← Back to Alberta Writers Directory
Hazel Hutchins
Hazel began writing early in her life and sent material out to be published while she was still in high school. When she finished high school she kept writing and kept sending short stories out to magazines, some of which were published. Hazel wrote short stories for adults while bringing home armloads of children’s books to read to her children. A friend suggested she try writing for children. Her reaction was, “I write to get away from all that”, but the next day she had an idea for a children’s picture book. That first book was not accepted but the publisher asked to see more of her work and she hasn’t stopped writing and publishing since then.
The geography of the place she lives shapes her writing only from the point of view that it shapes many of her own experiences. She says geography finds its way into her stories because it forms part of what she knows. And she writes what she knows. She is always looking for some tiny, telling little human incident rather than sitting around and gazing up at the mountains.
The role of the writer in the larger community is one of “reflecting people back on themselves, letting then know that there are shared emotions, shared humanities.”
Awards
R. Ross Annett Award, Alberta Book Awards, (three times)
Storytelling World Award
White Raven International Youth Library Selections Award
Reading Magic Awards List, Parenting Magazine
Our Choice Award, The Canadian Children’s Book Centre
Shining Willow Young Readers Choice Award
Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, 2009
Mr Christie Book Award, short-listed, (twice)
Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature, short-listed
Norma Fleck Non-Fiction Honour Book, short-listed
Silver birch, Blue Spruce, Red Cedar, Red Maple, Hackmatack, Manitoba Young Reader’s Choice Awards
