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Karen Bass

Authors’ Booking Service is pleased to announce that children’s author Karen Bass is now scheduling visits to Ontario schools. 

She would love to plan a visit to your school or library.  Her rate is $175 for one session, $300 for two, $600 for a full day (max four sessions), plus travel from Toronto.

A fourth-generation Albertan, Karen still lives in northwest Alberta where she managed a small library for sixteen years. She has always been an avid reader, and often wrote essays and articles for the local newspaper, but her first attempt at fiction, which only happened after four years of working in the library, sparked a passion that she’s certain will never fade.  Her first YA novel, Run Like Jäger, combined the inspiration of a cousin who took part in an exchange program and Karen’s long-standing interest in World War Two. While writing her book, she had the opportunity to travel to Germany and loves to talk about her travels, her stories, and how the two impact each other. Her second novel, Summer of Fire, is also set in Germany. (She has pictures – ask to see them at your own peril.) Much to her surprise, her newest novel has no WWII elements.

Here’s what Mrs. A. de Groot of SDCH has to say about Run Like Jäger:

What a great novel. Refreshing perspective - there is always 'that other side of the story'. Highly recommended!

Karen 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 Karen Bass.   

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Awards and Nominations

Run Like Jäger:     

Winner, CAA Exporting Alberta award (2009)
Winner, CHSBC Readers’ Choice award (2009)
Honourable Mention, ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year award, YA category

Summer of Fire:

Gold Medal for YA, IPPY Awards (2010)
Honour Book, Paterson Prize for Books for Young People (2010)

Presentation Details

Grades I will present to: 7-12
Is this flexible? (If yes, give details) I could possibly talk to grade 6 students, but my novels aren’t suitable for younger students.
Maximum number of students per session: 40
Is this flexible? (If yes, give details) Yes. I prefer the give-and-take of smaller groups but will speak to larger ones.
Venues you’re comfortable in:  (classroom, library, auditorium, gymnasium) Library, classroom. 
Is this flexible? Yes, if the group size demands a larger room and there is a microphone.
List any equipment or other requirements you have: I do have Powerpoint presentations which I carry on a USB stick, so if the school/library wanted pictures it would have to provide the laptop and projector.