Svetlana Chmakova

Due to a very demanding work schedule, Svetlana is not available for presentations at the moment. If you are interested in a visit at a future date, please contact us at abs@authorsbooking.com to be put on her waiting list.

Svetlana is a friendly and versatile creator with a lot to share about the world of comics and the adventures of her job.

Svetlana 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 offset the cost of her visit. For details of this program, please contact us.

Time slots are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis, so please respond early if you are interested in booking Svetlana.    

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Published Works:

--writer and artist for DRAMACON volumes 1-3 (manga/graphic novels) TOKYOPOP Inc./Harper Collins, published in 11 languages.  

--writer and artist for “The Adventures of CG!” monthly 1-page manga in CosmoGIRL! magazine 2005-2007

--contributing artist for OWL kids magazine March 2007--cover and illustrations/manga drawing tutorial for a 4-page article “School of Manga”

Awards and Nominations

DRAMACON

--one of Best Comics of 2005 by Publishers Weekly

--nominated for Best New Series 2006 Harvey Award

--won the Best Global Manga of 2006 Mangacast Yomi award

--on ALA's YALSA 2006 list of Great Graphic Novels for Teens

--nominated for Special Recognition 2007 Eisner Award

--nominated for ALA's YALSA 2007 list of Great Graphic Novels for Teens

SVETLANA's Presentation Details

Can be tailored to event needs/age group as Svetlana usually asks if there are specific things students would like to hear about.  Sample presentation outlines:

--Manga How-To-Draw Character Design Workshop:  the audience participates in designing a character's look/personality from scratch as Svetlana draws the design on her graphics tablet (projected onto a screen)

--Manga Author presentation:  a slideshow of Svetlana's work (including work process, childhood/high school drawings and college entrance portfolio), an overview of her experiences of adjusting to life in Canada, embarking on a writing and illustrating career, plus a dramatic reading of a sample chapter from Svetlana's books and a Q&A session.

Grades I will present to:  Grades 4 and up; manga/art/writer's clubs very welcome.

Maximum number of students per session:  60 students or around that number.

Workshops available? If yes, for which grades:  Grades 4 and up.

Maximum participants for workshop:  20 students.

Do you offer...

Professional Development Workshops? Yes.

Svetlana is always interested in speaking to teachers and librarians and offers Professional Development Workshops.

Grade 12 Writers' Craft Workshops?  Yes.

Svetlana is a storyteller first and foremost and would gladly share her love for making stories as well as the tips and tricks of telling them successfully to the reader in both prose and images.

Svetlana is most comfortable in a library or a classroom due to the nature of her presentations.

List any equipment or other requirements you have: 

A projector and a table/stand to set up a digital drawing station (author's laptop and graphics tablet).