Literary Festival at Rockcliffe Park Public School

How many times have you read a book and wished you could ask the author why he ended the book that way, or what inspired her to write the story, or when will the sequel be out? These were some of the questions I heard our children ask visiting authors when I sat in on some of the workshops in previous years. What an extraordinary experience to have the opportunity to converse with an author of a book you have just read and loved!

For almost 30 years, the best kept secret at RPPS has been a series of workshops that bring authors into every class in the school which leads up to our Book Fair. This year’s Literary Festival for Book Fair 2009 will be another outstanding year! A hard working team of parents have been busy all summer booking wonderful illustrators, storytellers, and authors that will come to RPPS on Friday October 23, 2009 for the Author Workshops.

RPPS is able to provide these workshops because of the profits made from the previous year’s Book Fair sales. So thank you for all those volunteer hours that help make Book Fair so successful! We have had many well known and talented artists visit the students at RPPS. This exceptional opportunity for our children to converse and learn from poets, storytellers, authors, and illustrators dates back to 1980 and includes among others, Farley Mowat as one of the visiting authors. This year we will be visited by some well-known creative artists. Here is the line up for this year: Wallace Edwards, Louis Mercier, Amanda Sage, Ben Hodson, Andree Poulin, Jo Maple, Susan Atkinson, Chris Jackson, Rachna Gilmore, Alan Cumyn, Pascal Constantine, Ingrid McCarthy, Francoise Lepage, Lesley Anne Airth, Joan FitzGerald McCurdy, Emily-Jane Hills Orford, and Ginette Proulx-Weaver. They will inspire our children to explore within themselves and create amazing stories, poems, and artwork! We are indeed a very privileged school to have our children exposed to such talent!

On Friday October 23, 2009 each class will have one workshop in the morning and one in the afternoon. Many of the visiting artists will be available for book signing after their workshop so there will be an opportunity to purchase books with sales going towards this year’s Book Fair. In October your child’s teacher will let you know more about the workshop and the author visiting the classroom. Please keep October 23rd in mind for the beginning of our Literary Festival leading up to Book Fair November 6, 7, and 8, 2009!!

Authours for this year's festival include:

Ben Hodson loves creating art. He also loves a good adventure, like hiking the Rocky Mountains with a team of rescued wild burros, living in a mountain village in Nepal, or drawing comics with youth in South Africa. Ben illustrates mostly for children in books, magazines and textbooks. His books include I Love Yoga: A Guide for Kids and Teens; Pigs Aren’t Dirty, Bears Aren’t Slow and Other Truths about Misunderstood Animals; Jeffrey and Sloth; and most recently, Hear My Roar: A Story of Family Violence. He has also contributed to Lines in the Sand: New Writing on War and Peace. He is the 2004 recipient of the Glass Slipper Award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ Canadian Conference. Ben illustrates full time from his home in Ottawa.

Emily-Jane Hills Orford’s stories and novels reflect her national pride. Emily-Jane began her writing career writing book reviews. She is currently a regular book reviewer for allbookreviews.com and her reviews appear on many other online sites as well as book jackets. Emily-Jane teaches creative writing to young people and regularly gives presentations in local schools and senior’s residences. Other writing accomplishments include articles in the 2005 edition of the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada, as well as several books, Spring (PublishAmerica 2005), and Summer (Baico 2007), Ukulele Yukon (Baico 2006), Letters From Inside: The Notes and Nuggets of Margaret Marsh (Baico 2006), It Happened in Canada (Baico 2007), The Creative Spirit (Baico 2008), Beyond the Ordinary (Baico 2008), Beyond the Ordinary…And More (Baico 2008) and Personal Notes (Moosehide Books 2008). Emily-Jane’s book, The Whistling Bishop (Baico 2008), was recently named Finalist in the 2009 Indie Book Awards. This award-winning author believes in writing about Canada; but she also believes in writing about extra-ordinary people – the real people who made our country a great nation. The author may be reached by email at: ejomusic@sympatico.ca; or by mail at: 11 Stradwick Ave., Nepean, Ontario K2J 2X3. Or, check her website at: www3.sympatico.ca/mistymo

Wallace Edwards is an award-winning illustrator who was born in Ottawa (and grew up in Lindenlea, close to RPPS). He now lives in Yarker, outside of Kingston, On., where he is working on his sixth book. His work has appeared in various magazines and private and public collections. One of his clients includes the Toronto Zoo. His five books are: The Extinct Files, The Painted Circus, Alphabeasts, Mixed Beasts and Monkey Business. In 2002, he was honoured with a Governor General`s Literary Award for Alphabeasts. Mr. Edwards is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art.

