history – Authors' Booking Service

Autio, Karen (Kelowna. BC.)

Member of Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP); Children’s Writers & Illustrators of BC Society (CWILL-BC); and Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC). Fiction and non-fiction, 3X Word Award winner, CBC Kids Book Club Pick, OLA Best Bets, MYRCA finalist, Arthur Ellis finalist, 2X Chocolate Lily finalist.

Karen is the author of 13 books for young readers, with her newest disability-inclusive picture book called SKATING DAY! (also in French).

PLAYDATE SURPRISE (Scholastic Canada) for ages 3-7 has won The Word Award 2025 for Books – Children – General Market! This picture book is also a finalist for two other awards: Specialty Award – Best Book Cover and Debra Fieguth Social Justice Award.

JK-Grade 6. $300 for 1 session, $500 for 2, $700 for 3 and $900 for 4, maximum 4 sessions per day, + travel and lodging if outside of the Okanagan Valley, BC, unless otherwise stated.

Virtual Visits: $250 for 1 session, $200 for each additional session on the same day; via Zoom or other preferred online platform; support personnel (to moderate and manage technical aspects)

Karen is an experienced presenter who welcomes the opportunity to talk about the writing process and share her passion for researching and writing. Each of her five interactive presentations is tailored to one or more of her picture books, middle-grade novels and narrative non-fiction. Karen reveals the inspiration behind the book(s), explores relevant book-related topics, uses props and Power-Point, and includes a reading followed by time for Q&A.

JK to 3: I CAN, TOO! & PLAYDATE SURPRISE: Disabilities, Inclusion and Friendship based on picture books I CAN, TOO! and PLAYDATE SURPRISE: play, accessibility, adaptive equipment, movement, sports, inclusive playground

2 to 5: Kah-Lan: Sea Otters and a Thriving Ocean based on chapter books KAH-LAN THE ADVENTUROUS SEA OTTER and KAH-LAN AND THE STINK-INK: sea otters, ocean, adventure, survival, oil spill, marine mammal rescue

3 to 6: MAKING SEAKER: Writing and STEAM topics based on middle-grade contemporary novel MAKING SEAKER: new girl, science, technology, trackable model boat, Nipigon, Great Lakes, Paddle-to-the-Sea, self-realization, acceptance, friendship

3 to 6: Growing Up in Wild Horse Canyon: Exploring Centuries of History based on narrative non-fiction picture book GROWING UP IN WILD HORSE CANYON set in the Okanagan Valley, BC, covering Indigenous content (Syilx Okanagan, Nsyilxcən language, First Nation quest, history, culture), wild horses, fur brigade, settlers, railway, secret wartime commando training, firestorm

4 to 6: Bringing Canadian History Alive based on middle-grade historical novels SECOND WATCH, SAARA’S PASSAGE, and SABOTAGE: Canadian home front during World War I, living in 1914-1915 in Northwestern Ontario, First World War, shipwreck of Empress of Ireland in St. Lawrence River, tuberculosis, sanatoriums, spies, sabotage, internment camps; Finnish immigrant family dynamics

Maximum group size: To promote interaction during in-person presentations, Karen prefers to meet with smaller groups, so a maximum of three classes.

Venue: Library or classroom preferred

Equipment Required: A table to hold presentation materials; a screen, computer and projector for displaying PowerPoint presentation from a USB drive; a microphone if the venue is not the library or classroom; lunch (egg salad sandwich on brown bread) if she is staying for the day.

Please note: Her surname is pronounced like Audio with a soft T.

Contact Karen to book a visit:

Miskonoodinkwe Smith, Christine (Toronto, ON)

Indigenous Editor’s Association, longlisted for the First Nations Community Reads Program, ANDPVA National Signature Online Event 2022.

Presentation Rates: 250.00 for one session, $450.00 for two, $675.00 for three, $1,000 for full day. Travel fee $.50/km if outside of Toronto. I don’t drive and would require funding for train or bus, plus Uber if available.

Virtual Visit Fees range from $200-$250

Christine Miskonoodinkwe-Smith- is a Saulteaux woman from Peguis First Nation and the author of “These Are the Stories: Memories of a 60s Scoop Survivor”. She is an author, editor, writer, and journalist who graduated from the University of Toronto with a specialization in Aboriginal Studies in June 2011 and went on to receive her Master’s in Education in Social Justice in June 2017. Her first non-fiction story “Choosing the Path to Healing” appeared in the 2006 anthology Growing Up Girl: An Anthology of Voices from Marginalized Spaces. She has written for the Native Canadian, Anishinabek News, Windspeaker, FNH Magazine, New Tribe Magazine, Muskrat Magazine and the Piker Press. She has also co-edited the anthology Bawaajigan with fellow Indigenous writer Nathan Niigan Noodin Adler.

these-are-the-stories-Miskonoodinkwe-Smith-Christine.jpg

Readings, Talks on Healing, Writing, Truth and Reconciliation

Preferred Venues- small spaces, libraries, café’s etc

Preferred Audience Size-10-25 people, more if comfortable

Tech requirements- microphone, sound system

Contact Chrissy Miskonoodinkwe Smith:

Matas, Carol (Winnipeg, MB)

Carol Matas, Winnipeg, MB, member, Writers’ Union of Canada, English. Grades K- 12.

