Valencia is in America.
William Dempsey Valgardson -LRB- born 7 May 1939 -RRB- is an Icelandic Canadian fiction writer and poet .. Icelandic Canadian. Icelandic Canadian. 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 .. University of Victoria. University of Victoria. Cottey College. Cottey College. 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 .. Winnipeg. Winnipeg. Manitoba. Manitoba. Bachelor of Arts. United College. United College, Winnipeg. BEd. Bachelor of Education. University of Manitoba. University of Manitoba. MFA. Master of Fine Arts. University of Iowa. University of Iowa. His writing often focuses on cultural differences and involve irony and symbolism .. irony. irony. 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 -LRB- 1992 -RRB- and the Books in Canada First Novel Award for Gentle Sinners -LRB- 1980 -RRB- .. Canada. Canada. Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. Books in Canada First Novel Award. Books in Canada First Novel Award. His short story Bloodflowers was included in Best American Short Stories 1971 .. Best American Short Stories 1971. Best American Short Stories