Child of Canadian diplomats, I grew up with three brothers in Canada, the United States, Spain, England, the Czech Republic and Cuba. Educational stints in a Draconian French Lycee in Madrid and a Dickensian British boarding, coupled with holidays behind the Iron Curtain at the height of the Cold War, equipped me to write short stories, plays and novels with strong characters and plots as well as thematic substance. I hope they qualify also as excellent literature. The facts that both my novels have been award finalists, and that one of my plays was banned and then published and studied in India encourage me.
I have taught creative writing at the Haliburton School of the Arts and at Trent University, and spent several years as an Ontario Arts Council Artist in Education, taking a creative writing/drama project into farflung Ontario schools, including Ministik School in Moose Factory.
As soon as the summer teaching finishes I will be holed up in my study finishing a novel called The Virgin Hunter.
Readers' Reviews
Early reviews of The Oak Island Affair:
"A wonderful story, full of adventure but also thought provoking... an exciting constellation of players; an intriguing set of clues."
"Bow strikes a fascinating balance between adventure and spirituality in this compelling novel about a little known but amazing subject."
"I found myself waking up well before my alarm to laugh, cry and learn over the pages... I found the combination of love, loss, mystery and my own Canadian history to be a falulous page turner."
"Very well written, I loved your use of metaphor, interesting characters, and true to life and unique, wonderful details about Oak Island... a page turner Robert L. Stevenson would enjoy."
"I loved the language and learned so much!"
"I stayed up far too late reading this book!"
Reviews of Dead And Living:
"Bow can write." Toronto Globe And Mail
"The real strength of Jane Bow's book is what distinguishes it from the bulk of such novels, its refusal to yield the simple solution, to equate a mere trial verdict with something so elusive as the truth." Halifax Daily News
"A compelling novel." Peterborough Examiner
"A gripping novel and a fascinating story, an intriguing portrait of guilt and love." Scene Magazine
"Should please crime fans interested in an unconvenional treatment of the genre." Quill & Quire
Students' Views
Some comments from my Creative Writing students at Peterborough's Trent University this year:
"Fantastic. An opportunity to hear (& hopefully write) good prose with open, honest, constructive critique."
"Jane is a superb fascilitator and excellent at inspiring creativity."
"The sharing of writing for feedback was very powerful and informative."
"Great meditation exercises."
Some of my students at the Haliburton School for the Arts last year said:
"Jane is an excellent teacher. I learned much more than I thought I would and Jane's style and manner promotes a learning environment."
"A life altering experience - motivated to learn much more about writing skills rather than just dabble. Feedback was honest and helpful. Felt teacher cared about my development - worked hard to make group cohesive and supportive."
"Jane is very encouraging and has excellent insight into our abilities."
To add your comments please go to the Contact Me Page.
Zeus, god of creation, was raised in the Cretan cave behind me.
