Hiromi Goto

Authors' Booking Service is pleased to announce that White Pine nominated author Hiromi Goto of Alberta is available for visits to Ontario schools and libraries for the week of the Tree Awards.

Her rate is $275 for one session, $525 for two, and $700 for three, plus local travel.

Hiromi is a member of The Writers’ Union of Canada and so schools wishing to invite her may be eligible for a travel and feed subsidy to offset the cost of her visit. Contact us for details of this program.  

Hiromi Goto is an award-winning author of children’s and adult literature. She is the 2009/10 writer-in-residence at the University of Alberta. 

Published Works

Children’s Literature:

                              Half World, Penguin Canada, 2009 (Ages 12 +) 

                              The Water of Possibility, Coteau Books, 2001 (Ages 9 +)

Adult Literature:

                              Hopeful Monsters, Arsenal Pulp Press, 2004

                              The Kappa Child, Red Deer Press, 2001

                              Chorus of Mushrooms, NeWest Press, 1994

Poetry:

                              Wait Until Late Afternoon, Frontenac House, 2009,

                              co-written with David Bateman

Awards and Nominations:

2003-Selected as one of the top 10 writers under 40 in Canada worth watching on TV

          Ontario’s Imprint

2002- Finalist for the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize Best Book, Canada and Caribbean

           Region, The Kappa Child        

2001- James Tiptree Jr. Award, The Kappa Child

2000- Grant MacEwan College Book of the Year, Chorus of Mushrooms

1995- Co-winner of the Canada-Japan book Award, Chorus of Mushrooms

1995- Commonwealth Writer’s Prize, Best First Book, Canada and Caribbean Region,

          Chorus of Mushrooms

Presentation Details:

My readings are a very dramatic and powerful component of my presentations. I am highly attuned to the performative space—the readings are engaging and compelling. I will spend several minutes introducing myself and my book, and then will spend fifteen to twenty minutes reading from an exciting section of the novel. I will follow up with:

• a brief talk about how I came to be a writer
• my childhood connections to books, stories, ghost stories, folk legends
• the importance of everyone’s special, unique voice
• the  necessity of discipline, hard work, sheer stubbornness, and imaginative play in order to succeed as a writer

I also like to leave ample time for Q & A.

I will present to:

      - Grades 7-9

      - Grades 10-12

(Please note: Half World is not suitable for an elementary school-aged audience because of some gory scenes. This book is suitable for grade 7 and up including adult audiences.)

Audience size: 30 – 150 (approx.)

I am comfortable in all venues including classrooms, libraries, auditorium, gymnasium, etc. If the room is small sound equipment is not necessary. I do not use a lectern but a small table and water would be appreciated.

I would require a teacher or librarian present during the performance to facilitate a generative space.