Svetlana Chmakova

Authors’ Booking Service is pleased to announce that YA author Svetlana Chmakova is now scheduling visits to Ontario schools and libraries.

Her rate is $550 plus HST for 2 sessions (requested minimum of sessions), $825 for 3 and $1000 for four, plus travel from Toronto.

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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--writer and artist for "Nightschool" volumes 1-4 (manga/graphic novels), New York Times Manga Bestseller from Yen Press/Little, Brown Book Group

--writer and artist for "Red Maple Leaves" in the anthology "Piece by Piece" from Puffin Canada/Penguin Group

--writer and artist for "Dramacon” volumes 1-3 (manga/graphic novels) TOKYOPOP Inc./Harper Collins

Awards and Nominations

2010 – "Nightschool" 1 & 2 awarded the Joe Shuster Comics for Kids Award

2009 – "Nightschool" 1 & 2 on the 2010 YALSA’s Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

2007 – "Dramacon" on the recommended list of YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens

2007 – "Dramacon" nominated for Special Recognition Eisner Award

2006 – "Dramacon" nominated for a Harvey Award in the Best New Series of 2006 category

2005 – "Dramacon" named as one of Best Comics of 2005 by Publishers Weekly

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.  Svetlana is a storyteller first and foremost and always gladly shares her love for making stories as well as the tips and tricks for doing so. 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.

These presentations are suitable for Grades 4 and up and especially for manga/art/writer's clubs (please limit session audience size at 60 students and workshops at 20-25).

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

Svetlana is most comfortable in a library or a classroom due to the nature of her presentations. Her equipment requirements are a projector and a table/stand to set up a digital drawing station (author's laptop and graphics tablet).