Wes Funk is a Canadian writer. Based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, he has published two novels and a chapbook of poetry and short stories to date, with a third novel scheduled for publication in 2012. He also hosts a weekly television series, Lit Happens, on Shaw TV's services in Saskatchewan.Funk, who is gay, was raised in a Mennonite household in rural Saskatchewan.
Several years ago, when Wes published his chapbook Humble Beginnings, no one was more surprised than him by how well-received it was. This moderate success inspired him to keep plugging away at his sort-of-memoir Dead Rock Stars.
Shortly after being released, his novel was a subject of numerous local radio and television talk shows. It was short-listed in the Readers' Choice category for the Saskatchewan Book Awards and received an Honourable Mention in Writer's Digest's International Self-Published Book Competition.
Wes' second novel Baggage, a tale of a group of Saskatoon misfits, has now also become a Saskatchewan Bestseller and a pick-of-the-month of several book clubs across Canada.
Besides being a published author, Wes has worked as a server, bartender, care-giver, janitor and a recreation therapist. He is heavily involved in Saskatchewan's Literary Community, and is an active member of the Saskatchewan Writers Guild and Saskatoon Writers Coop.
He has also been fortunate to be a recipient of the Saskatoon Public Library Writer-in-Residence Program, where he has been mentored by several widely-accomplished writers as J. Jill Robinson, Jeannette Lynes, Curtis Peeteetuce, Terry Jordan, John Barton, Anne Simpson, Alice Kuipers, and Yvette Nolan. A strong belief in diversity, a passion for rock 'n' roll, and a love for the prairie lifestyle are all strong themes in Wes' writing. His work often appears in the National Canadian publication Good Times and in the Sask magazines Perceptions, and Saskatoon Express. He has received letters and emails from all over the world, from readers who have found comfort in his books.
Wes has extensive knowledge of today's quickly-expanding self-publishing industry and feels this is where his expertise truly lies in the world of creative writing.
Besides presenting readings and signings in bookstores, libraries, schools, and other reading venues across Canada, he often conducts workshops on independent publishing. Currently, he is also the host of the Saskatchewan Shaw TV Program Lit' Happens—a weekly television who's who of the Prairie Writing World. In 2011, Wes received his greatest literary honour to date, when he was asked to emcee the Saskatoon version of the prestigious national Word-on-the-Street Book Festival. Cherry Blossoms, his most powerful novel yet, is set to be released in 2012.
Wes lives with his partner and pets in their Saskatoon riverside home.
He is always happy to visit book clubs, classrooms, libraries, bookstores, and other reading venues.
Dead Rock Stars is now in the University of Saskatchewan Curriculum.
I am happy to count Wes in as a good friend.
To find out more of Saskatchewan's celebrated authour or to purchase a copy of Dead Rock Stars or Baggage, go to Wes's page.
*Information directly from Wes Funk's web page and Wikipedia
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