BRIAN BRETT was born April 28, 1950, in Vancouver, British Columbia. He has been writing and publishing poetry since the late 1960s, and from 1969 to 1974 studied literature at Simon Fraser University.

In 1976 Brian published his first book of poetry titled Fossil Ground at Phantom Creek, which was published by the Governor General award-winning Blackfish press, and where Brian had served as an editor. His other works of poetry include: Savage People Dressed in Skins (1978), Monsters (1981), Smoke without Exit (1984), Evolution in Every Direction (1987), and Poems: New and Selected (1993). His newest collection, Colour of Bones in a Stream, was newly released in 1998.

Brian has not limited his writing to poetry alone. He has also written two novels, The Fungus GardenCoyote, a collection of short stories titled Tanganyika (1991), and literary reviews for The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, and the Victoria Times-Colonist. Allegories of Love and Disaster, a long poem, was released in 1993.

When he has not been writing or giving writing workshops across Canada, Brian has been busy working with the British Columbia Poetry-in-the-Schools program, which introduces children to poetry.

For his literary efforts, Brian has been honored with the Canada Council Award for 1988, 1990, and 1992. He was also the runner-up in the Writer’s Quarterly Annual Story Competition and the recipient of the British Columbia Branch Writing Award in 1991.

Brian lives on a farm with his family on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, where he enjoys gardening and creating ceramic sculptures.