Vancouver BC. Writers’ Union Member. Aussie adopted by Canada; Finalist in GG Lit Awards and BC Book Prizes, multi awards in Australia.
Fees: $300 for 1 session, $500 for 2, $700 for 3, 850 for 4 (plus HST). A day can be
shared between two cooperating schools. For the GTA (and Toronto bookings near GO stations), Darren can GO TRAIN (not buses or subway) travel both ways all day; he requires pick up and drop off at the GO stations. Where GO Trains are not feasible, car or taxi pick-up from Darren’s hotel is requested.
Virtual Visits: $100 plus HST, 30 minutes; $150 plus HST, 60 minutes FaceTime.
Virtual Visit: $225.00 for a 60 minute presentation.
In school visits: $300 for a single presentation or $550 for two at one location. Full day workshop 700.00. Expenses are included in all fees. For in-school visit dates — please contact Valerie and she will let you know when she plans to be in Ontario.
Valerie is an experienced presenter (in-person and virtual visits) who uses humour and an interactive style to engage her audience. Feedback from her school and library visits has been enthusiastic.
BirdspellCorbin Hayes is used to being alone. His mom’s illness means lost jobs, constant moves, new schools and friendships that never get to grow. So, when a classmate offers Corbin the talking bird she can no longer keep, he sees a chance to fill the gap in his life. But when things begin to spiral out of control, Corbin can no longer cope. At his lowest moment, he’s forced to do the one thing he fears the most. Young Adult.
Finding Avalon Avalon Monday doesn’t mind telling schoolmates that her mother ran off with a guy she met on the internet. After all, that’s way less embarrassing than the truth. But when the past collides with the present, exposing her secret and threatening to leave her new life in ruins, Avalon discovers there are some things you can never truly leave behind.
Cooper Clark and the Dragon Lady (Chapter Book) Desperate measures are called for when a boy is secretly afraid of dragons, but his new babysitter is rumoured to have a dragon in her basement!
Presentations: I will present to grades 1 – 9. A signed bookmark or postcard will be provided for each student at all in-person presentations.
Grades 1 – 3: There’s a COW Under My Bed! or Down Here! Fun and interactive talk about expressions and language, and students’ own creative abilities. Reading with audience participation. I end with a short Q & A. For these grades you may book two half hour presentations in the place of a single 60 minute session if you prefer.
Middle Grades: Engaging interactive presentation on literacy, with or without issue-based segments depending on the book being presented. I end with a short reading and about 10 minutes for Q & A.
Young Adult: Engaging and interactive presentation on literacy, believing in oneself and a variety of writing or issue related topics, depending on the requested focus. I end with a short reading and about 10 minutes for Q & A.
Workshop for grades 6and up: A Story’s Voice. This full day workshop is designed to help young people develop distinctive voices in their writing by examining the way character, setting, perspective, dialogue, tense etc. impact in telling a story. Writing exercises will demonstrate how each of these support a story in different ways, and help them to recognize which components will work best for their stories. Limited to 15 participants. Available virtually – contact to discuss a suitable arrangement.
I am flexible on audience size but in my experience, smaller in-person groups result in the greatest benefit to students. I am comfortable in all settings, including classroom, library, auditorium or gymnasium.
A sound system may be necessary depending on audience size, acoustics and the number of presentations booked.
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.
DEAL:To celebrate The Great Mistake Mysteries travelling to Russia, Sylvia McNicoll will include a free Snake Mistake with every author visit booked before November 30.
The key to the success of my talks is stories—let extraordinary young activists deliver their hopeful and helpful messages in their own video-taped voices, or in their art and music. My aim is to inspire students to feel deeply, empower them to act responsibly, and motivate them to learn and think critically. By example, the activists show that by working together and making positive choices, even small efforts can make the world better and kinder.
