About
Royston Tester immigrated to Canada from England in 1978 and attended graduate school at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario. He has lived in Barcelona and Beijing. His short fiction and poetry have appeared in Canadian, British, U.S. and Asian journals. Two short stories, ‘Seriously’ and ‘Face’ were shortlisted for the 2006 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Literary Awards. Since the early 90’s he has been a freelance editor and between 1993-5 co-edited Kairos, a Canadian literary journal. Tester has been a jury member for the Commonwealth Fiction Prize, and a reader for the Writers’ Union of Canada ‘Short Prose Competition for Developing Writers’.
In Canada, he has taught ‘English as a Second Language’ at McMaster University and fiction-writing at the School for Writers, Humber College, Toronto. In 2012, he was appointed Associate Editor of Cha: An Asian Literary Journal. He has travelled in the Brazilian Amazon, Middle East, and North Africa. Supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario and Toronto Arts Councils, has been writer-in-residence at various international locations: Hawthornden Castle, Scotland; the Danish Cultural Centre, Damascus; Fundacion Valparaiso, Almeria, Spain; CAMAC, Marnay-sur-Seine, France; and Denkmalschmiede Hofgen, near Leipzig, Germany.
Throughout the mid-2000’s he was writer-in-residence with the Red Gate Gallery, Beijing, China. In August 2008, he published a travel memoir Qingdao: Wind in its Sails and in September was awarded ‘City Promotional Ambassador’ at a public ceremony hosted by the area government.
Personal Information
Email: royston.tester@gmail.com
Website: http://www.roystontester.com/
Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/royston.tester
https://www.instagram.com/royston.tester/?hl=es
https://twitter.com/testerroyston
Publishers:
https://porcupinesquill.ca//bookinfo6.php?index=171
https://www.lpg.ca/house-tightrope-books
Short Fiction (Books)
You Turn Your Back. Toronto: Tightrope Books, 2014. Print. 262 pp.
(Long-listed for Frank O´Connor International Short Story Award (Ireland) and Edge Hill Short Story Prize (UK).
Fatty Goes To China. Toronto: Tightrope Books, 2012. Print. 150 pp.
ISBN: 9781926639482
(Long-listed for Edge Hill Story Prize UK)
Summat Else. Erin, Ontario: Porcupine's Quill, 2004. Print. 176 pp.
ISBN: 0889842574
Cuentos Populares Ingleses. Barcelona: La Gaia Ciencia,1979. Print. 208 pp.
ISBN: 8470800906
Individual Poems
“still in love with the bass player.” Orbis (UK) 188 (July 2019). Print.
(Troubadour International Poetry Prize, London, England. 2018. Longlisted)
(Troubadour International Poetry Prize, London, England. 2018. Longlisted)
(Poet of the Year Award. University of Canterbury. 2018. Longlisted)
(Nick Blatchford Occasional Verse Contest, The New Quarterly. Canada. 2017. Longlisted)
(Far Horizons Award for Poetry, Canada. 2014. Finalist)
Non-Fiction (Book)
Qingdao: Wind in its Sails. Beijing: Beijing Matric Culture Communications Ltd, 2008. Print. 384 pp.
ISBN: 9780980947632.EPS
Anthologies That Include My Short Stories
"Four Gentlemen and a Comfort Woman." Cross Country Canada. Ed. Eva Pors. Copenhagen: Lindhardt and Ringhof Uddanelse, 2014. 123-138. Print.
ISBN: 9788770665698.
"Heaven." Everything I Have Is Blue. Ed. Wendell Ricketts.
San Francisco: Suspect Thoughts Press, 2005. 127-132. Print.
ISBN: 0974638897
"Service." Quickies 3. Ed. James C. Johnstone.
Vancouver, B.C.: Arsenal Pulp Press, 2003. 176-178. Print.
ISBN: 9781551521442
"First Steps First." Intersections. Eds. Edna Alford, Rhea Tregebov.
Banff: Banff Centre Press, 2000. 42-46. Print.
ISBN: 9780920159736
"Crooked Hollow." RipRap. Eds. Edna Alford, Rhea Tregebov, Don McKay.
Banff: Banff Centre Press, 1999. 139-147. Print.
ISBN: 9780920159651
"Naked Night." Quickies 2. Ed. James C. Johnstone.
Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press, 1998. 68-71. Print.
ISBN: 9781551520698
"First Appointment." Golden Horseshoe Anthology. Eds. James Strecker, Gerard Dion.
