Sylvia Olsen

2011 Silver Birch Express Fiction nominee

Sylvia Olsen is an experienced storyteller and speaker. She has conducted storytelling and writing workshops with children, teens and adults. Currently she is working with several schools on the west coast on a “finding your voice” project—a First Nations culturally based activity that blends ideas about oral and written storytelling in a modern cross-cultural setting.

Sylvia’s rate is $250 for one session, $500 for two, $700 for three and $900 for four, plus public transportation from Toronto. A $30 flat fee per session towards accommodation applies.

Sylvia 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 a portion of her cost. Contact us for details.

Published Works

Working With Wool: A Coast Salish Legacy and the Cowichan Sweater, Sono Nis Press, 2010

A Different Game, Orca Book Publishers, 2010

Counting on Hope, Sono Nis Press, 2009

Middle Row, Orca Book Publishers, 2008

Which Way Should I Go?, Sono Nis Press, 2008

Yetsa's Sweater, Sono Nis Press, 2007

Yellow Line, Orca Book Publishers, 2005

Just Ask Us, Sono Nis Press, 2005

Murphy and Mousetrap, Orca Book Publishers, 2005

White Girl, Sono Nis Press, 2004

Catching Spring, Orca Book Publishers, 2004

The Girl with a Baby, Sono Nis Press, 2003

No Time to Say Goodbye, Sono Nis Press, 2001

Awards and Nominations

Sylvia has been nominated for many awards over the years, some of her awards and nominations are:

Winner!

Counting on Hope, Victoria City book prize, 2010

Which Way Should I Go?, Ontario First Nation Communities Read book prize, 2009

Nominated

Counting on Hope, Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize, 2010

Yetsa's Sweater, BC Bookseller’s Choice Award, 2007

White Girl, Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize, 2005

Presentation Details

Sylvia uses storytelling to engage students in a discussion about what it means to be literate—to communicate—to the share ideas and experiences of being a human being in the world. She explores fiction and non-fiction and creates a lively environment where young people can begin to think differently about telling their own stories. She uses no props other than her voice and her body. She enjoys group participation and has yet to meet a group she does not enjoy.

Sylvia is an inspirational speaker with a long history of working cross culturally. Her stories, her books and her presentation often relate to the place where people of different backgrounds and experiences come together and get along—or not. Many of her stories are personal, and act as a starting point of her writing process. From there she takes the students through the process of how authors use their own experiences to create engaging stories.

Sylvia is a historian and, if requested, will present workshops for teen students on writing historical fiction and non fiction. She also conducts cross-cultural workshops for teachers using her books and storytelling.

She will present to grades K-12

She will speak to one class in the library or class room or to the whole school in the auditorium. You pick the venue and she will create a presentation to fit.

Sylvia requires not equipment or other special requirements.