Orca Author/Illustrator Catalogue a who/what/where/when guide to author visits and school presentations
YT NT
BC
AB
NU
SK
MB
NL
QC ON NB
Caroline Adderson Bev Cooke Becky Citra K.L. Denman Dayle Campbell Gaetz Shelley Hrdlitschka Melanie Jackson Carolyn Jones Annabel Lyon Carrie Mac Chris McMahen Rachel Dunstan Muller Sylvia Olsen Jacqueline Pearce Jeff Rud Andrea Spalding Robin Stevenson Nikki Tate Chris Tougas Diane Tullson Richard Van Camp Kathleen Cook Waldron Ann Walsh Gregory Walters Kari-Lynn Winters Pam Withers
Michele Bossley Sigmund Brouwer Maureen Bush Hazel Hutchins Jacqueline Guest Don Trembath Debby Waldman
NS
Lesley Choyce Vicki Grant K.V. Johansen Diane Carmel Leger Anita Daher Carol Matas
Holly Bennett Susan Jolliffe Mary Labatt Norah McClintock Liam O’Donnell Pat Skene Graham Ross Eric Walters Frieda Wishinsky
Monique Polak Raquel Rivera
Caroline Adderson Vancouver, British Columbia
Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: up to 100 children with teachers present Age group: no preference Presentation venue: no preference Presentation style: readings, talks and workshops Presentation fee: One-hour presentation - $250 Two-hour Creative Writing workshop - $400 plus travel expenses if applicable Contact: Please contact Sarah MacNeill at Orca Book Publishers for Caroline Adderson’s e-mail address.
(sarahm@orcabook.com)
Caroline Adderson is the author of three books for children: Very Serious Children (Scholastic 2007), a novel for middle readers; I, Bruno (Orca 2007), a collection of stories for emergent readers featuring seven-year-old Bruno and his true-life adventures; and its sequel, which will appear in 2008, also from Orca. Caroline also writes books for adults—Bad Imaginings, A History of Forgetting, Sitting Practice, and Pleased to Meet You—and has won two Ethel Wilson Fiction Prizes, three CBC Literary Awards, as well as the 2006 Marion Engel Award, given annually to an outstanding female writer in mid-career. Her eight-year-old son Patrick and his many friends inspire her children’s writing. Caroline and her family live in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she also teaches in the Writing and Publishing Program at Simon Fraser University. Published title(s) with Orca: I, Bruno
www.orcabook.com
Holly Bennett Peterborough, Ontario
Presentation Region: within two hours of Peterborough, unless part of a larger tour Preferred audience size: less than 50 people Age group: grades 6–12 Venue: classrooms, libraries, and bookstores. Large auditoriums and gymnasiums are not favored. For larger groups, a microphone is preferred, especially for readings. Presentation style: Presentations are informal and include talks about Holly Bennett’s work and the writing/publishing process, followed by a discussion and question period. A workshop-style writing session focusing on helping readers develop their own writing process is in the works. Presentation fee: $250 for a one-hour presentation. Less for local schools. E-mail contact: hbennett27@cogeco.ca
Holly Bennett was a researcher for Aboriginal organizations and worked as a youth employment counsellor before settling on writing and editing. She is now editor-in-chief of Today’s Parent Special Editions, heading up the “birth and babies” beat. Born in Montreal, Holly lives in Peterborough, Ontario, with a houseful of musicians (three sons and husband, John) and a nice, quiet dog. She loves to talk to kids about reading and writing. Published title(s) with Orca: The Warrior’s Daughter The Bonemender The Bonemender’s Oath The Bonemender’s Choice
www.orcabook.com
Michele Bossley Calgary, Alberta
Presentation Region: local Calgary area Preferred audience size: no preference Age group: ages 8–12 preferred, but other age groups are possible Presentation venue: schools and libraries are preferred Presentation style: Michele offers workshops, writing seminars and keynote speeches. Presentation fee: $300 per half day (includes two workshops of approximately 60 children each) $500 per full day (includes four workshops of approximately 60 children each) $450 for keynotes (includes 1/2 hour book signing/autographing after session) E-mail contact: mbossley@telus.net
Michele Martin Bossley Published title(s) with Orca: Cracked Jumper Kicker Swiped
www.orcabook.com
Sigmund Brouwer Red Deer, Alberta
Presentation Region: local, regionial, national Preferred audience size: 400 people maximum Age group: grades 4–6 Presentation venue: no preference Presentation style: for information on presentations, please visit Sigmund’s website: http://www.coolreading.com/educators/educators.htm username: teachers password: literacy Presentation fee: One-hour presentation - $450 plus any travel costs. Maximum of 3 presentations per day. E-mail contact: sbrouwer@mac.com Sigmund Brouwer’s latest Orca Sports titles:
Sigmund Brouwer is the best-selling author of many books for children and young adults. He has contributed to the Orca Currents series (Wired, Sewer Rats) and the Orca Sports series (most recently Winter Hawk Star, Hurricane Power and Hitmen Triumph.) He and his family live in Red Deer, Alberta, and Eagleville, Tennessee. Published titles with Orca: Timberwolf Chase Timberwolf Revenge Timberwolf Trap Timberwolf Challenge Timberwolf Hunt All-Star Pride Blazer Drive Cobra Strike Hitmen Triumph Hurricane Power Rebel Glory Tiger Threat Titan Clash Winter Hawk Star Wired Sewer Rats Chief Honor Scarlet Thunder
www.orcabook.com
Maureen Bush Calgary, Alberta
Presentation Region: locally; will consider presenting regionally and nationally. Preferred audience size: maximum 30 people Age group: book target audience (ages 8–11) Presentation venue: no preference Presentation style: Maureen gives interactive presentations which include discussions about her book, readings, photos and conversations with the kids. For older students the focus will be on writing, getting published, and being a writer. Presentation fee: $250 per one-hour presentation E-mail contact: mbush@telusplanet.net
Born in Edmonton, Maureen Bush was raised in Edmonton and Calgary. She has worked as a public involvement consultant and trained as a mediator. Her first book was The Nexus Ring (Coteau Books, 2007). Maureen lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her husband and two daughters. Published title(s) with Orca: Feather Brain
www.orcabook.com
Lesley Choyce
East Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: 10–50 people Age group: no preference Presentation venue: no preference Presentation style: Lesley Choyce is an animated speaker who discusses creativity, imagination, fiction and poetry. He includes poetry music videos in his presentations. Presentation fee: $225 per one-hour session E-mail contact: lchoyce@dal.ca
Lesley Choyce teaches part-time at Dalhousie University, runs Pottersfield Press and has published nearly sixty books for adults and kids. His young adult novels concern things like skateboarding, surfing, racism, environmental issues, organ transplants and rock bands. Lesley surfs year round in the North Atlantic and is considered the father of transcendental wood-splitting. He’s worked as a rehab counselor, a freight hauler, a corn farmer, a janitor, a journalist, a lead guitarist, a newspaper boy and a well-digger. He lives in a 200-year-old farm house at Lawrencetown Beach overlooking the ocean. He also hosts a nationally syndicated TV talk show on Vision TV. His recent novel, Cold Clear Morning (Porcepic Books, 2001), is currently being developed as a featurelength movie. Published title(s) with Orca: Wave Warrior Thunderbowl Sudden Impact Refuge Cove
www.orcabook.com
Becky Citra
Bridge Lake, British Columbia Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: up to 60 students Age group: grades 1–7 Presentation venue: classroom, school library or public library. No gymnasiums. Presentation style: PRESENTATION 1: Grades 1 to 3
A wonderful way to introduce your class to the Enchanted Theater series, a time travel fantasy series written for a grade two level. Jeremy and the talking cat Aristotle travel back in time into the ancient Greek myths, solving riddles, overcoming obstacles and meeting all kinds of scary monsters! The presentation includes brainstorming, role playing, readings and lots of exciting props. It is a great springboard for starting a literature unit on mythology with your students and includes a handout with twenty-one ideas for using the series in the classroom. 45 minutes
PRESENTATION 2: Grades 3 to 4
This presentation focuses on the Max and Ellie historical series. There are five books in the series and they follow the adventures of Max and Ellie in Upper Canada in the 1830s. The books tie in well with the BC curriculum. The presentation includes readings, hands on artifacts from Upper Canada and an overview of the steps from an idea to a published book. Teacher Guides to accompany the books are available at no cost on the Orca Book Publishers website. 60 minutes
PRESENTATION 3: Grades 4 to 7
This presentation focuses on the Max and Ellie historical series and the juvenile novel, Never to be Told (nominated for the Hackmatack and the Silver Birch Award.) This presentation includes readings, hands-on artifacts from Upper Canada and a slide show that demonstrates how ideas for stories are developed. There is also an overview of the steps from an idea to a published book. 60 minutes
