Writer’s Union member. CANSCAIP member. Middle Grade.
In-Person Presentations (45-60 minutes): $300 for 1 session; $250 for each subsequent session up to four sessions in one day. For travel over 50 km, travel fee of $0.50 per km will be added.
Virtual Visits (45-60 minutes): $200 per session. $100 for each additional session on the same day.
Awards & Nominations:
2027 Sakura Medal nominee
2026 Manitoba Young Reader’s Choice Awards nominee
2025 OLA Best Bets
2025 Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award nominee
2025 CCBC Jean Little First-Novel Award nominee
2025 IBBY Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities nominee
2024 CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
Calyssa Erb is a queer, autistic writer for young readers. Her critically-acclaimed middle grade novel Maya Plays the Part follows an autistic girl attending musical theatre camp for the first time. Diagnosed with autism as an adult, Calyssa is passionate about sharing her journey from writing as a kid to publishing a book as an adult.
Presentations: Her presentations are ideal for grades 4-6 and typically include how she was inspired to write Maya Plays the Part based on her own childhood experiences, including photos of the real-life theatre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, along with behind-the-scenes of her writing and editing process. She is equally comfortable presenting to a single class or an auditorium of multiple grades.
Testimonial:“With slides of herself around the same age as the students holding her ‘first book,’ Calyssa made publishing a novel seem within reach. It is a testament to her talent as a storyteller and a presenter that Calyssa left everyone feeling ready to pursue their creative dreams.” —Chris Reed, Parent Council, Sprucecourt Public School
Writing Workshops: Calyssa can also offer a writing workshop for up to 30 students in grades 4-6 using the idea generation exercise that created Maya Plays the Part.Please reach out for more information and rates.
Venue/Equipment:Library, school auditorium, or classroom preferred. A digital projector, screen, and laptop are required for her in-person presentations. If the venue is larger than a classroom, Calyssa requires a microphone. For writing workshops, participants will required a pen or pencil. A table for supplies is helpful.
The Writers’ Union of Canada member. Fiction and nonfiction writer.
Heather’s rates are $300 for one session, $550 for two, $800 for three. For virtual presentations: $300 for one session, $500 for two. HST applies to all sessions. No travel costs within Toronto or if I am in your city (I travel to Montreal several times a year). Able to present in English and French.
HEATHER CAMLOT is an award-winning author of a dozen books for young readers.
Her middle-grade nonfiction include What If Soldiers Fought with Pillows? True Stories of Imagination and Determination,The Prisoner and the Writer, and One Goal: How Soccer Can Help Save the Planet. Heather is also an accomplished fiction writer. Her two middle-grade novels are Clutch and The Other Side.
Fall 2026 will see two new nonfiction books, Have a Bite! How Food Connects Us and Beyond Words: The Meaning and Impact of Signs and Symbols. Two more books are slated for 2027 Champions for Change: How Athletes are Making a Difference and Poster Child: The Story of Artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, her first picture book.
Heather’s books have been honoured as a Best Book pick from Kirkus Reviews, a Canadian Jewish Literary Awards winner (juvenile category), Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections, an Outstanding Science Trade Book (NSTA/CBC) and Skipping Stones Honor Awards. They have also been shortlisted for provincial, national, and international awards, including Forest of Reading, CCBC Book Awards, and Prix littéraire FETKANN – Maryse Condé.
PRESENTATIONS (60 minutes, grades 3+)
Heather aims to entertain and educate, engaging students with a fun and interactive presentation, lively discussion and themed activities. We’ll talk about a specific book (choose from the list below), inspiration, challenges, themes and of course writing.
Heather is happy to collaborate to create a customized presentation.
Books and themes:
Clutch: Baseball, family, tradition, 1940s, Montreal, Jackie Robinson, Judaism, World War II, Holocaust, Canada, government of Canada, historical fiction, sports, courage, injustice
The Other Side: Mystery,family secrets, illness, soccer, 2014 World Cup,World War II, Germany, Canada, inter-generational, injustice, courage, history, present
What If Soldiers Fought with Pillows?: Social justice, human rights, imagination, real-world crises, asking big questions, courage, change, peace, reconciliation, bravery, injustice, leadership, history, present
I Can’t Do What?: Laws, rules, human rights, sports, art, entertainment, injustice, technology, family, crime and punishment, weird, governance, social justice
The Prisoner and the Writer: Dreyfus Affair, antisemitism, Judaism, advocacy, racism 19th century, France, media literacy, bias, fake news, treason, betrayal, courage, true story, justice, equality, prejudice, scandal, misinformation
One Goal: Soccer, climate change, World Cup, Olympics, sports, social justice, human rights, sustainability, environment, reduce, reuse, recycle
Beyond Words: Symbols, hate, peace, support, protest, social justice, human rights, history, racism, 2SLGBTQI+, sexism, physical and mental health, marginalized
Have a Bite: Food, food history, social justice, family, tradition, climate change, history, culture, trade, geography, connection, politics, food safety, food waste
WORKSHOPS (60 minutes, grades 3+)
Where do ideas come from?: In this idea-generating workshop, we’ll discuss where to look for fiction and/or nonfiction book ideas – starting in our own lives. Students will get writing with two exercises to jumpstart the creative process. Based on ONE GOAL: HOW SOCCER CAN HELP SAVE THE PLANET.
What’s news?: Bias in the media is difficult to spot. In this media-literacy workshop, we’ll look into how to determine if what you’re reading is fact…or fiction. I’ll test students’ knowledge of news fact vs news fiction through a fun game and we’ll create a reference guide to better judge whether what they are reading, seeing, and hearing is objective, biased or completely fake. Based on THE PRISONER AND THE WRITER.
You can find more presentation and workshop descriptions available on Heathercamlot.com.
Maximum presentation size: 100 (flexible) / maximum workshop size: 30 (flexible) Teacher and/or librarian must be present.
Heather offers the services of professional editing, copyediting, proofreading, andtranslating. She also provides manuscript evaluations – fiction and nonfiction.
