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Dear Book Lover,

This catalogue is a celebration of the authors and illustrators it has been aprivilege to publish. Many of these talents will be familiar to you; others will be anew surprise. All of the books included are works of literary art, and we hope youwill peruse these pages with interest and delight as you discover what exactlyfostered the creative processes represented here. Welcome to the talented authors,illustrators, and editors of Fifth House Publishers, Red Deer Press, and Fitzhenry &Whiteside.

Sharon FitzhenryPresident & CEO

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9780889953505, hcWorldPicture Book, Ages 5+,Animal Story (Horses),Ecology, Habitat, Based ona True Story

9780889952386, pbWorld ex. KRGrade 7+, YA Novel, EcologyIssues, Adventure, NatureManitoba Library AssociationBest Book, CCBC OurChoice starred selection

A radio journalist with CBC North, Jamie broadcasts from a huge community freezer carved out of the permafrost 9 metres below the streets of Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean. His passion for this unique frozen

catacomb inspired the gripping ice-house scene in On Thin Ice.

60-day canoe trip down the mighty Mackenzie, Canada’s longest river. The Trans Canada Trail

Foundation hired him to write a river guide about his experience.

9780889953376, pbWorldGrade 7+, YA Novel,Coming of Age, EcologyIssues, Adventure, PolarBears

9780889952652, pbWorldHigh School/Adult,Non-Fiction,Science, EcologyAlberta Book Awardshortlist

9780889951709, pbWorldHigh School/Adult,Non-Fiction, Ecology,Habitat, Sub ArcticWilderness

9780889951914, pbWorldHigh School/Adult, Non-Fiction, Exploring theTaiga Shield, Ecology,Ancient Geology,Habitat

Jbooks. Tracking Triple Seven is the story ofBenji, a city-slicker kid who accidentally joins

a team of grizzly bear biologists in the Arctic. “Ipartly modelled Benji after urban kids I’ve seen whohave lost their inborn connection with nature,” Jamiesays. “By thrusting San Francisco-born Benji into thebiggest wilderness on Earth—the Arctic tundra—andwatching him grow, I’m hoping to rekindle that senseof natural wonder in this kind of reader.”

Other characters were not so easy for Jamie to create.This was the case with young Ashley Anowiak, theprotagonist of On Thin Ice. “My own 16-year-olddaughter was my most ruthless editor,” Jamie admits.“She combed an early manuscript of the book forany sins I may have committed on how Ashley mightspeak, act, think, dress, etc!” But his many visits toschools of aboriginal kids, combined with 25 years ofworking and living up north, gave Jamie a good feelfor the kinds of challenges Ashley might face and howshe would react to them.

Jamie admits that he simply cannot live withoutwilderness. Residing in a snug backwoods cabin inNorthern Canada, he loves to hike up the mountainswith his family and take in the northern lights. Heis also an eco-tourist guide, and enjoys tourists’reactions to the majesty of the northern wilderness.“On countless tours through many years, I havewatched the northern landscape work its magic onpeople from all over the world,” he says. “It’s fun towatch them peel off their civilized skins for a while,slow down and take the time to befriend the land andeach other.”

Jamie runs an environmental consulting companycalled Cygnus, and hopes to make people awareof some major environmental issues. “The mostmisunderstood or relatively unknown environmental

increments,’” Jamie explains. “We make smallchanges to natural spaces that individually may seemrelatively harmless or controllable but, collectively,can result in the unravelling of entire ecosystems.” Inthe future, Jamie hopes to continue his mission to gethis message out and “take science to the streets.” Hisother goals include giving as much to his family, hiscommunity and the world as he can. “I believe in theadage that giving is its own reward,” he says.

www.jamiebastedo.com Yellowknife, NTJamie Bastedo

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9781895555486, hc9780773758407, pb9781895555509, mmCA Eng.Ages 12+, Mystery, Magic

9780773758889, pbWorldAges 12+, Mystery, Magic

9780773733329, pbWorldAges 12+, MysteryGovernor General’s Awardfor Children’s Literature, CLABook of the Year Award forChildren, IODE Violet DowneyBook Award, National Chapter