Presentation fee: $250 for one hour, $150 for a second presentation in the same school and $500 for a full day in a school. E-mail Contact: ercitra@hotmail.com
Becky Citra lives on a ranch in a tiny community called Bridge Lake with her husband Larry and her daughter Meghan. Her joy of writing began when she was a child. An avid reader of The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, she started scribbling her own mystery series at eleven years old. She took a long break from writing when she became a teacher. Reading wonderful books out loud everyday to young children in schools inspired her one day to give it a try—and she has never looked back! Published title(s) with Orca: Danger at the Landings Dog Days Ellie’s New Home Jeremy and the Enchanted Theatre Jeremy and the Fantastic Flying Machine Jeremy and the Golden Fleece Jeremy in the Underworld Never to be Told Runaway Strawberry Moon
www.orcabook.com
Bev Cooke
Victoria, British Columbia Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: 5–40 people Age group: book target audience (ages 14 and up) Presentation venue: no preference Presentation style: Bev talks about the writing process, and also about the background and evolution of the book(s). She welcomes discussion on these or related topics. Presentation fee: $200 per day, plus applicable transportation costs or $50 per classroom E-mail contact: bevcooke@shaw.ca
Bev Cooke was born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario. When she’s not writing or thinking about writing, she likes to talk with her two kids, figure out where her husband is so she can distract him from renos, read, daydream, think about gardening and pet her cats. Feral is her second book for children. Bev lives in Victoria, British Columbia. Published title(s) with Orca: Feral
www.orcabook.com
Anita Daher Winnipeg, Manitoba
Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: up to 200 people Age group: students in middle school, junior high or high school Presentation venue: Preference given to a library or classroom for a cozier, more personal experience, but a gymnasium or theatre is suitable as well—as long as audiovisual aids are available and functioning. Presentation style: Anita’s presentations for middle grades are highly interactive, informative and fun, and often include props. All presentations include photos, either shown on 8 ½” x 11” cards for smaller groups or as a slide show through laptop and projector. Presentation fee: $250 per large group presentation; fee is negotiable for smaller groups E-mail contact: anita.daher@shaw.ca Website: www.anitadaher.com.
Anita Daher draws writing inspiration from the many places she's been blessed to spend time, which include Summerside, Prince Edward Island; Yellowknife, Northwest Territories; Churchill, Manitoba; Baker Lake, Nunavut; and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. She's been entrenched in the book publishing industry for several years writing books, articles and reviews, and leading workshops and presentations. She has also worked on the publishing end of things as a marketing director. Anita holds memberships in the Writers' Union of Canada, the Canadian Children's Book Center, the Manitoba Writers' Guild, the Saskatchewan Writers Guild, and she was a founding member of the Territorial Writers Association. When she's not writing, she likes to spend time baking, playing her guitar (poorly) and turning her backyard garden into a haven for neighbourhood bunnies. Anita currently resides in Winnipeg with her husband, two daughters, a basset hound and a Westfalia camper van named Mae. Published title(s) with Orca: Flight From Big Tangle Flight From Bear Canyon Racing For Diamonds Two Foot Punch
www.orcabook.com
K.L. Denman
Powell River, British Columbia Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: up to 30 students Age group: ages 10–13 for book talks and ages 12–18 for workshops Presentation venue: classrooms and libraries preferred Presentation style: Presentations involve book talks that include readings and discussion of the process involved in writing novels. Also, creative writing workshops are offered for students who are keen to develop their writing skills. Presentation fee: $250 per hour; $750 per day E-mail contact: write@shaw.ca Website: http://kldenman.wordpress.com.
K.L. Denman began writing young adult fiction after reading the books of some talented authors and discovering the evolution of this fascinating, multifaceted genre. With her teen children and their friends providing abundant raw material and re-kindled memories of this challenging passage, writing for teens became an irresistible venture. She was born in Calgary, Alberta, but spent most of her life in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, with the exception of the summers when she worked at a ranch in Alberta. She recently moved to Powell River, BC, with her family of people, dogs, cats and horses. Published title(s) with Orca: Battle of the Bands Mirror Image Rebel’s Tag The Shade
www.orcabook.com
Dayle Campbell Gaetz Campbell River, British Columbia
Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: up to 60 people Age group: no preference Presentation venue: school classrooms and libraries, public libraries, and bookstores Presentation style: Dayle Campbell Gaetz speaks to groups about the writing process, discussing how ideas for some of her books have been inspired, and how this eventually led to a specific book, one that is discussed and read from. Student involvement is encouraged. Props and photos for each book add to the overall presentation. Presentation fee: $250 per session (approximately 60 minutes) Two same day sessions in one school: $450 Three same day sessions in one school: $600 E-mail contact: gdgaetz@oberon.ark.com@dal.ca
Dayle Campbell Gaetz grew up in Victoria and attended the University of Victoria. She has always loved books, both reading and writing them. Her writing career began on Salt Spring Island where she wrote her first 16 novels. For several years she wrote a column for the local weekly newspaper and published the occasional article in children’s magazines. Dayle now lives in Campbell River, B.C. where, in addition to her own writing, she teaches a correspondence course on Writing for Children and Teenagers. She has published 21 books for readers from ages seven to 17. Never knowing what idea will strike next, Dayle writes books that range from science fiction to history and from biography to mystery. Published title(s) with Orca: Alberta Alibi Barkerville Gold Crossbow Mystery From History No Problem Sea Dog Something Suspicious in Saskatchewan Spoiled Rotten www.orcabook.com
Vicki Grant
Halifax, Nova Scotia Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: up to 60 students Age group: grades 4–12, as well as teachers and writers groups Presentation venue: preference given to classrooms Presentation style: Please contact author for details. Presentation fee: $250 per hour, plus applicable travel expenses. Price negotiable for multiple presentation bookings. E-mail contact: v.grant@ns.sympatico.ca Website: www.vickigrant.com
After a career in advertising and television, Vicki Grant wrote her first novel, The Puppet Wrangler, in 2004. She was immediately hooked on writing for YAs. Quid Pro Quo, her next novel, quickly became a bestseller and won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Juvenile Crime Fiction. Vicki also has a particular interest in reluctant readers. Dead-End Job, a thriller for teens, was named an ALA Quick Pick. Her high/low novel, Pigboy, was published in Fall 2006 by Orca Books. Since 2004, Vicki has visited several schools in Nova Scotia and across the country. Vicki lives in Halifax with her husband and three children. Published title(s) with Orca: I.D. Pigboy Dead-End Job Quid Pro Quo The Puppet Wrangler
www.orcabook.com
Jacqueline Guest Bragg Creek, Alberta
Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: up to 50 students is preferred, but more can be accomodated if necessary Age group: grades K–12 Presentation venue: libraries for presentations, classrooms for workshops Presentation style: Jacqueline Guest’s workshops move at the speed of light, encouraging students to put pen to paper and write from the heart. Writing exercises range from whimsical to practical with students given license to let their imaginations soar. Technical tips ensure higher marks in written assignments. Descriptive writing combined with clinical elements, such as the proper way to structure a story, ensure students learn the secrets of beating-boring-basics, jump-starting ideas, and wild-ride-writing! -The workshops are tailored to fit the age group and talents of the audience and have the flexibility to fit from grade four through adult. -The use of handouts, overheads and various visual aids make for a fast-moving, informative and fun-filled session. -Topics covered are diverse, and the session includes several writing exercises. -The depth of information and writing exercises are structured to the level of the participants. Presentation fee: Please contact Jacqueline Guest for details.
