Authors’ Booking Service is pleased to announce that Young Adult author Richard Scarsbrook is now scheduling visits to Ontario schools for the coming school year.   

Richard would love to plan a visit to your school or library.  His rate is $275 per session, plus travel from Toronto.

Richard’s latest book, The Monkeyface Chronicles, was the WINNER of the OLA’s 2011 White Pine Award. His funny, poignant, and very popular first novel, Cheeseburger Subversive, was nominated for the White Pine Award, the Canadian Library Association YA Book of the Year Award, and the Stellar Book Award.   Its rock ‘n’ roll sequel, Featherless Bipeds, was short-listed for the 2007 CLA YA Book of the Year Award and the Stellar Book Award.  His adult short story collection, Destiny’s Telescope, is on the long list for the 2007 ReLit Award.

Here’s what Collene Ferguson, Manitoba Regional Officer, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, has to say about this author: 

“Without any hesitation, I can say Richard was a huge success with students and teachers alike.  I was amazed at his ability to make each of his presentations fresh and dynamic.  Richard has a real passion for writing.  He also has an excellent rapport with students.  I recommend him to you without reservation.”

Richard 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

Cheeseburger Subversive (Thistledown Press, 2003)

Featherless Bipeds (Thistledown Press, 2006)

Destiny’s Telescope (Turnstone Press, 2006)

The Monkeyface Chronicles (Thistledown Press, 2010)

Awards and Recognition

The Monkeyface Chronicles 

White Pine Award, 2011 - Ontario Library Association – WINNER

****/Four Stars. "Highly Recommended." - CM Magazine

Cheeseburger Subversive 

White Pine Award, 2005 - Ontario Library Association – short listed

YA Book of the Year Award, 2004 - Canadian Library Association – short listed

Stellar Book Award, 2005 – short listed 

****/Four Stars. "Highly Recommended." - CM Magazine

EDITOR'S FICTION CHOICE - "Highly recommended." - Canadian Children's Literature

Featherless Bipeds 

YA Book of the Year Award, 2007 - Canadian Library Association – short listed 

Stellar Book Award, 2007 – short listed 

“RECOMMENDED” by The Canadian Children's Book Centre

Destiny’s Telescope 

The ReLit Award, 2007 – long listed

Stories Included in Destiny's Telescope :

WON The 2002 Lawrence House Centre for the Arts Short Story Competition and the 2000 New Orphic Short Fiction Competition

Received Honourable mentions in the 2002 Canadian Authors Association Short Story Competition and the 1996 Paragraph Short Fiction Contest,

Were Finalists in the 2002 New Century Writer Awards.

Presentation Details

I can present in a variety of ways, depending on the needs of each teacher and group of students.  No group is too large or small!  I’ve run creative writing workshops with groups as small as five students, and have given readings and Q+A sessions to audiences of hundreds.  I am comfortable in any venue, from classroom to library to auditorium. 

As a college and high school teacher with nearly 20 years experience, I am quite comfortable presenting to students of any age, although my books lend themselves best to groups from grade 6 to Adult. 

My usual “large group” presentation will start with an entertaining reading from on of my books, followed by an inspirational discussion of the creative writing process fuelled by questions from and interactions with the students involved.   

For smaller groups, particularly High School English and Grade 12 Writer’s Craft classes, I can run a variety of workshops according to the needs of the class, based on one of the many writing classes I teach at George Brown College and the Humber School of Writers.  Smaller groups (under 25) tend to work best for workshop-style presentations. 

I am also available to speak at Professional Development Workshops for teachers, and can give entertaining readings and presentations on writing to just about any group.

Grades 6 to Adult

No audience size limits for talks, up to 25 for Creative Writing Workshops

Will present in any venue

No special equipment needs