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Martin Springett

Authors’ Booking Service is pleased to announce that author / illustrator, Martin Springett is now scheduling visits to Ontario schools.  This author would love to plan a visit to your school or library.  Martin’s rate is $250.00 per session, plus travel from Toronto. Martin's most recent book is Breakfast On A Dragon's Tail published by Fitzhenry and Whiteside in the fall of 2011.

Jousting with Jesters An A BC For The Younger Dragon was Martin's first book which he authored as well as illustrated.

Barbara Julian wrote in the Victoria Times Colonist  "Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be another twist on the old alphabet books format, someone comes up with a fresh, funny, clever version like this one”. Martin has been getting great feedback from students, teachers and librarians across the country on his new book, which was mentioned on Sheilagh Rogers’ C BC morning radio show, on the Children’s Book Panel.    

Here are a few words from Librarian Dinah Gough of the Oshawa Public Library:

“Take a gifted author / illustrator with great audience rapport, add marvellous artwork and spellbinding music, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a successful programme. We’ll definitely be booking Martin for a repeat performance!”

 
Martin 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.  

Published Works

Breakfast On A Dragon's Tail  ( Author and Illustrator )

Jousting with Jesters  (Author and Illustrator.)

All subsequent titles, illustrator.

The Night Walker and the Follower by Richard Thompson
The Wise Old Woman by Yushiko Uchida

Too Many Suns by Julie Lawson

Who by Richard Thompson 

Mei Ming and the Dragon’s Daughter by Lydia Bailey.  

Covers for

The Fionavar Tapestry

The Summer Tree / The Wandering Fire / The Darkest Road by Guy Gavriel Kay.

The Story Box by Monica Hughes.

The Third Magic by Welwyn Wilton Katz

and many more.

Awards and Nominations

Jousting With Jesters Nominated for Aurora Award 2006

 Jousting With Jesters Ontario Library Association Best Best for 2006

Winner of the 2005 Aurora award for Artistic Achievement in the S F and Fantasy field. 

Winner of the 2003 Ruth Schwartz Award for The Night Walker Illustration. Nominated for the Shining Willow award for The Night Walker.

Runner-up, Toronto IODE Book award for “The Follower”.

Nominated for the Governor Generals Award, Illustration, for Who.

Notable Book Award from the Canadian Library Association for Mei Ming and the Dragon’s Daughter  

Presentation Details

The main focus of my presentation is how a book is created. Using original art, sketches, slides, drawing on the spot, telling amusing stories about my family, friends, pets, etc, I encourage the kids to think positively about their own creativity while giving them an insight into the process involved in creating a book. I also play the guitar, usually a piece I have written inspired by one of my books. This expands the story telling arc. Students generally love to hear the dragon from Mei Ming and the Dragon’s Daughter as well as see it. The presentation usually runs from an hour to an hour and a half. I encourage questions of course.

As I have created artwork for Y A and adult novels as well nine picture books for young readers I have given presentations to all grades starting from grade 2 and up. I do tend to focus on my most recent book, and Breakfast On A Dragon's Tail  is my main point of interest in the presentations right now. As it is my second authored and illustrated book, I can now talk about the writing process as well as the illustrating side of things.  I always take a little time in the presentation to talk about my dear friend Pauline Baynes, the illustrator of The Chronicles of Narnia by C S Lewis. As so many students have read “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe” and have seen the films, there is a lot of interest in hearing about this legendary figure.

Overview of Specifics

I will present to grades 2 and up.
A mix with some SK and grade 1 is also fine.

Maximum audience size: 60 is ideal
I am also happy to present to larger groups provided that I can show the slide show part of my presentation.

I offer drawing workshops for grades 4 and up.
Maximum participants: 30

I am most comfortable in a classroom or library, but will also present in an auditorium or gymnasium.

Equipment required: a lap top and screen, an easel with paper for drawing on the spot and a table for displaying books and laying out artwork.