Helen Humphreys

helen humphreys is the author of four books of poetry, six novels, and two works of creative non-fiction. she was born in kingston-on-thames, england, and now lives in kingston, ontario.

her first novel, leaving earth(1997), won the city of toronto book award and was a new york times notable book of the year. her second novel, afterimage (2000), won the rogers writers' trust fiction prize, was nominated for the commonwealth writers' prize, and was a new york times notable book of the year. her third novel, the lost garden (2002), was a 2003 canada reads selection, a national bestseller, and was also a new york times notable book of the year. wild dogs (2004) won the lambda prize for fiction, has been optioned for film, and was produced as a stage play at canstage in toronto in the fall of 2008. coventry (2008) was a national bestseller and was shortlisted for the trillium book award and the canadian authors association award for fiction. it was also a new york times editors� choice. the reinvention of love (2011) was longlisted for the dublin impac literary award and shortlisted for the canadian authors association award for fiction.

humphreys' work of creative non-fiction, the frozen thames (2007), was a #1 national bestseller. her collections of poetry include gods and other mortals (1986); nuns looking anxious, listening to radios (1990); and, the perils of geography (1995). her most recent collection, anthem (1999), won the canadian authors association award for poetry. her most recent work of non-fiction is nocturne (2013), a memoir about the life and death of her brother, martin.

in 2009 helen humphreys was awarded the harbourfront festival prize for literary excellence.