Presentation rates:
Virtual 60-minute presentation rates:
One = $250
Two = $425
Three = $550
Four = $700
In person 60-minute presentation rates:
One = $350
Two = $550
Three = $750
Four = $950
Keynote for 150+ audience: $550
Add HST (13%)
*Special flat fee mileage: $25, $50 over 50k
Schools can share the day with a nearby school for additional savings.
The subject matter is best suited for grades 3 – 8.
Environmental & Climate Justice, animal protection, tree planting
First Nations: philosophy, values, water protection, education equity
Child rights & social justice: inequality, hunger, homelessness
Compassion & kindness, peace, Black Lives Matter, refugees,
In the days before the virtual visit, I send three 10-minute movies narrated by me, with excerpts from speeches and interviews of the featured activists. This allows students to prepare questions in advance of the hour-long Q & A.
The Climate Emergency: Kids to the Rescue!
Eco-Anxiety over the looming climate crisis is affecting many young people. When Greta Thunberg cried, “Our house is on fire!”, the world listened. Youth activism is making a profound difference. Speaking out and taking action is proving to be an antidote to children’s fear and worry about the future. Through inspiring true stories of young environmental and indigenous activists, this presentation encourages kids to learn the science, find their voice, and imagine a more sustainable way of living on our precious Earth.
First Nations Truth and Reconciliation:
Shannen Koostachin’s grade 8 class launched a national campaign for the right to a decent school in Attawapiskat First Nation—and won! This important true story raises awareness of contemporary FN issues such as inequality in education and services, true Aboriginal history and treaty rights, and the impact of residential schools. Shannen and the Dream for a School
Our Future: How Kids are Taking Action:
Hope and optimism is the antidote to the fear and worry young people are experiencing over disturbing news: the climate crisis, gun violence, racism, cyber-bullying, and animal extinctions, and on and on. Empowered child activists have taken action against injustice, inequity, and environmental degradation, and in doing so have made changes to improve their future. Children want to be part of the solution to the world’s problems. Our Future offers indigenous perspectives and simple suggestions to inspire the activist in all of us.
The Hero Within:
True heroes don’t need capes or radio-active rodent bites. They just need big hearts and the courage to be leaders, stand up for the rights of children, and take action against unfairness and injustice. Compassionate young role models show kids how they can make a difference and create a more equitable world.
Not available for bookings at this time. Writers’ Union Member. Parents’ Choice Award. Fiction. Non-Fiction. Humour. Picture Book. Middle Grade. Tween. K to 8. Hélène’s rate is $250 for one 45-60 min session, $450 for 2, $650 for 3, $850 for 4 (max 4 per day), plus travel by car. HST extra. Continue reading “Boudreau, Hélène (Markham ON)”
Nova Scotia-based White Pine Award-winning YA author Don Aker is available for school and
library presentations and writing workshops as well as professional development workshops for
educators. Don’s entertaining and enthusiastic presentation style has garnered him invitations to
speak around the world, most recently in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
$575 + HST + $110 travel for half a day (2 sessions); $1100 + HST + $200 travel for full day (4 sessions). Please note that Don’s travel fee pays only a portion of his total costs of travel from Nova Scotia (airfare, accommodation, meals, local transportation, etc.), so he kindly requests that his hosts collect him at—and return him to—whatever subway/bus/train station is nearest their location. Continue reading “Aker, Don (Halifax NS)”
Writers’ Union Member. Hockey historian and author. Available for school and library visits. Eric’s rate is $250 for one session, $450 for two, or $650 for three, plus HST. Mileage costs can often be negotiated for multiple bookings, for presentations in the GTA, or for visits to the Barrie/Orillia area. For virtual visits, the fee is $200 per session. Continue reading “Zweig, Eric (Owen Sound 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.
Writers’ Union Member. Hockey historian and author. Available for school and library visits. Eric’s rate is $250 for one session, $450 for two, or $650 for three, plus HST. Mileage costs can often be negotiated for multiple bookings, for presentations in the GTA, or for visits to the Barrie/Orillia area. For virtual visits, the fee is $200 per session.