Virtual visits: $250 for a 45 minute session for the novel. $200 for a half hour session for the picture book.

Carol is the internationally best selling author of over 50 books for young people, which have received over 100 awards and honours and been translated into 16 languages.

Photo: Chantal Picton Holowka.

Carol has written historical, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary novels. She has written early readers, middle grade novels and young adult novels and a YA crossover book. She often gets emails from young people telling her that they didn’t like to read until they discovered her books, and she is thrilled to cultivate new readers. Many of Carol’s presentations are about her Holocaust novels. In these sessions she delves into the roots of antisemitism and racism which informed Hitler’s worldview. She loves to talk about “big questions” using books like Cloning Miranda, when she encourages discussions about what it means to be a human being.

Who’s Looking for science based presentations.

A Storm Unleashed

A gripping tale about a girl and her dog set in Berlin, Germany, during the lead up to World War Two.

After losing her mother as a young girl, twelve-year-old Mia is living in Berlin with her veterinarian father and beloved German shepherd, Max. Mia tries to focus on her hobbies, her studies and her trips to her grandparents’ farm where she cares for the animals she loves. But it’s 1935, and life has changed radically for Mia and her Jewish father over the last two years.

Antisemitism is now official state policy. At school, Mia is vilified and treated cruelly by her teachers and fellow students. Outside of school, she witnesses violence against her friends and family. And then suddenly a girl from the Nazi Youth tries to take Max. From that moment on, life becomes more and more dangerous for Mia and her father ― who is now being forced to help the Nazis train Hitler’s army of dogs.

Mia and her best friend, Frieda, must come up with a plan to navigate this new reality. But could it cost Mia more than she realizes?

Kai and Golem

Rain in the morning makes Kai say, “That’s not what I want!” After school, he wants to read stories with Bubbe, but she isn’t there. “That’s not what I want!” says Kai. Maybe, he thinks, there’s a creature that makes bad things happen. Could it be a Golem, big and scary? But maybe things aren’t so bad if you look at them in a different way…

Carol does virtual visits all over North America, most recently Atlanta, Georgia to present “The War Within,” a Civil War novel.

Also presents to adults.

Carol’s books have garnered over 100 awards and honours, including 2 nominations for the Governor General’s Award; the Silver Birch Award; a New York Times Notable book; a Sydney Taylor Award; a National Jewish Book Award finalist; an ALA Best Book of the Year for YA; a Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Jewish Book Award for Young People; CCBC Best Book for Kids and Teens; New York Public Library, book for the Teen Age; and the Geoffrey Bilson Award. They have also been translated into 16 languages and many have been best sellers. Daniel’s Story has sold over 1 million copies in the United States and Canada.

Contact Carol to book a visit

Carmichael, LE PhD (Trenton, ON)

Writers’ Union Member. Multi-award-winning author of more than 20 books for kids and teens.

Fees for on-site visits: $350 + HST for up to one hour, $600 + HST half day, $900 + HST full day (4 hours). Mileage and other travel expenses may apply. Fees for virtual visits: $300 + HST for up to 1 hour, $250 + HST for each additional presentation on the same day.

Surprising facts, engaging stories, and her willingness to answer just one more question set Lindsey’s nonfiction programs apart. And her workshops make even the most reluctant young writers excited to express themselves. Lindsey also offers presentations for educators and workshops for adult writers.

Polar won the 2025 Lane Anderson Award and the SWCC Award
The Boreal Forest won the Information Book Award

NONFICTION PROGRAMS FOR KIDS

What Is a Forest For? Introducing the Boreal Forest | Grades 1-3 | Duration: 45 min | Curriculum Connections: biodiversity, photosynthesis, biomes, habitats, the boreal forest, climate change

The boreal forest is the largest, most northern forest in the world… and 29 percent of it is right here in Canada! This introduction to the boreal biome will help kids understand why forests matter. We’ll explore biodiversity with a look at some weird and wonderful animals that call the boreal forest home. During a movement activity, we’ll discuss photosynthesis and how it helps forests prevent climate change. This high-energy program is designed to captivate young learners, and includes plenty of time to answer questions. Inspired by Lindsey’s book The Boreal Forest: A Year in the World’s Largest Land Biome.

