In 1992 I won the Dorothy Shoemaker Literature Award, at that time a joint Ontario Libraries and Ministry of Culture contest for unpublished writers. I have since placed as runner-up in other fiction contests, including the national KW Record contest.

My book, Under a Living Sky, is one of five winners of the 2006 Family Friendly Book Awards in the USA. Winners "promote reading as a tool for family bonding, relaxation and individual, mental and spiritual development."

I work with special needs students and am the robotics coordinator at a local junior high school.

Some fun stuff:

• I have been a movie extra in Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, Bram Stoker's Shadowbuilder, and Murder at 1600.

• I have won a beer competition for a Munich Dunkel made completely from scratch! ("Joe had obviously paid careful attention to how he made his malts because the beer had excellent, soft mouthfeel and a rich dark malt character.")

• I play trombone with the Edmonton Concert Pops community band.

j_a_simons@hotmail.com