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aUTHOR · SPEAKER · CONSULTANT
Don Aker is the award-winning author of more than 20 books, among them several bestselling novels for teens including The First Stone, The Fifth Rule, Running on Empty, and Delusion Road.
With over 30 years of secondary classroom practice coupled with his experience as a literacy mentor, university instructor, and writing consultant, Don is ideally suited to give author talks and workshops for both students and teachers.
AWARDS
- Ontario Library Association's 2016 White Pine Honour Book Award for Delusion Road
- Canadian Library Association’s 2008 Honour Book Award for The Space Between
- Canadian Authors Association’s 2007 Lilla Stirling Award for One on One
- Ontario Library Association’s 2004 White Pine Award for The First Stone
- Atlantic Canada’s 2004 Ann Connor Brimer Award for The First Stone
- Toronto Star's 2002 Short Story Contest Runner-Up Prize for "Everything Gets Dead"
- Atlantic Canada’s 1996 Ann Connor Brimer Award for Of Things Not Seen
- Canadian Authors Association’s 1996 Lilla Stirling Award for Of Things Not Seen
- Dandelion Magazine's 1991 Short Fiction Competition Third Prize for "Scars"
- Canadian Living Magazine's 1990 National Literary Competition First Prize (short fiction category) for "The Test"
- Atlantic Writing Competition’s 1990 Nonfiction First Prize for "V-Day: Anatomy of a Surgery"
- Atlantic Writing Competition’s 1989 Short Fiction First Prize for “The Invitation”
NOMINATIONS
- 2018 Alistair MacLeod Short Fiction Prize for Scars and Other Stories
- Canadian Library Association's 2016 Young Adult Book Award for Delusion Road
- Atlantic Canada's 2016 Ann Connor Brimer Award for Delusion Road
- Ontario Library Association's 2016 White Pine Award for Delusion Road
- 2016 John Spray Mystery Award for Delusion Road
- Ontario Library Association's 2014 White Pine Award for Running on Empty
- British Columbia’s 2013-14 Stellar Book Award for Running on Empty
- Ontario Library Association's 2012 White Pine Award for The Fifth Rule
- Canadian Library Association's 2008 Young Adult Book of the Year Award for The Space Between
- Ontario Library Association's 2008 White Pine Award for The Space Between
- British Columbia's 2008 Stellar Book Award for One on One
- Atlantic Canada's 2007 Hackmatack Award for One on One
- Manitoba's 2007 Young Reader's Choice Award for One on One
- Alberta's 2007 Rocky Mountain Book Award for One on One
- 1999 CNIB Torgi Award for Stranger at Bay
- Ontario Library Association's 1998 Red Maple Award for Stranger at Bay
- Atlantic Canada's 1998 Ann Connor Brimer Award for Stranger at Bay
- Ontario's 1998 Blue Heron Award for Stranger at Bay
- Manitoba's 1998 Young Reader's Choice Award for Of Things Not Seen
- McClelland & Stewart's 1990 Journey Prize Award for "The Invitation"
- The First Stone was chosen one of Nova Scotia's 150 Books of Influence.
- Recipient of a $25,000 creation grant from the Canada Council for the Arts
- Recipient of three creation grants from the Culture Division of Nova Scotia's Department of Communities, Culture & Heritage
- Recipient of a $10,000 Cross-Over Writer's Grant from Telefilm Canada to adapt the short story "The Invitation" to a feature-length screenplay
- One of four writers chosen for the Atlantic Film Festival's 2010 Inspired Script Workshops
- Delusion Road received a starred selection in the Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens
- The Space Between received a starred selection in the Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens
- One on One received a starred selection in the Canadian Children's Book Centre's Our Choice Magazine
- The First Stone was included in the Canadian Children's Book Centre's Read Canada's Best recommended booklist
- The First Stone was one of five young adult novels chosen for discussion on CBC Radio's 2006 Young Canada Reads series
- One of four writers chosen for the Atlantic Film Festival's 1998 Script Development Program
- Of Things Not Seen received a starred selection in the Canadian Children's Book Centre's Our Choice Magazine
- Of Things Not Seen was included in the Canadian Children's Book Centre's Read Canada's Best recommended booklist
- The American Library Association chose Stranger at Bay as a "Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers"
