepting-mental-illness-vid1982686|language=en|access-date=2020-08-03}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
Published works
- Butt Sandwich & Tree (Paula Wiseman Books, 2022)
- Hello (from here) (Dial Books, 2021)
- Sara and the Search for Normal (Paula Wiseman Books, 2020)
- The Wizenard Series: Season One (Granity Studios, 2020)
- The Wizenard Series: Training Camp (Granity Studios, 2019)
- A World Below (Paula Wiseman Books, 2018)
- Laura Monster Crusher (Penguin Canada, 2017)
- Enemy of the Realm (Razorbill, 2017)
- OCDaniel (Paula Wiseman Books, 2016)
- Dragons vs. Drones (Razorbill, 2016)
- The Incredible Space Raiders (from Space!) (Paula Wiseman Books, 2015)
- The Feros (G.P Putnam's Sons, 2014)
- The Vindico (G.P Putnam's Sons, 2014)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.wesleykingauthor.com}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:King, Wesley}}
Category:Canadian writers of young adult literature
Category:Canadian children's writers
Category:People from Ajax, Ontario
Category:People with obsessive–compulsive disorder
Category:Carleton University alumni
Category:21st-century Canadian male writers
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)