Writers’ Union Member – Authors' Booking Service

Becker, Shari (Toronto, Ontario)

SCBWI, CANSCAIP and The Writer’s Union. Picture Books, Middle Grade & YA

Shari Becker is a critically acclaimed novelist and picture book author who has been writing and creating content, fiction and nonfiction for children and teens for over 25 years. Her nonfiction picture books include Taking Turns With Turtles: A Rescue Story and Sprouting Wings, which she co-authored. Her fiction picture books include Maxwell’s Mountain and Horris Grows Down. She has also written the YA climate-change adventure novel The Stellow Project, and she is currently working on a middle grade contemporary manuscript.

Over the span of her writing career, Shari has tutored, taught and led creative activities for students in elementary, middle and high schools across North America. In 2017, Shari founded Whale Rock Literary Workshops, a master-level writing education company for children’s authors that employs award-winning authors and editors as well as MFA-level faculty. She holds an MA from New York University and kicked off her career developing branded content for Nickelodeon, Disney-owned properties, and an Emmy Award–winning puppeteer.

Shari’s books have received honors including Bank Street Best Books Outstanding Merit, Children’s Book Council Notable Social Studies Book for Young People, Golden Kite Finalist, Oklahoma State Sequoyah Book Award Nominee, Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award Nominee and Charlotte Zolotow Honors. Multiple titles are Junior Library Guild selections, and she has received starred School Library Journal as well as a starred Publishers Weekly Reviews.

Rates:

Within Toronto, for in-person workshops, Shari’s rates are $300 for one session, $550 for two and $800 for three sessions. HST is additional. All sessions are between 45 and 60 minutes. For virtual workshops, Shari’s rates are $250 for one session, $450 for two and $675 for three. HST is additional. Kindergarten visits can be split into two 25 minutes visits with different classes. Travel fees may apply outside the metro-Toronto area.

Presentations are available in Montreal when possible as I am there often.

Presentations Available:
Preschool through Kindergarten
Taking Turns With Turtles: A Rescue Story
25-30 minute storytime with question and answer period and optional art activity connected to turtles or other community helpers. Shari is happy to connect with teachers and librarians ahead of time to adapt the presentation to their current curriculum.

Maxwell’s Mountain
25-30 minute storytime with question and answer period and optional art activity connected to map-making and trip planning. Shari is happy to connect with teachers and librarians ahead of time to adapt the presentation to their current curriculum.

Grades 3 – 5
Sprouting Wings
This 45-60 minute presentation includes a reading of the picture book as well as a conversation about the backstory and/or questions students may have about James Herman Banning.

Class conversation will revolve around community and untold stories. Students will be given time to brainstorm an idea and write a story about either a community they are a part of or a greatest story from their family. If there is time we can share and read aloud.

Shari is happy to connect with teachers and librarians ahead of time to adapt presentations to the current curriculum. As well, if appropriate, Shari can combine Taking Turns With Turtles as part of a class discussion around the concept of community.

Grades 5 – 12
Shari has taught workshops in schools and afterschool programs for private and public groups. She tutored high schoolers in essay writing as well as in writing personal statements for the US university application process.

She will coordinate with school faculty to collaborate on specific, 45-60 minute writing workshops, aligned with the current curriculum, if desired, drawing on Shari’s extensive background in teaching creative writing and educational / academic writing to students.

Some examples of her workshops for middle and high schoolers include:

Using concrete nouns and creative verbs to enhance your writing
We’ll explore how making word choices in writing can elevate a piece of writing. Shari will share and explore examples of paragraphs from age-appropriate literature where the authors use concrete nouns and unique verbs. Shari will create a list of nouns and verbs with students and each student will write their own paragraphs, which we will then share out loud and discuss.

Character development
Memorable characters stay with readers for a lifetime. Shari will lead students through a conversation around their favorite characters. She’ll investigate why these characters are beloved and how the authors created them. Shari will share selections from literature and discuss with the class all the various questions an author needs to consider when creating a character. Students will each be asked to answer a series of questions about a character and then write a paragraph where they “tell” us about a character using the “show don’t tell” approach.

