Gary Barwin is widely published as a fiction writer and poet as well as a writer for children. He is also active as a composer, and performer. Barwin's music and writing have been presented in Canada, the US, Europe, and Japan.

His fourth book of poetry, The Porcupinity of the Stars will appear from Coach House Books in the fall. His other titles include a novel, several short story collections,

His children's books, The Racing Worm Brothers and

Grandpa's Snowman (Annick Press) was a Children's Book Centre "Our Choice" award winner), The Magic Mustache (Annick Press) was selected as one of the season's best picture books by Macleans (1999). His young adult novel entitled Seeing Stars (Fitzhenry and Whiteside) was shortlisted for two awards: The Canadian Crimewriters Association Arthur Ellis Award for Crime Fiction (Juvenile) and the Canadian Library Association Book Award (Young Adult.) It was also a Canadian Book Centre starred "Our Choice" award-winner. Barwin's stories and poems have also appeared in Chirp and Chickadee magazine.

Barwin received a PhD in Music Composition from SUNY at Buffalo. He was the recipient of the 1998 Emerging Artist Award in Literature from the KM Hunter Foundation and the Ontario Arts Council.

Until recently, Barwin taught middle school music for ten years. He lives in Hamilton, Ontario with his wife, three children, his dog, and a fear of the family car.