Silver Birch – Authors' Booking Service

Bandali, Zain. (Milton, Ontario)

Writers Union Member. Author of Early Reader Chapter Book Mehndi Boy. A Silver Birch Express nominee, and New York Public Library Best Book for Kids joint winner in 2023. All ages & grade levels. Ideal for schools commemorating South Asian, Islamic Heritage, & LGBT Pride month festivities.

Rates: $300 plus HST for one session, $450 for two, $675 for three, $900 for a full day (four sessions). Plus a travel fee of $0.68 cents per kilometer if school is more than 30 km away from my home. A virtual visit is $150 plus HST per session.

Zain Bandali (he/they) is an unapologetic storyteller who uses the beautiful South Asian tradition of henna to push stubborn gender norms in a kid friendly way. Zain is a versatile public speaker that can engage the entire school, providing fully customizable sessions for primary, junior, and intermediate students that meet your school’s needs. From packed gymnasiums to intimate classrooms or libraries, any audience will leave being engaged by Zain’s author visits. Zain has led over 80 talks for his debut Mehndi Boy, and has presented across Canada, the Northeastern United States, India, and Dubai. Zain also enjoys presenting to intermediate and high school students on his experiences being Queer & Muslim too.

“Zain’s sharing of his book “Mehndi Boy” with The Sterling Hall Schools grade 3-5 students was one we will never forget! Zain was incredibly personable and connected with the students immediately! We were all hooked as he read us the first 2 chapters of Mehndi Boy and explained the art of mehndi. Zain’s ability to bond with the students and make a big presentation feel like a cozy chat was fantastic to witness. It is wonderful to see teachers and students so enthused with a new book, they could hardly wait to get hold of “Mehndi Boy”and continue reading about Tehzeeb. We can’t wait to see what books Zain writes in the future and to have him back!”

– Gillian Younger, Teacher Librarian
The Sterling Hall School

Mehndi Boy Session (45 – 60 min)

Mehndi Boy is a heartfelt story that celebrates identity, culture, creativity, and inclusivity. Learn about the inspiration behind Mehndi Boy, discover more about henna traditions and artistry, and engage in an interactive storytelling with the author himself!

Introduction to henna and its cultural significance in South Asian culture
Discussion on the journey behind publishing Mehndi Boy
Interactive read aloud storytelling of two chapters
Q&A session for students to ask their burning questions
Fun colouring & activity sheets for educators

Grades: 1-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-12

Audience: Any size

No caps, preference for students in related ages and grades to be grouped together so that I may tailor my presentation that is best suited to them.

Tech Requirements: I’ll need a projector or screen to display visuals from the book, and a small table and chair at the front of the space for me. If we are in a larger space, I will also need a mic and mic stand, as well as a handheld mic for student questions ideally.

Purchasing Books: Happy to arrange for the purchase of signed copies of Mehndi Boy to students and staff, or coordinate with school administration if there is interest in ordering classroom sets.

Being Queer & Muslim Session (60 min)* Intermediate & High School ONLY

An engaging conversation about the LGBT community and Islam, drawn from my own personal experiences coming out as gay to my family, how I found comfort in my queer Muslim identity, and the ways in which it has impacted my writing. Perfect for GSA (gender and sexuality alliance) clubs or for Pride Month.

Introduction to being LGBT in the context of Islam
Dispelling the misconception “you can’t be Gay and Muslim”
Coming out at 19, my own personal journey
Joy, writing, and finding community
Q&A session for students to ask their burning questions
Resources and literature for educators

Rates: $500 plus HST for one session. Plus a travel fee of $0.68 cents per kilometer if school is more than 30 km away from my home. A virtual visit is $300 plus HST per session.

Grades: 7-8, 9-12

Audience: Preference for 10-60 students per session

Tech Requirements: Projector or screen. If we are in a larger space, I will also need a mic and mic stand, as well as a handheld mic for student questions ideally.

Contact Zain to book a visit:

Lyall, Casey (Strathroy, ON)

Copyright Jordan Lyall Photography Personal

Writers’ Union member. CANSCAIP member. Picture Books. Middle grade. Graphic Novels.
English language presentations and workshops for all ages.

In-Person Visits (45-60 minutes): $300 for 1 session; $250 for each subsequent session up to four sessions in one day. A session may be split into two 25 minute storytime events for grades K-2.

Virtual Visits (45-60 minutes): $200 per session. A session may be split into two 25 minute storytime events for grades K-2.

FOREST OF READING 2026 NOMINEE

HST applies to all sessions. If travel is over 50 km, a rate of 50¢/km, round trip, will be charged. Accommodations may be required if the event is a lengthy distance for Casey to travel or takes place over multiple days.

Notables:

Multiple nominee for the CCBC Book Awards, the Forest of Reading, and the Manitoba Young Reader’s Choice Awards (MYRCA)
Red Cedar Fiction Award winner
Selected for Junior Library Guild, OLA Best Bets, and the International Youth Library’s White Ravens list
Barnes and Noble Best Picture Book nominee

Testimonial: “Casey’s presentation was an absolute delight and so engaging for the over 150 students that came to see her! She shared her own story of perseverance in chasing her dream of writing stories and was so personable with the students answering all of their many questions with humour and respect. Casey’s story writing exercise provided the audience with an excellent example of developing their own story. Truly an inspiration to inspiring authors young and old. Thank you!” – Peggy Cline, Children’s Programming Coordinator, Grimsby Public Library

Casey Lyall is the author of nine (and counting!) humorous books for kids such as the Howard Wallace, P.I. series, A Spoonful of Frogs (illustrated by Vera Brosgol), Gnome Is Where Your Heart Is, Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities, and The League of Littles (illustrated by Sara Faber.)

