Gene Wilburn: Bio

Born in Richmond, California in 1945, Gene Wilburn has lived in California, Oregon, Minnesota, Illinois, and Arizona. He moved to Canada in 1971 when he married his wife, Marion. He is a Canadian citizen and he, Marion, and their son, Trevor, currently reside in Port Credit, Ontario, near Toronto.

Gene earned a BA and MA in English from Arizona State University and an MLS in Library Science from the University of Toronto. During his professional career he has been a teacher, lexicographer's assistant, librarian, systems analyst, programmer, Internet infrastructure specialist, computer consultant, and public speaker. He retired from corporate IT work in 2005 and now focuses primarily on writing and photography.

Gene published his first magazine article in 1969 and has since written over 200 articles, columns, and reviews on computing technology and photography. He was a contributing author for two SAMS books on Linux and he compiled two editions of a buying guide to Canadian Folk Music. More recently he has concentrated on personal essays and blogging and has started writing fiction.

A photographer since grade school, Gene enjoys both the creative, aesthetic aspects of the craft, as well as the mechanics of film bodies and lenses. His traditional darkroom has long since been replaced by Photoshop and he embraces both digital and film photography.

Gene is folksinger of middling voice and slightly-beyond-beginner-level guitar playing. A member of the Ontario folk trio Olde Spyce, which played some folk festivals and featured sets in folk clubs, he now does most of his singing at song circles.

Gene can be reached at gene@wilburn.ca