Heather Grace Stewart wrote her first poem at age five, inspired by falling down a lot while trying to figure skate. ‘At the Arena’ was published in her school newsletter. From that moment on, Heather was hooked on writing.
Reading at Chapters Bookstore, Kanata, Ontario. April 2012
After receiving her BA (Honours) in Canadian Studies at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Heather attended Montreal’s Concordia University for a graduate diploma in Journalism. She worked as chief reporter of a local paper and associate editor of Harrowsmith Country Life and Equinox magazines before starting her own freelance writing and editing business, Graceful Publications, in 1999.
Her two non-fiction books for youth are part of the Warts & All educational series on Canada’s Prime Ministers. She has written for a wide range of magazines, including Reader’s Digest and Canadian Wildlife magazine, and edited a Canadian law magazine for students for four years.
Heather’s poems have been published in Canadian literary journals, newspapers and magazines, Canadian and British school textbooks/audio CDS, online journals, international print anthologies, and in the British small presses. She was awarded Queen’s University’s McIlquham Foundation Prize in English Poetry and the UK journal Various Artists’ “The Poet’s Poet” Award (2008 & 2012)
Heather’s 2013 collection of poetry, prose and photography, Three Spaces, has been described as ‘professional,’ ‘brilliant,’ ‘tender & graceful’ ‘modern & unconventional, ‘fun, sexy, capricious & insightful.’
“Heather Grace Stewart is one of my favorite poets, and her poetry collections only get better over time. Her latest, Three Spaces, is proof [...] Add it to your space. You won’t be disappointed.” ~Elisa Lorello, best-selling author of Faking It, Ordinary World, Why I Love Singlehood, Adulation
Heather’s third collection of poetry and photos, Carry On Dancing (Winter Goose Publishing, March 2012) has been reviewed as ‘brave, personal and eloquent poems,’ ‘stirring memories of Dickinson and Plath,’ ‘poems to remember. A poet for everyone.’
Her second collection of poetry and photos, ‘Leap‘, has been described as a “lovely lilt of language” and “a must for new and already hooked fans” by reviewers.
Her first collection of poems, Where the Butterflies Go (2008) with half the proceeds still being donated to Unicef’s Gift of Education project and other third-world school projects, has been reviewed as ‘a joy to read,’ ‘honest, tinged with awe and an eye for humor,’ and ‘full of healing power.’
Her photographs have appeared in Equinox and National Geographic Traveler among others, and on the cover of over a dozen poetry books.
Born in Ottawa, she lives with her husband and daughter near Montreal.
In her free time, she loves to take photos, scrapbook, cartoon, inline skate, dance like nobody’s watching, and eat Swedish Berries — usually not at the same time.
Heather is a longtime member of PWAC (Professional Writers Association of Canada) and a full member of the League of Canadian Poets. Visit her biography here:
Who’s Who—The League of Canadian Poets
Publishers of online or print publications, to purchase publication rights for any of Heather’s poems or photos, please contact her at writer@hgrace.com
I am a proud Canadian, author, poet, wife, and mother; a wannabe cowgirl who’s just as happy in my cutoffs and cowgirl hat on a beach as I am in a gown and fancy heels (though I wish I had more chances to wear the gown and fancy shoes!)
I do not love reading my poems for audiences. I still get nervous right before (even after all these years) and I truly hate the sound of my own voice. However, I have a background in theatre and do love performance, and I love hearing the audience reaction; especially those ‘ahhs’ and little sighs. (reading from WTBG)
I love my inlaws’ dog, Coco, and she’s so incredibly smart! In BC, Canada, January 2011.
With my beautiful family, July 2008
In my office, with my Muse/Mews Sam, March 2011
