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 (+ HST) per session, plus transportation costs ($6 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 Canadian literary magazines including The New Quarterly, THIS Magazine, Geist, and The Antigonish Review, and the U.S. literary journal Indiana Review. Her first novel, Pulpy & Midge, was published by Coach House Books in 2007, and her short story collection, And Also Sharks, was published by Cormorant Books in spring 2011. She was shortlisted for the 2009 CBC Literary Awards. Jessica makes her living as a freelance editor, primarily for educational textbooks.

Here’s what Elise Cole, Teen Services Librarian at the Oakville Public Library, has to say about this author:

Our participants in Jessica’s Teen Writing and Zine Workshop at the Oakville Public Library were very excited to have the chance to learn from a published author. Her tips were innovative and really made the students think about their writing in new ways. She explored strategies to help cure writers’ block, and had the students create zines to highlight a piece of writing they created during the workshop. I would highly recommend Jessica for this type of workshop, and I look forward to having her back in the future!

Kevin Robinson, 4U English teacher at Adam Scott C.V.I. (Peterborough, Ontario), has this 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.

Adult fiction:

And Also Sharks (Cormorant Books, 2011)

Pulpy & Midge (Coach House Books, 2007)

Those Girls (Greenboathouse Books, 2006)

Selected Short-Story Publications

“We Are All About Wendy Now” (Indiana Review, 2010)

“At Kimberley’s Party” (The New Quarterly, 2010)

“What I Would Say” (THIS Magazine, 2010)

“Todd and Belinda Rivers of 780 Strathcona” (Joyland.ca, 2009)

“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)

Presentation Details

I start by briefly introducing myself, talking about how I became a writer, and sometimes giving a short reading of my own work so the students can get a sense of my writing style. Then, in no particular order, I offer some easy-to-follow, practical advice for student writers—simple steps they can take now to give their writing career a boost later on; I give some tips on how to make their writing more effective, and how to read their work aloud to an audience; I discuss the power of the humble notebook (and handwriting in general), and offer a roundabout remedy for writers’ block. I leave 15 minutes at the end for a question-and-answer period. On request, I will provide a take-home handout, including the main points from my presentation and a recommended-reading list. My complete presentation session is one hour in length.

If a second hour is scheduled, I give hands-on creative writing exercises throughout my presentation, with the option for students to read some new writing aloud to the group.

If a third hour is scheduled, after the presentation I conduct a cutting-and-pasting zine-making workshop, in which the students transform a piece of their new writing into a folded booklet. It’s ideal if, toward the end of the workshop, a staff member can photocopy these booklets so the students can share their zines with each other.

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

I will present to grades 9 and up.

Maximum audience size: 30

(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 long table for my presentation material, a chair or stool, and possibly a microphone and microphone stand for groups of 25 to 30 (depending on the venue). Students will need to sit at desks or shared tables if they will be doing the writing exercises or making zines (otherwise, chairs only are fine).