Dialogue and body language
Compelling dialogue makes stories believable. In this workshop we’ll read a series of novel excerpts where characters are talking to each other. We’ll look at how real conversations often don’t include full sentences. Characters cut each other off, repeat themselves, start an idea and then continue later. We’ll look at how authors describe the characters’ bodies while they are speaking so that the reader can imagine the scene. Shari may ask two or three students to come up and act out the scenes they read. Students will then have an opportunity to write themselves or with partners a scene that contains dialogue and body language.

Personal Essays
Personal essays can be a powerful writing tool for both students applying to universities and students looking for a form of self-expression. Using examples of the US Common Application essay as a starting point, Shari can teach 10th-12th graders the art of writing about oneself. She’ll talk about how to find a great topic, how to use narration as a tool to hook readers, and how to bring the narrative together in a way that is memorable.

Equipment required: Equipment differs from presentation to presentation. Flip chart and markers or whiteboard and pens, microphone and podium (for large rooms), paper and pencils or pens (for workshops). Art supplies may be needed or brought by author, TBD. Teacher and/or librarian must be present.

Contact Shari to book a visit:

Kawooya, Eddie (Toronto, Ontario)

Writer’s Union Member, CANSCAIP Member. Middle-grade & High School. $400 plus HST for one session, $800 for two, for three or full day session (to be discussed). Virtual visits fees – $300 plus HST, per session. Plus travel fee of 0.50/Km, if outside Toronto.

EDDIE KAWOOYA was born in Uganda and raised on three different continents before settling in Canada. His love for writing was inspired by his grandmother’s oral stories and the folklore of Uganda’s ancestral past. As an immigrant to Canada, he is passionate about issues related to race, inclusion and diversity. He has spent years honing his craft in the field of public policy, corporate governance, and strategic communications. He published his first novel, Ace and the Misfits, in 2024. The sequel novel Ace and the Misfits vs. the Soccer Knights was published in 2025. He lives in Toronto.

Examples of Workshops:

Grades 5 – 8 (Imagining the Possible Workshops)

Students explore how imagination can open doors to new worlds, ideas and possibilities. Through guided exercises, discussions and story building activities, author Eddie Kawooya encourages students to harness their own voices, stretch their creativity and see how writing can be both powerful and fun.

Grades 5 – 8 (Thematic & Interactive Workshops)

Using themes from the Ace & the Misfit series, these workshops invite students to reflect on real-life challenges of fitting in, standing up to bullying, and building inclusive communities. Through story-telling and conversation, Eddie Kawooya helps students see how sport, friendship and resilience can inspire us to create spaces where everyone belongs

All venues, including library. Equipment required: microphone, screen and projector, soccer ball, parchment paper and markers. Lunch for full day sessions.

Contact Eddie to book a visit:

LeBrun, Cynthia. (Prince George. BC.)

Member of the Writers Union of Canada; the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP); the Federation of BC Writers.

In-person visits: $300 for one session, $500. All venues, library preferred. Equipment required: large table, microphone for larger groups, projector and screen for PowerPoint, and connectivity for laptop.

Virtual visits (via Zoom): $200 per session (1 hour).

Travel: Travel fees are waived within 100 km of Prince George. Beyond that, mileage is charged at $0.50 per km (round trip).

2022 winner of the Peterson Literary Emerging Writers Grant for a book that promotes a better understanding of the Ukrainian experience. Finalist for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes’ Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize.

Cynthia LeBrun is a writer, educator, and former teacher who brings history to life through fact-based, carefully researched historical fiction. She is the author of Black Sunflowers and its forthcoming sequel, Stolen Sunflowers. Cynthia has presented at libraries, museums, and community events across British Columbia, offering engaging and interactive talks that connect past events to lived experience. Cynthia tailors her programs to appeal to both secondary students and adult audiences.

Program: (Grades 10–12 and Adults)

Surviving Darkness: A Ukrainian Family’s Resilience Through the Holodomor and Holocaust
Drawing from her book Black Sunflowers, which was inspired by a true story, Cynthia LeBrun brings to life one of the darkest and least understood chapters of Ukrainian history. Through vivid storytelling, audiences learn about the devastating impact of Stalin’s collectivization policies, the gulag system of exile, and the Holodomor (“death by hunger”), a famine weaponized to destroy Ukrainian identity. Cynthia also explores the Nazi invasion of Ukraine, highlighting both the Holocaust’s toll on Jewish communities and the forced labor of Ukrainian youth on German farms and in factories.

