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Lois Peterson



Silver Birch Express Nominee 2010





Authors' Booking Service is pleased to announce that children's author Lois Peterson is now scheduling visits to Ontario schools in May 2010 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.

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.

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Published Works:

101-and more-Writing Exercises to get You Started & Keep You Going 
Metta Publications  2007 
Meeting Miss 405 
Orca Book Publishers 2008

Upcoming Books:

The Ballad of Knuckles McGraw, Orca April 2010 
Elsie and the Silver Rain,
Orca October 2010

Awards and Nominations:

Meeting Miss 405 
Nominated: BC Chocolate Lily Children's Choice Award, 2010 
Silver Birch Fiction Express, 2010 

Lois's Presentation Details:

My presentations are designed to actively engage children 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 students in grades 4-12.

    I usually being 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.

    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.

    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 underly fiction, and discuss research options.

    Where feasible, I display early drafts of Meeting Miss 405 (and/or works in progress), and show how the story emerged through various drafts.

    I always read a brief excerpt from my book and answer questions about the story, writing, or anything that has emerged during the presentation. 

Grades I will present to: K - 8.  High school students - writing workshops.  

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.   

Writing workshops available for grades 4-12.  

Storytelling workshops - from idea to group presentation for Grades 2-8. Maximum 20 students.

I am comfortable presenting in: classroom, library, auditorium, gymnasium, open air.

Equipment and other requirements:  

    Flip chart or blackboard. Markers.

    I request that a librarian, teacher or other school representative be present throughout the presentation.  

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.