Harriet Richards’ began her creative practice as a visual artist until an obstinate painting, based on a recurrent dream, insisted on becoming a short story. She has since published three books of fiction: The Lavender Child, nominated for the Fiction Award and won First Book Award, Saskatchewan Book Awards 1998; Waiting for the Piano Tuner to Die, nominated for Book of the Year in 2003;  The Pious Robber, nominated for Book of the Year in 2013, and won the Fiction Award in the same year. Harriet's short works of fiction have been published in literary journals in Canada and Wales, and her paintings have appeared on book covers in both countries. Harriet has mentored emerging writers through the Saskatchewan Writers' Guild, and has edited numerous books of fiction and literary essays for writers across Canada.