TALKS

I am currently booking a limited number of visits to schools and libraries. I am also happy to speak at professional conferences and literary festivals. Please browse below.

TALKS FOR KIDS

My presentations for kids are humorous, interactive and supported by colourful slide-shows. They're designed for grades 1 through 6 and are approximately an hour long. To allow for interactivity, I like to work with audiences of two or three classes at a time.

For primary students, I show my recent picture books as a way to discuss:

a passion for reading (getting “lost in a book”)
how to find and “collect” writing ideas
how to turn ideas into stories by asking “What if?"
how stories become published books
how illustrators help tell the story — and sometimes add an extra one!

For intermediate students, I show my recent novels as a way to discuss:

where ideas come from (usually multiple sources)
who? where? what? (how a writer creates characters, setting & plot)
imagining story: the writer's “inner world"
point of view: getting “inside” a character
rewriting/editing/publication

If your school has a special focus or program, please let me know.

"Thanks for such a terrific day! I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews from my colleagues. And when I had two little girls in my own class who didn’t want to eat lunch, but wanted to write a story, I know that you reached the writer in each of them. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
Paul Berry, Teacher-Librarian, Coquitlam

"You were MAGNIFICENT!"   Hal Wake, Artistic Director, Vancouver Writers Fest, Vancouver

"My students were still buzzing by the end of the day -- your Good Times Travel Agency books all went home."  Jody Colbourne, Teacher-Librarian, Toronto

TALKS FOR ADULTS

I enjoy speaking at professional conferences for teachers, librarians and writers. My conference talks are supported by entertaining, informative slide-show presentations of picture-book art, book covers and photos. I'm happy to tailor my talks toward conference themes.

Here is a sample of my conference experience:

Ontario Library Association Super Conference, Toronto (keynote)
Kaleidoscope Children's Literature Conference, Calgary
Serendipity Children's Literature Conference, Vancouver
Children's Literature Roundtable Conferences, Edmonton (keynote)
Georgia Children's Literature Conference, Athens, Georgia
CANSCAIP Packaginging Your Imagination Conference, Toronto (keynote)
International Reading Association annual conferences (Atlanta, Reno, Sacramento, Phoenix & more)
Authorfest, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
California Teacher Librarian Association Conference, Los Angeles (keynote)
Reading for the Love of It, Toronto (keynote)
North Central Teachers Convention Alberta, Edmonton
Saskatchewan Festival of Words, Regina (keynote)
Yukon Teachers Association "Inspiring Writers" Conference, Whitehorse

BOOKINGS

To make a booking (or for more info), please email me at .

ONTARIO TEACHERS & LIBRARIANS: For school and library visits in Ontario, please contact Authors Booking Service at .