Tag: Hackmatack

Joann lives in Saint John, New Brunswick and is a member of the Writer’s Federation of New Brunswick. Joann loves presenting to students from grades 3 to 8. Rates for 45-60 minutes are $250 for one session, $450 for two, $675 for three and $900 for a full day of four sessions. Joann loves to travel and would welcome the chance to visit your school or library. Travel fee of $0.50/km applies, if more than 100km from Saint John, NB. Virtual visits using Zoom are $125 for a 45-60 minute presentation.

Joann is a book lover and enjoys sharing her love of reading and learning. She began her career as a teacher and then headed back to university to become a children’s librarian. For nearly 20 years she spent her days developing and delivering fun, book-related library programs. She has delivered more than 75 presentations as an author.

Joann has written four non-fiction books that appeal to all ages. Her books have received multiple award nominations and she won the Hackmatack Children’s Book Award in 2020 for There Be Pirates! Swashbucklers & Rogues of the Atlantic.

Joann’s illustrated presentations about the North Atlantic right whale, pirates, or Oak Island feature images and information from her books. Sessions include time to see and touch (in person visits) some of the things mentioned in the books: fishing ropes and buoys that entangle whales, samples of pirate crafts, or coconut fibres that are similar to what has been connected to the Oak Island treasure. Joann begins each session with little known facts to catch the interest of even the most reluctant audience member. She explains how she does her research and that the local library is the best source for reliable information. Joann shows images from the books and her research trips, reads short sections from the book, and answers audience questions. The goal for each presentation is to get the students excited about reading, learning and the treasure waiting to be found in books. Joann provides a word search puzzle sheet that she created to match the book being presented. Each reading is tailored to the grade level(s) of the audience.  

Joann is comfortable presenting to audiences large and small, (grades 3-8) as long as everyone can hear her and see your screen or smartboard. The optimal audience size is a single classroom, so that everyone has a chance to ask their question, two classes together can also work well. Equipment requirements:  Joann’s session will take the audience through a tour of her book(s) with info and images projected for all to see. She will bring a computer loaded with her presentation(s) and will connect to your monitor, data projector and screen, or smartboard. She will also need a surface to display items from her books: a buoy, a snarl of plastic found while doing a beach clean up, a bowl made from discarded fishing rope, an eye patch, a quill, and/or coconut – depending on which book she is presenting. Joann has presented in gyms and cafeterias, and is happy to speak to large groups, if you provide a sound system with a microphone and ensure that everyone can see the monitor or screen.

Awards and nominations include: Hackmatack, Rocky Mountain Book Award, Writer’s Federation of New Brunswick, Best Books for Kids and Teens, Our Choice selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, etc…

Contact Joann for a visit…