Adams Richards 1st artist in residence at St. Thomas

Acclaimed New Brunswick author David Adams Richards has been named the first artist in residence at St. Thomas University in Fredericton.

During his two-year appointment, Richards will write, give readings and lectures, organize visits to campus by other authors and work closely with students.

"I am extremely honoured to be named as inaugural artist in residence at St.Thomas, a university I have in some way been connected with my entire writing life," Richards said in a news release.

His new novel, Incidents in the Life of Markus Paul, will be published this spring. In March, Theatre New Brunswick is premiering a play based on Hockey Dreams, a book that explores the place hockey has in the hearts of Canadians.

"We are extremely pleased to have an author of David Adams Richards's calibre inaugurate our new artist in residence program," said Andrea Seymour, chairwoman of the university's board of governors.

"Given his artistic achievements and strong connection to St. Thomas, we could not think of a better person to launch this initiative."

Richards is one of only three writers towin the Governor General's Literary Awards for both fiction (Nights Below Station Street) and non-fiction (Lines on the Water ). He was nominated for Governor General's awards for his novels Road to the Stilt House, For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down, Mercy Among the Children and The Lost Highway.

Richards holds four honorary degrees, including one from St. Thomas University, and was named to the Order of New Brunswick and Order of Canada for his contribution to literature.