This presentation supports curriculum topics on the Holocaust, the Holodomor, genocide, and World War II, while also helping students connect Ukraine’s past to the present-day conflict. Above all, it is a powerful story of resilience and survival against both Stalin and Hitler—revealing how one family endured and how a people held on to their culture and humanity in the face of destruction.

Format: Here is what will be covered in the 60-minute session:

Where I come from and how I became a writer
My book and where I got the inspiration for it.
PowerPoint presentation
Author reading from Black Sunflowers
Q&A

Contact Cynthia to book a visit:

Presley, Nadine (Oakville, ON)

Writer’s Union member. CANSCAIP.

Rates:

For in-person visits within the Greater Toronto Area, the rate is $300 + HST for the first session and $150 + HST for each additional session on the same day and at the same location. Each session runs 45 minutes to one hour, with a maximum of four sessions per day. Travel fees may apply.

For virtual visits, the rate is $150 + HST per session, with the same session length and daily maximum of four.

Nadine Presley is a Syrian Canadian picture book author passionate about storytelling and the healing power of poetry to preserve memory and identity. She brings a warm, empathetic, and flexible approach to her presentations, adapting to each group’s energy and interests. Drawing from her own experiences, growing up bilingual (English/ Arabic), rediscovering poetry after displacement, and her writing journey, Nadine creates engaging, sensory-rich sessions that invite students to explore their voices, connect deeply with stories, and develop empathy through creative self-expression.

Sample Sessions by Grade:

JK to Grade 1
Using The City of Jasmine and A Ramadan Night, Nadine brings picture books to life with expressive reading, sensory language, and a gentle conversational style. These sessions are joyful, warm, and often filled with laughter, the laughter of family and cousins, the smell of jasmine in the air, and maybe even a surprise sound effect or two. Nadine also brings custom coloring pages to help students reflect through art. Rooted in rhythm, repetition, and inclusive conversation, these sessions are designed to spark curiosity, empathy, and joy.

Grades 2 to 4
Nadine encourages students to step into someone else’s shoes through her stories, while also reflecting on their own identity and emotions. With joy, energy, and a touch of the unexpected, she keeps students engaged while introducing them to rich sensory language and poetic imagery. Sessions often include simple, open-ended writing or drawing prompts that invite students to explore who they are and where they come from in creative, playful ways. Sessions can focus on a particular book or theme (e.g., Ramadan, memory, family, displacement), and are easily adapted for different classroom needs.

Grades 5 to 8
Nadine shares her journey from growing up bilingual to finding her voice as a poet. Students are invited to explore how stories carry memory, shape identity, and build empathy. Using guided sensory exercises and powerful writing prompts—such as “I come from…”—she helps students peel back the layers of their own experience and express themselves with authenticity and emotion. These sessions focus on creating immersive, layered writing that connects with readers. Includes Q&A and discussion around writing, publishing, and the creative process.

Note: Nadine also has a deep passion for working with classes with students with special needs. Her inclusive, flexible sessions use tools like visual supports, sensory-friendly activities, and differentiated approaches to ensure every child can engage meaningfully and feel seen through storytelling.

Contact Nadine to book a visit:

Strauss, Rochelle (Toronto, ON)

Writer’s Union member. Member of CANSCAIP, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Science Writers and Communicators of Canada, Society of Children’s Book and Writers and Illustrators, National Marine Educators Association, North American Association for Environmental Education, Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication, and Canadian Network for Ocean Education. A selection of awards and honour include UNESCO Ocean Literacy, United Nationals Sustainable Development Book Club, Green Prize for Sustainable Literature, Santa Monica Public Libraries Winner, Sigurd F Olsen Nature Writing Award for Children’s Literature Winner, International Book Award, Society of School Librarians Winner, and several other awards and honours.

Fees for on-site visits: $350 + HST per presentation, $600 + HST for two presentations on the same day. Each additional presentation on the same day $250 + HST, up to a maximum of 4 presentations. Mileage for school visits outside of Toronto $0.61/km. Accommodation fees may apply if outside GTHA. Fees for virtual visits: $300 + HST per presentation, $200 + HST for each additional presentation on the same day, to a maximum of 4 presentations per day.

