Philip Roy writes children’s books and Middle Reader novels of adventure and historical fiction; his books invite readers of all ages to consider the variety, vastness, and fascination of the world around us. Philip is especially committed to writing works of fiction that are devoted to social, global and environmental issues. Visiting schools is Philip’s favourite part of being a writer.
Philip studied Music and History before choosing a career in writing. Born by the sea in Nova Scotia, Philip has travelled extensively for research on his award-winning Submarine Outlaw/Un rebelle en sous-marin adventure series. Philip has also penned two historical novels including Me & Mr. Bell, (nominated for the Silver Birch, Geoffrey Bilson, Hackmatack and CLA awards), as well as Blood Brothers in Louisbourg, (long-listed for First Nations Communities Read.) Kirkus Reviews has called Philip’s 2017 Middle Reader, The Kingdom of No Worries, “a parable for our time.”
A prolific creator of children’s picture books, Philip’s has written 30 stories for the Happy the Pocket Mouse/Youpi series, 5 of which have been published, (illustrated by Andrea Torrey Balsara and Lisa Ferguson, respectively): Mouse Tales/Les contes de Youpi, Jellybean Mouse/Youpi et ses bonbons, Mouse Pet/Un ami pour Youpi, Mouse Vacation/Youpi en vacances and Halloween Mouse.
Philip and his family, (including their all-white cat, Ollie, named after Dickens’ Oliver in Oliver Twist), live in Brockville, Ontario, where Philip continues to write novels and compose music.
Awards and Nominations:
Selected for the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Best Books for Kids and Teens 2008, 2010-2018
Red Cedar Book Award Nominee 2017
Silver Birch Award in the Forest of Reading Nominee (OLA) 2015
Moonbeam Silver Medal for Young Adult Fiction 2015
Communication-Jeunesse Nominee 2014-2015
Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award Nominee 2014
Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People Nominee (CCBC/TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards) 2014
Short-listed: Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014-2015
Long-listed: First Nation Communities Read 2013-2014
Resource Links: “The Year’s Best 2013 and 2014.”
Runner-Up: New England Book Festival 2012
Runner-Up: Green Book Festival (San Francisco) 2012
Red Maple Award in the Forest of Reading Nominee (OLA) 2010
Short-listed: Rocky Mountain Book Award 2010
Silver Medal: ForeWord’s Best Book of the Year Award 2009
Langley Book of the Year Award Nominee 2009
Short-listed: Ann Connor Brimer Award 2009
Short-listed: Diamond Willow Award 2009
First Prize: Atlantic Writing Competition 2007
Literary Festivals and More:
Festival of Trees (Toronto, Ontario)
Word on the Street (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Telling Tales Festival (Rockton, Ontario)
The Eden Mills Writers’ Festival (Eden Mills, Ontario)
Hackmatack Awards Ceremony (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
The Frye Festival (Greater Moncton, New Brunswick)
The Page Turner Project (CBC Radio and Cape Breton University Press)
Lit Live Reading Series (Hamilton, Ontario)
Read by the Sea (River John, Nova Scotia)
Visits to schools and libraries throughout Canada
Affiliations:
Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC)
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP)
To contact Philip’s publicist, e-mail Leila Merl at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or call 613-499-9485.