François Gravel (born October 4, 1951) is a Canadian writer from Quebec."François Gravel: l’art de raconter la terrible maladie de Parkinson". Le Journal de Québec, March 24, 2019. Most noted as an author of literature for children and young adults, he has also published a number of adult novels."L’auteur du mois : François Gravel". L'actualité, March 6, 2019.

An economics graduate of the Université du Québec à Montréal, Gravel taught economics at Cégep Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu until 2006."Élise et François Gravel: des projets d'écriture père-fille". La Presse, July 18, 2017. He is the partner of writer Michèle Marineau and the father of writer and illustrator Élise Gravel.Claudia Larochelle, "Élise Gravel, Michèle Marineau et François Gravel: Sainte tribu". Les libraires, April 21, 2015.

His most recent adult novel, À vos ordres, colonel Parkinson!, was inspired by his own recent diagnosis with Parkinson's disease. This book is available in an English translation titled "Colonel Parkinson in Charge: A Wry Reflection on My Incurable Illness" (House of Anansi Press, 2023), translated by Shelley Pomerance.

Many of his works have been translated into English by Sheila Fischman."Even rebellious kids grow up one day and become their parents". Waterloo Region Record, November 2, 1996.

Awards He won the Governor General's Award for French-language children's literature at the 1991 Governor General's Awards for Deux heures et demie avant Jasmine.Arlene Perly Rae, "Prize winners in sync with young emotions". Toronto Star, December 28, 1991. He has been shortlisted for the award five other times: at the 1994 Governor General's Awards for Klonk,"Familiar faces; Munro, Atwood among Governor-General's Literary Awards field". Montreal Gazette, October 27, 1994. at the 2000 Governor General's Awards for L'été de la moustache,"'Writing and dreaming in different voices'". The Globe and Mail, October 25, 2000. at the 2002 Governor General's Awards for David et la maison de la sorcière,"Finalists for the 2002 Governor General's Literary Awards". Canadian Press, October 21, 2002. at the 2008 Governor General's Awards for Sales crapauds"Governor General's Literary Awards Nominees". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, October 22, 2008. and at the 2012 Governor General's Awards for Hò."Les noms des finalistes des prix litteraires du gouverneur general sont révélés". Canadian Press, October 2, 2012.

Fischman has received three nominations for the Governor General's Award for French to English translation for her translations of Gravel's work at the 1990 Governor General's Awards for Benito,"Alice Munro among finalists for Governor-General's Literary Awards". Montreal Gazette, November 16, 1990. the 1992 Governor General's Awards for Felicity's Fool (Bonheur fou)"Governor General's Awards: finalists in other categories". Edmonton Journal, October 6, 1992. and the 1996 Governor General's Awards for Ostende."6 writers nominated for fiction Governor-General's shortlist announced". The Globe and Mail, October 18, 1996.

Gravel won the French Mr. Christie's Book Award in 1991 for Zamboni,"Authors awarded for kids books". Halifax Daily News, May 1, 1991. and in 2001 for David et le fantôme in conjunction with illustrator Pierre Pratt."French authors to tour P.E.I.: Performing readings at French schools, libraries". Journal Pioneer, October 20, 2003. Gravel and Pratt won the French TD Canadian Children's Literature Award in 2006 for David et le salon funéraire."TD Canadian Children's Literature Award Announces David et le Salon funeraire the Winner of $20,000 - the Largest Literature Award in Canada". Canada NewsWire, October 17, 2006.

His adult novel Adieu, Betty Crocker was a competing title in the 2014 edition of Le Combat des livres, where it was defended by actress Pauline Martin."Le combat des livres 2014 : les finalistes!". Les libraires, March 6, 2014.

Works Novels La Note de passage, 1985 Benito, 1987 Effet Summerhill, 1988 Bonheur fou, 1989 Les Black Stones vous reviendront dans quelques instants, 1991 Ostende, 1994 Miss Septembre, 1996 Vingt et un tableaux (et quelques craies), 1998 Fillion et frères, 2000 Je ne comprends pas tout, 2002 Adieu, Betty Crocker, 2003 Mélamine Blues, 2005 Vous êtes ici, 2007 Voyeurs, s'abstenir, 2009 À deux pas de chez elle: La première enquête de Chloé Perreault, 2011 Toute une vie sur les bancs d’école, 2016 Idées noires, 2017 La petite fille en haut de l’escalier, 2018 À vos ordres, colonel Parkinson!, 2019 Colonel Parkinson in Charge, 2023 (non-fiction)

Children's and young adult literature Klonk series Klonk, 1993 Lance et Klonk, 1994 Le Cercueil de Klonk, 1995 Un amour de Klonk, 1995 Le Cauchemar de Klonk, 1997 Klonk et le Beatle mouillé, 1997 Klonk et le Treize noir, 1999 Klonk et la Queue du scorpion, 2000 Coca-Klonk, 2001 La Racine carrée de Klonk, 2002 Le Testament de Klonk, 2003 Klonk contre Klonk, 2004

David series David et le Fantôme, 2000 David et le Précipice, 2001 David et les Monstres de la forêt, 2001 David et la Maison de la sorcière, 2002 David et l'Orage, 2003 David et les Crabes noirs, 2004 David et le Salon funéraire, 2005 David et la Bête, 2007 David et Léa, 2008

Other Corneilles, 1989 Zamboni, 1990 Deux heures et demie avant Jasmine, 1991 Granulite, 1992 Guillaume, 1995 Le Match des étoiles, 1996 Kate, quelque part L'Été de la moustache, 2000 La Piste sauvage, 2002 L'Araignée sauvage, 2004 Sekhmet, la déesse sauvage, 2005 Sacrilège, 2006 Les Horloges de M. Svonok, 2007 Sales Crapauds, 2007 La Cagoule, 2008 Sauvage, 2010 Du soccer extrême !, 2010 Ça, c'est du baseball, 2010 Ok pour le hockey !, 2011 Il pleut des records, 2011 Silence, on zappe !, 2012 Schlick, 2012 Hò, 2012 À nous deux, Barbe-Mauve !, 2012 Hollywood, nous voici, 2013

References