Casey offers fun, dynamic, and interactive presentations that entertain and inform while leaving her audience excited about creating their own stories.

Her general presentation covers the key elements that Casey has learned over her years as a writer while allowing time for a Q&A with students and a group story-building game. Casey is a very flexible presenter and can adapt her presentation to suit the needs of a school. If there is an interest in focusing more on one aspect of writing or on one of her books specifically, that can be accommodated.

Casey also loves presenting at libraries! She’s available for storytime visits as well as workshops for all ages. Reach out to discuss what kind of visit would best suit your organization.

If there is an interest in book sales at an event, Casey can provide order forms with instructions to help organize the process in advance. She co-ordinates with a bookstore that offers her titles at a discount.

Testimonial: “Casey presented at the Lakefield Literary Festival Children’s Tent Event, and we loved her performance. She had the kids and adults laughing with her fun, improvised story. It was hilarious, and very engaging for the audience. Casey was a skilled, organized and enthusiastic performer, and our community adored her.”- Kacie Gardiner, Lakefield Literary Festival and Selwyn Public Library

Free Virtual Visits: Casey offers a limited number of free fifteen-minute virtual visits to classes or book clubs who have read one of her books. These sessions are strictly Q&A only with no presentation.

Writing Workshops: Available on request. Fees negotiable based on time and intensity. Casey will work with schools and libraries to craft a workshop specifically suited to their needs. These are available for smaller groups – maximum size is one class or approximately twenty adults.

Equipment: Casey can accommodate presentations to groups of any size, but if she is presenting in a large venue, a microphone is required. A librarian, teacher, or other school representative must be present throughout any event. A digital projector and screen may be required (Some presentations are accompanied by PowerPoint slides. Casey can bring her laptop or provide a flash drive). A table to keep supplies on is also appreciated.

Contact Casey to book a visit:

Narsimhan, Mahtab (BC)

Writers’ Union Member. Silver Birch winning author available for school, public library, and conference visits. Member of The Writers’ Union of Canada.

Mahtab, in Persian, means moonlight. She won the Silver Birch award for her debut novel, The Third Eye. Many of her other novels have garnered critical acclaim. Mahtab loves connecting with her readers and encourages discussions about diversity. She’s comfortable with an adult audience as well as grades 4-8. As Writer-In-Residence at the Toronto District School Board and presenter at the Toronto Public Library, she has given numerous writing workshops and loves it!

Currently, due to travel constraints, she is focusing on Skype visits for Grades 4-8. Starting April 2020 when her latest picture book will be released, she will also include Grades 1-3, and will be able to present to the entire school in a day.

Skype Presentations:
Duration: 30 Minutes each
Cost: $200 plus HST for one session, $350 plus HST for two back-to-back sessions, $450 plus HST for three back to back sessions and $500 plus HST for four back-to-back sessions.

Equipment:

A PC or MAC with webcam, and a wired Internet connection
Skype Software and Skype ID

Other Details:

Questions will be written down in advance after having read at least one book. Each student will come up to the webcam and read out the question.
For Skype visits, payment is due in advance.

Mahtab’s books include a strong element of her Indian roots and she encourages discussions and questions on world cultures, and especially diversity. She immigrated to Canada in 1997 and is happy to share the struggles she faced while trying to fit into Canada.

Format: Here is what we will cover in the 30 minute session:

Where I come from and how I became a writer
Diversity in Writing: How to use what you know, and your background in your books. The life of an immigrant in Canada and how I worked to fit in.
My latest book and how it came about: the process of writing it, where I got the inspiration for it.
15 Minutes of Q&A. Students will have read at least one book of mine and come prepared with questions.

Mahtab tailors her presentations to the age of her audience and makes them fun and interactive. Her talk is peppered with personal anecdotes about the challenges she faces when she writes, as well as tips and tricks she uses to meet her daily writing goals.

I also conduct Writing Workshops for grades 7-8 where I will give writing exercises and provide tips for writing creative fiction.

In-Person Presentations:

Duration: 1 hour
Cost: $300 plus HST for one session, $500 plus HST for two sessions, $750 plus HST for three sessions and $1000 plus HST for four sessions, plus travel per Canada Council mileage rates.

Equipment: A microphone, table, projector screen and multi-plug power socket. Flip-chart and markers for workshops.
Venue: All, though libraries and classrooms preferred.
Maximum number of students per session: 100 for presentations and 16 for workshops. This is slightly flexible so please contact her to discuss.

Email to contact Mahtab Narsimhan

McKay, Sharon (Burlington ON)

Writers’ Union Member. Sharon travels across Canada several times a year. Sharon E. McKay (Mick-EYE) writes fact-based fiction for young adults. Multi-awards, all ages.

Flat fee of $900 for a full day, four sessions and includes a free (optional) brown-bag lunch for anyone interested in writing. Flat fee of $600 for an afternoon. Parents and media are welcome in all sessions.

Virtual Visits: $150, 60 minutes, Skype. Continue reading “McKay, Sharon (Burlington ON)”