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Wes Funk

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Wes Funk
Born(1969-02-18)February 18, 1969
Mayfair, Saskatchewan
Died (aged 46)
Edmonton, Alberta
Occupationwriter, broadcaster
Genrefiction, memoirs
Notable worksDead Rock Stars, Cherry Blossoms
SpouseDarwin Wagner[1]
Website
www.wesfunk.ca

Wes Funk (February 18, 1969 – October 9, 2015) was a Canadian writer. Based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,[2] he published several novels and a chapbook of poetry and short stories, and hosted a weekly television series, Lit Happens, on Shaw TV's services in Saskatchewan.[3]

Funk, who was gay,[3] was raised in a Mennonite household in rural Mayfair, Saskatchewan.[4] He had a twin sister, who died in childhood.[5]

Funk published his debut novel, Dead Rock Stars, in 2008.[4] Initially self-published,[6] the book later gained national distribution.[4] The novel was republished in audiobook form in 2013,[7] and a new illustrated edition was published in 2015.[8]

In 2012, Funk pulled his book Cherry Blossoms off of bookstore shelves after the publisher inadvertently printed an early draft instead of the final version.[9] The corrected edition was rereleased several weeks later. The book won a Bookie Award from CBC Books in 2013.[10]

In 2014, Funk published the memoir Wes Side Story.[10] In addition to his writing and broadcasting, Funk also worked in social services.[11]

Funk died in his sleep on October 9, 2015, in Edmonton, Alberta. He was only 46 years old. It was thought that he may have accidentally overdosed on painkillers after a surgical procedure.[12] At the time of his death, his short story "Rescuing Lancelot" had just been published in the literary magazine Jonathan, and his latest novel Frostbite was slated for publication in 2016.

Works

  • Humble Beginnings
  • Dead Rock Stars (2008)
  • Baggage (2010)
  • Cherry Blossoms (2012)
  • Wes Side Story: a Memoir (2014)

References

  1. ^ Eneas, Brian (2019-10-12). "Four years after spouse's death, Sask. man recovers money from PayPal account". CBC News. Retrieved 2019-10-13.
  2. ^ Willberg, David (June 9, 2011). "Author champions self-published books". Saskatchewan Lifestyles. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Street, Amanda (December 12, 2011). "Funk's Fiction". OutVisions. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c "Local writers are going DYI". The StarPhoenix, August 4, 2011.
  5. ^ "'There was no real fakeness to him' Sask. literary community mourns loss of local author". CKOM, October 11, 2015.
  6. ^ "Rock star fascination turned into book". Regina Leader-Post, March 14, 2009.
  7. ^ "Regina pair turning written word into audiobooks". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, October 28, 2013.
  8. ^ "Storytellers, local poet featured at B.C. retreat". Winnipeg Free Press, February 28, 2015.
  9. ^ "Author pulls his own book from store shelves". CBC News. July 11, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Saskatoon novelist tackles autobiography in Wes Side Story". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, September 17, 2014.
  11. ^ "Record shop connects author to vinyl culture". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, April 18, 2013.
  12. ^ Trembath, Sean (12 October 2015). "Local author Wes Funk dead at 46". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
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