Lawrence Hill, born to American immigrants, was raised in Ontario during the civil rights movement, greatly influenced by his parents’ activism. His extensive literary repertoire spans fiction and non-fiction, marked by his celebrated novel "The Book of Negroes," winning multiple prestigious awards and adapted into a miniseries. His non-fiction work "Blood: The Stuff of Life" formed the basis of his acclaimed 2013 Massey Lectures. Hill, with degrees in economics and writing, worked as a reporter before gaining acclaim as an author. Fluent in French and Spanish, he supports humanitarian causes and is an honorary patron for Crossroads International, contributing to the Aminata Fund benefiting girls' and women's programs in Africa. Recognized for his contributions, he's received numerous honorary doctorates and was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2015. Hill also chaired the jury for the 2016 Scotiabank Giller Prize.