Susan Juby
Encyclopedia
Susan Juby is a Canadian novelist who works in several genres but is most widely recognized for her work in humorous young adult fiction.
and moved with her family to Smithers, British Columbia
when she was six years old. Juby was raised in Smithers
until she moved to Toronto, Ontario when she was 20 years old. There, she spent a short time as a fashion design student. Her career as a student of fashion was short lived because "[she'd] spent every penny...and had to leave school because [she] couldn't pay [her] tuition". Juby's alcoholism which began as a teenager and continued through this period contributed significantly to her difficulties.
She describes that drinking “drowned all the fear and anxiety”. Juby struggled to overcome her alcoholism and after a series of low paying jobs, ultimately returned to school where she pursued a degree in English Literature at the University of Toronto
, which she completed at the University of British Columbia
five years later.
After graduation, Juby began work at a publishing company, Hartley & Marks Publishers
, in Vancouver
. She started as an intern and worked her way up to a position as managing editor.
Juby began writing her first novel during her daily public transit commute. The resulting novel, Alice, I Think, was published in 2000 by Thistledown
, a small Canadian press. Juby recounts that she “wrote the book for [her] 50-year-old godfather”, and felt taken aback to discover that her work was identified by her publisher as a young adult novel. Alice, I Think was nominated for the Books in Canada First Novel Award
in its year of publication. Shortly thereafter, Juby left Hartley & Marks Publishers
to study at Simon Fraser University
where she entered the Master of Publishing program.
Juby now writes full time, and lives in Nanaimo, British Columbia
with her husband James and her dog Frank.
Biography
Juby was born in Ponoka, AlbertaPonoka, Alberta
Ponoka is a town in the province of Alberta, Canada. It is situated in the south/central parkland region of rolling hills. Industries are agriculture , and oil and gas production...
and moved with her family to Smithers, British Columbia
Smithers, British Columbia
Smithers is a town located in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, approximately halfway between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Smithers is located in the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako....
when she was six years old. Juby was raised in Smithers
Smithers
Smithers may refer to:* Smithers , a surname* Smithers, British Columbia, a town in Canada** Smithers Airport, a public airport** Smithers Secondary School** Smithers railway station* Smithers, West Virginia, a city in the United States...
until she moved to Toronto, Ontario when she was 20 years old. There, she spent a short time as a fashion design student. Her career as a student of fashion was short lived because "[she'd] spent every penny...and had to leave school because [she] couldn't pay [her] tuition". Juby's alcoholism which began as a teenager and continued through this period contributed significantly to her difficulties.
She describes that drinking “drowned all the fear and anxiety”. Juby struggled to overcome her alcoholism and after a series of low paying jobs, ultimately returned to school where she pursued a degree in English Literature at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, which she completed at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
five years later.
After graduation, Juby began work at a publishing company, Hartley & Marks Publishers
Hartley & Marks Publishers
Hartley & Marks Publishers is a Vancouver, British Columbia-based publishing company that began as a publisher of books on a diverse range of esoteric subjects. Many of the company's early books concerned health and medicine and an interest in Eastern culture...
, in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. She started as an intern and worked her way up to a position as managing editor.
Juby began writing her first novel during her daily public transit commute. The resulting novel, Alice, I Think, was published in 2000 by Thistledown
Thistledown
Thistledown is:* The soft feathery material which protects the fruiting part of a thistle.* Thistledown, a 1938 British musical film* One of the servers in which the Massively Multi-player Online Role Playing Game Asheron's Call takes place, with characters you create, set in the fictional land of...
, a small Canadian press. Juby recounts that she “wrote the book for [her] 50-year-old godfather”, and felt taken aback to discover that her work was identified by her publisher as a young adult novel. Alice, I Think was nominated for the Books in Canada First Novel Award
Books in Canada First Novel Award
The Amazon.ca First Novel Award, formerly the Books in Canada First Novel Award, is a literary award given annually to the best first novel in English published the previous year by a citizen or resident of Canada. It has been awarded since 1976....
in its year of publication. Shortly thereafter, Juby left Hartley & Marks Publishers
Hartley & Marks Publishers
Hartley & Marks Publishers is a Vancouver, British Columbia-based publishing company that began as a publisher of books on a diverse range of esoteric subjects. Many of the company's early books concerned health and medicine and an interest in Eastern culture...
to study at Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
where she entered the Master of Publishing program.
Juby now writes full time, and lives in Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo is a city on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It has been dubbed the "Bathtub Racing Capital of the World" and "Harbour City". Nanaimo is also sometimes referred to as the "Hub City" because of its central location on Vancouver Island and due to the layout of the downtown...
with her husband James and her dog Frank.