Rochelle Strauss is on a mission to change the world – one book at a time! As an environmental educator and award-winning children’s author, Rochelle is dedicated to building environmental literacy and inspiring people to become active stewards of our planet. Through her work, she uses compelling storytelling to bring complex ecological processes and environmental issues to life, helping young people better understand the natural world and empowering them to make a positive impact. Most importantly, Rochelle also brings HOPE by sharing ripples of change – good new stories from around the world. Rochelle’s children’s books have won several awards, been translated globally and incorporated into curriculum in the US. The Global Ocean is a UNESCO endorsed Ocean Decade Activity, and One Well: The Story of Water on Earth was selected as part of the UN’s SDG Book Club in support of SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation. One Well has also sold over half a million copies internationally. An active speaker and presenter, Rochelle can often be found building environmental literacy in classrooms around the world and raising the profile of non-fiction books as tools for STEM education at conferences and teacher training workshops.

School Programs:

The Global Ocean

What if Earth had a beating heart that powered everything on the planet? In a way, the Global Ocean is like Earth’s Heart.

Using this powerful premise, this presentation focusses on building Ocean Literacy – the understanding of the ocean’s influence on us, and our influence on the ocean.

Diving into the global ocean students learn about the ocean and how it sustains all life on Earth. They explore the important roles the ocean plays in supporting life, such as regulating Earth’s climate, controlling weather, providing habitat, and as a source of food for many animals on the planet (including people). Students also hear about the many issues affecting the health of the global ocean such as pollution, global warming, overfishing, habitat destruction, etc.

But Rochelle’s emphasis is on HOPE. Using stories called ripples of change, Rochelle shares good news stories of ocean conservation and action from around the world, to demonstrate how people, organizations and governments are taking action and making a difference. An interactive activity engages the entire audience to demonstrate how even the smallest action have a big impact, leaving students feeling empowered, inspired and hopeful!

Curriculum connections: water cycle, ecosystems, habitats and communities, environment, diversity of living things, earth systems, climate change, food chains and webs, earth and human activity, weather and climate.

One Well: The Story of Water on Earth

Imagine for a moment that all the water on Earth came from just one well.

During this presentation, Rochelle leads students on a journey to become Well Aware, by building their water literacy. Students discover how all water on Earth is connected, as well as explore the water cycle, water as habitat, and the issues impacting Earth’s one well, such as the limited amount of freshwater on Earth, access to the well, demands on the well and pollution in the well. Shared stories also demonstrate how plants and animals (including people) use and depend on water.

The presentation wraps with good news stories and an opportunity for students to brainstorm actions they can take to protect water on Earth. A final dramatic moment comes with an activity that demonstrates how every student has the power to create their own ripples of change. The activity leaves the students feeling empowered and inspired.

Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth

Please contact Rochelle directly to discuss presentations in support of Tree of Life.

Teacher’s guides available upon request 🙂

Important Info:

Grades: 3-7 (accommodations can be made for younger/older)
Group size: Max 150 students per presentation (happy discuss larger groups)
Requirements: LCD projector and screen, as well as mic and speaker for groups of 30 or more.
Virtual visits can be conducted via Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, etc.
Times: Rochelle can (and has!) accommodated presentations around the globe, in a range of time zones.

Contact Rochelle to book a visit:

Jones, Kevin (aka Kevin heronJones) Brampton, Ontario

(Writer’s Union), Hackmatack Award Nominee (2023) Named Brampton’s Official Writer-in-Residence (2025) Knowledge Bookstore nomination for best spoken word CD recording (2011) Telly Award: Video production of heronJones Presents The Season (2006) Golden Sheaf Award nomination for the Yorkton Short Film Festival multicultural category for heronJones Presents The Season (2006) Roots Lounge Slam Poetry Champion (Multi Awards) Wordlympics Team Poetry Slam Runner-up (2004) Urban Music Association of Canada nomination for best poetry recording (2001)

In Person and Virtual Visits. Grade four to University in age:

Workshops/Author Readings $400 per session (1 hr)

Workshops include Performance/reading along with lecture and coaching (up to 40 students per session)

Author Readings include Live reading and discussion (no restrictions on number of students)

Performances $400 per session (1hr)

Performances include Live show/concert with Q&A (no restrictions on number of students)

