Authors' Booking Service is pleased to announce that children's author Lois Peterson is now scheduling visits to Ontario schools in May 2011 to coincide with her visit to Toronto for the Forest of Reading festivities.   

Her rate is $250 for one session, $500 for two, $700 for three and $900 for four, plus public transportation from Toronto. A $30 flat fee per session towards accommodation applies.

No travel charges within the GTA. For travel outside the GTA, car rental or public transportation costs. Due to her unfamiliarity with the area, a driver/escort might be required, or detailed public transit instructions from downtown TO are appreciated when confirming bookings.

Lois is a member of The Writers' Union of Canada; schools wishing to invite her may be eligible for a travel and fee subsidy to offset the cost of her visit. Contact us for details of this program. 

Lois Peterson is an experienced booktalker, storyteller, and speaker, skills she developed during 30 years working with a public library. She also teaches creative writing to adults, children and teens, and conducts storytelling workshops.

___________________________________________________________________

Silver Rain, Orca Book Publishers, October 2010
The Ballad of Knuckles McGraw, Orca April 2010 
Meeting Miss 405, Orca 2008
101-and more-Writing Exercises to get You Started & Keep You Going 
Metta Publications  2007 

Upcoming:

Beyond Repair, Orca Spring 2011
The Wrong Bus, Orca Fall 2011

The Ballad of Knuckles McGraw
Nominated:
OLA Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express, 2011 
Meeting Miss 405 
Winner:
BC Chocolate Lily Children's Choice Award, 2010 (Fiction/Chapter Book)
Nominated:
OLA Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express, 2009 
Saskatchewan Diamond Lily 2010

My goal is to provide lively presentations that inform, engage and motivate students to view storytelling and writing as a way to explore their world, and celebrate their own experience in it.
My presentations actively engage children, youth and adults in the storytelling process, and allow them to explore how ideas are generated, how a book moves from idea to finished product, and what makes a good story for reading and telling.
I also offer writing workshops to high school students.
I usually begin by talking about my origins as a reader and writer.
I share the history of storytelling from cave drawings, to fireside telling, to the written transmission of stories… with examples. For younger groups I tell a creation story.
I discuss story germs, both mine and those of the participants, and prompt a discussion about using the 5 Ws of What, Where, When, Why, Who - and How! - to ask questions and formulate answers that help move a story along.
For older groups I conduct an interactive exercise to explore elements of language that bring a story alive. And show them how to create ‘Instabooks’ from a single sheet of paper to 1) Record the elements of a good story, b) to expand them into one of their own
For younger groups I use visual prompts, chants, various languages and other tools to engage all the participants.
I talk about exploring and uncovering facts that often underlie fiction, and discuss research options.
Where feasible, I display early drafts of my books to show how the story emerged through various drafts.
I always read a brief excerpt from my books and answer questions about the stories, writing, or anything that has emerged during the presentation. 
For high school presentations I conduct writing workshops that, where possible, reflect current class activities, curriculum priorities and student interests.
Grades I will present to: K - 12. 

Maximum number of students per session: 75-80

I do consider presenting to larger groups, and have done storytelling for up to 200 children. Please discuss this with me if presentations to groups larger than 80 are required.   
I am comfortable presenting in: classroom, library, auditorium, gymnasium, open air, cruise ship.

Flip chart or blackboard. Markers.
Sheets of letter-sized paper.
Laptop and projector for Power Point presentation (confirmed if required with each booking)
I request that a librarian, teacher or other school representative be present throughout the presentation.