Autobiography Challenge: Sean Cullen, Shakespeare, jellyfish and more

IAN FERGUSON'S ENTRY:

Some Cows Also Died
By Ian Ferguson

From the moment he forced a recalcitrant herd onto a frozen slough in northern Alberta, Ian Ferguson's life has been informed by cows. Now, in this breathtakingly frank - and yet completely fictitious - autobiography, Ian cuts straight to the bone and gets to the meat of the matter.

Ian's real bio: Ian Ferguson won the Stephen Leacock Medal for his book Village of the Small Houses, and - with his brother, Will Ferguson - is the co-author of How to be a Canadian, which was shortlisted for the Leacock, and which won the CBA Libris Award for non-fiction. He is currently based in Victoria, where he is developing a new television series for Less Bland Productions.

TREVOR COLE'S ENTRY:

He Had to Laugh
By Trevor Cole

Raised in tumult by alcoholics, beset in childhood with spectacles, braces and Shakespeare, Trevor Cole learned to chuckle at life. He was stung by a jellyfish, bitten by a dog, beaten bloody by a pipsqueak, and became a writer. He fell in love once or twice, and almost died.

Trevor's real bio: Trevor Cole is a veteran magazine journalist (Toronto Life, The Walrus, Canadian Business) and the author of three acclaimed novels. His most recent is Practical Jean, which won the 2011 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour.

KATIE MALLOCH'S ENTRY:

Keepin' My Big Mouth Shut!
by Katie Malloch

What's it like to be a celebrity interviewer? How would SHE know!! But seriously, Katie has dished with jazz stars from Sarah Vaughan to Pat Metheny, and she tells all in this no-holds-barred, name-dropping, club-hopping extravaganza. Pour a double, straight up, and sit back for a delicious read...

Katie's real bio: The host of CBC Radio 2's Tonic, Katie Malloch is a devoted and lifelong jazz fan. Prior to Tonic, Katie was the host of the longstanding show Jazz Beat, also on CBC Radio 2. She lives in Montreal with her husband and two daughters.

SEAN CULLEN'S ENTRY:

Life Is A Fight War
By Sean Cullen

Sean has charmed audiences with his comedy, his writing and his abdominal control. Now discover the dark side: the loneliness, substance abuse and exquisite chainsaw art of the child inside the man behind and to the left of the man. Read. Learn why, for Sean, Life Is A Fight War.

Sean's real bio: Sean Cullen is a multiple award-winning, multi-talented performer. This triple Gemini and Canadian Comedy Award winner has appeared in his own specials on Comedy Central and The Comedy Network as well as writing and starring in The Sean Cullen Show on CBC. Sean is also an award-winning author for his Hamish X and Misplaced Prince novels, and he was a favourite CBC radio personality with his popular program Simply Sean.

We'll be running more entries by Canadian writers and personalities next week. Have you submitted your entry to the Canada Writes Autobiography Challenge yet?