Melanie Schnell

Contact Info

Research Interests

• Writing Pedagogy
• Creative Writing
• Contemporary Fiction
• War Literature
• The Lives of Trees

Melanie Schnell’s novel, While the Sun is Above Us, (Freehand Books, 2012) was shortlisted for The Fiction Award and Book of the Year award and won the Saskatchewan First Book Award and The City of Regina Award in 2013. The novel has been listed as part of the ELA A30 curriculum in both Public and Catholic schools across Saskatchewan.

Melanie has published long and short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Her fiction placed second in the City of Regina Awards in 2010 and 2017. Her poem, “Chance Encounter”, was published in Release Any Words Stuck Inside of You III (2021), and her short story, “Heart Calculation Finalem” was published in MTLS (2023).

Selected Publications

Books: While the Sun is Above Us (novel). Calgary: Freehand Books/Broadview Press, 2012.

Short Fiction: “Heart Calculation Finalem.” Maple Leaf Literary Supplement, Issue 26, 2023.

Poetry: “Chance Encounter.” Release Any Words Stuck Inside of You III, Applebeard Editions, 2021. “Survival/Memory.” Grain Magazine, Vol. 45, no. 4, Summer 2018.

Awards

2022: International Literary Seminars Fiction Contest, The Chorus Beneath our Feet. (excerpt) Longlisted

2019: Summer Literary Seminars Poetry Contest, “Nobody Came.” Longlisted

2017: City of Regina Writing Award (SWG): Runner-Up

2013: City of Regina Award: Winner

2013: Saskatchewan First Book Award: Winner

2013: Saskatchewan Fiction Award: Shortlisted

2013: Saskatchewan Book of the Year: Shortlisted

2010: City of Regina Writing Award (SWG): Runner-Up

2008: Saskatchewan Writer’s Guild Short Manuscript Awards: 1st Place – Poetry

Selected Presentations

2023: The Chorus Beneath our Feet, Invitational Reading at “Tim Blackett and Friends Book Launch”, Regina, SK

2021: While the Sun is Above Us, Invitational Talk and Reading, St. Anthony’s High School in Drumheller, Alberta.

2019: “Teaching War Literature: Moving from Experience to Participant in the Literary Journey.” Presenter, Annual Saskatoon Exchange at the University of Saskatchewan.

2019: “Teaching War Literature: Moving from Experience to Participant in the Literary Journey.” Presenter, University of Regina, English Department’s OMAD series.

2018: While the Sun is Above Us, Invitational Reading, Brandon University speaker series, “Literary Exchange.”

2017: While the Sun is Above Us, Invited Guest Speaker, Indian Head Library.

2017: While the Sun is Above Us, Invited Guest Panelist, “Moms who Write.” Regina Public Library, hosted by Writer-in-Residence Trevor Herriot.

2014: “New Feminist Lecture,” Invited Guest Lecturer, Women’s and Gender Studies,

University of Saskatchewan. 

2014: While the Sun is Above Us, Invited Guest Author, Estevan Comprehensive High School and University Women’s Club, Estevan, SK

2014: While the Sun is Above Us, Invited Guest Speaker, Willow Awards, Regina SK

2014: While the Sun is Above Us, Invited Guest Speaker, Grandmothers for Grandmothers, Regina SK

2013-2017: “On Writing and Failure”, Invited Speaker, Creative Writing Panel, University of Regina English Department Open House.

2013: While the Sun is Above Us, Invited Guest Author, The Festival of Words, Moose Jaw, SK

2013: While the Sun is Above Us, Invited Guest Author, Word on the Street, Saskatoon, SK

2013: While the Sun is Above Us, Invited Guest Reader, Lumsden Public Library.