Authors’ Booking Service is pleased to announce that Young Adult author, John Wilson, is now scheduling visits to Ontario schools for the coming school year.     

John would love to plan a visit to your school or library during either of these periods. His rate is $250 + GST for one session,  $450 + GST for two sessions, $650+ GST for three sessions and $800 + GST per full day (4 sessions) plus applicable expenses.

 
John’s twenty-four historical fiction and non-fiction books have won or been short-listed (often multiple times) for almost every major Canadian award including the Governor General’s. His most recent title, Death on the River is, “a riveting look at the Civil war’s horrifying Andersonville prison…(that) has the power to shock and to compel young readers interest while uncovering exciting history for them…This engrossing novel leaves and enduring impression.” (Kirkus). His other fall title, Crusade: The Heretic’s Secret Book I, has been called a “nuanced and masterfully told” story in a  Quill and Quire starred review. 
  
John is a member of The Writers' Union of Canada, and so schools wishing to invite him may be eligible for a travel and fee subsidy to off-set the cost of his visit. For details of this program, please contact us.  
  
Awards and Nominations for John Wilson’s books. 

Germania

Resource Links Best Book 2008; CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens, starred title of “exceptional calibre”).

The Alchemist's Dream

Governor General's Award, finalist, 2007; Geoffrey Bilson Award short list; Moonbeam Award, Silver Medalist, 2007; Shiela Egoff Prize (BC Book Prize), Honour Book; Chocolate Lily Award, short list; ForeWard Book of the Year, (Young Adult), finalist.

Where Soldiers Lie

Geoffrey Bilson Award, Honour Book; Red Maple short list, 2008; Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice (SYRCA) Snow Willow Award.

Red Goodwin

Red Maple short list, 2007; Chocolate Lily short list, 2007/8; CCBC Our Choice, 2007.

Four Steps to Death

White Pine short list, 2007; Shiela Egoff Prize (BC Book Prize), Honour Book;  Manitoba Reader's Young Choice Award, short list, 2006; Geoffrey Bilson Award Honour Book; Society of School Librarians International, Honour Book 2006; Stellar Award short list; Isinglass Award, short list; CCBC Our Choice (starred) 2006.

Battle Scars

      CCBC our Choice 2006

Flags of War

      CCBC Our Choice 2005

Flames of the Tiger

White Pine short list, 2005; New York Public Library Selection, Best Books for the Teen Age List, 2004; Manitoba Reader's Young Choice Award Honour Book, 2005; Society of School Librarians International, Honour Book; Stellar Award short list; CCBC Our Choice 2004

And in the Morning

White Pine short list, 2004; New  York Public Library Selection, Best Books for the Teen Age List, 2004; Chocolate Lily Award Nominee; Stellar Award short list; CCBC Our Choice (starred) 2003 .

Adrift in Time

      Chocolate Lily Award Nominee.

Lost in Spain

      New York Public Library Selection, Best Books for the Teen Age List, 2000.

Across Frozen Seas

      Geoffrey Bilson Award, short list; Shiela Egoff Prize (BC Book Prize)  Honour Book; CCBC Our Choice. 

Non-Fiction — Young Adults 

Desperate Glory: The Story of WWI

      Red Maple short list, 2009; OLA Best Bets

Dancing Elephants and Floating Continents: The Story of Canada Beneath Your Feet

Science in Society Book Award short list; Shiela Egoff Prize (BC Book Prize)  Honour Book; Hackmatack Award short list, 2004/5; CCBC Our Choice 2004

Discovering the Arctic: The Story of John Rae

      Norma Fleck Award short list, 2004; CCBC Our Choice.2004

Righting Wrongs: The Story of Norman Bethune 

      Norma Fleck Award short list, 2002. 

John’s Presentation Details  
 
Of Interest to History and Socials Teachers:

For grades 6 to 10: John can focus on modern history using books set during the First and Second World Wars, American Civil War, Spanish Civil War and the Indian Mutiny. Learning Resource Packages are available for several of these books.

For grades 5 to 8: John can discuss exploration and the search for the Northwest Passage, focusing on Henry Hudson and Sir John Franklin and putting both in the historical context of their times.  

Of interest to English teachers: John can cover most aspects of writing including structuring novels, descriptive writing and creative non-fiction. He can also touch on book reviewing, freelance writing and poetry (all of which he does or has done). 

 
Perhaps most importantly, John can tell stories from his books and their historical background and get young readers (particularly but not exclusively boys) energized and wanting to read and find out more about the past.   
 
John's style is flexible and he welcomes questions. Presentations are usually around an hour. 
 
Specifics Overview from John: 
 
I will present to grades 4 to 12 
  
Maximum number of students per session: 50/60 
  
I am also comfortable with large groups, rates negotiated by specific case 
  
I offer workshops available for grades 8 to 12 
Maximum participants for workshop: 12 
  
I also offer... 
Professional Development Workshops 
Grade 12 Writers' Craft Workshops 
  
I am comfortable in a classroom, library, auditorium or gymnasium. 
  
I require: White board/flip chart