Anthony Hampshire

“Youth fiction can be a powerful experience for young readers,” Anthony says, “but I find that a good deal of it contains characters who are amoral, devious and self-serving. There remains a need to introduce young readers to characters who choose to do the right thing, rather than the easy thing.”

As a school principal, Anthony regularly guides and mentors students. “I firmly believe that true learning builds skills and understandings that are of real interest, personal importance and lasting benefit to the student.” About Eddie Stewart, the protagonist of his RedLine Racing Series, Anthony says: “Eddie usually describes, understands and reacts to events as an adult, but he still retains much of the innocence and wonder of youth. Eddie has my sense of humour and a strong competitive edge, coupled with great determination to earn his success.”

Anthony has raced cars at the regional and national amateur levels across western Canada for 10 years, and says he often feels safer in a race car than commuting on the freeway in a regular car. “It is comforting to know that none of your competitors on the track is eating breakfast, shaving or closing a deal on the cell phone as they slide sideways at 120 kph,” he says.

Anthony grew up in Calgary and London, England, and describes both cities as “vibrant.” “Calgary’s energy and optimism are always there,” Anthony says. “It’s a place for change, work and new things. By contrast, I’m impressed with London’s atmosphere of worldly experience and lived history.” Anthony now resides in Millarville, at the foot of the Rockies, where he plans to write the next installment of the RedLine Racing Series. “For the next book I’m working on a NASCAR story line, likely set at the Daytona 500. I plan to explore how rapid and enormous success affects Eddie and the other central characters, particularly in how they deal with the tension between public celebrity and personal integrity.”