AnnickPress

Dennis Foon was born and grew up in Detroit, Michigan. He always enjoyed reading, and as a young child he loved the Dr. Seuss books. As he grew older, Dennis became a fan of writers such as Charles Dickens and J.D. Salinger. He always wanted to be a writer himself, and in junior high Dennis worked on the school newspaper. He had his own advice column, “Dear Dennis”, for which he wrote both the questions and the answers.

Dennis received an honors bachelor of arts in religious studies and creative writing from the University of Michigan's Residential College in Ann Arbor. In 1973, Dennis moved to Canada to attend the University of British Columbia. He graduated with a master of fine arts, playwriting (creative writing and theater).

iHs career in theater began in university. Up to this point Dennis had been writing fiction, but a friend named Patrick McCord aka Tires made Dennis an offer he couldn't refuse: if Dennis would write a play, his friend would produce it. Dennis took up the challenge—and never looked back. He now has over twenty plays to his name. Dennis's body of plays (including New Canadian Kid, Mirror Game, and Liars) continues to be produced internationally in numerous languages. Included among his many awards are the British Theatre Award, two Chalmers awards, the Jesse Richardson Career Achievement Award and the International Arts for Young Audiences Award.

In 1975, Dennis co-founded Vancouver's acclaimed Green Thumb Theatre for Young People, and he went on to be the artistic director for twelve years. Previous jobs included being the primary dishwasher and potato peeler at Olympic Pizza, guiding canoe trips in Lake Superior Provincial Park, and driving a half ton pickup for an auto crusher company.

In addition to his many plays, Dennis has written extensively for television and film, including the award-winning movies Little Criminals, White Lies, and Long Life, Happiness, and Prosperity, which was screened at the Sundance Film Festival. He most recently penned Terry, the acclaimed CTV drama about Terry Fox.

The publication of The Keeper's Shadow (2006) marks the dramatic conclusion to the acclaimed Longlight Legacy trilogy where as war looms, Roan confronts a daunting prophesy. The triology began with The Dirt Eaters (2003) which took readers into a future where the world has been laid waste by war. Through the character of Roan, hope and the promise of a renewed life seem possible. Freewalker (2004), the heart pounding second book, finds Roan endeavoring to find the sister taken from him by the mysterious dwellers of the City—and to find a cure for the ill children under his care. But Stowe, now the icon of the City, has become obsessed with her growing powers.

Dennis's first book for young adults was Double or Nothing (2001), later followed by Skud, a White Pine nominee published with Groundwood Books.

Dennis lives in Vancouver, B.C., with his family.