Hamilton: Mini Mocho Press, 1992. 152-156. Print.
ISBN: 9780921980100
Anthology That Includes My Non-Fiction
"(very) Trying Monogamy." The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name: Essay on Queer Sexuality and Desire. Ed. Greg Wharton. Toronto: Boheme Press, 2003. 54-66. Print.
(16th LAMBDA Literary Awards 2004. Finalist)
Individual Short Stories
"Dog Stare." The Dalhousie Review 93.2 (2013): 243-247. Print.
"Fatty Goes to China." Cha: An Asian Literary Journal 16 (2012): n. pag. Web.
(Chroma (UK) 'International Queer Writing Competition' 2009. Shortlisted)
"A Beijing Minute." Quarterly Literary Review Singapore 10.3 (2012): n. pag. Web.
(Best New Singaporean Short Stories. Vol. 1. 2013. Honourable Mention)
"Carnaval." The Antigonish Review 163 (2010): 11-12. Print.
(40th Anniversary Competition. Honourable Mention)
"Dotty." Grain Magazine 38.1 (2010): 90-95. Print.
(Submitted by the editors for a National Magazine Award 2011)
"Seriously." Leaf Garden 8 (2010): n. pag. Web.
(CBC Literary Awards 2006. Shortlisted)
(Antigonish Review Sheldon Currie Fiction Contest 2009. Finalist)
"Bird on a High Branch." Quarterly Literary Review Singapore 10.1 (2010): n. pag. Web.
"Ducks of Berlin." "Sudden Memory of a Row of Beeches." "May I Proctor For You?" Oblique Quarterly (2010): 10-25. Print.
"Pink Virgin of KFC." Cha: An Asian Literary Journal 5 (2008): n. pag. Web.
"Face." DREAMScene 5 ((2008): n. pag. Web.
(CBC Literary Awards 2006—shortlisted)
"Queens Take Longer, I Suppose." DREAMScene 3 (2008): n. pag. Web.
"After Queen Zenobia's Telephone." The Antigonish Review 147 (2007): 91-97. Print.
"An Island in the South Pacific." Grain Magazine 34.1 (2006): 64-71. Print.
"You Dress Up, You Dance." The Antigonish Review 138 (2004): 19-28. Print.
"Travestis." Lodestar (2004): n. pag. Web.
"Now Showing." Pagitica 2.4 (2004): 11-21. Print.
(Annual International Literary Contest 2004. Runner-Up)
"Once Upon a Prissy." Prism international 42.1 (2003): 64-71. Print.
"Pouffe." Blithe House Quarterly 9.2 (2003): n. pag. Web.
"Let Us Eat and Drink." The New Quarterly 86 (2003): 122-137. Print.
(Submitted by the editors for a National Magazine Award 2004)
"You Turn Your Back." Descant 120 (2003): 155-162. Print.
(Submitted by the editors for the Journey Prize Competition 2004)
"Unmentionable." The Antigonish Review 131 (2003): 29-39. Print.
"Enoch Jones and the Bombmaker." Pagitica 2.2 (2002): 60-75. Print.
Blithe House Quarterly 6.3 (2002): n. pag. Web. (Nominated for e2ink-2 Best of the Online Journals Anthology 2003)
(New Century Writer Awards (U.S.). Shortlisted)
(Prism international Short Story Competition. Shortlisted)
"Disguised by Night." Church-Wellesley Review (1999). Print.
"Dog in a Red Waistcoat." Queen Street Quarterly 2.4 & 3.1 (1999): 9-13. Print.
"Redwater." B&A New Writing (1998). Print.
(Chapters Prize. Winner)
(U.S. New Century Writer Awards 2002. Finalist)
"Notfall." Prism international 36.1 (1997): 26-36. Print.
"Lessons in Space." Quarry Magazine 44.2 (1996): 111-122
(Submitted by the editors for the Journey Prize Competition 1997)
"Mrs. Shooter, Burning." Prism international (1996)
(Annual Short Story Contest. Finalist)
"Crooked Hollow." B&A New Writing (1995)
(Annual Literary Awards. Hamilton and Region Arts Council. Winner)
Individual Non-Fiction
"My Pictures of Kinky Things." The New Quarterly (2015)
Feature: Writer-at-Large
(Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest 2014. Honourable Mention)
"Tea with Immortals." Prairie Fire 33.4 (2013): 66-69
(Prism international Annual Creative Non-Fiction Contest 2010. Shortlisted)
(Fish International Short Memoir Prize 2012. Longlisted)
"Fiction Craft." Open Book Toronto (2012): n. pag. Web.