Jacqueline Guest is a Metis children’s author with fourteen published books. Her multicultural lead characters are smart and funny, and provide excellent role modeling for today’s youth. Her fast-paced contemporary stories receive great feedback from students, educators and parents. All books are Accelerated Reading Program rated and provide a much-needed resource for teachers with reluctant readers. Jacqueline’s interactive and highly visual curriculum-based presentations link Canadian history and the era of the fur trade with literacy as they engage her students in a way that is unforgettable for both students and teachers. Published title(s) with Orca: Belle of Batoche Secret Signs
E-mail contact: writer@jacquelineguest.com Website: www.jacquelineguest.com
www.orcabook.com
Shelley Hrdlitschka
North Vancouver, British Columbia Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: For writing workshops, not more than 30 people. For book presentations, not more than 90 people. Age group: ages 9 and up Presentation venue: preference given to classrooms, multipurpose rooms and libraries Presentation style: Shelley focuses her school and library presentations on the value of perseverance. She describes the pitfalls she encountered on her path to becoming a published author. She discusses where ideas come from using examples from her books, and how they change and develop. She touches on numerous literary devices, depending on the age of the audience. Shelley also reads from some of her many rejection letters—the part of the presentation that students seem to like most. She is also available for writing workshops. The presentations are interactive, and depending on the age of the audience, various literary elements are discussed. Presentation fee: $200.00 for a one-hour presentation. For each additional presentation in the same school on the same day, her fee is $175.00 per hour. E-mail contact: shelley.hrdlitschka@shaw.ca Website: http://members.shaw.ca/shelleyhrdlitschka/.
Shelley Hrdlitschka discovered her love for children's literature while teaching elementary school in the eighties. Then, while on a parenting leave, she began writing children's stories. It took ten years, but she eventually decided to focus on juvenile and young adult fiction and is now the author of six award-winning novels, all published with Orca Book Publishers. Shelley lives in North Vancouver with her husband, three daughters and menagerie of pets. When she's not writing, she can be found hiking, sailing, snowshoeing, or hidden away with a book and some good music. Published title(s) with Orca: Dancing Naked Sun Signs Kat’s Fall Tangled Web Gotcha
www.orcabook.com
Hazel Hutchins Canmore, Alberta
Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: 80–120 students preferred Age group: grades K–6 Presentation venue: schools and public libraries Presentation style: Hazel gives a lively presentation carefully adjusted to the changing interest levels from Kindergarten to grade 6. With humor and student involvement, she talks about becoming an author, finding unusual ideas, creating characters and coming up with great endings. Her story-telling is animated and energetic. She bring examples of rewriting, printers sheets that help to illustrate how books “come together”, rough art from the illustrator and objects related to research. There are finger plays and chants for younger children, greater discussion of story elements for older students, time for questions throughout and a good deal of pure enjoyment along the way! Presentation fee: $250 per hour plus gst and travel expenses. $650 for a full day, plus gst and travel expenses. E-mail contact: hjhutch@telusplanet.net Website: www.telusplanet.net/public/hjhutch/home
From her home in the mountain town of Canmore, Alberta, Hazel Hutchins has written over thirty books for children of all ages. She gives lively presentations at schools and libraries across Canada. Published title(s) with Orca: TJ and the Cats TJ and the Sports Fanatic TJ and the Rockets TJ and the Haunted House TJ and the Quiz Kids
www.orcabook.com
Melanie Jackson
Vancouver, British Columbia Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: any size, as long as everyone in the audience can see a screen for slides and movie clips. However, for workshops, as opposed to presentations, a one-class maximum is preferred. Age group: see presentation description below Presentation venue: any, but preferrably with access to a screen for showing slides and clips. If a screen is unavailable, Melanie can use a large storyboard. Presentation style: • The Red Balloon Workshop on Creative Writing for grades 4 to 7 – with slides, video clips and readings from various Dinah books. This presentation and others partly in French si desiré. • Clues to the Art of the Mystery Workshop for grades 4 to 7 – with video clips and readings from various Dinah books. • Creative Writing/Mystery workshop with hands-on exercises for grades 4 to 7 – one class maximum, with video clips and readings from various Dinah books. • The Surprising History of the Mystery for all grades: with slides, sound effects and readings from The Spy in the Alley. • The Race to Save the Endangered Spotted Owl Presentation grades 4 to 7 – with slides, sound effects and readings from The Summer of the Spotted Owl. Presentation fee: Within BC’s Lower Mainland, $200 per session (in the case of several presentations a lower rate will be negotiated.) Outside the Lower Mainland, $250 per session (with the same proviso) plus travel expenses if applicable.
Melanie Jackson wrote her first mystery story at age seven and hasn’t stopped since. She isn’t sure why she likes mysteries so much, except that maybe it’s part of being curious about life and its possibilities. A former journalist, Melanie volunteers as a creative writing mentor for the Vancouver School Board. Born in Scotland, raised in Toronto, Melanie lives in East Vancouver, in the same Commercial Drive area as her singing sleuth Dinah, with her husband, daughter and cowardly cat. Published title(s) with Orca: Shadows on the Train Man in the Moonstone The Mask on the Cruise Ship Summer of the Spotted Owl Spy in the Alley
E-mail Contact: melaniejackson@shaw.ca Website: http://www3.telus.net/dinah/spy.htm
www.orcabook.com
K.V. Johansen
Sackville, New Brunswick Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: dependent on venue Age group: grades 4 and up Presentation venue: classrooms and libraries are preferred Presentation style: K.V. Johansen gives one-hour sessions for groups of 40–50 people for a reading; no more than 25 for a writing workshop. Mixing a range of ages for one session is fine, as long as they are grades 4 and up. Workshops are not grade specific but require that the children be able to write and be interested in writing and stories. 2 sessions/morning; 2 sessions/afternoon When doing a reading with elementary or middle school children, K.V. Johansen reads from one of her books. Then, assuming enough time is available, the children create a related illustration for that chapter. She follows this with another selection and ends with time for questions about writing. For story workshops, she varies the program depending on the participants’ age but starts by talking about some aspect of creating a story, such as narrative perspective. She uses a number of pictures to act as a springboard for students to jump into a story. After participants write their own stories, they are invited to share what they have written.