9780773730403, hcCA onlyPicture Book, Historical Fiction, Emily Dickinson,Friendship

9780773729971, hcWorld ex. USPicture Book, Bronte Children

9780773732506, hcWorld ex. DKPicture Book, LegendGovernor General’s Award forChildren’s Book Illustrationshortlist

9780773756991, pb9780773757004, cass9780773756953, bk + cassWorld Eng. ex USPicture Book, LegendIODE Book Award for Children’s Literature

Emily

Toronto, ONMichael Bedard

Michael Bedard is in love with words. He lovesthe sound and shape of them, the way theymake forms and patterns. Working in a

basement room in his house, which feels a bit like awomb, Michael compares writing a book to bearing ababy. A book needs to “form in quiet and in secrecy.”My aim is to “shelter the book, to nourish it, to allowit to open in its own way and in its own time.”

As he works on a particular piece, Michael addsrelated images to a bristol board hanging on the wallabove the desk. He explains, “As the work goes on,

a typewriter. He does not use a computer. “When

over the landscape of the book rather than walkingin it. In both ways, you get to the end, but the recordof the journey is completely different.” Michael hasalso learned from experience not to discuss a workin progress. “I don’t even talk about it with my wife,

if you talk about a piece while it is in process, youendanger it. Part of the vital energy that surroundsthe work is dissipated.”

Michael has always had an interest in poets’ livesand works. His picture book Emily, the story of ayoung girl who meets the poet Emily Dickinson, wasMichael’s means of “paying homage to the hiddenlife of a remarkable poet.” His current researchand reading also revolve around poetry, includinginterviews with poets about the process and art ofwriting poetry.

When Michael is not working, he enjoys cooking,going to the opera and to basketball games. He alsolikes to spend time with family. “I hope my familywould say that I’m steady and dependable, anddevoted to them and to my work. And—that I’m apretty good cook! They would like to add, that I’m awild and crazy guy.” He would also like to think thatfamily and others would remember him as “someonewho walked gently on this earth and who gave hislife to a craft he loved.”

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9780773673687, mm

Ages 10+, Native, MysteryManitoba Young Readers’ ChoiceAward

9780773674110, mmWorldAges 12+, Relationships,Disabilities, Overcoming Adversity

9781550050516, pb9780773674837, mmWorld ex. FrC, NL, DKAges 12+, Coming of Age,Adventure, Health Issues(Alcoholism)

William Bell is an award-winning author ofmore than a dozen books for young adults.He admits he was not much of a reader as a

child. “I began to read novels...when I was in grade6 or 7,” he says. “My favourite author at that timewas Jim Kjelgaard, who wrote books about dogs.”

William spent time as an English teacher, includingtwo years in China. He taught at both the HarbinUniversity of Science and Technology and theForeign Affairs College in Beijing.

A creative drive turned William to writing. “I think allcreative people are pushed or driven by the desireor need to put ideas into the form they’re mostcomfortable with—music, marble, pastels, or words. In my case, I write about things that interest me andthat I care deeply about.” William enjoys writing, butadmits that he gets to meet quite a few interestingpeople in his line of work, too. “Most things aboutthe writing life are positive.”

In Crabbe, one of William’s most successful novels,Franklin Crabbe is an unhappy semi-alcoholic. “Crabbe is rebellious, troubled, idealistic and, attimes, a little cranky,” William says. “An easy person

he may have, honest and basically a good person. His voice is straightforward, frank and direct.”

