PUBLISHED WORKS: GILLIAN CHAN

Golden Girl and Other Stories 1994
Glory Days and Other Stories 1996
The Carved Box 2000
A Foreign Field 2002
Dear Canada: An Ocean Apart – The Gold Mountain Diary of Chin Mei-ling 2004
The Turning 2005

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS:

Golden Girl and Other Stories
- short listed for the Mr. Christie’s Award
- winner of the Hamilton and Region Arts’ Council Literary Award for best children’s book of the year

Glory Days and Other Stories
- short listed for The Governor General’s Literary Award
- short listed for The Mr. Christie’s Book Award
- WINNER of the Hamilton and Region Arts’ Council Literary Award for best children’s book of the year

The Carved Box
- short listed for the Red Maple Award
- short listed for the Diamond Willow Award
- WINNER of the Hamilton and Region Arts Council Literary Award for best children’s book of the year

A Foreign Field
- WINNER of the White Pine Award
- WINNER of NAPRA’s Nautilus Award
- selected for New York Public Libraries’ Best Books for the Teen Age List
- Winner of the Hamilton and Regional Arts’ Council Literary Award for
best children’s book of the year

Dear Canada: An Ocean Apart: The Gold Mountain Diary of Chin Mei-ling
- nominated for the BC Red Cedar Award, 2006-07
- short listed for the Canadian Library Association book of the year
- WINNER of Arts Hamilton’s Literary Award for best children’s book of the year

The Turning
- nominated for the BC Stellar Award, 2007-08
- selected for New York Public Libraries’ Best Books for the Teen Age List

GILLIAN'S PRESENTATION DETAILS:

I usually start by showing students my “first” novel, written when I was eleven and describing how I fulfilled my ambition to become a writer, even though it took me thirty years!

As a former teacher I am comfortable talking to students of all ages, although most of my presentations are best suited to Grades five and up. I am quite flexible about the audience size although for groups larger than fifty, I prefer to have a microphone.

For most of the presentations offered, I bring along props, costumes and examples of writing. Set out below are some of the topics on which I have previously made presentations but I am always happy to create new ones or adapt these to the needs of a particular group on request. I also have given smaller, more intensive “hands-on” writing workshops and find that they work best for groups no larger than twenty.

The Writing Process – in this I take a particular novel from its inspiration to its final published form and cover research skills, how to deal with writers’ block, and self editing.

Living History – using one of my three historical novels, The Carved Box, Dear Canada: An Ocean Apart – the Gold Mountain Diary of Chin Mei-ling, or A Foreign Field I discuss the differences between the life and times of the characters and those of the students in the audience. This is a highly interactive presentation and works best with the use of a whiteboard or flip chart on which to record suggestions given. The historical topics that can be covered include Pioneer Life, Chinese Canadian history and World War Two. For each presentation, I make use of replica artefacts, documents and memorabilia. In the case of Pioneer Life, I also bring in replica costumes. Once we have established differences between life in the present and the past, we consider in which ways life is the same, which leads to a discussion how, although the outward trappings maybe different, people have the same hopes, fears and dreams whenever they live. The presentation based on The Carved Box is one that I have used with students as young as Grade two.

Creating Believable Characters – In this, I focus on the techniques I use to bring characters to life. Again this is interactive and after discussion and using a flip chart or whiteboard, I create a character with the audience.

I usually present to grades 5 and up.

 

For grades below five, I have an interactive presentation on Pioneer Life which involves the use of costumes and replica artefacts and which refers to my novel, "The Carved Box."

 

Maximum audience size: For general sessions I have no set number, although if the number is over 50 students, I request that a microphone is provided.

 

I offer workshops for grades eight and up.  I will consider younger groups.

Workshop topics: creating believable characters; creating fantastic worlds

self editing; finding your voice

 

Maximum participants for workshop: 20

 

I also offer:

Professional Development Workshops

Grade 12 Writers' Craft Workshops

 

I am comfortable presenting in a classroom, library, auditorium or gymnasium.

 

I require a microphone for groups larger than fifty.