Chad Pelley is a multi-award-winning writer from St. John’s, Newfoundland. His debut novel, Away from Everywhere, was a Coles bestseller, won the NLAC’s CBC Emerging Artist of the Year award, and was shortlisted for the for 2010 ReLit award, as well as the Canadian Authors Association Emerging Writer of the Year award. It has been adopted by multiple university English courses, and a film adaptation is in the works.
Critics have all focused on the emotional intensity and attention to detail in his writing. His short fiction has won awards, been anthologized, and accepted for publication by leading literary journals such as Prairie Fire.
Chad facilitates a creative writing course at Memorial University, sits on the board of directors at the Writers’ Alliance of Newfoundland & Labrador, runs Salty Ink.com, and has written for a variety of publications, such as Quill & Quire, The National Post, The Telegram and Atlantic Books Today.
As of 2010 he is represented by Chris Bucci at the McDermid Agency.
He also sells photography and writes 5 songs a month, and only does all of the above because he cannot sing well enough to pursue a career in music.
Email: chadpelley@hotmail.com
while you’re at it, please change the balance of my bank account as well ;-)
franzi
Chad,
Looking forward to reading the book.
Dex
love the new photo avec beard!
just finished reading(away from everywhere) and what a book.i was immediately drawn into the story so much that i couldn’t put it down. i’m an avid reader so this was a pure pleasure to read.
Thanks so much! I appreciate you taking the time to say so.
Happened upon your book and was intrigued with the intro and the fact that you were local was a definite factor for me buying it. I read the first few pages when I got home and was immediately drawn into the story, I could not put it down – fantastic!
Thanks!
Chad,
Glad to see you are doing well. Congrats on the book. Phenomenal soundtrack and trailer!
Regards.
Chad,
I had to drop by and once again express my pride in your accomplishments. I read the book – couldn’t put it down. And now I can proudly say that I have an “Award winning” nephew. Everyone should read this!
Dex
Amazing book. Can’t wait to get my hands on some more of your work!
Appreciate that, it’s in the works.
Chad, When I was visiting St. John’s in November you happened to be signing your books in Chapters. So to support a local author I said hello and purchased your book. I finally had the time to read it over the Christmas holidays and wow! What a storyteller you are! I loved it! I will spread the word.
And it was fun to see Iona Bulgin’s name in your acknowledgements. Iona and I used to hang out during my university years when I lived in St. John’s.
I will be looking forward to your next book!
Chris, I remember our brief chat. Thanks!
Wow! Loved, loved, loved your book! Please write more…and often!
Love love love that you took the time to say so, Tanya.
Just finished Away From Everywhere and it was a very good read. I will check out some of your other books!
Thanks, sincerely.
Just Finished your novel “Away From Everywhere” and it was so good that I had to get on the computer at 1:30am and write you a kudo’s. Tired of reading the same old, same old that it was so refreshing to read a novel and not know where it was going. I thought it was very unpredictable, kept me on edge and a definate page turner. Keep Writing Chad because your writing is amazing!
the unoffical soundtrack is perfect too!
Well, thanks very much for saying so! All of it! New one in the works too, and glad you liked the soundtrack ;)
Loved your book!! I found it hard to put down and was sad that it ended! Can’t wait for your next book.
Thanks, Angela, Sincerely.
I was just recently back home and bought your book in a store on Water Street….wow…what a fantastic read! Please, please get busy and write more!!! Great job and congrats on the success!
Btw..I was in a locally owned bookstore in Ottawa just today and mentioned your book; they hadn’t heard of it so I suggested they add it to their bookclub list.
Thanks so much!
WOW!!!! Loved the book. I am an avid reader and this book drew me in and I couldn’t wait to see where it was going. Looking forward to hearing more from you. Keep publishing. From your newest fan.
Thanks so much! I’m finishing up a new one this month …
Chad,
I just finished devouring your book! Thanks for your absolutely amazing work! So glad that I stopped by at your book signing at Christmas at the Glacier recently and I am looking forward to your next book. Congratulations!
Thanks so much ;)
Hey Chad,
Picked up your book at the airport on my way to the Caribbean for a holiday. Wound up spending 2 days on the beach reading until the end – by then my eyes were nearly blind and I couldn’t see my hand in front of me. Your book gave me 2 things. One, I need glasses, and two, I have a new addition to my top 3 favorites. Looking forward to the next one.
Thanks for taking the time to say so! I kind of like the idea of being read to near-blindness on a beach ;)
I bought your book for myself just before Christmas on the recommendations of the Chapters staff. Even as I was wandering around the store with it in hand, a staff member commented that it was a great book. I went home confident that I was about to escape in to a great read.
I have now finished Away from Everywhere and LOVED it. As some of the others noted I did not want it to end. Part way through the book I flipped to the back to read about the author and was very surprised about a few things… 1) your a guy 2) you are young 3) you’re Canadian! Now to explain why that was surprising… You wrote Hannah’s journal entries with such deep emotion and just nailed what so many women think about themselves. Amazing. You are truly a talented individual and have a real ability for creating depth in your characters. Thank you for an incredibly pleasurable read. Keep up the good work!
Michelle: Firstly: thanks! Secondly: A lot of people have commented on how a “young” “man” could write the Hannah character. Funnily enough, I found her the easiest character to write in all I’ve written! I’ve met a few women who are with the wrong man … and ran with that. (With the idea that we can get locked into a life, but the only thing keeping us there is ourselves, the pace of life, etc …)
Hi Chad,
I just finished reading your book and like everyone else who commented here I couldn’t put it down. I love to read local writer’s work so when a friend offered it to me and I noticed Kenneth Harvey endorsed it I had a feeling it would be good.
I am a counsellor and was amazed at your insight!! My friends and I plan to start a book club soon and I will definitely be recommending your book.
Keep up the good work. It always makes us proud to see such great talent here in the province.
Thanks Marilyn, your words are much appreciated.
Just short and sweet; your eye for photos are heaven sent Chad!
Hi Chad!
Received one of your photographs as a Christmas present. I am from St Mary’s Bay, but live in Ottawa. My sister was visiting and gave me a print titled Puffins, love it!
Thanks
Mary Ryan
Thanks, Mary. Nice to hear the photos are getting around and finding walls to call home.