Peggy Dymond Leavey

                                                                                   




Authors’ Booking Service is pleased to announce that children’s author, Peggy Dymond Leavey, is now scheduling visits to Ontario schools for the coming school year.

Peggy is available anytime within a 250 kilometre radius of Trenton, which includes Ottawa, Petawawa and Huntsville. Peggy is also available occasionally elsewhere in the province and across Canada. Please, just ask.

Peggy would love to plan a visit to your school or library. Her rate is $200 for one session, $300 for two, three for $450, and four for $600; plus travel from Trenton, Ont.

Peggy’s novels for children have been nominated for several awards, and one was a Silver Birch Honour Book and Finalist. Her bibliography and details of her presentation follow this message.

Here’s what Librarian Dianne Cranshaw had to say about Peggy's recent visit to her library:

“The Wellington Branch of the County of Prince Edward Public Library was very fortunate to have Peggy Dymond Leavey give a workshop on creative writing to children from eight to twelve years of age. . . . Peggy's quiet manner, coupled with her ready sense of humour and her own enthusiasm soon had their creative juices flowing onto the paper. Peggy has the ability to make each child's contribution a valuable part of the exercise. The children were delighted with their experience. . . . Peggy is well-organized, punctual and efficient- every event planner's dream- but also inspiring, thoughtful and entertaining- every participant's wish!”

Teacher/ Librarian Lezlie Foster had this to say about Peggy's presentation at Colborne Public School:

“Our students were very excited to meet a Silver Birch Award nominee. … a lively and engaging discussion. I appreciated the time she took to answer their questions.”

Peggy 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. For details of this program, please contact us.

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Novels for Young Readers

Trouble at Turtle Narrows. 2008
Treasure at Turtle Lake. 2007
The Path through the Trees. 2005
The Deep End Gang. 2003
Finding My Own Way. 2001
Sky Lake Summer. 1999
A Circle in Time. 1997
Help Wanted: Wednesdays Only. 1994


Awards and Nominations

The Path through the Trees, Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award nominee, 2007; CCBC Our Choice selection, Silver Birch nominee, 2007.
The Deep End Gang, Silver Birch Award Honour Book & Finalist, 2004; Arthur Ellis Award nominee.
Finding My Own Way, Our Choice Award, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, 2002.
Sky Lake Summer, Our Choice Award, Canadian Children’s Book Centre; Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award nominee, 2001; Silver Birch Award nominee, 2000.

A Circle in Time, Our Choice Award, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, 1998-99.
Help Wanted: Wednesdays Only, Our Choice Award, Canadian Children’s Book
Centre.

Peggy's Presentations Details

A retired librarian, I have many years' experience talking to children and nurturing in them a love of reading and writing. I usually begin with a reading from my latest book, although I'm happy to adapt my presentation to suit any theme. I talk about how I started writing, and where we can find story ideas today. Among the visuals are the book I wrote in Grade 4 and examples of the various stages in a book's development--from first, hand-written draft to finished product.

I welcome feedback from the children and like to hear how they decide which book to read. This leads to a discussion of cover art & blurbs, word-of-mouth etc. I like to end with Q. & A.

I provide bookmarks, posters and teacher handouts of classroom activities and ideas for further discussion.

I prefer to present to grades 4-6, the age of my most avid readers. A presentation lasts 45-60 minutes. An audience of about 70 children is ideal, but I am flexible. I like to move among my listeners, showing them the visuals, so a smaller group works best.

A quick overview:
I will present to grades 4 – 6, although I will also speak to older students if there is interest.

Audience size: 70 is ideal, 100 is maximum.
This is negotiable, but I prefer not to use a microphone, so this will depend on the acoustics.

Writing Workshops

I offer writing workshops for grades 4 - 8, which are usually 90 to 120 minutes in length.

Hands-on activities include looking for story ideas, using the senses, developing characters, choosing colourful verbs, writing effective openings, using dialogue, writing fiction from truth and looking at story structure. Student handouts are provided.

Number of participants: 25 is ideal, 40 is maximum. This is negotiable.

I am most comfortable presenting in a classroom, library or small gymnasium.

I require a table for display purposes for presentations, and a blackboard or flip chart for workshops. I look forward to speaking to your group!