Poet, Novelist, Children’s Book Author,

Workshop Facilitator, Artist & Musician

Ben Nuttall-Smith taught Music, Theatre, Art, and Language until he retired in 1991.
He is a member of The Writers’ Union of Canada and a Past President of the 
Federation of British Columbia Writers.

Ben’s major publications from Rutherford Press – Qualicum Beach, B.C. include A memoir: Discovered in a Scream,  (2017), an historical novel: Mad God of the Toltecs, (2017), an illustrated biography of Fraser Valley homesteader and pioneer bush-pilot, Pat Carey – Flying With White Eagle, (2016), several books of poetry including: Crescent Beach Reflections, (2017), Margot – Love in the Golden Years (2019) dedicated to his lately deceased wife. Three illustrated children’s books: Henry Hamster Esquire  (2018), Grandpa’s Homestead – Haiku (May 2021) and Rhyming Fun With Billy and Trish (November 2021). ​​​​​​​The Rawness of Time – Poetry, Commentary and Short Stories (January 2022). 

A 115 page film script based on Mad God of the Toltecs placed as a Finalist in the Wiki Screenplay Contest November 2021. Seeking production.

Ben has also published several chapbooks and a new venture titled Ten Pun Crossword Puzzles for Young Geniuses.

Ben’s poems and short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies and online publications including All That Uneasy Spring ed. Patrick Lane; Quills Canadian Poetry Magazine; Poemata Canadian Poetry Association; Royal City Poets, Silver Bow Publishing,  Between Earth and Sky, Silver Bow Publishing, Lucidity Journal of Verse, Bear House Publishing, Houston, Texas; Cyclamens and Swords online poetry magazine. 

Ben was the winner of The Surrey Board of Trade Special Achievement Award 2011 for work as a writer and for service to the writing community. He was also awarded an Honorary Life Membership by the Federation of British Columbia Writers, May 2013, “in recognition of extraordinary service and dedication to the ideal of Writers Helping Writers”.

Why Do I Write?

For me, writing is a compulsion. I write to organize and clear my mind.

I began writing to heal from PTSD brought on by a school gun incident, December 6^th 1990 – the first anniversary of the massacre at L’École Polytechnique de Montréal. A terrible prank which I was not allowed to report resulted in vivid flashbacks of physical and sexual abuse during the worst of the London Blitz. (see my article in Write Magazine, Spring 2020).

My teaching career ended with a bang and my marriage soon followed.

I spent the next ten years living alone in a “handyman’s delight” on the Sunshine Coast while scribbling, sorting and discarding volumes of old records and confused memories.

The result of those ten years and another sixteen brought healing and a beautiful relationship with my new companion, Margot. Those magical years resulted in the opportunity to reach out to fellow scribblers.

Since the passing of my beloved Margot in January 2019, I have moved to Oceana Parc Retirement Living in White Rock where I have organized and look after a resident library, give writers’ workshops, painting classes, afternoon sing-alongs, take part in dramatic activities and continue writing including a three-part film adaptation of Mad God of the Toltecs. 

 

Meet Oceana PARC Resident Ben

January 10, 2020 in Life at PARC

Written by PARC Retirement Living