Writers Union Member. Fiction & NF, Multi awards, internationally bestselling. All ages. $400 plus HST for 1 session, $650 for 2, $900 for 3 and $1100 for 4, + travel (.68 cents per kilometer, round-trip for SW ON).
Virtual Visits: $300 plus HST, per session.
Marsha is an experienced and passionate speaker who tailors each presentation to the group in front of her. As the author of picture books, middle grade novels, narrative non-fiction and YA novels, she can present to an entire school over the course of a day. She also loves speaking to adult groups and she loves loves loves giving writing workshops.
Presentations by grade
For most presentations, Marsha reveals her struggles with dyslexia and not being able to read until she was 9. Marsha talks about why she writes about war from a kid’s point of view and why she considers herself a librarian/detective. She also explains how she became a princess if asked.
Here is an example of her themes by grade:
JK to 1: two 30 minute storytelling sessions for the price of one full session ($400+HST) using When Mama Goes To Work.
2 to 4: 45 to 60 minutes: Storytelling session plus Q&A on topic/book of your choice. Most of Marsha’s books delve into the issue of war and displacement from a kid’s point of view. For this age group, this topic can best be presented via specific books:
Ukraine’s long struggle under war: Silver Threads, Enough.
Vietnamese refugee books: Sky of Bombs Sky of Stars, Too Young to Escape and Adrift at Sea.
Armenian Genocide, orphan refugees: Aram’s Choice, Call Me Aram.
4 to 8: Most of Marsha’s books are for this age group and she can present her WWII novels, and Winterkill, set during the Holodomor, but Marsha’s most requested presentation right now is about her brand new Kidnapped from Ukraine trilogy. Book one, Under Attack, has received rave reviews including starred reviews from Kirkus and Bookist, plus this from Canadian Children’s Book News: “…Under Attack is an invaluable must-read and must-have educational resource for public, schools and home libraries everywhere. Lingering long after the last compelling page is turned, this timely book is inarguably a stirring catalyst for in-depth discussion…” Very highly recommended
Book 2, Standoff, is published on Oct 7, and book 3, Still Alive, will be published in April 2026.
Maximum group sizes for presentations: 45 for JK to 3. 100+ for everyone else.
Writing Workshops work best with 16 or so participants
Writing Workshop Topics:
Teaching fun self-editing techniques to students in grades 4 to 12.
How to create an awesome villain.
How to assist gifted student writers (of any age) without tearing your hair out in frustration.
Techniques for punching through writer’s block.
Grade 12 Writers’ Craft personal memoir writing
Other topics upon request.
All Venues, library preferred. Equipment required: A glass of water, lunch (egg salad sandwich on brown bread) if she’s staying for the day. A table to spread her things out on. A microphone for larger groups or in the gym, or if the room acoustics are questionable. A screen and projector for power-point.
Please note: Her surname is pronounced SKRIPP-ick.
