Frances Itani

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Frances Susan Itani (born 25 August 1942) is a Canadian fiction writer, poet and essayist.

Itani was born in Belleville, Ontario and grew up in Quebec. She studied nursing in Montreal and North Carolina, a profession which she taught and practised for eight years. However, after enrolling in a writing class taught by W. O. Mitchell, she decided to change careers.

Itani has published ten books, ranging from fiction and poetry to a children's book. Her 2003 novel Deafening won the Commonwealth Writers Prize, Caribbean and Canada region, and has been published in 16 countries.

[edit] Awards and recognition

Canadian Fiction magazine, best short story, "After the Rain," 1987.
Ottawa-Carleton Book Award (Fiction) for Man Without Face, 1994.
Drummer General's Award for fiction, Deafening, 2003.
2004 Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book (Caribbean & Canada region), Deafening.
Shortlisted for the William Saroyan International Literary Prize, Deafening, 2005.
Shortlisted for International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, Deafening.
Deafening was chosen for the inclusion in Canada Reads 2006, championed by lawyer and author Maureen McTeer.
Une coquille de silence, the French-language translation of Deafening, was chosen for inclusion in Le combat des livres 2006, where it was also championed by McTeer.