Andrew is an award-winning writer who writes for the page, stage, and screen.  He is based in Red Deer, Alberta

published and award-winning writing

Andrew’s short story “Nazar“ was awarded the 2004 Hobson Foundation Prize for Fiction.  In the same year, select poems from God/he was awarded Third Prize in the 2004 Utmost Christian Poetry Contest.  Poems from his book-length work of prose and verse entitled Joseph, a discourse on the Biblical name, appeared in Rock and Sling (Volume 1, Issue 1, 2004) as did excerpts from God/he.

Poetry from The Gospel Writers Meet has also appeared in Rock and Sling (Volume 3, Issue 2, 2006).

In 2006, fourteen of Andrew’s short stories about gender-based injustice were published in the English version of 30 Days of Prayer for the Voiceles, a publication which has since been translated into Japanese, Korean, Urdu, and Spanish.  Andrew wrote four more stories for a new edition of the booklet that was translated into German in 2009.
Andrew’s poetry, short stories, and articles have also been featured by other publications, including The Red Deer College Notebook, Bohemian Alien, SaveAfricaNow Online and have been shortlisted for the WordAlive Writing Contest and Xulon Press.

In November 2009 Andrew released his first novel, Ten Silver Coins: The Drylings of Acchora (Xulon).  He also traveled to Malaysia to work with Raise Their Voice and YWAM Penang on Disappointed by Hope: Migrants and Refugees in Search of a Better Country (forthcoming, TBA).

In 2009, Andrew started his Fridge For Thought as a regular feature on the web.

history of play development

Andrew’s first play, Shelter, was an official selection of Scripts at Work (SAW) 2007, and he had the privilege of workshopping the one act with acclaimed actress and playwright Mieko Ouchi.  The play was directed for a public reading by Vanessa Porteous at the Margaret Parson’s Theatre in April 2007.  The play, about potatoes, an affair, and grace, was also granted a reading workshop at the 2008 Nextfest Festival of the Arts in Edmonton under the direction of Tanya Ryga.

The following year, Andrew submitted his second play, Joseph, to SAW and it was selected for the workshop.  Andrew had the privilege of working with film actor, playwright, and dramaturg Daniel Libman, and was thrilled to learn from Eric Rose who directed a public reading of the one act at the Red Deer College Studio Stage  in April 2008.

Andrew wrote the vignette Though He Crush Me which was performed on Good Friday, 2008 at CrossRoads Church in Red Deer, a short play that he directed with fine performances by Aaron Krogman and Kelsey Krogman.

Andrew’s first full-length play, She Has A Name, was the winner of the Scripts At Work/ Alberta Playwrights Association Award, 2009.  In January 2010 he workshopped the play with Burnt Thicket Theatre in Calgary.  The play was given a public reading in front of an audience of invited guests to positive reviews in Strathmore, Alberta.  Andrew is looking forward to producing the play in the near future.

filmwork

Andrew served as a Writer and Producer for the short film The Prison of Mine (MD Films) which was screened to wide acclaim in Red Deer.  He also Produced The Blind (Unveil Studios and ReDefined Films) a short film and winner of the 2006 2880 Film Festival.  Andrew was an Executive Producer and Overseas Location Manager for the much loved feature film, E for Everyone: The Mouse and the Elephant (Unveil Studios), and Wrote and Directed the short film Though He Crush Me (AK: The Impact Group).

television

• Voices of Change with David Youngren (TCT Network) – Episode 2, “The Gateway House” – Writer, Producer
• Voices of Change with David Youngren (TCT Network) – Episode 3, “The Task Force Team” – Writer, Producer
• Voices of Change with David Youngren (TCT Network) – Episode 4, “Juma and Haruna” – Writer, Producer

education, work, non-profit

Andrew graduated with distinction in 2003 from the University of Calgary (via The Red Deer College) with a BA in English. He holds a certificate in Biblical Studies (The University of the Nations, 2001) and a certificate in Multi-Media Design (The Red Deer College, 2007).  He worked as a staff lecturer from 2003 -2005 in the Penang, Malaysia branch of the University of the Nations in the School of Biblical Studies.  Andrew is owner and operator of AK: The Impact Group, which produces creative media, a small business he launched in 2007.

In the same year he also founded Raise Their Voice Against Injustice Red Deer, which aims to creatively and effectively address issues of global injustice.