Authors’ Booking Service is pleased to announce that Julie Lawson is now scheduling visits to Ontario schools. She has written both picture books and novels for young people, most recently, Ghosts of the Titanic. Her writing has won several awards, including the Sheila A.Egoff Award for White Jade Tiger. Her favourite is the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award Award for No Safe Harbour. She would love to plan a visit to your school or library. Her rate is $250 per session, plus HST and travel expenses within Toronto and outside the GTA.

Published Works

Ghosts of the Titanic, Scholastic, 2011

Emily, Penguin, 2010

Where the River Takes Me: The HBC Diary of Jenna Sinclair, Scholastic, 2008

The Pirates of Captain McKee, Scholastic, 2008 (originally published as Whatever You Do,

Don’t Go Near That Canoe!)

No Safe Harbour: The Halifax Explosion Diary of Charlotte Blackburn, Scholastic, 2006

Arizona Charlie and the Klondike Kid, Orca, 2005

Emily 4: Summer of Gold, Penguin, 2004

Emily 3: Building Bridges, Penguin, 2003

The Klondike Cat, Kids Can Press, 2002

A Ribbon of Shining Steel: The Railway Diary of Kate Cameron, Scholastic, 2002

Emily 2: Disaster at the Bridge, Penguin, 2002

Emily 1: Across the James Bay Bridge, Penguin, 2001

Destination Gold! Orca, 2000

The Ghost of Avalanche Mountain, Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 2000

Bear on the Train, Kids Can Press, 1999

In Like a Lion, Scholastic, 1998

Turns on a Dime, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1998

Midnight in the Mountains, Orca, 1997

Goldstone, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1997

Emma and the Silk Train, Kids Can Press, 1997

Whatever You Do, Don't Go Near That Canoe! Scholastic, 1996

Cougar Cove, Orca, 1996

Too Many Suns, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1995

Blown Away, Red Deer College Press, 1995

Fires Burning, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1995

White Jade Tiger, Dundurn Group, 1993

The Dragon's Pearl, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1992

Kate's Castle, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1992

My Grandfather Loved the Stars, Dundurn Group, 1992

A Morning to Polish and Keep, Red Deer College Press, 1992

The Sand Sifter, Dundurn Group, 1990

Awards and Honours

Ghosts of the Titanic

2011, Silver Birch Award nominee

Where the River Takes Me

2009, City of Victoria/Bolen Books' Children's Book Award, Finalist

No Safe Harbour

2007, Hackmatack Award, Winner

Emily 3: Building Bridges

2007, Hackmatack Award, Nominee

Arizona Charlie and the Klondike Kid

2006, Christie Harris Award, Nominee

The Klondike Cat

2003, Christie Harris Award, Nominee

A Ribbon of Shining Steel

2003, C.L.A. Award, Nominee

2004, Hackmatack Award, Nominee

The Ghost of Avalanche Mountain

2001, Silver Birch Award, Nominee

2001, Red Cedar Award, Nominee

Turns on a Dime

1999, National Chapter of Canada IODE Violet Downey Award, Nominee

Goldstone

1999, CNIB Tiny Torgi Award, Nominee

1998, Silver Birch Award, Regional Winner and Finalist

Emma and the Silk Train

1999, International Reading Association Teachers' Choice

1998, Sheila A. Egoff Award, Nominee

1998, Junior Library Guild Selection

The Pirates of Captain McKee (original version: Whatever You Do, Don't Go Near That Canoe!

1997, CNIB's Tiny Torgi Award, Winner

1997, International Youth Library White Ravens Notable

Cougar Cove

1997, Silver Birch Award, Nominee

Fires Burning

1998, Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award, Nominee

1996, ALA Best Books for Young Adults

White Jade Tiger

1994, Sheila A. Egoff Award, Nominee

1994, Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Award, Nominee

1994, Silver Birch Award, Nominee

1994, CLA Fiction Notable

The Dragon's Pearl

1993, Ruth Schwartz Award, Nominee

1993, CLA Book of the Year Award, Nominee

1993, NAPPA Award for Folklore (National Parenting Publications Award), Winner

Presentation Details

In my talks, I explore the writing process — from idea to research, writing, and revising, the roles of the editor, illustrator, art director and publisher. I show examples from every stage (including hands-on objects and rough drafts) and read short passages or chapters from various works. I share the stories behind the stories, and encourage questions. My presentations are lively, interactive and fun — a blend of anecdotes, information, visual materials, slide shows and readings, designed to suit the age of the audience.

Presentations can be general (covering several of my books) or specific (discussing a book that a class is reading, or a book that fits in with the curriculum). Special requests are welcome, as long as there is prior notice. Presentations can also focus on an aspect of writing, like dialogue or character development.

Grades I will present to: 4 to 7

Is this flexible? Yes; I have presented to all grades, K to 12

Maximum number of students per session: 60

Is this flexible? Yes

Writing workshops available? Yes, grades 4 and up

Maximum participants for workshop: 25

Venues you’re comfortable in:  classroom, library, auditorium.

Equipment and other requirements: a table for displaying materials, a chair, a screen and projector for Power Point presentations