Amanda Sage is the author of DINOSTORY, her first book. She wrote it as a birthday gift for her nephew Jonathan. The books offers an alternative version of what happened to the dinosaurs. Ms. Sage, who lives in Ottawa, is also a communications writer, filmmaker and photographer. Her book is illustrated by Louisa Sage, a freelance artist, film animator and musician.

Mindy Woolcott is a just-retired teacher specializing in language learning. Her hobby is storytelling and she has performed for adults and children at venues such as the Ottawa Storytelling Festival, Ottawa schools, at birthday parties, in churches, at senior's residences, for the Museum of Civilization and in coffee houses. She was a visiting storyteller at Rockcliffe Park in 2007. Currently she is exploring the world of Beatrix Potter as she has many critters in her garden and can relate to the stories. Her visit to the kindergarten classes this October will focus on Beatrix Potter.

Louis Mercier L'habitant Voyageur Louis Mercier is originally from Maniwaki, a town 120 miles north of Ottawa. He began his performing career with the ensemble Les Outaouais , a dynamic French Canadian folklore group. Since 1988, he has been performing in the region and at festivals across the country, including Winterlude and Le Festival du Voyageur in Winnipeg. He has worked with the National Capital Commission, the Museum of Civilization and extensively in schools, hospitals and seniors' homes. He is also a qualified teacher. His performances include stories, songs and percussion. His instruments are his own hands and feet, spoons, bones, a much loved lumberjack puppet, the washboard and whatever else comes easily to hand. Everything he does involves his audience and there is always humour.

Françoise Lepage
Je suis née en France où j’ai grandi. Depuis mon plus jeune âge, je m’intéresse aux livres écrits pour les jeunes. J’ai d’abord été une fervente lectrice de contes, puis de romans (la comtesse de Ségur, Hector Malot, Charles Dickens, Erich Kästner et Jules Verne, pour n’en citer que quelques-uns). Je suis venue m’installer au Canada quand j’étais une jeune adulte. Fascinée par les magnifiques images des livres pour les jeunes et par l’imaginaire débridé des histoires racontées, j’ai continué à m’intéresser à cette production littéraire. J’ai découvert la littérature pour la jeunesse du Québec avec passion. Je l’ai même enseigné à l’Université d’Ottawa pendant une dizaine d’années, et puis, un jour, j’ai eu envie d’en écrire l’histoire. Cela a donné un gros livre intitulé Histoire de la littérature pour la jeunesse (Québec et francophonies du Canada), qui m’a rapporté trois prix littéraires (prix Gabrielle-Roy, prix Champlain et prix de la Ville d’Ottawa).

Lesley Airth is a professional educator with a Masters Degree in Education. She is also the mother of three young children. As a Canadian living in Europe for nearly a decade, Lesley attended ceremonies and visited many sites where Canadians are honoured. The profound impact of hearing the stories and seeing the tears of those who were liberated, and their liberators — Canadian veterans who returned to re-visit the people and lands where they had fought and their comrades had died — proved indelible. What We Remember is the result of Lesley’s passion to ensure young Canadians know that the peace and freedom they enjoy today is the legacy of courage and sacrifice.

Joan FitzGerald McCurdy was born in Exeter, Ontario but grew up in Prince Edward Island. She started writing when she was in grade 5.
When Joan was 19 she moved to Montreal. Her career led her into film writing, research and documentary writing, along with TV specials. Joan was also a consultant for the motion picture “The Assignment” starring Donald Sutherland, Ben Kingsley, and Aidan Quinn.
Joan FitzGerald McCurdy’s educational background is in English Literature and Philosophy and she has a law degree from University of Ottawa.
J. FitzGerald McCurdy is now a full time author and has written The Serpent’s Egg Trilogy. Her latest trilogy The Mole Wars Trilogy includes Book 1 The Fire Demons, Book 2 The Black Pyramid, and Book 3 Guardians of Fire. The exciting news is that Guardians of Fire will be published in 2009!

