David S. West

About David S. West

(a.k.a., D.S. West; David West; Br. David, OFSF; Professor David West; David Stanley West; D. Stanley West.)

Black and White the Horses, (Blewointmentpress 1975)

Franklin and McClintock, (Intermedia Press 1976)

Poems and Elegies, (Fiddlehead Books 1978)

Trenchmist, (Blewointmentpress 1983)

Picking Up the Pieces, (Caitlin 1989)

Stone Poems, (Kindle 2013)

Special Reserve & Other Goths, [stories], (Kindle 2013)

1958: Survivor Poems (Kindle 2013)

Ooblooria and the Strangers (Kindle 2013)

Help! Aliens Hijacked My Brain: A Novel (Kindle 2013)

When Willie Said the Terrible Word and other stories for young readers (Kindle 2013

The Fatal Voyage of HMCS Valleyfield: A Short History of Canada's Worst Naval Disaster of WWII

Meet the Saints: Caedmon's Hymn; Benedict's Rules

David West is an award winning poet and fiction writer.

His much acclaimed poetry has appeared in over 50 prestigious literary magazines, including, The Fiddlehead, Descant, CVII, Quarry, Canadian Forum, Grain, and the University of Windsor Review. His work has also been broadcast as readings, or in dramatic form, on CBC radio's literary arts programs, most notably CBC "Anthology, and "The Hornby Collection".

A former member of the League of Canadian Poets, popular instructor and contest judge for the Surrey International Writers Conference in past years. Taught university level English literature, composition, and creative writing for 25+ years. Former poetry editor for The Fiddlehead - Canada's prestigious literary magazine. He is working at converting his past publications and new writings to publish in e-book format. He says, "Kindle is best." So do watch for more titles in your Amazon Store to appear soon.

David was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, while his parents lived and worked in the USA. Growing up as a dual-citizen (call that a bi-national), he attended school in Upstate New York and Arizona. His father retired and brought the family back home to British Columbia. David finished Grade 12 at Reynolds Senior Secondary School in Victoria. He attended UBC in Vancouver, graduating with a First Class Honours BA degree in English.

Challenged to find his identity as a product of two countries, he took a keen interest in both Canadian and American literature. He went on to attend the University of New Brunswick for his graduate work in English. He has a long list of academic articles and reviews he has published in scholastic journals and literary magazines. He also has written an award-winning short story, many magazine and newspaper feature articles. He has been a member of The League of Canadian Poets, and a Professional Member of the Periodical Writers Association of Canada. He has also had several academic memberships, including ACCUTE (Association of Canadian College and University Teachers of English) and SCBWI (The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators).

David has also written and published genre-fiction, for adults and children,

picture-book texts and middle-grade novels. He has taught Children's Literature, Classical and Biblical Literature, and most of the canon of poetry and literary fiction. In 2012 he completed 25 years of being an English Professor at Douglas College. http://www.douglascollege.ca

David joined a Franciscan order in the Anglican Church in 2009. He presently belongs to the Order of Friars of St. Francis (OFSF),as founding brother and Minister General. He lives as a solitary religious at his home "The Hermitage". He is a member of the parish of St. Matthew, Abbotsford, BC, in the Diocese of New Westminster, where he is known simply as "Brother David": http://www.anglicanabbotsford.com.

After, and even before to a degree, his poetry has taken on a pronounced spiritual air, since he returned to his natal faith after running away from God for some 30 years. As he is fond of saying, "Sometimes you have to go full circle to where you left off, before you can go on." He also states, "Don't worry, I don't preach to my friends. As our Blessed St. Francis instructed, 'Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary use words.' So my words, I hope, entertain, but don't preach."

Br. David is also an artisan, crafting jewelry, prayer beads, rosaries, and chaplets which are listed for sale and custom order in his Etsy Store: http://etsy.com/ca/shop/brotherdavidarts

He can most easily be reached through his Etsy shop, and is open to any sorts of speaking or teaching engagements, secular or sacred.

Reviewers of his poetry have spoken favorably:

* "West's poetry, when you read it, it's like he's there speaking right to you." A Reader.

* "David West has created an impressive body of work in a short time." -Review of the first three books, by John Ower

* "He brings the mythic and epic into a welcome addition to literature." Comment by Northrop Frye

* "When he talks about the weather, you have to know he's not talking about the weather!" Anonymous poetry student

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David S. West+, "The Hermitage"

Abbotsford, British Columbia, June 2013