Authors' Booking Service is pleased to announce that children's author Catherine Austen is now scheduling visits to Ontario schools.

Her rate is $250 for one session, $450 for two, and $600 for three.

No travel charges within the Ottawa area. Travel outside Ottawa must be coordinated with Catherine’s schedule in advance, and transportation/accommodation fees may apply.

Catherine Austen has given presentations and readings to students from kindergarten through grade ten. In her years working in the conservation movement, Catherine gave numerous workshops to teachers and presentations to children and adults of all ages.

Published Works

All Good Children, Orca, October 2011
26 Tips for Surviving Grade 6, Lorimer, September 2011
My Cat Isis, Kids Can Press, March 2011
Walking Backward, Orca Book Publishers, October 2009

Awards and Nominations

Walking Backward

An Ontario Library Association 2009 Best Bet

A finalist for the 2010 Quebec Writers' Federation Prize for Children's and Young Adults' Literature

A finalist for the Canadian Library Association's 2010 Book of the Year for Children Award

A Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award 2010 nominee

A Saskatchewan Diamond Willow Award 2011 nominee

A British Columbia 2011/2012 Red Cedar Award nominee

A starred selection in the Canadian Children's Book Centre's 2011 Best Books for Kids and Teens

Presentation Details

I can come into your school, library, or writing group to

(a) read from one or more of my books, talk about their backgrounds, and take questions from the audience; or

(b) give a presentation on any of the following topics:

"So you want to be a writer." Facing facts and busting myths on the profession of writing. For grades 5-12. Recommended for aspiring writers. (A power point presentation, with a reading from any of my books.)

"How a picture book is made." The step-by-step process of bringing a picture book to life, from the spark of an idea to the bookstore display. For grades K-4. Recommended for cat and Egypt lovers. (With a reading and props from My Cat Isis.)

"Where do you get your ideas?" A presentation or writing workshop about using simple facts - in this case fascinating phobias - to spark story ideas. For grades 5 and up. (With a reading from Walking Backward and/or 26 Tips for Surviving Grade 6.)

"Reading and writing dystopian fiction." A presentation about dystopian fiction and why it can’t be dismissed as pulp or fluff. For grades 7 and up. (With a reading from All Good Children.)

"Journaling for fact and fiction." A presentation or writing workshop on the various uses of a journal, from personal record to classroom tool, and the special needs of journal fiction. (With a reading from Walking Backward and props/examples of journal fiction from picture books through novels.)

"The Importance of Humour in Writing and Life." A presentation or writing workshop on the value of humour in books of all genres and in managing the ups and downs of “being a writer.” Adaptable to all grades. (With a reading from the funnier parts of any of my books).

We humans are highly adaptable animals, so let me know what you're looking for in a visit and I'll see what I can do.

Maximum number of students per session: 40 is nice, but I will do presentations/readings for up to 100 children. Writing workshops are best for small groups like single classes (20-30 students).

I am comfortable presenting in: classroom, library, auditorium, gymnasium.

Equipment and other requirements

Laptop and projector for Power Point presentations (confirm if desired with each booking).

I request that a librarian, teacher or other school representative be present throughout the presentation.