Rachna Gilmore
Rachna Gilmore is the critically acclaimed Governor General’s Award winning author of numerous books with multiple honours and awards. Her publications include picture books, early readers, middle grade and young adult novels, as well as adult fiction.
Born in India, Rachna has lived in London, England and Prince Edward Island. She now lives in Ottawa where she continues to plark (play, work, lark) at her writing, dreaming up weird and wonder-filled tales.
Rachna’s children’s books include the exciting fantasy novel, The Sower of Tales, , as well as the popular A Friend Like Zilla and Mina’s Spring of Colors. Picture book titles include the Governor General’s Award winning A Screaming Kind of Day, and the well-known Gita trilogy, as well as the recently released Grandpa’s Clock.

Ginette Proulx-Weaver was born in Montreal, raised in Cornwall Ontario, and studied at University of Ottawa. She worked in Ottawa as a teacher for grades 3-5-6-7-8. Ginette took a long break from teaching and had 3 children; 2 girls and 1 boy. During her time home with her children she also started writing. She now lives in Greely and has been retired since June 2008 and is loving it... As a child Ginette always wanted to write. She enjoys music, reading and her cottage near the lake. They also have a cat Tomtom and a dog Oliver.

Jo Maple was born on the first day of Spring 1780. Yes, Jo is 229 years old today but he doesn’t look a day over 60. From a very young age, Jo was instructed in the lore of his Algonquin ancestry by his father Pierre de La Rivière, also called Maniwan (the wolf). Marguerite Dubois, his mother, was French and Irish…In his youth he lived the nomadic lifestyle of the hunter-trapper. In his early twenties, he came into contact with a renowned voyageur called Jean-Baptiste Lagimodière who was to be Louis Riel’s grandfather. This encounter changed his life forever… He became one of the pioneers that helped open the West and create this beautiful country of ours. His many adventures brought him in contact with Aboriginal peoples from all over this continent and even abroad…as far as Australia and Asia. He has witnessed more than two centuries of history and had the privilege to meet many great historical figures of these times of important changes on our planet. In the last years, he has been sharing some of the stories he’s accumulated in his travel diary, tales of epic adventures, as well as magical moments of inspiring simplicity…sensuous stories to satisfy the epicureans and to stimulate others… Sometimes he takes us to the fascinating world of mindfulness where he introduces us to the spiritual universes of Inspiring Beings that have crossed his path. Are you ready to travel and make wonderful discoveries? Just bring your inner child and Jo Maple will guide you up the trail!!!

Chris Jackson
As a graphic designer, Chris Jackson has produced, amongst other things, many books for other people. Now as author/illustrator of his own books, Chris can turn his full attention to bringing Edmund and Hillary into the world - the world of China Plate Farm. Originally from Wales, Chris now makes his home in Nepean Ontario, where he runs his own design business. Edmund and Hillary (HarperCollins 1997) began the China Plate Farm series. Then came Edmund for Short (HarperCollins 1998). Edmund and Washable (HarperCollins) is the title of the third book in the series (January 2000). Since the release of his first book Chris has taken his farm characters to various classrooms and libraries in the National Capital Region. Chris also produced illustrations for Three Tales of Three (KidsCan Press 2000) a collection of "once-upon-a-time" tales published in Autumn 2000. In September of 2002, two new characters - Sadie and Dorothy, made their debut in The Gaggle Sisters River Tour (Lobster Press 2002) and continued there journey down the Wriggle River in The Gaggle Sisters Sing Again (Lobster Press 2005).

Susan J. Atkinson was born and raised in England, but now makes her home in Ottawa with her husband and four daughters. After thirteen years working in the Toronto film industry, Susan decided it was time to turn her passion for reading and writing into everyday life. She now spends her mornings writing and playing with words, and in the afternoon teaches English at Rockcliffe Park Public School. As an elementary school teacher, Susan believes every day should bring a little rhythm, a little rhyme, and a whole lot of reading time! Susan’s poetry has appeared in many Canadian and international journals, she also has a chapbook of poetry for grown-ups, Tasting Pearls. Published by Little Witch Press, What Do Witches Do? is Susan’s second picture book, her first book Where Do Witches Go? has proved to be popular with young and old alike.

