Kevin Major
Kevin Major is a Canadian author who lives in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador with his wife. He writes for both young people and adults, including fiction, literary non-fiction, poetry, and plays.
Major was born and raised in Stephenville, Newfoundland. He later moved to St. John's where he attended Memorial University of Newfoundland. Before becoming a writer, he taught school in several parts of the province, including the Eastport Peninsula in Bonavista Bay. His early novels are known for exploring issues such as adolescence and family. The novels were usually set on the island of Newfoundland. In 1992, he was awarded the Vicky Metcalf Award for his body of work. His more recent books are mostly adult fiction, including the Sebastian Synard murder mystery series.
Selected Literary Awards
- 1978 - Hold Fast - Governor General's Children's Literature Award
- 1979 - Hold Fast - Canadian Library Association's Book of the Year Award
- 1979 - Hold Fast - Ruth Schwartz Award
- 1980 - Hold Fast - IBBY Honour List
- 1980 - Far from Shore - Young Adult Caucus, Canadian Young Adult Book Award
- 1990 - Blood Red Ochre - Geoffery Bilson Award Finalist
- 1992 - Eating Between the Lines - Ann Connor Brimer Award
- 1992 - Eating Between the Lines - Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award
- 1997 - The House of the Wooden Santas - Mr. Christie's Book Award
- 1998 - The House of the Wooden Santas - Ann Connor Brimer Award
- 2001 - As Near to Heaven by Sea - Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction Finalist
- 2004 - Ann and Seamus - Geoffery Bilson Award Finalist
- 2006 - Aunt Olga's Christmas Postcards - Ann Connor Brimer Award
- 2017 - Found Far and Wide - Independent Publisher Book Awards Silver Medalist - Canada East - Best regional fiction
- 2019 - One for the Rock - Independent Publisher Book Awards Silver Medalist - Canada East - Best regional fiction
- 2020 - Land Beyond the Sea - Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist, Historical Fiction; Best Atlantic-Published Book Award Finalist; Canada Book Award Winner
- 2021 - Two for the Tablelands - Shortlisted - Howard Engel Award for Best Crime Novel Set in Canada
- 2022 - Three for Trinity - Shortlisted - Howard Engel Award for Best Crime Novel Set in Canada