Lawrence Hill is a celebrated Canadian author, known for his works in fiction and non-fiction, as well as his journalism. Born in 1957 in Newmarket, Ontario, Hill is the son of American immigrants – his father, Daniel Hill, was the chairperson of the Ontario Human Rights Commission and served as the Ombudsman of Ontario, while his mother, Donna, contributed significantly to the enactment of anti-discrimination legislation in Ontario. Growing up in Don Mills, Ontario, Hill initially aspired to become an Olympic runner, but a change of direction led him to start writing on his mother's typewriter at the age of 14.
Hill earned his Bachelor's degree in economics from Laval University in Quebec City and later obtained a Master's degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He has lived and worked in various locations across Canada, as well as in Baltimore, Spain, and France. Hill is currently a professor of creative writing at the University of Guelph, in Ontario. His work often explores issues of identity, drawing from his unique background as the child of a mixed-race couple. Hill has received numerous literary accolades, including a National Magazine Award in 2005 for his article “Is Africa’s Pain Black America’s Burden?” and the 2007 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for his novel, The Book of Negroes.
In addition to his novels, Hill has written several non-fiction books, including Blood: The Stuff of Life, which delves into the physical, social, cultural, and psychological aspects of blood and its role in defining, uniting, and dividing people. He has also co-written a television miniseries adaptation of The Illegal for Conquering Lion Pictures. His other notable works include Some Great Thing, Any Known Blood, and Black Berry, Sweet Juice: On Being Black and White in Canada. Hill's writing captivates readers with its exploration of identity, race, and personal experiences, further solidifying his status as a prominent figure in Canadian literature.