Simon's Globe and Mail best selling novel "The House of Wives" was published in 2016 by Penguin Random House. His sequel "House of Daughters" was published by Earnshaw Books in December 2022. "The House of Wives", set in the 19th century, was inspired by the lives of his Jewish Chinese ancestors who lived in Hong Kong. The second book, "House of Daughters," is a stand-alone sequel and a multigenerational story also set in Hong Kong of the early 20th century. In May 2023, "House of Daughters" was the Winner of the Nancy Richler Memorial Prize for Fiction at the Western Canada Jewish Book Festival.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Simon immigrated to Canada to attend McMaster University where he graduated in 1972. He audited theatre classes in New York before returning to Canada where he has worked as a playwright and director with over 200 productions to his credit. He was Artistic Director of the Press Theatre, St. Catharines, Ontario and later at the Lighthouse Festival, Port Dover, Ontario and also at the Gateway Theatre, Richmond, BC. Prior to these positions he was Staff Director at Toronto Arts Productions (now Centre Stage), the Banff Centre's Music Theatre Division, and Assistant Director at the Stratford Festival. Threading between these tenures, he wrote Radio Drama and Television Drama for the CBC as well as for the History Channel. Additionally was Guest Director in the Theatre Departments at Ryerson University, Dalhousie University, Erindale College, University of Guelph and Sheridan College.
His plays have been seen at the Arts Club Theatre, BC; Gateway Theatre BC, Western Canada Theatre BC; the Belfry Theatre BC, Kaleidoscope Theatre BC; Youtheatre Montreal, Collective Arts Production, Ontario and the Lighthouse Festival, Ontario. Simon was writer-in-residence at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and was featured at Toronto’s Factory Theatre Cross Currents Festival.
Amongst his numerous awards are: City of Richmond’s Cultural Leadership 2011, McMaster University Alumni Award, Winner, Theatre BC’s National Playwriting Competition, Canada 125 Medal for Arts and Tourism, and three Vancouver Jessie nominations for best Play.
He is currently the Artistic Director Emeritus of the Gateway Theatre in Richmond, BC where he was Artistic & Executive Director from 2000-2012. Simon lives In South Surrey, BC.
Click here for Simon's Writing resume
To watch a brief interview on House of Wives click this link: Joy TV
To read the Vancouver Sun interview on House of Wives click this link: Vancouver Sun
To listen to a YouTube podcast on House of Wives click this link: McMaster University Podcast
To read my plays click this link : Canadian Play Outlet