K.V. Johansen has Master's Degrees in Medieval Studies and in English. Her main scholarly interests are ancient and medieval history and languages, and the history of children's fantasy literature. She has an arboretum in her backyard, grows exotic trees indoors, watches a lot of anime, and should probably have been an eighteenth-century landscape gardener. Published title(s) with Orca: The Cassandra Virus Nightwalker Treason in Eswy
Presentation fee: Please contact author for details. Please contact K.V. Johanson through her website: www.pippin.ca
www.orcabook.com
Susan Rennick Jolliffe Ottawa, Ontario
Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: up to 40 people Age group: grades 1–3 for book readings with drawing; grades 3-6 for illustration or paper sculpture workshops Presentation venue: school classrooms, libraries and bookstores Presentation style: Susan does readings from her book as well as drawing and illustration or paper sculpture workshops. Presentation fee: $300 per classroom presentation; $400 per day with no more than 2 classes a day, plus travel expenses if applicable E-mail contact: susanjolliffe@rogers.com
Susan Rennick Jolliffe of Ottawa, alighted into the world of children's books after many years as a visual artist known for her humorous and beautiful transformations of what most people consider junk. Her first illustrated book is The Twelve Days of Summer written by Jan Andrews (Orca 2005), which combines her love of whimsical drawing and nature. Her own book, Lady Ginny’s Tea Parties, was inspired by her standard poodle and even wilder Canadian animals. Published title(s) with Orca: The Twelve Days of Summer Lady Ginny’s Tea Parties
www.orcabook.com
Carolyn Jones
Vancouver, British Columbia Presentation Region: Lower Mainland Preferred audience size: no preference Age group: primary students Presentation venue: schools and libraries Presentation style: Carolyn Jones’ presentations include readings, a question and answer period, and student involvement such as creating artwork to go along with a story or a writing exercise. Students’ artwork is often posted on Carolyn Jones’ Theodora Bear website. Presentation fee: Please contact author for details. Email contact: carolynrosejones@gmail.com Website: www.theodorabear.com
Carolyn Jones teaches high school English and Spanish in Port Coquitlam. She lives in the Strathcona neighbourhood of East Vancouver with her beloved teddy bear, Theodora. Theodora Bear was written to entertain Carolyn’s goddaughters, Emma and Sarah. They always want to hear about Theodora’s latest adventures, and particularly enjoy stories in which the bear outsmarts the girl she lives with. Carolyn Jones was born in Havana, Cuba, and has also lived in New York City, Philadelphia, Toronto and Vancouver. Theodora Bear is her first book. Published title(s) with Orca: Theodora Bear
www.orcabook.com
Mary Labatt
Port Rowan, Ontario Presentation Region: Port Rowan and local area Preferred audience size: no preference Age group: all ages Presentation venue: no preference Presentation style: Mary does readings from her book and discusses the writing process. Presentation fee: $250 per hour (plus travel expenses if applicable) Email contact: labatt@amtelecom.net
Mary Labatt breeds collies with her daughter, Elizabeth. She has written two series of books about dogs, Dog Detective Sam (Kids Can Press) and Puppy Sam. Mary lives and writes in Port Rowan, Ontario. Published title(s) with Orca: A Puppy is for Loving
www.orcabook.com
Diane Léger
Memramcook, New Brunswick Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: up to 60 people Age group: 5-9 for picturebook presentations, 10-14 for novel presentations Presentation venue: classroom or library Presentation style: Please contact author for details Presentation fee: $150 per presentation, based on 3 presentations per day E-mail contact: dianecleger@rogers.com
Diane Carmel Léger grew up in the Acadian village of Memramcook, New Brunswick. For 20 years, she lived in Victoria, British Columbia where she taught French Immersion and wrote books in both languages. Upon her arrival on the West Coast, Diane had the incredible luck of living in Emily Carr’s House of All Sorts for a year and amazingly, once again for her last year in Victoria. Diane has left the West but a little part of herself stayed behind in the virgin rainforests of Vancouver Island where her family was very involved in saving some of the world’s tallest trees. Both experiences inspired her picture books selected for CCBC Our Choice Award. Diane has come full circle and is now living in her native village, which was called La butte à Pétard before the deportation of 1755. This is also the name of her first book, an award-winning novel which depicted the resistance of her Acadian ancestors who escaped expulsion. Presently, Diane is awaiting the publication of her sequel, Retour à la butte à Pétard, partly written in Louisiana.
Published title(s) with Orca: Emily Carr’s Attic Maxine’s Tree Who’s in Maxine’s Tree?
www.orcabook.com
Annabel Lyon
New Westminster, British Columbia Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: no preference Age group: grades K–6 Presentation venue: no preference Presentation style: readings, lectures, teaching, question and answer periods Presentation fee: Please contact Annabel for details E-mail contact: annabellyon@telus.net Annabel Lyon is the author of two books of adult fiction, Oxygen and The Best Thing for You. All-Season Edie is her first work for children. She lives in New Westminster, British Columbia, with her husband and two children. Published title(s) with Orca: All Season Edie
www.orcabook.com
Carrie Mac
Pemberton, British Columbia Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: up to 60 for school or library visits up to 300 for well-prepared larger venues, i.e., festivals maximum 12 students for writing groups Age group: grades 7 and up Presentation venue: no preference, as long as audience is committed and prepared Presentations: The 5 W’s of Censorship The Writer’s Toolbox Carrie Mac - fact and fiction Stealing, Lying & Snooping: 3 Outstanding Qualities in a Writer Presentation fee: $250 for a one-hour presentation, $400 for two hours, $500 for three hours E-mail contact: carrie@carriemac.com Website: www.carriemac.com
photo credit: Benjamin Owens
Carrie Mac is an award-winning author who has moved too many times to count. For now, she lives in Pemberton, a very small town nestled in the mountains north of Vancouver. Carrie Mac's first novel The Beckoners won the Arthur Ellis YA Award, is a CLA Honour book and is being adapted for film. Her contributions to the Orca Soundings series, Charmed, Crush and Pain and Wastings, continue to get reluctant teens excited about reading. The Droughtlanders (Penguin, 2006), nominated as a Best Book for Young Adults by the ALA, is the first book in the Triskelia series. Carrie Mac has been known to hold the interest of a couple hundred teens where others have failed. Maybe it's the tattoos. Published title(s) with Orca: The Beckoners Charmed Crush Pain and Wastings
www.orcabook.com
Carol Matas Winnipeg, Manitoba
Presentation Region: local regional, national, and the US Preferred audience size: any Age group: grades 4–12 Presentation venue: theatre, auditorium, classroom, library; anywhere except a gymnasium Presentation style: A one-hour discussion covering the themes of the book in an interactive format, followed by a short reading and question-and-answer period Presentation fee: $350 per hour, no more than 3 hours a day. Also hotel, meals and travel. E-mail contact: carol@carolmatas.com Website: www.carolmatas.com.
Carol Matas is an internationally acclaimed author of over thirty-five novels for children and young adults. Carol writes contemporary and historical fiction, as well as science fiction and fantasy. She first began writing historical fiction when her Danish husband told her stories about his parents' experiences fighting the Nazis in World War II. She has often written about Jewish themes and is well known for her books concerning the Holocaust. Carol is an inspiring and passionate speaker who is frequently invited to address children and adults alike across North America. Published title(s) with Orca: The Whirlwind The Burning Time
www.orcabook.com
Norah McClintock Toronto, Ontario
Presentation Region: Greater Toronto area Preferred audience size: 50–75 people Age group: grades 7–11 only Presentation venue: schools and public libraries preferred Presentation style: Norah discusses the process of writing mystery/crime novels for young adults. Presentation fee: One-hour presentation - $275 E-mail contact: nmbooks@web.net Website: www.web.net/~nmbooks.
Norah McClintock's fascinating mysteries are hard to put down. Her novels often deal with young people in unusual relationships— three half-sisters with three different fathers in The Stepfather Game (1990) and a tall girl liking a short boy in Shakespeare and Legs (1987)—that often remind you of something in your own life. Norah is a five-time winner of the Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award for Best Juvenile Crime Novel. Although Norah is a freelance editor, she still manages to write at least one novel a year. She lives with her family in Toronto, Ontario.
Published title(s) with Orca: Down Bang Snitch Tell Marked
www.orcabook.com
Chris McMahen
Armstrong, British Columbia Presentation Region: local region Preferred audience size: Preference is given to groups of 60 people or less, but up to 100 is possible. Age group: ages 9–12 for talks and presentations Writing workshops are tailored for ages 9 and up. Presentation venue: schools or public libraries Presentation style: Chris does readings from his books and also explores the writing process. He uses examples from his books to show how ideas are generated and formed into stories. In addition, he also works with the group to create an onthe-spot short story, thus illustrating his writing process. He has a background of doing more intensive writing workshops with smaller groups, particularly as part of gifted programing in schools. Presentation fee: Please contact Chris McMahen for details. E-mail contact: chrismcmahen@gmail.com
Chris McMahen is an elementary school teacher-librarian living near Armstrong, British Columbia. When he’s not busy writing, teaching or spending time with his family, he can be found cycling the back roads of the Spallumcheen Valley or making peculiar pottery. Klutzhood is his second novel for children. Published title(s) with Orca: Klutzhood
www.orcabook.com
Rachel Dunstan Muller Ladysmith, British Columbia
Presentation Region: Southern Vancouver Island – weekdays Northern Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland – weekends Preferred audience size: any size – from intimate groups in a workshop setting to large, multi-classroom assemblies Age group: ages 8–12 (preferred) Presentation venue: no preference Presentation style: Presentations are adapted to the needs and interests of the audience and include storytelling, reading (usually with audience participation), discussion and time at the end for questions and answers. Rachel is an animated speaker, and incorporates props to make presentations more interesting. Presentation fee: One-hour presentation - $200 Full day - $400 E-mail contact: racheldm@shaw.ca
Rachel Dunstan Muller began writing fiction seriously in 2001, while accompanying her husband on a teaching exchange to Northern Ireland. During her year abroad, she completed her first draft of Ten Thumb Sam and began an early version of When the Curtain Rises. Rachel is currently working on a third young adult novel, which is set in part in the Irish “glens” where she often went for inspiration and exercise. She currently lives with her husband and four daughters in Ladysmith, on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Rachel enjoys sharing her love of writing and storytelling, and welcomes invitations to do school presentations. Published title(s) with Orca: Ten Thumb Sam When the Curtain Rises
www.orcabook.com
Liam O’Donnell Toronto, Ontario
Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: up to 60 people Age group: grades 4–8 Presentation venue: classroom, school library, public library Presentation style: Liam gives a “how comics are made” talk that is perfect for schools. He also gives a “writing comics” workshop, which is good for schools and smaller groups (2030 students.) Presentation fee: Please contact Liam for details. E-mail contact: liamodonnell@gmail.com Website: www.liamodonnell.com
From chapter books to comic strips, Liam O’Donnell writes fiction and non-fiction for young readers. He is the author of the popular Max Finder Mysteries. Liam lives in Toronto, Ontario. Published title(s) with Orca: Wild Ride
(the first title in a series of three graphic novels... look for Ramp Rats in Fall 2008!)
