Library Reading in Winnipeg, Manitoba

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1. School and Library Visits
2. Other Talks for Students and/or Adults
3. Workshops
4. Writer-in-Residence Programmes
5. Fees
6. What Teachers and Students Have Said About my Presentations

School and Library Visits

In recent years I have visited schools and libraries all across Canada, in the U.S., in Scotland and in Uganda.

Sometimes I talk about a number of my books. Sometimes I talk about just a few. I usually chat with teachers and librarians beforehand, and find out what sort of talk they have in mind. I usually mould my talk to a teacher’s or librarian’s wishes. I read as well as talk, and I always use a number of "show and tell" items. I like to speak about the differences in writing fiction and non-fiction: how the thought process differs, where the ideas come from, the research, etc. I’ve also had a lot of requests to talk about the "building" of a book, from first idea to finished product.

I usually include a reading. I will read either a picture book (or sometimes two) and/or the first chapter of "Leaving The Log House." I like to leave lots of time for questions at the end of my talks.

Several of my books tie in well with the school curriculum:

Pioneers: HOUSE CALLS, The True Story of a Pioneer Doctor

First Nations: A Dog Came, Too

Explorers: A Dog Came, Too and my biographies on Alexander Mackenzie and Simon Fraser.

Prime Ministers: BABOO The Story of Sir John A. Macdonald’s severely handicapped daughter, Mary

World War II: Just Like New

Disabilities: (a) BABOO The Story of Sir John A. Macdonald’s severely handicapped daughter, Mary (b) "Leaving The Log House" the story of a young girl from northern B.C., who comes to Vancouver to get a prosthetic leg. (c) "BOY IN MOTION, Rick Hansen’s Story"

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Other Talks for Students and/or Adults

In recent months I have spoken to both students and adults (ie Children’s Literature Roundtables) on the following subjects or combinations of these subjects:

1. What it’s like to be a Writer; A Writer’s Day
2. How I got started in my Writing Career
3. Where ideas come from
4. Fun and not-so-fun research
5. Working with an illustrator
6. The differences of writing fiction and non-fiction

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At The International School of Uganda, in Kampala, Uganda, East Africa

Workshops

These are usually individually designed. For example, using "Just Like New" and "Ballerinas Don’t Wear Glasses", I show the students how long ago memories can lead step by step to a finished story. I encourage them to take an incident from their own lives and step by step change it from fact to fiction.

Sometimes I have the students each invent a character for a story. I do this after I’ve shown them a number of photographs to start imaginations working. I then help them build a detailed character chart before beginning to write. If the students finish their stories after the workshop, I will read them and give each story a detailed critique.

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School Reading in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland

Writer-in-Residence

A few years ago I was Writer-in-Residence for two West Vancouver schools. I visited each class two or three times, held workshops, discussed the process of producing a book, and gave a presentation with one of my illustrators, Dean Griffiths. If you are interested in a similar programme for your school, please contact me.

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School Reading in Port Angeles, Washington

What Teachers and Students Have Said About My Presentations

“EVERYONE LOVED YOU!! Marc McBride, the grade 8 teacher, is usually upset when he has to give up class time. He LOVED you and your presentation. Kristy Kavanagh, 3rd grade teacher, said she could have listened to you all day. ALL of the feedback has been positive.”
Michelle Dohm, Queen of Angels School, Port Angeles, Washington

"…Thank you for visiting the Fraser Valley Regional Library system. I received great reviews from all the libraries you visited."
Barb Hynek, Librarian, B.C.

"…Thank you for your workshop at the Young Readers' Conference at Aberthau. Your encouragement of students' reading and your contribution to the professional development of Vancouver teachers has been much appreciated. The style in which you presented the workshop, drawing on your extensive background knowledge and expertise was very successful. We feel that this experience was beneficial to both teachers and students ..."
Katherine Reeder, Staff Development, Vancouver School Board

"You are the best writer in the whole world. Your books were so interesting I could steal all of them off the table. You are a very good reader, too."
Grade Three Student, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.

"You have don so much for me…. You have a lot of grate books."
Grade One Student, White Rock, B.C.

"After going to the conference, I have been encouraged to wright a children's story. I'm only 12, could you tell me if I'm ready to wright and publish a book or should I wait?… P.S. If you need any ideas, I'm shure I might be able to help."
Elementary Student, Perth, Ontario.

Fees

My fee is $275 for one session. If I do two sessions, the fee is $250 per session. If I stay for the day, ie three sessions, the fee is $225 per session. If I have to travel a fair distance, I like to do at least two sessions. If the school or library is far from home, assistance with travel and accommodation also has to be considered. Workshops last 2-3 hours and range from $350 - $400.

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Library Reading in Kingston, Ontario