Poetry Bio
Dorothy Bentley has written poetry from a young age and has been published in literary journals and magazines. Her newest release is a memoir in verse, Three Girls in a Cherry Tree (E!P, autumn, 2025); a bilingual edition will be published by the Budapest Academy (2026). Her first poetry chapbook is Nature Divine (E!P, January 2025), and a picture book featuring her poetry, Summer North Coming, was published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside (2019). She’s a winner of the RMWB Words in Motion poetry contest (2016), and she was short-listed for an Excellence in the Arts Award, Literary Arts category, by Arts Council Wood Buffalo (2022). When she isn’t writing or teaching creative writing, she’s planning her next adventure. Discover other works at dorothybentley.ca.
Longish Bio
Dorothy Bentley is published in articles, cartoons, columns, interviews, short stories, poetry, and novels. A former newspaper columnist and tour guide in Wood Buffalo, her poetry picture book, Summer North Coming, (Fitzhenry & Whiteside) was released in 2019, following a family’s romp through a year living in the North. Her YA novel, Escape from the Wildfire, (Lorimer Kids & Teens) was released in 2022 (Canada), and 2023 (US), chronicling the challenges of a teen in a B.C. village affected by dramatic true events. In addition to novels and picture books, Dorothy writes poetry. Her first chapbook with nature-themed poetry was released in January: Nature Divine (2025). She’s a winner of the RMWB Words in Motion poetry contest (2016), and she was short-listed for an Excellence in the Arts Award, Literary Arts category, by Arts Council Wood Buffalo (2022). Dorothy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, 2021, and completed numerous workshops, a year-long novel-writing course, and she’s worked with editors and mentors through guilds. She lives in Southern Alberta with her family. When she isn’t writing or teaching creative writing, she’s planning her next adventure. dorothybentley.ca.
Short Bio for Young Readers
Dorothy Bentley’s first two books for young readers were a poetry picture book, Summer North Coming,, published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside, (2019), and a YA novel, Escape from the Wildfire, published by Lorimer Kids & Teens (Canada 2022/USA 2023). Her middle-grade novel, O’Malley the Mail-Order Dog, was published by Perpetua Press (2025), and a new YA novel, The Good Girl’s Guide to Love + War, A Novel, is forthcoming from Perpetua Press (2026). She lives in the Rocky Mountain foothills with her family, a Sheltie named Clay, and a cat named Whitney Mewston who likes to sing. When she isn’t writing or teaching, she’s planning her next adventure. See her photos on Instagram or Facebook, and find out more about her presentations for schools and groups on her website: dorothybentley.ca.