"Some Other Life." Cha: An Asian Literary Journal. 8 (2009): Editorial.
"Assembly of Silences: paintings by Marsha McDonald." Firenze Biennale (2007): Catalogue.
Dissertations
Buggerlugs. MFA thesis. University of British Columbia. 2015. Print.
The Hartleian Male Protagonist: a search for self. PhD thesis. McMaster University, 1985. Digital Commons. Web/e-book.
The Principle of Unity in Patrick White's Novel, Riders in the Chariot. MA thesis. McMaster University. 1979. Digital Commons. Web/e-book.
Books Edited
Wilson S, and S. Lewis. Sichuan: The Spice of Life. Beijing: Beijing Matric Culture Communications Ltd., 2008. Print.
Gillet, Kit. Zhengzhou: Cradle of Civilization. Beijing: Beijing Matric Culture Communications Ltd., 2008. Print.
Reviews of Fatty Goes to China
Fitch, Laura. "New Collection of Foreign Fiction Set in Beijing." City Weekend (Beijing) 31 Dec 2012: n. pag. Web.
Tsang, Samuel. "Foreigners Rip Entry into Common Lives in Beijing: Royston Tester's Fatty Goes to China." Cha: An Asian Literary Journal Sept. 2012: n. pag. Web.
Reviews of Summat Else
"Summat Else." THIS Magazine. Jan-Feb 2007. Print.
Smith, Stephen Ross. "Royston Tester Debuts." Prairie Fire. 21 Dec 2005. Print.
Hartley, Graham. "A Strange and Evocative Quest." Literary Review of Canada. May 2005. Print.
LeBlanc Robert. "Summat Else." The Ultimate Hallucination. 14 April 2005. Print.
"Summat Else." The Gay Men's Edition. 2:3. 25 April 2005. Print.
Manwaring, Bob. "A Gay Life in Stages." Swerve Magazine. Jan 2005. Print.
Chapman, Peggy. "Summat Else." Hamilton Magazine. Winter 2005. Print.
Bayley, Linda M. "Summat Else." CBRA. 2004-2005. Print.
Bartley, Jim. "A Litany of Loss." Globe and Mail. 11 Dec 2004. Print.
"Books to Give." Hour Books. Dec 2004. n. pag. Web.
Education
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.
Master of Fine Arts (Creative Writing)
Thesis: Buggerlugs (novel set in Canada and Brazilian Amazon)
Supervisor: Annabel Lyon. 2015.
Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario.
Courses in Visual Studies (Film, Video, Photography) and Screenwriting. 1995-1996.
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.
Doctor of Philosophy (Modern British Fiction). First class. 1986.
Master of Arts (English Literature). First class. 1980
University of Essex, Colchester, England.
Bachelor of Arts in English and European Literature (Honours), 1976.
Employment
Cha: An Asian Literary Journal. Online Quarterly. Hong Kong.
Associate Editor (Fiction). 2012-
School for Writers, Humber College, Toronto, Ontario.
Sessional Professor (Prose Fiction). 2004-2005.
Kairos. Literary Journal. Hamilton, Ontario.
Co-Editor (Fiction and Poetry).1993-1995.
(Winner, Anthology Award, Hamilton and Region Arts Council, 1995).
Mohawk College, Hamilton, Ontario.
Professor (Creative Writing, Communication). 1983-2014.
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.
Residence Don, Edwards Hall. 1981-1982.
Instructor (ESL). 1978-1983.
Writing Residencies
Arts Atrium, Zurich, Switzerland.
Writer in Residence. June-August, 2015.
Hawthornden International Retreat for Writers, Lasswade, Scotland.
Fellow. May, 2014.
Red Gate Gallery Beijing, China.
Writer in Residence. July-Sept., 2011.
Red Gate Gallery Beijing, China.
Writer in Residence. May-July, 2010.
Red Gate Gallery Beijing, China.
Writer in Residence. May-Sept./Dec.-Jan., 2009.
Red Gate Gallery Beijing, China.
Writer in Residence. May-Jan., 2007-2008.
Danish Cultural Institute Damascus, Syria.
Writer in Residence. June-July, 2005.
Centre d'Art Marnay (CAMAC) Marnay-sur-Seine, France.
