About Chad (a slightly longer bio)

Chad Lucas has been in love with words since he attempted his first novel on a typewriter in the sixth grade. He has worked as a newspaper reporter, communications advisor, freelance writer, part-time journalism instructor, and parenting columnist.

His work has appeared in publications including Halifax Magazine, Black to Business, Sport Quarterly and The Chronicle Herald, where he wrote a biweekly column, “Life With Kids,” from 2011-2016. He’s a previous Silver Award winner at the Atlantic Journalism Awards, and his short fiction has appeared in EVENT and The Dalhousie Review.

Chad’s debut novel THANKS A LOT, UNIVERSE was named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and a best middle grade book of 2021 by the School Library Journal, New York Public Library, and Canadian Children’s Book Centre. His second book, LET THE MONSTER OUT, released in May 2022 and was nominated for the Forest of Reading Red Maple Award (2023) and the Manitoba Young Readers Choice Awards (2024). YOU OWE ME ONE, UNIVERSE, a sequel to Chad’s debut, released in November 2023 and has been named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. His fourth book, THE VANISHED ONES, will be released in January 2025.

A proud descendant of the historic African Nova Scotian community of Lucasville, Chad lives with his family in Nova Scotia. In his spare time, he enjoys coaching youth basketball, and he’s never far from a cup of tea. Chad is also a musician and played on the 2008 East Coast Music Award-winning album New Beginnings from artist Chelsea Amber.