www.orcabook.com
Sylvia Olsen
Victoria, British Columbia Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: no preference; however, similar age groups are preferred Age group: grades 6–12 Presentation venue: schools and libraries are preferred Presentation style: Sylvia enjoys talking about the art of storytelling and how people get along, with an emphasis on First Peoples. She does a lot of cross-cultural work and her books reflect that theme. Presentation fee: $250 per presentation $400 for a full day E-mail contact: yetsa@shaw.ca
Sylvia Olsen is the author of several books for children and young adults. She lives on Tsartlip Reserve near Victoria, British Columbia. Published title(s) with Orca: Catching Spring Murphy and Mousetrap Yellow Line Middle Row
www.orcabook.com
Jacqueline Pearce Burnaby, British Columbia
Presentation Region: Lower Mainland, southern Vancouver Island, and possibly elsewhere in the region if funding is available for travel. Preferred audience size: 30 to 60 people; however, a larger group is possible Age group: grades 3–6, grades 7–9 and teachers Presentation venue: no preference Presentation style: Jacquie reads from her books and talks about the writing process, providing historical and background information on topics related to the subject matter of her current books (for example, Emily Carr, dogs, rats, Japan, animals, etc.) She also gives workshops on writing historical fiction, writing about animals, writing about nature in the city, or she can tailor a wokshop to the needs of a school or group. Presentation fee: $150 for the first class and $50 for each additional class (maximum of two classes at once or three separate talks in a row.) The presentation usually takes 45 minutes to one hour, depending on the number of questions students have. Workshop fees and time-length may vary, depending on the workshop. E-mail contact: jacquiep@telus.net Website: www.jacquelinepearce.ca
Jacqueline Pearce grew up on Vancouver Island and currently lives in Burnaby, British Columbia. She has degrees in English Literature and Environmental Studies and has worked at various jobs, including museum accessioner, cartoon researcher and environmental educator. As well as her novels with Orca, she has published a collection of short stories for young adults and poetry for adults.When not writing, Jacqueline enjoys creating art, playing ball hockey, visiting school classes, and exploring the city. She recently started a blog to talk about some of her inspirations and discoveries: www.wildink.wordpress.com. Published title(s) with Orca: Manga Touch The Truth About Rats (and Dogs) Dog House Blues Reunion Emily’s Dream Discovering Emily
www.orcabook.com
Monique Polak Montreal, Quebec
Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: up to 120 people Age group: ages 12 and up Presentation venue: classrooms and libraries Presentation style: Monique combines a short reading with a writing workshop to give students hands-on exercises. She also talks about how she began writing and encourages young people (and older ones too) to follow their dreams, even when obstacles get in their way. Presentation fee: $250 per class, daily fee negotiable E-mail contact: monique@moniquepolak.com Website: www.moniquepolak.com
Monique Polak lives in Montreal, where she spends her days doing her two favorite things: writing and teaching. In addition to being a frequent contributor to The Gazette, Montreal’s English language daily newspaper, Monique is the author of five novels for young people. She has also taught English and Humanities at Marianopolis College in Montreal since 1985. In November 2006, Monique toured Vancouver Island as part of Canadian Children's Book Week. In February 2007, she traveled to Nunavik, Quebec, as part of a teaching-about-writing project. She lives with her husband, a newspaperman, and her daughter Alicia. Published title(s) with Orca: Home Invasion Finding Elmo No More Pranks 121 Exoress
www.orcabook.com
Raquel Rivera Montreal, Quebec
Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: 10–40 people for workshops; up to 150 for talks or presentations Age group: grades 1–6 Presentation venue: libraries and bookstores for readings; workshops preferrably in a room with work-table space Presentation style: Raquel’s presentations combine talk, questions, and some activity for the students. Presentation fee: Please contact author for details. E-mail contact: raquel@sitedish.com
Raquel Rivera was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. After graduating York University with a B.F.A. in Visual Arts in 1987, Raquel Rivera moved to Barcelona, Spain, for two years. There she found work as a teacher of English, pursued her drawing and learned Spanish. In 1999 Raquel began raising a family and focusing exclusively on her own writing and art. She has since published poems, exhibited her drawings and written three children's books: Arctic Adventures, Tales from the Lives of Inuit Artists, Orphan Ahwak and Tuk and the Whale. She now lives in Montreal with her husband and two children. Published title(s) with Orca: Orphan Ahwak
www.orcabook.com
Graham Ross Merrickville, Ontario
Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: less than 100 people Age group: grades 1–8 Presentation venue: no preference Presentation style: Graham gives slide presentations that include a step-by-step demonstration of his illustration technique and process of creating a picturebook as well as a reading from one or more books. The presentation is flexible and can be tailored to the grade or a particular theme. Another presentation/workshop: Children are asked to bring in their favorite book or an excerpt from a book. Graham will help the children develop that particular passage into an illustration, following the stages of thumbnails, roughs and finished art. Presentation fee: $250 per presentation; $450 per day E-mail contact: graham@kidwithacrayon.com
Graham Ross began his freelance illustration and graphic design career in Ottawa, Ontario. He has illustrated books for such publishers as Orca Book Publishers, Scholastic Canada, and Meadowside Books of the United Kingdom, as well as numerous Canadian government agencies and private design firms. He lives in Merrickville, Ontario, with a circus-star family: his juggling wife, a helldriver daughter, a canine cannonball, and a fire-breathing cat. Illustrated works (Orca): Alphabetter Rhyme Stones What a Hippopota-Mess! The Paper Wagon Cheetah By a Thread
www.orcabook.com
Jeff Rud
Victoria, British Columbia Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: no preference Age group: ages 6–17 Presentation venue: no preference Presentation style: Jeff enjoys presenting to individual classes, as well as several school classes at once. Generally, he speaks about writing as a career, the differences between writing nonfiction and fiction, and the differences between writing for a newspaper or magazine and writing a book. Character and plot development will be covered, as well as writing effective dialogue. Student involvement is encouraged in the session, and to some extent the audience is able to self-direct the session through their questions. Presentation fee: $250 per presentation - negotiable if doing more than one presentation in a day at a single school. E-mail contact: jrud@shaw.ca
Jeff Rud has authored eight books, including three young adult fiction titles for Orca in the South Side Sports series. A sportswriter, columnist and sports editor for newspapers in Western Canada over a 20-year period, he is now a reporter for the Victoria Times Colonist, covering provincial politics in the British Columbia legislature. His nonfiction works include Canucks Legends: Vancouver's Hockey Heroes (Raincoast, 2006) and Steve Nash:The Making of an MVP (Penguin, 2007.) Born in Red Deer, Alberta, Jeff now lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with his wife, Lana, a middle school teacher, and their two children. Published title(s) with Orca: First and Ten In the Paint High and Inside Crossover
www.orcabook.com
Pat Skene
Coburg, Ontario Presentation Region: local, regionial, and national. Most presentations are scheduled in April, May and June. Preferred audience size: small groups in a classroom setting, or large groups of 120 people in an auditorium or school library. Smaller groups are more effective for workshops and interactive discussions. If the group is larger than 150 kids, a lapel microphone is required. Age group: grades 1–4 preferred Presentation venue: school classrooms, libraries and community centers Presentation style: Pat Skene’s presentations are focused on rhyming stories and poems. Each reading introduces a subject in story-poem style and is followed by a discussion of interesting and educational facts. In addition to the story-related props Pat brings with her, she also wears a variety of special shawls—each one designed to add to the overall theme of a specific story. Throughout the presentations, children are engaged in discussions about the writing process, where stories come from, the power of imagination, writing in rhyme and any curriculum-related focus suggested by the teacher. In 2008, the focus of the presentations will include an exploration into the wonderful and mysterious world of caves! Presentation fee: $200 per one-hour presentation, plus travel expenses. Fees for multiple sessions or special circumstances may be negotiated. E-mail contact: pat.skene@sympatico.ca
Several years ago, Pat Skene left corporate life to pursue her passion for writing. And now she's a story inventor! She has written over sixty articles and stories for children and adults, and is widely published in newspapers and magazines. Pat loves to write in rhyme—seamlessly meshing together the elements of delicious poetry, story excitement and all those fascinating facts kids just need to know! Pat is a member of CANSCAIP and the Writer's Union of Canada. She enjoys hearing from her readers and can be reached at pat.skene@sympatico.ca. Published title(s) with Orca: Rhyme Stones What a Hippopota-mess!
