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Gayle Friesen
Gayle Friesen (1960) is a Canadian author for young adult novels. She always wanted to be a writer, but figured it would be too big of a goal, so she moved on and put the thought in the back of her mind. She knew she always wanted to do something with writing, but felt like she couldn't be a writer because she didn't have an “interesting life”, that she hadn't gone through enough, until she was in her 20s when she finally realized that it didn't matter, so she decided to try it. She has written five books, her first one Janey’s Girl written in 1998 and her last one The Valley written in 2008. Gayle is a full-time writer, from her home in Delta, British Columbia.

Gayle enjoys writing in a coffee shop, or from her home. When writing her books, she likes to come up with the main character and then the rest of the story comes from those ideas. For the story she thinks of what is interesting to her, or what captures her attention, she sometimes gets her ideas from her daughter as well.

Education/Work
After high school, Gayle left to Sweden to attend bible school for a year, and travel Europe. When she came back home to Chilliwack, she worked at a bank to pay for her schooling and travelling. Gayle attended college for four years studying English literature, around that time she got married and took a year of university. She worked in a court house for 2 years, which she found to be an “interesting” but enjoyable job. Gayle went back to school to finish her degree, and graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1986 with a B.A.

Personal Life
Gayle Friesen was born on September 18th, 1960. She was the youngest of her four sisters, with the eldest being ten years older than her. She was raised in Chilliwack, British Columbia, the year she was born Gayle’s parents built the house that would become the house they raised her and her sisters. All throughout school Gayle found herself to be “very much a reader”, some of her favourites were Emily of New Moon, and the “Black Stallion” books.

Today Gayle lives in Delta, British Columbia, with her husband, her son Bradey who was born five years into her marriage and her daughter Alex who was born two years later.

Reviews
“Janey's Girl is a stunning debut by Gayle Friesen of Delta, B.C. The main characters are real — interesting and imperfect. The story does not provide a neat, happy ending. It almost begs for a sequel but as Janey says at one point: “There's no happily ever after here, Claire. How many times have I told you that?” — Quill and Quire, September 1998 (Janey's Girl)

“[T]his is an above-average novel with spirited dialogue and well-developed characters.” — School Library Journal, December 2002 (Losing Forever)

“A stylish writer with easygoing wit ... Aside from being an enjoyable read, this may cause similarly self-underestimating readers to reconsider their own strengths -- a good thing indeed.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, October 2005 (The Isabel Factor)

Awards
* Janey's Girl:

1998, CLA Young Adult Book Award, Canadian Library Association, Winner.

2001, Manitoba Young Readers Choice Award, Short-listed.

* Losing Forever:

2003,Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner.

2004,Red Maple Award, Ontario Library Association, Winner.

* The Isabel Factor:

2006,Independent Publisher Book Award, Short-listed.

2008,Stellar Award, BC Teen Readers' Choice, Short-listed.

* For Now:

2007,Best Books for Young Adults, YALSA American Library Association, Winner.

2008,Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner.