Beth Powning is a Canadian writer and photographer. Born in 1949 in Putnam, Connecticut, and raised in a Quaker family, Powning moved to Canada in the early 1970s.[1] She is best known for her novels, which explore themes of nature, history, and personal resilience. Powning’s work often reflects her connection to the natural world, drawing on her experiences living in rural New Brunswick.[2][3]
Beth Powning | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 15, 1949 Putnam, Connecticut, United States |
| Occupation | Writer, photographer |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Notable works | The Sister's Tale, A Measure of Light, The Sea Captain's Wife |
| Notable awards |
|
| Spouse | Peter Powning |
| Children | Jake Powning |
| Website | |
| powning | |
Powning’s published works include The Sister’s Tale (2021), a novel about three women confronting their pasts; A Measure of Light (2015), a historical novel set in 17th-century New England; and The Sea Captain’s Wife (2010), which explores the life of a woman navigating love and duty in the 19th century. Her earlier works, such as The Hatbox Letters (2004), delve into themes of memory and loss. She has also written Edge Seasons (2005), a memoir of personal transformation, and Shadow Child (1999), a meditation on grief and healing.[1][4][5]
In addition to fiction, Powning has contributed to non-fiction with Home: Chronicle of a North Country Life (1996), originally published as Seeds of Another Summer, which blends photography and essays.[6] Her work as a photographer is also showcased in several gardening books, including Hardy Apples (2022)[7] and Roses for Canadian Gardens (1991).[8]
In addition to her novels, Powning has published non-fiction works and contributed to various literary anthologies. She has received several awards and nominations for her writing, including New Brunswick’s Lieutenant Governor’s Award for High Achievement in English Language Literary Arts.[9][10][11] She has also received honorary doctorates from the University of New Brunswick (2014)[12] and Mount Allison University (2020).[13] Powning continues to live and work in New Brunswick, where she writes and collaborates with her husband, the sculptor and artist Peter Powning.[14]
References
edit- ^ a b "Beth Powning". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ "A Measure of Light is a dark, shatteringly exquisite book". The Globe and Mail. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ "Beth Powning | NBLE". nble.lib.unb.ca. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ Waldman, Deborah J. (Oct 9, 2024). "Shadow Child: An Apprenticeship in Love and Loss". Quill & Quire. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
- ^ "Beth Powning among this year's New Brunswick Book Award winners". CBC Books. Jun 14, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
- ^ "Home". Goose Lane Editions. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ Osborne, Robert A. (2022). Hardy apples: growing apples in cold climates. Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books. ISBN 978-0-2281-0318-9.
- ^ Osborne, Robert A. (2022). Hardy apples: growing apples in cold climates. Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books. ISBN 978-0-2281-0318-9.
- ^ "Powning, Beth 1949– | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ "Beth Powning | Penguin Random House Canada". www.penguinrandomhouse.ca. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ "Past Laureates". ArtsNB. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ "UNB to grant three honorary degrees one professor emeritus and two Allan P Stuart Teaching Awards". blogs.unb.ca. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ "Mount Allison announces 2020 Honorary Degree Recipients | Mount Allison". mta.ca. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ Sweet, Jennifer (February 14, 2021). "Writer Beth Powning and artist Peter Powning discuss their 'lifetime of being in sync'". CBC News. Retrieved October 9, 2024.