In a long line of darkened offices, only one is lit on a holiday weekend at St. Thomas University. Under that single light sits a large desk accompanying a bare bookshelf that rests against blank walls.
The only objects on the desk are a pair of novels, an empty energy drink and Tim Hortons coffee with its companion, a greying man writing furiously on his computer.
That coffee, just one of a possible 14 for the day, belongs to author David Adams Richards, STU’s artist-in-residence and one of the university’s most
well-known former students.
With 22 published books, hundreds of unpublished “secret” poems, and a lifetime dedicated to writing, the 61-year-old Miramichi native has been awarded the Writers’ Trust of Canada’s Matt Cohen Award for a lifetime of writing.
“I started at 14 and never did anything else as long as I lived,” said Richards.
“I did take tickets at a theatre three nights a week at one point, but other than [that], the only job I’ve ever had was writing.”
The Matt Cohen Award is only the latest in Richards’ achievements. Although he wrote his first book in his early twenties he was never awarded anything for his writing until the age of 38.
Since then, he won “pretty much everything in Canada.”
Along with being named to the Order of Canada, Richards is one of only three writers to have ever achieved dual Governor General’s awards for both fiction and non-fiction.
Even his screenplays have netted him a pair of Geminis.
“I’m delighted,” said Richards. “It’s encouraging to be recognized for something that I just do and have enormous fun doing. Especially because when I started it looked like I would never get one.
“It’s encouraging and as a writer any encouragement is good. I once had a reader compliment me and then apologize saying that I probably get too many. I told her don’t be ridiculous.”
Richards was quick to point out that although awards are nice to get, they don’t really have an impact on what he writes.
“I’m glad for them but they haven’t changed anything and it’s not going to. I have to write what I write.”
Richards released a new book last month, Facing the Hunter. He has another awaiting publication for 2013 as well as 100 pages completed for another that he is hoping to finish next year.
Currently, he is working on a screenplay for the Fredericton Playhouse focusing on the lives of the historic Beaverbrook family.
“In life there are no guarantees.
“But I guarantee I’ll be writing for the rest of my life.”
