Julie E. Czerneda
(photo by Roger Czerneda)
Julie Czerneda is a Canadian science fiction writer whose first novel, A Thousand Words for Stranger, was published in 1997 by DAW Books. Her second novel, Beholder's Eye, was published by DAW in October 1998, with the sequel to A Thousand Words for Stranger, Ties of Power, coming October 1999. DAW has purchased two more science fiction novels as well.
Formerly a researcher in animal communication, Julie has also written non-fiction, from biology
texts to the use of science fiction to develop literacy. She currently lives at the edge of a forest
with her family, enjoying rocketry and canoeing whenever there's time. Julie attributes her love
of writing to the advice of her mother. "When I didn't like the ending of a book, Mom gave me a
typewriter and suggested I write my own. I never stopped."
A firm believer in the ability of science fiction to stretch the imagination and creativity of
readers, Julie is also the author of the just-published teacher resource: No Limits: Developing
Scientific Literacy Using Science Fiction, from Trifolium Books Inc., Toronto. (Check it out at:
http://www.czerneda.com/nolimits.htm)This book is
based on her series of workshops with students and teachers, and is accompanied by a Y/A
anthology, Packing Fraction and Other Tales of Science & Imagination. Both books are
illustrated by Larry Stewart and contain original SF stories by Charles Sheffield, Jan Stirling,
Josepha Sherman, and Robert J. Sawyer, as well as speculative poetry by Carolyn Clink.
Coming in 2000: Tales from the Wonder Zone, a series of original sf anthologies for younger
readers and for use in elementary schools.
Julie grew up on airforce bases, her family moving with each transfer from Ontario to Prince
Edward Island and finally to Nova Scotia. When her father retired, the family moved to Ontario,
settling in what was a rural setting near the shores of Lake Ontario and is now Mississauga. A
thorough gypsy, Julie pursued her interest in biology at the Universities of Waterloo, Saskatoon,
and Queen's (Kingston) accompanied by her former chemistry partner and now husband Roger.
Pausing briefly in St. Jacobs to give birth to their children Jennifer and Scott, Julie and Roger
moved a few more times before landing in Orillia, Ontario. Since most of her books are now out
of their boxes and on shelves, the family is hopeful Julie will stay put for a while. Anything's
possible.
Why does Julie enjoy writing about aliens? "As a biologist, the twists and tricks of living things
always fascinate me. We live in a world of hang-gliding spiders, forests consisting of a single
tree, and fish that sing. I can't imagine a universe that didn't contain different forms of life."
What's ahead? Next will be the sequel to Beholder's Eye, Changing Vision, then a standalone
sf on a contaminated terraforming project called In the Company of Others. What lies further
ahead? There may be a prequel and another sequel if readers prove interested in more about the
Trade Pact Universe. Also in the works are a pair of novels looking at the darker side of
evolution, The Biodiversity Wars. And, in the meantime, summer is making tired sounds and the
garden is talking about fall cleanup. Must be almost time for hockey!
Books:
Trade Pact Universe:
A Thousand Words For Stranger
Ties of Power
To Trade the Stars (6/2002)
Webshifters:
Beholder's Eye
Changing Vision
Hidden in Sight
In the Company of Others
Author's Homepage:
http://www.czerneda.com
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