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Writing Biography

Amanda West Lewis

AMANDA WEST LEWIS is the author of eleven books, including the poetry collection A Planet is a Poem, and the semi-autobiographical novels Focus.Click.Wind, and These Are Not the Words.

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Amanda’s most recent book, Looking at the Sky: How Dr. Janusz Korczak Fought for Children’s Rights, is a graphic novel illustrated by Abigail Rajunov scheduled for release June 2, 2026, by Kids Can Press.

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Amanda's first published book was Writing: A Fact and Fun Activity Book, published by Kids Can Press (1992). A non-fiction book about the development of written letterform, Amanda's love of lettering and theatre is woven throughout her work. Her books reflect her personal experiences as a practicing artist. 

 

Amanda is dedicated to creating work with and for young people to give them opportunities to find their own voice. Through all of her work lies a passion for language, movement, and the thrill of asking questions.

​Amanda has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, with a specialist certificate in Picture Books. She has taught and presented in person and virtually, lectured to large groups, coached private students, developed full-length course curriculums and conducted hundreds of workshops of various lengths in  diverse situations and venues including primary, elementary and high schools, The University of Waterloo, Algonquin College, St. Lawrence College, the National Arts Centre, the Ottawa Writers Festival, The Kingston Writers Festival, Canscaip, and MASC.

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Photo credit: Bonnie Joyce Photography

​Amanda has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, with a specialist certificate in Picture Books. She has taught and presented in person and virtually, lectured to large groups, coached private students, developed full-length course curriculums and conducted hundreds of workshops of various lengths in  diverse situations and venues including primary, elementary and high schools, The University of Waterloo, Algonquin College, St. Lawrence College, the National Arts Centre, the Ottawa Writers Festival, The Kingston Writers Festival, Canscaip, and MASC.

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She has also presented for the Toronto International Festival of Authors, the Vancouver Writers Festival, the Erin Mills Writers Festival, the Lanark Readers and Writers Festival, among others.

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Her books have been recognized with a wide range of awards and nominations including: The Lane Anderson Award for Science Writing (youth category); The Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2025; Finalist for the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada Book Awards; EUREKA! 2024 Excellence in Children’s Non-Fiction Award; California Reading Association Honor Book; NCTE Notable Poetry Book; Cybils Award nominee 2024; 2024 School Library Journal Best Poetry Books; 2024 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young Adults; 2022 American League of Poets recommended novel in verse; Silver Birch Award; Red Cedar Award; and Violet Downey IODE Award.​

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A member of the Writers Union of Canada and Canscaip, Amanda is a teaching artist with MASC and Authors Booking Service. 

 

Amanda lives with her husband, writer Tim Wynne-Jones, in the woods outside of Perth Ontario.

They have 3 grown children who are a constant source of joy and inspiration.

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