Eric Walters began writing in 1993 as a way to entice his grade 5 students into becoming more interested in reading and writing.  Each day he would read to his students the story he was writing which was set in their school, in their community and with some of the students as characters.  At the end of the year — and the end of the novel — one of the students suggested that he try to have this story published. This book, Stand Your Ground, became Eric’s first published novel.  Since that first creation Eric has published 90 novels and picture books. His novels have all become best sellers, have won over a hundred awards, and have been translated into more than a dozen languages.

Over the past few years he has been the driving force behind The Creation of Hope (www.creationofhope.com) — an organization that serves orphans and needy children in Kenya.  Along with private donations and fundraising events he has involved over 125 schools across Canada in raising funds that have built a children’s residence, have created water projects, provided school supplies, blankets, goats and chickens, medicine, shoes and clothing to more than four hundred children throughout the Kikima area.

In 2014 Eric was named a Member of The Order of Canada. The citation reads — For his contribution as an author of literature for children and young adults whose stories help young readers grapple with complex social issues.