www.orcabook.com
Andrea Spalding
Pender Island, British Columbia Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: maximum three school classrooms per presentation Age group: presentations tailored for each of the following three groups: grades K–2, 2–4, 5–6, as well as adults Presentation venue: school libraries, public libraries, and conference venues Presentation style: Andrea offers one-hour presentations for elementary students which are related to the books and the age group. Andrea also offers keynote presentations for conferences and workshops for young writers. Presentation fee: Schools: $300+GST per presentation plus travel if over 50km from Victoria. $800+GST if 3 sessions are booked at one school on the same day. Conference and workshop fees given on request. E-mail contact: andrea@andreaspalding.com Website: andreaspalding.com
www.orcabook.com
Robin Stevenson Victoria, British Columbia
Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: less than 50 people Age group: grades 4–12, as well as adults Presentation venue: any, but preference given to classrooms and libraries Presentation style: All presentations can be tailored to the needs of the particular group and can include readings and discussions about Robin’s books and writing process. Workshops are also a possibility, and vary in length from 45 minutes to a half day. Workshops include: Creative Writing - Using personal memories, experiences, questions and curiosity to create compelling writing and convincing characters. Editing Your Work - It is said that writers write but published writers revise. Tips for turning a rough first draft into a polished manuscript. Getting Published - A step-by-step guide to researching your market, writing a query letter and submitting your work. All workshops and presentations are interactive and include writing exercises and student participation. Workshops can be geared to grades 4–12. Presentation fee: One hour presentation - $150, plus travel costs if outside Victoria. A reduced fee will be offered for two or more presentations at one school.
Robin Stevenson is hopelessly addicted to reading, writing and traveling. She has spent time in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia. She also sailed a boat down to the Bahamas and back. When she isn’t making up stories, Robin works as a social worker and university instructor and lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with her partner and son. Published title(s) with Orca: Out of Order Dead in the Water Impossible Things Big Guy
E-mail contact: robin@robinstevenson.com Website: www.robinstevenson.com
www.orcabook.com
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Nikki Tate
Victoria, British Columbia Presentation Region: local, regional, national, international Preferred audience size: any size Age group: kindergarten to adult. However, for school presentations, Nikki prefers to speak to groups within a three-year age range. For example, one session may include grades 2/3/4 or grades 8/10/12, but not all ages in the same session. Presentation venue: no preference Presentations: How a Book is Made A general presentation about the process of creating a novel. Anecdotes relate to various different novels. 60-75 minutes Grades 3+ Dare to Dream The focus is on the biography Double Take: Karen Brain’s Olympic Journey. 60-75 minutes Grades 4+ Truth Stranger than Fiction The focus is on writing non-fiction—Behind-the-Scenes series, Double Take, and writing for magazines and newspapers. 60-75 minutes Grades 4+ Legends of King Arthur—Storytelling Presentation 60 minutes Grades 8+ Where Do Stories Come From? Short presentation—25 minutes (usually replace one longer talk with two of these shorter sessions. Fees are reduced accordingly for single sessions.) The focus is on the picturebook Grandparents’ Day and the Orca Young Reader Jo’s Triumph. Grades K-2 More information is available on Nikki’s website (below). Presentation fee: $350 +GST and travel expenses for one presentation $900 +GST and travel for a full day, maximum 3 presentations per day Prices for workshops, keynote speeches, and special presentations, by request. E-mail contact: nikkitate@gmail.com Website: www.stablemates.net
Nikki Tate was born in Birmingham, England, but spent her childhood roaming the globe. In Australia, Nikki battled a tarantula, in Banff she was chased by a mother black bear, and in Ontario she wrestled with a Canada goose. Nikki has always enjoyed writing stories and still has the notebooks she used when she was eight years old. She made up stories about animals, plane crashes, outhouses, and Doctor Dolittle's travels in outer space. A born ham, Nikki danced, acted, and modeled her way through her younger years. She still loves to perform, most often as a storyteller. She also enjoys camping, kayaking, horseback riding, travel, and building big things with sticks and string. Nikki and her father, artist E. Colin Williams, live on Vancouver Island along with her daughter Dani who lives at home part-time.They share their home with a collection of furred, feathered, and finned creatures including three dogs, four horses, two cats and four goats. Published title(s) with Orca: Jo’s Journey Jo’s Triumph
www.orcabook.com
Chris Tougas
Victoria, British Columbia Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: less than 70 people Age group: grades K–6 Presentation venue: preference given to classrooms and libraries Presentation style: Chris Tougas’ presentations include readings and a Powerpoint presentation featuring several illustration styles. Chris will also walk the class(es) through some fun drawing exercises. Presentation fee: One-hour presentation - $200, plus travel costs if outside Victoria. E-mail contact: tougart@yahoo.ca
Chris Tougas is a writer-illustrator who loves dogs, the great outdoors, writing fun stories and making art. Chris lives and works in Victoria, British Columbia. His new picturebook, Art’s Supplies, will be published in Spring 2008. Published title(s) with Orca: Mechanimals Art’s Supplies
www.orcabook.com
Don Trembath Morinville, Alberta
Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: 50–150 people, however this is flexible Age group: grades 5 and up Presentation venue: no preference Presentation style: Please contact Don Trembath for details. Presentation fee: $500 for a half day, $1000 for a full day. E-mail contact: dontrembath1@mac.com
Don Trembath began writing for keeps when he was thirteen years old. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on May 22, 1963, the third youngest of four boys. In the winter they played hockey and in the summer they played football, baseball and soccer. Between games, he went to school. Don attended the University of Alberta where he studied English. From there, he wrote for newspapers, local and national magazines, and a host of trade publications. In 1996, his first book, The Tuesday Cafe, was published. Since then, he has written several others, and his most recent title with Orca, Emville Confidential, was published in Fall 2007. Don also teaches writing at MacEwan College in Edmonton and regularly visits schools and libraries across the country. He lives in the town of Morinville, Alberta, with his wife, Lisa, their three fine young kids, three laid back cats and the neighbor's big dog. Published titles with Orca: A Beautiful Place on Yonge Street The Bachelors The Big Show Frog Face and the Three Boys One Missing Finger Hypnotized Rooster The Popsicle Journal The Tuesday Cafe www.orcabook.com
Diane Tullson
Delta, British Columbia Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: no preference Age group: grade 7 and up. Adult reading groups, student groups, educators, any kind of groups. Presentation venue: no preference Presentation style: Diane gives presentations on the art and craft of writing. She also offers workshops and professional development sessions on literacy education. Presentation fee: $250 per one-hour session plus travel expenses if applicable. E-mail contact: diane@dianetullson.com
Diane Tullson has written seven novels for young adult readers. She was born in Calgary, has a BA in English Literature from the University of Calgary and has studied journalism and editing. Before becoming an author, Diane Tullson worked in newspaper, radio and travel. Diane began writing non-fiction essays for Canadian Living and Westworld Magazine. Her young adult books have been shortlisted for White Pine, Red Maple, and Stellar Awards. Diane Tullson is a member of The Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Vancouver Children’s Literature Roundtable, Children’s Writers and Illustrators of British Columbia, and The Writers Union of Canada. She speaks to schools across Canada and has presented at the University of Alberta symposium, “Rethinking Literacy Education: Preparing New Teachers.” Diane Tullson lives with her family in Delta, British Columbia. Published title(s) with Orca: The Darwin Expedition Lockdown Red Sea
www.orcabook.com
Richard Van Camp Vancouver, British Columbia
Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: no preference Age group: no preference Presentation venue: no preference Presentation style: Richard Van Camp is a traditional storyteller, celebrating life in the NWT and in BC. He speaks about the beauty of Aboriginal culture and the miracles that happen all around us in daily life. He also reads from his children’s books, his novels and short stories for teens and adults, and his baby book. Presentation fee: $650 plus GST per day E-mail contact: rvancamp@shaw.ca
