This program, now in its third year, grew from a commitment from several Edmonton organizations to understand better the needs of "exiled" immigrant writers living in Canada, and to create opportunities for them to pursue a professional career.

The Writer in Exile program is a joint initiative of the Edmonton Public Library, University of Alberta, Athabasca University, MacEwan College, the Writers Guild of Alberta and LitFest. It receives support from PEN Canada, the Edmonton Community Foundation, the Edmonton Arts Council, the RBC Foundation and the Canada Council.

Sheng Xue came to Canada following the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. She is a member of Pen Canada's Writer in Exile Program and a member of The Independent Chinese PEN Center.

In 1997, Sheng Xue joined Radio Free Asia and have been RFA's Canadian correspondent since then. In 2005, she joined Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany) as it's North American correspondent.

In 2000, Sheng Xue won The Canadian Association for Journalists Award for Investigative Journalism and the National Magazine Award, for an investigative report on the lives of Chinese boat refugees published in the Maclean's magazine. She is the first Chinese Canadian to win this prestigious award. In 2005, she won The National Ethnic Press and Media Council for Journalism and Media Award for her outstanding achievements, contributions, and community services and in recognition of her leadership, courage and dedication to the promotion of traditions and interests of Chinese-Canadian communities, multiculturalism, human rights, and the of integrity and equality among all Canadians.