Betty Dorion's first novel, Melanie Bluelake's Dream, was a finalist for the Silver Birch Award in Ontario, the Young Readers' Choice Award in Manitoba, and two Saskatchewan Book Awards.Born, raised and educated as a teacher in Newfoundland, Betty Dorion moved to Saskatchewan in 1975, living and teaching at a number of reserve schools until moving to Prince Albert in 1980, where she continues writing and teaching to this day.