Richard Van Camp is a proud member of the Dogrib (Tlicho) Nation from Fort Smith, NWT, Canada. A graduate of the En’owkin International School of Writing, the University of Victoria’s Creative Writing BFA Program, and the Master’s Degree in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia, Richard currently teaches Creative Writing for Aboriginal Students at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. Richard’s poems, short stories and novellas have been published in anthologies and journals since 1992. Three of his short stories from Angel Wing Splash Pattern—“Mermaids”, “Sky Burial” and “The Night Charles Bukowski Died”—have been narrated by Cree actor Ben Cardinal and broadcast nationally as radio dramas on CBC. Richard wrote for CBC’s North of 60 television show for two months under their Writer Internship Program and was a script and cultural consultant with them for four seasons. He recently cowrote the short movie “The Promise” with Kent Williams and Jason Alexander of Neohaus Filmworks. Published title(s) with Orca: Welcome Song for Baby
www.orcabook.com
Debby Waldman Edmonton, Alberta
Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: no preference Age group: elementary and junior high school students; book target audience Presentation venue: any place that is quiet, climate-controlled and smoke-free Presentation style: Debby talks to her audience about how to grow a writing career—how one can earn a living as a writer, but not necessarily by writing novels and short stories. It’s possible to write the kinds of things you want and love, as long as you don’t limit yourself. Presentation fee: Please contact author for details. E-mail contact: debbyw@shaw.ca
A journalist, book reviewer, and humorist, Debby Waldman calls herself a jack-ofall-trades writer. Her articles and reviews have appeared in a variety of publications including People, Parents, Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Publishers Weekly, American Baby, Chatelaine, The Washington Post and The Edmonton Journal. Debby has a journalism degree from Syracuse University and an MFA in creative writing from Cornell University. Debby has taught journalism, creative writing and magazine writing at Cornell University, Ithaca College, St. Lawrence University and Grant MacEwan College. For the past five years she has also taught Judaism and ethics to grade three and four students at her synagogue's Hebrew school. She is married and has two children. Published title(s) with Orca: Sack Full of Feathers
www.orcabook.com
Kathleen Cook Waldron 100 Mile House, British Columbia
Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: up to 100 people for readings; up to 12 people for workshops Age group: Kathleen can present to any age group, but prefers each presentation to focus on a particular age or grade range, such as K-2, grades 3-6, or 7-9. As most of her books are written for younger readers, presentations for older groups focus more on the business of writing picture books, using examples from her own books. Presentation venue: no preference Presentation style: lively, informative and interactive presentations ranging in length from half an hour to an hour for readings, longer for workshops Presentation fee: Please contact author for details E-mail contact: kathleencookwaldron@gmail.com
Kathleen Cook Waldron was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. In the spring of 1975, she and her husband Mark set off with their one-year-old son Levi to begin building their own log home off the grid in central British Columbia. They immigrated to Canada the following year, welcomed their daughter Rosy the year after that, and have lived in the Cariboo ever since. Her rural pleasures include swimming in mountain lakes, canoeing, cycling, crosscountry skiing, and hiking. The Waldrons became dual Canadian/US citizens in 1991. Kathleen’s work experience includes being a swimming instructor, playground supervisor, lifeguard, waitress, chambermaid, tree planter, house painter, teacher, and of course, writer. Published title(s) with Orca: Forestry A-Z Five Stars For Emily Rough Day at Loon Lake Loon Lake Fishing Derby
www.orcabook.com
Ann Walsh
Williams Lake, British Columbia Presentation Region: Ann is willing to present anywhere, but if significant travel is required, a minimum of 6 presentation bookings (two full days) per trip is necessary. Preferred audience size: up to 80 elementary students and up to 60 high school students Age group: grade 4 and up Presentation venue: school library, public library, school activity room. No gymnasiums. Presentation style: Readings—historical fiction and the BC gold rush and/or an interactive, high-energy presentation about the Flower Power series. For grade 8 and up, the presentation can be based on the ways teens and young people deal with loss and grief, as exemplified by stories in the anthology Dark Times (Ronsdale Press), edited by Ann Walsh. She will also discuss the writing process and is in the process of working on a joint presentation on Forestry A-Z with Kathleen Cook Waldron. Ann is a popular workshop presenter at conferences for writers and is in demand as a speaker, both in schools and at literary festivals. She loves traveling and is willing to gear her presentations to the needs and requests of a particular school or classroom. Her sessions are fast-paced and entertaining, as well as informative. As one teacher commented after Ann had visited her school: “She made history come alive.” Presentation fee: one-hour presentation $300. A daily rate can be negotiated if desired. Maximum of 3 sessions per day. E-mail contact: annwalshwrites@hotmail.com More information: http://www.cwill.bc.ca/search/member_ detail/62.
Ann Walsh is a long-time resident of Williams Lake, British Colmbia, who has taught both in elementary schools and at the college level. She is the author of seven novels for young readers, most of them set in Barkerville during the gold rush. As well, Ann is the author of a book of poetry and the editor of three collections of short stories for young people. Her books have been nominated for major Canadian book prizes and all of them have been selected as “Our Choice” titles by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre. Published title(s) with Orca: Flower Power Horse Power Forestry A-Z (co-written with Kathleen Cook Waldron)
www.orcabook.com
Eric Walters Missisauga, Ontario
Please visit Eric’s website www.ericwalters.net for information about his presentations.
Eric Walters began writing in 1993 as a way to entice his grade five students into becoming more interested in reading and writing. Since then Eric has published over forty-five novels. His novels have all become best-sellers, have won over thirty awards and have been translated into several languages. Eric writes in a variety of genres, including humor, historical fiction, contemporary, first chapter books, picturebooks, sports and mystery, but often his stories incorporate themes that reflect his background in education and social work and his commitment to humanitarian and social justice issues. He is a tireless presenter, speaking to over 70,000 students per year in schools across the country. Eric lives in Mississauga with his wife, Anita, and three children, Christina, Nicholas and Julia. When not writing, or playing and watching sports, he enjoys listening to jazz, playing his saxophone and eating in fine restaurants featuring drive-through service.
www.orcabook.com
Gregory Walters Gibsons, British Columbia
Presentation Region: British Columbia and Washington State. Other locations in the US and Canada are possible during summer months. Preferred audience size: 30 people or less Age group: ages 10–13 Presentation venue: Gregory is open to school, public library, bookstore and book club presentations. Presentation style: Gregory talks about becoming an engaged reader and the process of writing a novel. He also reads selections from published and unpublished work, and gives a Powerpoint slide show to support the presentation. Presentation fee: $200 per presentation; $275 for back-toback presentations at a single site E-mail contact: gregoryjameswalters@yahoo.com
Gregory Walters was born in Hamilton, Ontario. When he was thirteen, his family moved to Texas. He began his teaching career in Dallas and eventually settled in British Columbia. He currently resides in Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast and enjoys his job as an elementary school principal. When not working, Gregory tries to find time to write, but his efforts are often dashed by his two attention-seeking miniature schnauzers, Lincoln and Hoover. Published title(s) with Orca: Fouling Out
www.orcabook.com
Kari-Lynn Winters Vancouver, British Columbia
Presentation Region: local and regional. Occasionally presentations are possible in Ontario. Preferred audience size: Performance/Presentation: up to 6 classes (180 people) Workshops: up to 2 classes (30 people) Age group: Performances/Presentations: PK–4 Workshops: PK–8 Presentation venue: A school library is preferred, but presentations and performances can be done in the school gym or cafeteria, and workshops can be done in school classrooms. Presentation style: Performance/presentation: This 45 minute interactive presentation incorporates puppets, songs, improvisation, and readings from her published works (books and magazine stories/poems.) In addition, several different literacy strategies will be highlighted. Following the presentation Kari will offer a question period and a book signing session. Moving into literacy workshops for grades PK-3: during this hour-long arts-based workshop (using dance, drama, visual art, and music) several age-appropriate reading comprehension and writing composition strategies will be demonstrated. Dramatic Writing Workshops for grades 4-6: Using her published works, Kari will lead a one hour workshop which emphasizes the 6+1 Traits of Writing. This workshop will incorporate dance, drama, music, and visual art techniques. Editing and Publishing Workshops for grades 7-8: Students will share their short stories (500 words max.), picture books, or poems in this 90 minute workshop. Using drama and visual art techniques, students will come to better understand some important editing strategies, such as: making connections, visualizing the text, discovering point of view, and building vocabulary. In addition, Kari-Lynn will discuss ideas about publishing, including: researching a publisher, writing a cover letter and the process of creating a book.