Travel rates .50 cents per kilometer, round-trip outside of the GTA

Multiple sessions up to 4 per day are negotiable

Kevin heronJones is a novelist, poet, journalist, editor, narrator and lecturer. This electrifying artist is best known for his profound and powerful delivery. He is currently serving as the city of Brampton’s first Writer-in-Residence. He grew up in Jane/Finch Toronto and Brampton. He studied journalism at Sheridan College and creative writing with the University of Toronto. He is the founder of PoeticSoul, an organization dedicated to promoting the poetic arts scene and providing lovers of poetry with quality entertainment. He’s held numerous workshops for students throughout the Greater Toronto Area, providing an interactive introduction to storytelling and spoken word where students are challenged to create their own prose and oratory creations and believe in their creative abilities. He has authored three published novels, three books of poetry, he has recorded three spoken word poetry CDs and narrates literature through his Listen Fiction platform.

Writing Fiction Workshop: Finding Inspiration

60 minutes, grades – 4-8

Students are encouraged to create their own stories with coaching from Kevin Jones

How do we know what to write? Inspiration comes from the places we least expect (the places we don’t pay attention to)

What is your favourite show, movie, song, poem?

What is your favourite saying, quote, lyric?

What excites you, makes you mad, happy, upset?

What are the top news stories? What did you read on a billboard today? What did you see in a commercial?

These are possible starting points when you are trying to figure out what to write

* Additional Writing Workshops can be constructed to suit your school’s writing goals and student interests.

Author Reading

60 minutes, grades – Elementary/Middle School/Secondary

Narration/reading excerpt of Half Court Trap or Not Talking About You (Elementary/Middle School)

Narration/reading excerpt of Hacking Heartbreak (Middle School/Secondary)

Discussion of novel’s themes

Half-Court Trap – Body image, sportsmanship and bullying
Not Talking About you – Racism and sportsmanship
Hacking Heartbreak – Social media ethics, romantic relationships and cyberbullying

Black History Month Assembly:

60 minutes, grades – Elementary/Middle School/Secondary

Spoken word poetry performance

Talk about equality

Celebration of African achievements

African History facts

Q & A

Writing Poetry Workshop:

60 minutes, grades – Elementary/Middle School/Secondary/College

Spoken word poetry performance

Storytelling and Poetry for Beginners (Elementary school students)

The Art of the Spoken Word (Secondary school students)

How to Write and Perform Slam Poetry (Secondary school, College/University)

Urban Griots (College/University students)

What You Think Is What You Are (Business/General public)

Preferred Venues

Workshops – Classroom or library

Poetry performances – Gymnasium or Theatre

Author Readings – No stipulation

Tech Required

Projector for workshopsand author readings

Book Kevin for a visit

Hazard, N.M.L. (Nadja) Toronto, ON

Member: The Writers Union of Canada, CANSCAIP, SCWBI. Fiction writer. Skipping Stones Book Award 2025. In person sessions: $250 for one, $450 for two, $600 for three, $800 for four . Mileage within Toronto waived, otherwise $.50 cents/km for SW ON.

Nadja is a veterinarian turned writer, and an experienced workshop facilitator for both adults and children. She is the author of a children’s chapter book series, as well as a short story collection and a novel for adults. As a life-long animal lover and longtime advocate for them, Nadja always shares her passion for nature and animals with her audiences.

“A truly engaging and inspiring visit. The children were completely captivated by her storytelling.” Judith Goldberg, Principal, Bayview Glen PS (YRDSB)

Presentations:

Nadja is an extremely flexible presenter, and very familiar with the Ontario curriculum through her work with Scientists in School. She is willing and able to adapt her workshops to cover topics such as animal needs and characteristics, life cycles, habitats, biodiversity, and more. She also loves to facilitate creative writing with engaging prompts and activities. Regardless of the workshop theme, Nadja shares her childhood love of both books and animals, her career as a veterinarian, and her passion for storytelling.

Let’s Talk Dogs!

Target Audience: Grades 1-3

Nadja will guide students through ways to understand doggie feelings in this dynamic and interactive presentation. Her second children’s chapter book, Tizzy and Me: The Incredible Adventure of Moondog’s Eye, explores the joys and challenges of adopting a dog. Using her book as a guide, students will learn Doggie SOS, a quick and simple way to stay safe around dogs, as well as how to read a dog’s body language. (For some extra fun, they’ll also learn to speak a little guinea-pig!) Students will have a chance to “adopt” their own dog. As a wrap-up, students will use story stones to generate their own animal stories.