(Ant)Arctic Adaptations: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth | Grades 4-6 | Duration: 60 min | Curriculum Connections: biodiversity, biomes, polar regions, adaptations, life cycles, climate change

The polar regions are bitterly cold, freeze-dried wildernesses, where the wind can blow harder than hurricanes. They are also the only places on Earth where day—and night—last up to six months. And yet, many animals not only survive in these extreme environments, they thrive! After a brief introduction to the Arctic and Antarctica, kids will be asked to brainstorm a list of polar species. We’ll discuss the adaptations that help their favourite animals stay warm, find food, and raise their babies, all in two of the harshest habitats on the planet. Then, we’ll explore the surprising adaptations of some less-familiar species… including one that protects itself with projectile vomit! Packed with stunning visuals and surprising facts, this lively presentation features deleted scenes from Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth.

How Women Get Erased From History | Grades 4+ | Duration: 60 min | Curriculum Connections: world history, biography, social justice, art and literature, STEM, climate change, World War II

Have you ever done something amazing… and someone else took credit? In science and engineering, men getting credit for women’s achievements is called the Matilda Effect, but erasure happens to women in the arts, sports, politics, and more. In this program, we’ll explore six mechanisms of erasure using examples from The Matilda Effect: How 25 Women Were Erased From History. Then we’ll take a deeper dive into one mechanism—disinformation—by comparing two depictions of Two Gun Nan: an exclusive deleted scene from The Matilda Effect, and an episode of the 1950s TV series Death Valley Days. Bonus: an action plan for ending the Matilda Effect!

WRITING WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS

Eating Their Words: How to Write Found, Erasure, and Blackout Poetry | Grades 4+ | Duration: 60 min

How can poets overcome blank-page paralysis? By starting with a page full of words! In this workshop, we’ll define and explore three types of poems that begin from existing works. First, we’ll play with found poetry, using a handful of words offered by the text to write something new. Next, we’ll experiment with erasure and blackout techniques, writing poems that respond to, challenge, or subvert the meaning of the original text. Erasure poems from The Matilda Effect will be offered as examples; as starting points for their own poems, participants are encouraged to bring printed-out passages from books, websites, or articles that inspire or enrage them.

What’s Your Book About? How to Decide What to Leave Out | Grades 4-6 | Duration: 60 min

Tell people you’re a writer, and they’ll probably ask “What’s your book about?” But before we can tell other people, we have to be able to tell ourselves. Knowing what our book, story, article, or report is really about lets us research efficiently, revise strategically, and avoid time-consuming tangents… producing a final draft that’s concise, cohesive, and effective. In this presentation, I’ll share the coolest animal facts that aren’t in The Boreal Forest, and explain exactly why I cut them. Then, we’ll walk through each draft of the book’s opening scene, exploring the step-by-step-decision-making process of revision. Throughout the program, two-minute writing challenges give participants a chance to apply revision strategies to their own work. Designed to get writers excited about re-writing, this program can be adapted for elementary, middle, high school, or adult audiences.

Writing Down the Feels | Grades 7-12 | Duration: 60 min

Why do we forget some stories, while others stay with us for years? Be they fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, stories with staying power are the ones that make us feel. This workshop explores the connections between language and emotions, teaching writers how to manipulate their reader’s response. Writers will harness the emotional resonance of vivid words and figures of speech, making their readers laugh, cry, and remember their words forever.

IMPORTANT INFO:

For on-site visits, hosts must provide an LCD projector and screen for slideshows. Depending on program and audience size, speakers (for video), whiteboards, and a microphone may also be required. Contact Lindsey for details.

For virtual visits, hosts must provide meeting link and security. Lindsey can accommodate schedules in a range of time zones.

Contact Lindsey for a visit:

Kacer, Kathy (Toronto)

Writers’ Union Member.Historical fiction and non-fiction, multi-award winner, and experienced speaker. Kathy’s rate in and around the GTA is $400 per session. HST and mileage charges are also applicable. Virtual Visits: $250 plus HST, 60 minutes, Skype/Google Talk

2025 Nominee CCBC Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award for Two Pieces of Chocolate

Zweig, Eric (Owen Sound ON)

Writers’ Union Member. Hockey historian and author. Available for school and library visits. Eric’s rate is $300 for one session, $500 for two, or $750 for three, plus HST. Mileage costs can often be negotiated for multiple bookings or for presentations in the GTA. For virtual visits, the fee is $200 per session.