Writer in Residence. Feb.-May. 2005.
Denkmalschmiede Hofgen Studios International, Grimma (Leipzig), Germany.
Writer in Residence. Dec.-Jan., 2004-2005.
Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff, Alberta, Canada.
Independent Writing Residency. April, 2003.
Fundacion Valparaiso, Almeria, Spain.
Writer in Residence. Nov.-Dec., 2003.
Hawthornden International Retreat for Writers, Lasswade, Scotland.
Fellow. July, 2003.
Humber School for Writers, Toronto, Ontario.
30-week Online Fiction-Editing Program
Mentor: Susan Swan. 2003.
Professional Affiliations and Activities
Hamilton and Region Arts Council, Hamilton, Ontario.
Judge (Fiction). Annual Literary Awards. 2014.
Writers' Union of Canada, Toronto, Ontario.
First-Round Reader. Postcard Stories Competition. 2012.
Writers' Union of Canada, Toronto, Ontario.
First-Round Reader. 19th Annual Short Prose Competition for Developing Writers. 2011.
Cha: An Asian Literary Journal (Issue #15)
Guest Editor (Prose). 2011.
Writers' Union of Canada, Toronto, Ontario.
First-Round Reader. Postcard Stories Competition. 2010.
Cha: An Asian Literary Journal (Issue #12)
Guest Editor (Prose). 2010.
Cha: An Asian Literary Journal (Issue #8)
Guest Editor (Prose). 2009.
(Organized first mainland-China launch
Bookworm Bookstore, Beijing, August 31.
Writers' Union of Canada, Toronto, Ontario.
First-Round Reader. 17th Annual Short Prose Competition for Developing Writers. 2008.
Beijing-Matric Cultural Communications Co. Ltd., Beijing, China.
Consulting Editor/Writer. 2007.
Commonwealth Book Prize (Canada and Caribbean Region).
Jury Member. 1999.
Memberships
PEN Canada (Donor/Member)
The Asia-Pacific Writing Partnership (Founding Member)
Writers' Union of Canada (Member)
Honours and Awards
Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest.
The New Quarterly.
"My Pictures of Kinky Things." Honourable Mention. 2014.
Far Horizons Award for Poetry
The Malahat Review.
"Roger Casement's Sock." Finalist. 2014.
Ontario Arts Council.
Writers' Works in Progress Grant. Creative Non-Fiction. 2014.
Fish International Short Memoir Prize (Ireland).
"Night Work." Shortlisted. 2014
"Fortinos." Longlisted. 2014.
Canada Council for the Arts.
Travel Grant. 2013.
Edge Hill Story Prize (U.K.)
Fatty Goes to China.
Longlisted. 2013.
Ontario Arts Council.
Writers Reserve Grant. 2013.
Fish International Short Memoir Prize (Ireland).
'Tea with Immortals.' Longlisted. 2012.
Open Season Awards (Short Fiction).
The Malahat Review.
'Four Gentlemen and a Comfort Woman.' Finalist. 2012.
Ontario Arts Council.
Writers Reserve Grant. 2010.
40th Anniversary Competition. Short Fiction.
The Antigonish Review (Issue #163).
'Carnaval.' Honorable Mention. 2010.
Ontario Arts Council
National and International Residency Grant. 2010.
Annual Creative Non-Fiction Contest.
PRISM International.
'Tea with Immortals.' Shortlisted. 2010.
Queer Writing Competition (U.K.)
Chroma International.
'Fatty Goes To China.' Shortlisted. 2009.
Sheldon Currie Fiction Prize.
The Antigonish Review.
'Seriously.' Finalist. 2009.
Ontario Arts Council.
National and International Residency Grant. 2009.
Ontario Arts Council.
Writers' Reserve Grant. 2009.
Toronto Arts Council.
Level II Grant to Writers. 2008.
Local Government. Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
City Promotional Ambassador. 2008.
Ontario Arts Council.
Writers' Reserve Grant. 2008.
CBC Literary Awards 2006. Short Fiction.
'Seriously' and 'Face.' Shortlisted. 2007.
Canada Council for the Arts.
Travel Grant. 2005.
Canada Council for the Arts.
Grants for Professional Writers: Creative Writing. 2005.
Ontario Arts Council.
Writers' Works in Progress Grant. 2004.
Suspect Thoughts Press (U.S.)
Project: Queer Lit Contest (Novel).
