Born and raised in Montreal, Emil Sher taught English at a secondary school in rural Botswana before returning to Montreal to pursue a degree in creative writing. He has written professionally ever since in a variety of genres, including stage plays, radio dramas, short fiction, essays and children's television. He is particularly drawn to character-driven stories, narratives fuelled by individuals struggling to navigate their way through a world rarely of their own making. His works for stage include the adaptation of Hana's Suitcase, Mourning Dove, Derailed and Sanctuary. His radio plays have been broadcast around the world, and three have been collected in Making Waves. Emil lives in Toronto with his wife and two daughters but spends summers (and as many weekends as he can squeeze in) in Morin Heights, Quebec.

	Beneath the Banyan Tree was nominated for a 2007 Sterling Award and a 2006 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Production (Theatre for Young Audiences).
	Café Olé was awarded a 2002 Top Ten Award from the Writers Guild of Canada. Denial is a River was a Top Ten finalist in 1997.
	Two radio plays – Mourning Dove (1997) and Past Imperfect (1998) – were nominated for the Prix Italia.
	Brutally Frank received an Honourable Mention (Radio) from the League for Human Rights B'nai Brith Canada Media Human Rights Awards 2000.
	Mourning Dove won a gold medal at the New York Festivals in 1997.
	Past Imperfect won a 1997 Gabriel Award.
	Derailed was nominated for four 1995 Dora Mavor Moore Awards – including Outstanding Production.

Over the years Emil has received generous support from the following arts agencies and organizations:

Home page credits:

Derailed graphic by Rebecca Timmons.

Making Waves design by David Wyman; photo by Peter Bregg

Respond in Writing: Book cover design by Tara Cooper.