Let’s Be Animal Kind

Target Audience: Grades 2-5

Description:

Nadja will introduce students to the mink, a semi-aquatic animal native to Canada. Using her children’s chapter book, Tizzy and Me: Fifteen Ways to Love a Mink as a guide,students will learn about mink characteristics, as well their needs. They will be introduced to the issue of mink fur farming in Canada, in a sensitive and age-appropriate way. Finally, they’ll get to be “Animal Kind” kids and explore ways to take action to help animals. Each student will design, make and keep their own poster and/or button. As a wrap-up, students will use story stones to generate their own animal stories.

Tizzy and Me: Fifteen Ways to Love a Mink: friendship, family, kindness, conflict, mink, dogs, animals, animal activism, protests, Toronto, LGBTQ+.

Tizzy and Me: The Incredible Adventures of Moondog’s Eye: friendship, family, adoption, dogs, guinea pigs, animals, dog safety, doggie language, doggie SOS, veterinarian, Toronto, LGBTQ+.

Group Size Preference: 12 – 25 (maximum 40)

Venue: classroom

Tech: projector and screen for Power-Point

Book Nadja for a visit

Thompson, Allister (North Bay, ON)

Writer’s Union member, Children’s Book Centre member, Editor’s Association of Canada member, Hackmatack Children’s Choice nominee

$300 plus HST for 1 session, $600 for 2, $800 for 3 and $1000 for 4, + travel (.50 cents per kilometer +HST south of Huntsville, west of Sudbury, and north and east of North Bay).

Virtual Visits: $150 plus HST for one session, 20-60 minutes, $100 for each additional session on the same day.

Allister Thompson is a lifelong book editor in all genres and for all age groups and a writer with a passion for books that grapple with the biggest issues of our time. He has a gift for writing and speaking about climate change and environmentalism in a way that can spark hope and activism in young readers. His presentations on Birch and Jay, his speculative fiction/post-apocalyptic young adult novel set in northern and southern Ontario, thoughtfully examine how we came to be in the dire situation we are in as a species and how generations of the future can walk a different path.

Presentations are for grades 10-12, preferred size of group around 30 but larger possible

Interested participants may be developing a passion for writing or members of an environmental or climate change club.

Only requirements for participants are pen and paper

Example of presentation:

Allister begins by presenting the plot and themes from his young adult post-apocalyptic climate-change novel, Birch and Jay, and then talking about how climate change is affecting young people and their perception of their future, but also how it has entered the popular consciousness through art: books, film, TV, gaming, and music, giving examples that the teens can relate to.

He examines what kinds of stories are out there: hopeful, bleak, etc., and asks students for examples they have seen or read.

Several music prompts are used (original music by the author, and also examples from popular music) to get students brainstorming about how climate change is affecting them personally. Students are asked to decide if the music is hopeful/bleak, and they will write something in response to that.

Lastly, students have a few minutes to come up with their own hopeful scenarios through writing prompts such as “The future to me looks like…?” The outlook for coming generations will be very challenging. What does hope look like for them? What would they like the world to look like in a hundred years? Allister will specifically be asking them to think about positive change, not bleak scenarios, as an entry point for them to think about things they can do in their own lives to embody positive change where climate and the environment are concerned. The group will discuss some of the provided examples.

Themes: Earth Day, activism, conservation, feelings and social situations

Book Allister for a visit:

Backhouse, Frances (Victoria, BC)

Member of The Writers’ Union of Canada; the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers; and the Society of Environmental Journalists. Winner: City of Victoria Butler Book Prize; Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society Book Award for BC Authors. Finalist: Green Earth Book Award (x2); Young Readers’ Choice Book Awards of BC Red Cedar Award (x3); Forest of Reading Yellow Cedar Award; Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award; City of Victoria Children’s Book Prize; Lane Anderson Award; VanCity Book Prize; Edna Staebler Award for Creative Nonfiction. Other book honours: Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection (x2); National Science Teaching Association and Children’s Book Council Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K–12 (x3).

