Authors’ Booking Service is pleased to announce that author and editor Jessica Westhead is now scheduling visits to Toronto and GTA schools and libraries. 

Jessica would love to plan a visit to your school or library. Her rate is $225 (+ GST) per session, plus transportation costs ($5 if location is accessible by TTC, or $20 if a taxi ride from and/or back to a TTC station will be necessary).

Jessica Westhead is a Toronto writer who has published stories in literary magazines such as The Antigonish Review, Matrix, THIS Magazine, Geist, Taddle Creek, and Kiss Machine. Her short-story chapbook, Those Girls, was published by Greenboathouse Books in 2006, and her first novel, Pulpy and Midge, was published by Coach House Books in fall 2007. She makes her living as a freelance editor, primarily for educational textbooks. A complete publishing history and details of her presentation follow this message. 

Here’s what Kevin Robinson, 4U English teacher at Adam Scott C.V.I. (Peterborough, Ontario) has to say about this author: 

“Jessica is an inspiration to young writers as she speaks of writing in a very practical and accessible manner while maintaining a tone of sincerity and humour. My students were immediately drawn to her and wished to talk to her one-to-one after her presentation. Overall, she is very approachable and my students loved meeting her and discussing writing with her.” 

Jessica Westhead is a member of The Writers’ Union of Canada, and so schools wishing to invite her may be eligible for a travel and fee subsidy to off-set the cost of her visit. Contact us for details of this program. 

Time slots are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis, so please respond early if you are interested in booking Jessica. 

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Published Works: JESSICA WESTHEAD

 

Adult Novel (literary fiction)

Pulpy and Midge (Coach House Books, 2007) 

Adult Short-Story Chapbook (literary fiction)

Those Girls (Greenboathouse Books, 2006) 

Anthologized Short Stories

“Gar’s Marine Palace” (to appear in I.V. Nights, Tightrope Books, spring 2008)

“Worse” (appeared in Desire, Doom & Vice: A Canadian Collection, Wingate Press, 2005) 

Selected Short-Story Publications

“The Only One” (The Antigonish Review, 2006)

“Some Wife” (Matrix, 2005)

“Steak and Eggs” (Taddle Creek, 2002)

“Bev’s Chick” (Geist, 2002)

“Worse” (THIS Magazine, 2001)

JESSICA WESTHEAD’s Presentation Details

 

I start by briefly introducing myself, talking about how I became a writer, and giving a short (10 minutes max.) reading of my work, either an excerpt from my novel, Pulpy & Midge, or one of my shorter stories. 

Then I dive into the editing portion of my presentation, “The X-Why?-Said’s of Editing Your Own Fiction” (knowing what to cut, understanding character motivation, and writing good dialogue). 

I have been speaking to high school students about the writing process since 2004, and I get a thrill from these talks every time. I keep the overall tone light-hearted, and bring a sense of humour to the presentation. I encourage audience participation, which includes asking students about their own writing and editing experiences. 

I wrap up by offering some easy-to-follow, practical advice for budding writers—things students can do now to give their writing careers a head start later on, and I leave about 10 minutes at the end for a Q & A session. My complete presentation is one hour in length. 
 

I will present to grades 9 and up. 

Maximum audience size: 100

(Please note that smaller groups allow for more interactive presentations.) 

I am comfortable presenting in a classroom, library, auditorium, or gymnasium—though I prefer the more intimate setting of a classroom or library. 

I require: a table for my presentation material, a chair or stool, and a microphone and microphone stand for groups of more than 40. On request, I will provide a handout for audience members (including the main points from my presentation and a recommended reading list).