William Dempsey Valgardson (born 7 May 1939) is an Icelandic-Canadian fiction writer and poet. He was a long-time professor of writing at the University of Victoria in British Columbia and a professor of English at Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri. Valgardson was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, of Icelandic descent, and raised in Gimli, Manitoba. He completed his BA at United College, BEd at the University of Manitoba, and his MFA at the University of Iowa. His writing often focuses on cultural differences and involve irony and symbolism. His short stories involve normal people in normal situations, who, under certain circumstances, lead unusual and surprising lives. Valgardson has won numerous awards and accolades including the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize for The Girl With the Botticelli Face (1992) and the Books in Canada First Novel Award for Gentle Sinners (1980). His short story Bloodflowers was included in Best American Short Stories 1971. Bibliography Bloodflowers: Ten Stories short stories - Oberon Press, 1973 The Job Anthology, Toronto, CBC radio God is Not a Fish Inspector short stories - Oberon Press, 1975 In The Gutting Shed poetry - Turnstone Press, 1976 Beyond Normal Requirements Anthology, Toronto, CBC radio, 1977 Í Manitoba Utvarp Reykjavik, Rikis Utvarpid, Reykjavik, Iceland June 11, 1977 Red Dust short stories - Oberon Press, 1978 God is Not a Fish Inspector film Allan Kroeker, Dept.of Education, Manitoba, 1980. Gentle Sinners novel - Oberon Press,1980 The Burning CBC Radio, Vancouver, 1981 Bloodflowers Stereo Sound Stage, CBC radio, Toronto, Oct. 30, 1982 The Pedlar based on "A Place of One's Own", film Directed by: Allan Kroeker Produced by: Michael Scott 1982, 54 min 32 s Gentle Sinners CBC film 105 min, Director: Eric Till, 1983 Bloodflowers Sundary Matinee, Toronto, CBC radio, March 6, 1983 Granite Point Saturday Stereo Theatre, Toronto, CBC radio, Oct. 29 1983 The Cave Vanishing Point, Toronto CBC Radio, Dec. 28, 1985 An Unacceptable Standard of Cockpit Practice Disasters, CBC radio, Vancouver, 1985 Sælir eru einfaldirIcelandic National Radio, Reykjavik, Iceland, May 3–31, 1985 The Carpenter of Dreams : poems—Victoria, B.C. : Skaldhus Press, c1986 Bloðrot Icelandic National Radio, Reykjavik, Iceland, July 27, 1986 Carpenter of Dreams Sextet, Sunday Matinee, CBC Radio, Feb. 15, 1987 Seiche State of the Arts, CBC Radio, Jan. 10, 1987 Ukrainian Journey Morningside, CBC Radio, Jan. 22–26, 5 parts, 1987 Blóðrót, islensk þýðing Guðrúnar Guðmundsdóttir, ásamt inngangi eftir Harald Bessason—Kópavogi:Sigmar Þormar, 1989. What Can't Be Changed