Elizabeth Todd Doyle
Transplanted from Canada’s west coast to Ottawa, Elizabeth regularly doodles on shopping lists, the back of phone bills, and on the margins of Very Important Documents such as her children’s report cards. When she is not doodling, she manages the education department of a national museum where she encourages children to play with art. Elizabeth’s work has appeared in comic books and textbooks nationally and internationally. She has a thing for gremlins, witches, and surprised animals.

Ingrid McCarthy is the author of the Osis Fantasy Trilogy (The Black Pearl of Osis; The Curse of Lake Osis and The Battle of Osis) for children aged 9-11, including a Teacher's Resource and Activity Guide for the Black Pearl of Osis. Ingrid's books can be found in the Ottawa Public Library, in many school libraries in the Ottawa Region and private homes in Canada, the USA and Europe. When not busy conjuring up fantastic tales for children, Ingrid is being kept busy directing the New Edinburgh Players in Ottawa, a fund-raising community theatre founded by her 30 years ago, or producing watercolour landscapes in bold, vivid colours. Recently, Ingrid has teamed up with comic book artist/illustratror Kim Hoang to produce a 25-page pitch package for publishers, containing 25 colour pages of manga-style graphics. The plan is to produce nine volumes of graphic novels based on the Osis Fantasy Trilogy.

Authours for last year's festival included:

Richard Scrimger was born with very little hair and very little feet and hands. They all grew together and he still has them, together with all his organs except tonsils. Since 1996 he has published fourteen books for adults and children. He has won awards in Canada and the US, and been translated into a dozen different languages. His most recent offering is Into The Ravine, a story of love, rafting and herpetology. He is currently working on a book about death. Richard used to have four small children. He still has them, but they're not so small any more. Now their movement recalls the great buffalo herds, and the fridge door is never shut. Some people write for a living. Richard writes for his life. Visit Richard at www.scrimger.ca

Andre Paul est l’auteur, illustrateur et éditeur de la collection Léo et Julien. Son épouse Angela Rhea est la coloriste. Ses livres sont inspires de la vie quotidienne de ses deux garçons. Ils lui transmettent leur joie de vivre et leur vision positive dans tous les petits bonheurs de la vie.

Jack Mitchell was born in New Brunswick and grew up in Ottawa; he was a student at Rockcliffe Park from 1981-1983. At the age of fourteen, his admiration for J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings prompted him to take Latin in high school. He has been interested in Roman history ever since. He studied Classics at McGill University and holds a Ph.D. in Classics from Stanford University, where he wrote his first novel, The Roman Conspiracy. The Ancient Ocean Blues is his second book, but at the moment he is living in Toronto and about to start work on the third in his ancient Roman series.

Katherine Grier
A storyteller of many years experience and a former teacher, Katherine is known for her quiet yet powerful style and for stories that arrest, delight and move her listeners. Her repertoire includes folktales, myths and legends from many cultures as well as tales shaped from her own and others’ personal experiences.
Katherine has visited many classes at Rockcliffe, often the older grades, but this year it will be the younger children who get to experience the magic of Katherine’s stories.

Lysette Brochu a longtemps enseigné au primaire, au secondaire puis à l’université, avant de se consacrer à l’animation culturelle ou pastorale puis à l’écriture. Depuis 2001, elle a publié Saisons d’or et d’argile, un recueil de récits et de tableaux de vie et sept livres pour enfants. Son album, Moi, Mabel, la vache volante, s’est retrouvé finaliste au Prix littéraire le Droit en 2003 et son album Florence et la Sainte-Catherine a été choisi par Ibby Canada et KBBY (la division de Korée) afin de représenter le Canada au festival Nambook-006 (Nami Island International Children's Book Festival 2006), festival d'une durée de 70 jours, qui s'est déroulé entre le 22 avril et le 30 juin 2006, sur l'Île de Nami. Lysette Brochu voyage beaucoup afin de participer à des Salons du livre ou afin de réaliser des animations littéraires auprès de ses lecteurs… On l’a invitée en Gaspésie, à Vancouver, à Edmondon, à Halifax, au Sault Ste-Marie, à Sudbury (sa ville natale), à North Bay, à Toronto, à Sainte-Catharines, à Laval, en Estrie, à Genève en Suisse, pour ne nommer que certains endroits et dernièrement, en mai 2007, on l’a accueillie à Épinal, en Lorraine, la ville de l’événement Les Imaginales dans les Vosges, en France.