Julie Czerneda:
Award Winning Science Fiction Writer and Science Literacy Advocate in New Zealand
May 26 – June 1
Julie Czerneda, former biologist turned award winning Canadian science fiction author, editor and scientific literacy consultant, is in New Zealand as the international literary guest of honour at ConScription, the national science fiction convention (29 May – 1 June).

Julie Czerneda is a four time Prix Aurora winner: for short fiction, for her novel In the Company of Others (2001) and as the editor of Space Inc (2003) and Under Cover of Darkness (jointly with Jana Paniccia, 2007). Writing since 1997, Czerneda has published several award nominated science fiction series, including the Trade Pact, Web Shifter and Species Imperative sequences. She is currently working on a new Stratification trilogy, prequel to the Trade Pact series. Czerneda's work reflects her professional background in biology and animal behaviour—and is recognised for the reality of its science and featuring truly alien, rather than anthropomorphic forms of extra-terrestrial life.

Czerneda has edited a number of other SciFi-Fantasy anthologies including Tales from the Wonder Zone (science fiction) and Realms of Wonder (Fantasy), both from Fitzhenry and Whiteside, and Polaris, a special Wonder Zone title featuring stories about polar science as part of International Polar Year. Her latest anthology, Ages of Wonder (jointly with Rob St. Martin, DAW), features rarely used historical periods as the basis for Fantasy fiction and was released April 2009.

A firm believer in the ability of science fiction to stretch the imagination and creativity of readers, Czerneda runs regular workshops on science fiction, writing, and scientific literacy. She is science fiction consultant to Science News and has edited a number of science fiction educational resources and anthologies for younger readers aimed at teaching science and language skills, drawing on her 25 years of experience writing and editing texts for all grade levels. Czerneda won the prestigious Golden Duck Award for Excellence in Science and Technology Education for her work as editor of Tales from the Wonder Zone. The latest volume, Polaris, was honoured by the Canadian Association of Science Writers as the Best Book for Youth in 2008.

Julie Czerneda Events in New Zealand:

· Tuesday May 26, 4.15 pm Botany Library, Manukau Czerneda will present on the capability of science fiction to develop readers, literacy and creativity
Contact: Paul Brown, paul.brown@manukau.govt.nz, (09) 262 5101

· Wednesday 27–Friday 29 May The Writer's Workshop of Unusual Length (with Nalini Singh): a 3-day writing workshop structured to take the participant from idea generation right through to sale of story Cost: $150
Contact: conscription@orcon.net.nz

· Friday 29 May – Monday 1 June: ConScription: International Literary Guest of Honour at the NZ Science Fiction Convention
Contact: conscription@orcon.net.nz