Ruth Nichols (author) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ruth Nichols
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| Born | Joanna Ruth Nichols 4 March 1948 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | 10 August 2023 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Genre | Children's and young adult fantasy and historical fiction |
Joanna Ruth Nichols (born March 4, 1948) was a Canadian author. She wrote exciting stories for kids and young adults. Her books often mixed history with fantasy.
About Ruth Nichols
Ruth Nichols was born in Toronto, Canada. She passed away on August 10, 2023, at 75 years old. When she was just 18, she wrote her first book. This book, A Walk Out of the World, was a fantasy story for young adults. It was published when she was 20 or 21 years old.
Ruth Nichols studied at several universities. She earned her first degree in religious studies from the University of British Columbia. Later, she received her master's and doctorate degrees from McMaster University. She also taught for several years at Carleton University in Ottawa.
She married William Norman Houston in 1974. They lived in Ottawa before moving to Toronto. Ruth Nichols started her career writing fantasy for young people. Later, she began writing historical fiction for adults. Her last published book was "What Dangers Deep." This story was set in the time of Queen Elizabeth I.
Ruth Nichols' novels for young adults are very special. Long before the Harry Potter books, her stories featured characters with unique powers. They included wizards and amazing worlds. In these worlds, good often battled evil. These books show that Ruth Nichols was a very important Canadian writer.
Awards and Recognition
Ruth Nichols received an award from the Government of India in 1962. This was for a biography she wrote about Catherine de' Medici. She was only 14 at the time!
Her book, The Marrow of the World, also won a big award. The Canadian Library Association named it "Book of the Year for Children" in 1973. This award recognized it as an outstanding book for young readers.
Published Works
Ruth Nichols wrote many books for young people and adults. Here are some of her well-known works:
- A Walk Out of the World (1969) – This was her first published novel.
- Ceremony of Innocence (1969)
- The Marrow of the World (1972) – This book won the "Book of the Year" award.
- Song of the Pearl (1976)
- The Left-Handed Spirit (1978)
- The Burning of the Rose (1990)
- What Dangers Deep: a story of Philip Sydney (1992) – Her last published novel.
