Early_life W._P._Kinsella

william patrick kinsella born in edmonton, alberta, son of irish canadian parents, olive mary (née elliott/elliot), printer, , john matthew kinsella, contractor. raised until 10 years old @ homestead near darwell, alberta, 60 km west of city, home-schooled mother , taking correspondence courses. m 1 of these people woke @ age 5 knowing how read , write, says. when ten, family moved edmonton. did not go school until grade five, , did not attend university until in mid-30s. kinsella not exposed literature in school, claiming in 2010 interview, 1 shakespeare play , 1 j. m. barrie play total literature of high school years.

kinsella s literary education in formative years came reading , attending plays @ high school , theatrical productions made edmonton. worked in school library senior year.

as adult, held variety of jobs in edmonton, including clerk government of alberta , managing credit bureau. in 1967, moved victoria, british columbia, running pizza restaurant called caesar s italian village , driving taxi. though had been writing since child (winning ymca contest @ age 14), began taking writing courses @ university of victoria in 1970, receiving bachelor of arts in creative writing there in 1974. earned master of fine arts in english degree through iowa writers workshop @ university of iowa in 1978. before becoming professional author, professor of english @ university of calgary.