Kari-Lynn Winters is the author of Jeffrey and Sloth (2007), a picture book about the daunting task of overcoming writer's block, and The Meaning Maker, a children's play about reading strategies which is currently being toured throughout the Lower Mainland. A graduate of Canada's National Theatre School, she is currently performing with a Vancouver children's theater group, The Tickle Trunk Players. Kari has taught a range of students in Canada and the United States, including pre-school, special education, primary, intermediate, high school, and now university teacher education. She is currently completing her PhD in the Language and Literacy Department at the University of British Columbia. Her research interests are children's literature, print literacy, and multimodal forms of learning. Published title(s) with Orca: Jeffrey and Sloth
Presentation fee: $250.00 for one hour; $300.00 for a half day $400.00 for a full day (or $350.00 for a full day if school recommends author to another school/library resulting in a booking) E-mail contact: kari@kariwinters.com Website: www.kariwinters.com
www.orcabook.com
Frieda Wishinsky Willowdale, Ontario
Presentation Region: local, regionial, and national Preferred audience size: 60–120 people Age group: grades K–6 Preferred presentation venue: library Presentation style: Frieda’s presentations are interactive, lively and fun for both kids and staff. Links to the school curriculum are inherent in the presentations. Presentation fee: $250 plus GST per session E-mail contact: frieda.wishinsky@gmail.com
Frieda Wishinsky is the international award-winning author of over forty trade and educational books. She loves humor, history and exploring new ways to tell a story. She uses drama, group participation, chants and storytelling to engage her audience. Frieda was raised and educated in New York City, where she earned a B.A. in International Relations with honors in History and a Master of Science in Special Education. She taught children and adults with learning disabilities in New York, Israel and Canada. She also established a number of school libraries. Frieda has worked on educational documents and projects for the Ontario Ministry of Education and the Girl Guides of Canada. Frieda began writing in the 1980s. She wrote book reviews, profiles and articles for magazines and newspapers. In 1990, her first picture book, Oonga Boonga (Little Brown & Co.) was voted "Pick of the List" by American Booksellers. Published title(s) with Orca: A Frog in My Throat A Bee in Your Ear A Noodle Up Your Nose Dimples Delight Each One Special Just Call Me Joe Queen of the Toilet Bowl
www.orcabook.com
Pam Withers
Vancouver, British Columbia Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: no preference Age group: grades K–12, although grades 4–9 are preferred Presentation venue: no preference; however, Pam usually presents in school libraries or auditoriums Presentation style: Pam’s one-hour presentation is full of humor, fun and stories of her outdoor adventures. She also focuses on the themes of research, patience, persistence, and constructive criticism.Visit her website under “talks” to learn more. Presentation fee: Please visit Pam’s website for information on her rates. Contact: c/o her agent, Chris Patrick: jcpem@shaw.ca Website: www.TakeItToTheExtreme.com
Pam Withers is author of 13 best-selling teen adventure novels and an awardwinning speaker. She's also a former outdoor guide and teen summer-camp coordinator. Published title(s) with Orca: Daredevil Club Camp Wild Breathless
www.orcabook.com
Kathleen Cook Waldron 100 Mile House, British Columbia
Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: up to 100 people for readings; up to 12 people for workshops Age group: Kathleen can present to any age group, but prefers each presentation to focus on a particular age or grade range, such as K-2, grades 3-6, or 7-9. As most of her books are written for younger readers, presentations for older groups focus more on the business of writing picture books, using examples from her own books. Presentation venue: no preference Presentation style: lively, informative and interactive presentations ranging in length from half an hour to an hour for readings, longer for workshops Presentation fee: Please contact author for details E-mail contact: kathleencookwaldron@gmail.com
Kathleen Cook Waldron was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. In the spring of 1975, she and her husband Mark set off with their one-year-old son Levi to begin building their own log home off the grid in central British Columbia. They immigrated to Canada the following year, welcomed their daughter Rosy the year after that, and have lived in the Cariboo ever since. Her rural pleasures include swimming in mountain lakes, canoeing, cycling, crosscountry skiing, and hiking. The Waldrons became dual Canadian/US citizens in 1991. Kathleen’s work experience includes being a swimming instructor, playground supervisor, lifeguard, waitress, chambermaid, tree planter, house painter, teacher, and of course, writer. Published title(s) with Orca: Forestry A-Z Five Stars For Emily Rough Day at Loon Lake Loon Lake Fishing Derby
www.orcabook.com
Diane Léger
Memramcook, New Brunswick Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: up to 60 people Age group: 5-9 for picturebook presentations, 10-14 for novel presentations Presentation venue: classroom or library Presentation style: Please contact author for details Presentation fee: $150 per presentation, based on 3 presentations per day E-mail contact: dianecleger@rogers.com
Diane Carmel Léger grew up in the Acadian village of Memramcook, New Brunswick. For 20 years, she lived in Victoria, British Columbia where she taught French Immersion and wrote books in both languages. Upon her arrival on the West Coast, Diane had the incredible luck of living in Emily Carr’s House of All Sorts for a year and amazingly, once again for her last year in Victoria. Diane has left the West but a little part of herself stayed behind in the virgin rainforests of Vancouver Island where her family was very involved in saving some of the world’s tallest trees. Both experiences inspired her picture books selected for CCBC Our Choice Award. Diane has come full circle and is now living in her native village, which was called La butte à Pétard before the deportation of 1755. This is also the name of her first book, an award-winning novel which depicted the resistance of her Acadian ancestors who escaped expulsion. Presently, Diane is awaiting the publication of her sequel, Retour à la butte à Pétard, partly written in Louisiana.
Published title(s) with Orca: Emily Carr’s Attic Maxine’s Tree Who’s in Maxine’s Tree?
www.orcabook.com
Dayle Campbell Gaetz Campbell River, British Columbia
Presentation Region: local, regional, national Preferred audience size: up to 60 people Age group: no preference Presentation venue: school classrooms and libraries, public libraries, and bookstores Presentation style: Dayle Campbell Gaetz speaks to groups about the writing process, discussing how ideas for some of her books have been inspired, and how this eventually led to a specific book, one that is discussed and read from. Student involvement is encouraged. Props and photos for each book add to the overall presentation. Presentation fee: $250 per session (approximately 60 minutes) Two same day sessions in one school: $450 Three same day sessions in one school: $600 E-mail contact: gdgaetz@oberon.ark.com@dal.ca
Dayle Campbell Gaetz grew up in Victoria and attended the University of Victoria. She has always loved books, both reading and writing them. Her writing career began on Salt Spring Island where she wrote her first 16 novels. For several years she wrote a column for the local weekly newspaper and published the occasional article in children’s magazines. Dayle now lives in Campbell River, B.C. where, in addition to her own writing, she teaches a correspondence course on Writing for Children and Teenagers. She has published 21 books for readers from ages seven to 17. Never knowing what idea will strike next, Dayle writes books that range from science fiction to history and from biography to mystery. Published title(s) with Orca: Alberta Alibi Barkerville Gold Crossbow Mystery From History No Problem Sea Dog Something Suspicious in Saskatchewan Spoiled Rotten www.orcabook.com