In-person: $300 for one session; $500 for two (same day, same location); $700 for three (same day, same location). Virtual: $250. Plus GST on all fees. No travel costs within Greater Victoria region. For other areas, travel costs may include transportation (e.g., mileage at $0.50/km; ferry fares) and lodging, if required.

2025 BC Red Cedar Book Award Nominee

2025/2026 Young Readers’ Choice Book Awards of British Columbia’s Red Cedar Award

Frances Backhouse is an award-winning author of nonfiction books for children and adults, whose science writing draws on her experiences working as a biologist, park naturalist, and environmental journalist. Her engaging, fact-filled, photo-rich books for ages 9-12 explore the lives of iconic wildlife species, highlight their ecological importance and survival challenges, and introduce readers to scientists, conservationists, and young people who are working to ensure these animals will be with us forever. She believes in giving kids hope and the tools to make a difference in the world.

Frances also enjoys speaking to adult groups about her adult books and about writing. She has taught creative nonfiction and journalism to university students and community learners.

PRESENTATIONS

These STEAM/STEM-related presentations run 45-60 minutes and are best suited to grades 3 to 7. I use slides and props (handed around if group size permits) to illustrate ideas, and read short selections from my books to encourage student reading. Each presentation includes a participant activity and time for Q&A. Topics and themes include nature, environment, ecology, conservation, biodiversity, human-wildlife relationships, and citizen science.

Better With Bison

Bison – also known as buffalo – are North America’s largest land animal, but that’s just one of their claims to fame. They are also an important keystone species whose range once covered most of what is now the United States, western Canada and northern Mexico, and they are foundational to many Indigenous cultures. In this presentation, I talk about how bison were nearly hunted to extinction, how they were saved and why returning bison to the land is so beneficial. I also share the stories of some of the young people, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, who are welcoming bison back home and are profiled in my book, Bison: Community Builders and Grassland Caretakers (winner of a 2025 Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society Book Award for BC Authors).

Owls Are Awesome

This presentation reveals the secrets of these popular yet mysterious birds and introduces participants to some of the 19 species that live in North America, ranging in size from the tiny elf owl to the hefty great horned owl. I also talk about the threats owls face and how kids can get involved in owl conservation, using real-life examples from the profiles of young people in my book Owls: Who Gives a Hoot? (a 2025/26 Red Cedar Award nominee, 2024/25 Yellow Cedar Award nominee and 2025 Green Earth Book Award finalist)

What’s So Great About Grizzly Bears?

Grizzly bears, one of North America’s most iconic wildlife species, once roamed across half the continent. Today, their range and numbers are much diminished and they are dealing with many challenges. In this presentation, I explore what makes grizzlies special and what they need to survive and thrive. I also talk about my experiences working as a field biologist studying grizzly bears in northern British Columbia. This presentation is based on my book Grizzly Bears: Guardians of the Wilderness (a 2024/25 Red Cedar Award nominee and 2024 Green Earth Book Award finalist).

Amazing Beavers

This presentation explores the history and biology of Canada’s national mammal – an animal that was almost hunted to extinction during the fur-trade era, but is now found in big cities, wilderness parks and everywhere in between. I talk about the beaver’s amazing engineering skills, explain the term “keystone species,” and highlight the important role these radical rodents play as habitat creators, water stewards, and climate change allies. Participants will also learn about young people who are contributing to coexistence efforts that make it easier for us to live alongside these endearing but sometimes frustrating animals. This presentation is based on my book Beavers: Radical Rodents and Ecosystem Engineers (a 2022/23 Red Cedar Award nominee and Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award nominee).

Wild About Wildlife

Many kids are animal lovers, just as I was. This presentation reflects on what it means to be wild about wildlife and offers inspiration from young people who are helping to make the world a better place for animals they care about. During the presentation:

I share some of the cool facts that I’ve learned about beavers, grizzly bears, owls and bison while writing books about these animals.
I talk about my journey from being a nature-loving kid to a biologist whose professional adventures included doing hands-on grizzly bear research to an animal-book author. I also discuss what it’s like to be a writer, with a focus on the process of writing non-fiction books.
I introduce students to some of the young people who are featured in my books and talk about what being “wild about wildlife” means to each of them.
I lead students through an activity that invites them to explore their own relationship with wildlife.

