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Shirlee Smith Matheson

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First Name
Shirlee Smith
Last Name
Matheson
Province or Territory
Alberta
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Bio
Research, writing, and reading tours take Shirlee Smith Matheson across North America to schools, libraries and museums, and into the homes and hangars of aviation heroes whose stories are found in her 21 published books. Her collection of aviation stories related in the Flying the Frontiers series; Amazing Flights & Flyers, and Lost: Unsolved Mysteries of Canadian Aviation,recall true tales of adventure and misadventure. Maverick in the Sky brings to life the amazing story of Calgary’s WWI flying ace, Freddie McCall. A Royal Balance - the Life and times of Hal Wyatt, was released in December 2013. Her most recent nonfiction book, Lost: Unsolved Mysteries of Canadian Aviation, appeals to readers of all ages. This Was Our Valley 2019 chronicles the history of Peace River and the dams built across her narrows.

Historical young adult novels include Flying Ghosts and The Gambler’s Daughter, set in Canada’s North. Fastback Beach is a contemporary “hi-lo” novel, featuring the world of hot-rod cars. Jailbird Kid is a dramatic story of a girl whose 15th birthday coincides with her dad's release from prison. Prairie Pictures and City Pictures received dynamic updates for re-release in 2014/2015. Short stories recently published (2024) include "Christmas is Friends" Lifespan Anthology Vol. 10 (Australia) and "Darts" The Philosophy of Blue. Again, daring and adventure, backed by the necessary research work, bring to all stories a ring of truth.
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See website: www.ssmatheson.ca for further details.


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Available For
readings
manuscript editing
School Visits
As of 2022, I have retired from in-house school visits.
Publications
2022 Prairie Witch anthology, Prairie Soul Press. Short story, "How to Make Babies."

2022 Freefall, featuring 2021-22 Prose & Poetry Contest Winners. Short story, "The Protegee"

2021 Wondershift, stories of transformation & change, AWCS 40th anniversary anthology. Essay: "For the Good of the 'Hood", and short story, "Chanting Faint Hymns".

2020 YYC POP-Poetic Portraits of People, Frontenac House. Short story: "Dogfights".

The Bedford Competition 2020 Anthology of Prizewinning and Shortlisted Storis and poems. First Prize, short story, "Memories from Muskwa Creek."

This Was Our Valley, Frontenac House, Calgary, 2019:ISBN 978-1-927-823774 (424 pages)
Lost: Unsolved Mysteries of Canadian Aviation
Frontenac House, Calgary, 2015: ISBN 978-1-927823-26-2 (224 pages). Completely updated and re-edited from original publisher & publication (see: Lost: True Stories of Canadian Aviation Tragedies).
“Lost relates the harrowing tales of how too many aviators came to grief, the frantic searches to find them, and the sometimes ghostly events which occurred during and following the searches . . . The book is not fiction –Matheson is dealing here with history, and not with figments of her imagination. It’s another illustration that truth can indeed be stranger than fiction.” Bob Merrick, COPA Flight


Amazing Flights & Flyers
Frontenac House, 2010
Author of collection of aviation adventure stories.

Country Roads (anthology)
Nimbus, 2010
Story "Valley Girl" in collection of 30 stories by Canadian authors who grew up on farms.
Performances and Exhibitions
Featured speaker:
Wild Words North, Fort St. John, BC, Sept. 2019
When Words Collide, Calgary, AB, Aug. 2019
Calgary & Foothills Young Writers Conferences, 2019
Canadian Aviation Historical Society Conference, Montreal, 2019
Canadian Women in Aviation Conference, Ottawa, 2019
Awards
Numerous. Please see website: www.ssmatheson.ca
Other Memberships
Numerous, including organizations focusing on writing, aviation, and other interests.

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