Nancy's Boy. Finalist. 2004.
Toronto Arts Council.
Level 1 Grant to Writers. 2004.
Canada Council for the Arts.
Grants for Professional Writers: Creative Writing. 2004.
Ontario Arts Council.
Writers' Reserve Grant. 2004.
Canada Council for the Arts.
Travel Grant. 2004.
Annual Literary Contest. Short Fiction.
Pagitica.
"Now Showing." Finalist. 2004.
Canada Council for the Arts.
Travel Grant. 2003 and 2002.
New Century Writer Awards (U.S.)
Quarter-Finalist. Short Fiction. 2002.
New Century Writer Awards (U.S.)
"Hands Over the Body" and "Enoch Jones and the Bombmaker."
Finalists. Short Fiction. 2002.
Annual Short Story Competition.
PRISM international.
"Enoch Jones and the Bombmaker." Shortlisted. 2002.
Canada Council for the Arts.
Grants for Professional Writers: Creative Writing. 2000.
Public Readings
Barrie Literary Festival. Barrie, ON.
'Pink Virgin of KFC' (from Fatty Goes to China). 2013.
Lit Live. Hamilton, ON.
'Pink Virgin of KFC.' 2012.
Launch of Fatty Goes to China. Revival Club. Toronto, ON.
'Pink Virgin of KFC.' 2012.
Save High Park Zoo. Café Novo. Toronto, ON.
'Four Gentlemen and a Comfort Woman' (from Fatty Goes to China). 2012.
Anti-Valentine Event. Painted Lady Café, Toronto, ON.
'Tribute to Poet Maureen Hynes.' 2012.
Tightrope Books --- Authors Event. Ben McNally Books. Toronto, ON.
2011.
Solo Author Event. Opposite House. Beijing, China.
'A Beijing Minute' (from Fatty Goes to China). 2010.
My Diva anthology launch. Ben McNally Books. Toronto, ON.
2009.
Bei Gao - Open Studios. Beijing, China.
"Fatty Goes to China." 2009.
This Ain't The Rosedale Library. Toronto, ON.
'Now Showing' (from Summat Else). 2006.
GritLit Festival. Hamilton, ON.
(from Summat Else). 2005.
Launch of Summat Else. Drake Hotel. Toronto, ON.
2004.
Launch of Summat Else. Gallery on the Bay. Hamilton, ON.
2004.
Books and Company. Picton, ON.
'Notfall' (from Summat Else). 2004.
Paul Beckett Gallery. Mojácar, Almería, Spain.
'You Turn Your Back' (from Summat Else). 2003.
Launch of Quickies 3 Anthology (Arsenal Pulp Press). Woody's Bar. Toronto, ON.
'Service.' 2003.
Issue Launch of Church-Wellesley Review. Red Spot Lounge. Toronto, ON.
'Crooked Hollow.' 1996.
Issue Launch of B&A New Writing. Rex Hotel. Toronto, ON.
'Redwater.' 1996.
'The Writer Speaks' Reading Series. Banff Centre for the Arts. Banff, AB.
'Crooked Hollow.' 1996.
Anniversary Launch of B&A New Writing. Clinton's Tavern. Toronto, ON.
'Moors and Christians.' 1993.
Interviews
Art Waves --- C101.5 FM
'Fatty Goes To China'
Interview by Bernadette Rule (April 22, 7-8pm). 2012.
City Weekend Magazine. Beijing, China.
'Creative Success Stories'
Interview by Laura Fitch (July 28). 2011.
Launch Issue of Oblique Quarterly
'Featured Author'
Interview by Ken Abell. (March). 2010.
City Weekend Magazine. Beijing, China.
'Exploring the Power of the Pen'
Interview by Laura Fitch (Sept. 14) . 2009.
Miscellaneous Courses
Creative Works Studio. Hamilton, Ontario.
Sketching and Painting - Level 2.
Tutor: Sylvia Simpson. 2012.
University of Durham, Durham, England.
Introductory Mandarin. 2006-7.
Alliance Française. Toronto, ON.
Courses in conversation - Level 2.
2004.
Danish Cultural Institute, Damascus, Syria.
Introductory Arabic. 2005.
Ryerson University, Toronto, ON.
Visual Studies (Film, Video, Photography) and Screenwriting.
1995-6.
Escuela Internacional de Idiomas. Barcelona, Spain.
Certificate in the Teaching of English as a Second Language
(International House, London, England). 1976-7.
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