Bear Buddies, Beaver Boosters and Owl Allies: How To Be a Friend to Wildlife

Life is hard for many wild animals these days and people are their biggest problem. But each of us has the power to turn things around and be a wildlife supporter. In this presentation, I share ideas about how young people can take action and make the world a friendlier place for all kinds of wild animals. I also offer inspiration and examples with real-life stories and photos of kids profiled in Owls: Who Gives a Hoot?, Grizzly Bears: Guardians of the Wilderness, and Beavers: Radical Rodents and Ecosystem Engineers.

For all presentations:

Group size: Flexible; 45 maximum preferred.

Venue: Classroom or library preferred.

Equipment and tech needs:

In-person presentations – A projector and screen; speakers (only for presentations that include video clips); a table; a microphone for larger groups or if room acoustics are poor. To ensure a successful presentation, at least one educator/librarian must remain in class for the duration of the session.

Virtual presentations – Access to your preferred online platform, including screen-sharing ability. A support person to help with technical matters and moderate the chat, if used. A room moderator to facilitate student participation and Q&A. The support person and room moderator can be the same person (e.g., a teacher or librarian). If the participants are in more than one room, each group should have its own moderator.

Bontje, Laura (London, ON)

Member of Editors Canada, CANSCAIP, and the Writers’ Union of Canada. School-age presentations are available for grades K–5 (author talks) or grades 5–8 (workshops). Custom presentations and workshops for adults or older students are also available.

In-person presentations (45–60 minutes; max. 4 per day): $300 for 1 session; $250 for each additional session. For kindergarten, one session can be divided into two 25- to 30-minute presentations.

Virtual presentations (45–60 minutes; max. 2 per day): $200 per session. For kindergarten, one session can be divided into two 20- to 25-minute presentations.

Writing workshops (2 hours): $500 per session.

NOTE: HST applies to all sessions; mileage of $0.55/km applies for visits more than 25 km from London, Ontario.

Laura Bontje is a freelance fiction editor and children’s book author who writes stories that celebrate childhood curiosity, language, and STEM. A former teacher, Laura brings her experience in English and ESL classrooms to her presentations with students. Her first book, Was It a Cat I Saw? (Amicus Ink; illustrated by Emma Lidia Squillari), was released in 2024. Her second, When the Air Sang (Annick Press; illustrated by Sarah Whang), comes out on April 8, 2025, with more to come! Laura was raised in Calgary, Alberta, and now lives in London, Ontario.

Author visits include a reading of one picture book, as well as time for Q&A. (Teacher tip: consider brainstorming some general questions with the class in advance!) Sessions can be customized to touch on themes that students are learning about in school. In addition to an introduction to the author and the writing and editing process, presentations may include the following:

Was It a Cat I Saw? for kindergarten: interactive explanation of simple palindromes, seek-and-find in illustrations during read-aloud

Was It a Cat I Saw? for grades 1–4: interactive introduction to more complex palindromes and figurative language; importance of rough copies and revision in text and art

When the Air Sang for kindergarten [available after April 8, 2025]: interactive explanation of insects vs. bugs, comparison of the human and insect life cycle

When the Air Sang for grades 1–4 [available after April 8, 2025]: introduction to annual vs. periodical cicadas, interactive brainstorming or game about identifying traces and traits of animals

Writing workshops for grades 5–8: How do you get from idea to character to plot? Through a mix of discussion, examples, and writing prompts, Laura will guide students through the process of creating a story arc with clear stakes and understanding how each writer’s unique voice and imagination can lead to a variety of creative outcomes.

Presentations for adults: From conference sessions to writers’ group visits, Laura is happy to customize presentations or workshops to suit the needs of your group! Reach out any time to discuss the possibilities.

Laura can present to groups of any size, but the presentation style may vary according to the logistics of the group size and the space. Book orders and signings may be possible as part of the visit; contact Laura to discuss details.

School presentation requirements: a screen and projector for PowerPoint (please notify Laura of technical needs for plugging in to the system), a microphone for presentations in gyms. Students can be seated at desks or on the floor.

Workshop requirements: a whiteboard and paper flip-chart are preferred (along with markers), but if only one is available, that will still work. Seating that allows for collaboration in partners or small groups is ideal. Students will need paper and writing utensils.

Category: Writers’ Union Member