Wes Funk

Wes Funk (February 18, 1969 – October 9, 2015) was a Canadian writer. Based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,^[2] he published several novels and a chapbook of poetry and short stories, and hosted a weekly television series, Lit Happens, on Shaw TV's services in Saskatchewan.^[3]

Funk, who was gay,^[3] was raised in a Mennonite household in rural Mayfair, Saskatchewan.^[4] He had a twin sister, who died in childhood.^[5]

Funk published his debut novel, Dead Rock Stars, in 2008.^[4] Initially self-published,^[6] the book later gained national distribution.^[4] The novel was republished in audiobook form in 2013,^[7] and a new illustrated edition was published in 2015.^[8]

In 2012, Funk pulled his book Cherry Blossoms off of bookstore shelves after the publisher inadvertently printed an early draft instead of the final version.^[9] The corrected edition was rereleased several weeks later. The book won a Bookie Award from CBC Books in 2013.^[10]

In 2014, Funk published the memoir Wes Side Story.^[10] In addition to his writing and broadcasting, Funk also worked in social services.^[11]

Funk died in his sleep on October 9, 2015, in Edmonton, Alberta. He was only 46 years old. It was thought that he may have accidentally overdosed on painkillers after a surgical procedure.^[12] At the time of his death, his short story Rescuing Lancelot had just been published in the literary magazine Jonathan, and his latest novel Frostbite was slated for publication in 2016.