William Bell’s young adult novels have beentranslated into nine languages and have won anumber of awards, including the Manitoba Readers’Choice Award, the Mr. Christie’s Award, the RuthSchwartz Award and the Canadian Librarians’Association Award. He lives in Orillia, Ontario, withauthor Ting-xing Ye.

www.orillia.org/williambell Orillia, ONWilliam Bell

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July 20, 1920 – November 30, 2004 www.pierreberton.com Toronto, ONPierre Berton

Pierre Berton, well-known and well-lovedCanadian author, journalist, and mediapersonality, hailed from Yukon, where his

father had moved during the 1898 Klondike GoldRush. The house in which he grew up in Whitehorse,Berton House, is now a writer’s retreat. During

twenty-two for children, popularizing Canadian

times. With more than thirty literary awards and adozen honorary degrees to his credit, Berton was aCompanion of the Order of Canada. Pierre Bertondied in 2004.

Berton’s ability to infuse history and its characterswith the excitement, personality, and immediacy ofcontemporary events has always appealed stronglyto young readers. Fifth House has been pleasedand proud to present Pierre Berton’s History forYoung Canadians, a series of four omnibusescollecting Berton’s historical works for young adults.The omnibuses cover the settling of the Canadianwest in Canada Moves West, the exploration of theCanadian arctic in Exploring the Frozen North, theoften-neglected but incredibly important War of1812 in Battles of the War of 1812gold-crazy period of northern history in The Great Klondike Gold Rush. Celebrated Canadian historianCharlotte Gray characterizes Berton’s unique talentwell in her foreword to Battles of the War of 1812:

I met Pierre Berton only a couple of times,but in each case I was instantly awarethat he was someone who gave himselfheart and soul to whatever project he was

engaged in. On one occasion, we were bothbeing interviewed on CBC Radio about howto get Canadians, particularly young adults,

leaning toward the microphone, clenching

insisting, “Forget dates. You don’t need astring of dates. You need to tell ‘em whathappened—who won, who lost, and whyit mattered!” I realize that is exactly whathe did. Berton’s thrilling blow-by-blowdescriptions are grounded in his sheerenthusiasm for getting in the middle of the

the air and shouting, “C’mon, boys, followme!”

—bio courtesy of Fifth House Publishers

9781894856744, pbWorldAges 12+, Non-Fiction,Canadian History, Omnibus,5 Book Collection, How theCanadian West was Won

9781894856935, pbWorldAges 12+, Non-Fiction,Canadian History, Omnibus, 4Book Collection, Exploring &Mapping the Arctic

978187252017, pbWorldAges 12+, Non-Fiction,Canadian History, Omnibus,7 Book Collection, History &Characters of the War of 1812

978, pbWorldAges 12+, Non-Fiction,Canadian History, Omnibus,6 Book Collection, Gold Rushof 1897

9781894856041, pbCA onlyAges 11+, Non-Fiction,Canadian History,Klondike Gold Rush of1898

9780920079140, mmWorldAges 12+, Non-Fiction, CanadianHistory, Life Duringthe Great Depression

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www.lynnblaikie.com Whitehorse, YTLynn Blaikie

Lynn Blaikie does not know the directionher art will take when she starts. “My work

inspiration in several J.W. Waterhouse posterspurchased years ago by her mother from theRoyal Ontario Museum. “I can look at the work andtransport myself to another time.”

When Lynn moved to Whitehorse, the town had

Mart and a Starbucks. Lynn makes her home justout of town on several acres that include a barn,greenhouse, a chicken-less chicken coop and herthree-room studio. Lynn started to develop herunique style of batik with new methods and dyes shefound in Hawaii. After eight years of working as achild care director and artist, Lynn moved into a full-time art career. She describes her love of the batikmedium: “It is a tactile art form that allows me toreach many stages of discovery before the piece is

acrylic painting, nothing allows me to really explorea process as much as batik does.”

Lynn starts with a piece of cotton stretched acrossa wooden frame. After sketching an image on thecloth, she then “paints” the dyes on with brushes.Heat and light reactive, the dye soaks into the clothrather than sitting on the top. The true colours ofthe dye are not visible until they are “pulled up” bythe heat from an iron. Lynn then uses a Japanesewater colour brush to cover the surface with several

frozen and dried overnight. Lynn bends the frozencloth until the wax cracks and scrubs dye into thecracks. After she does this three times, she meltsthe wax and works on details.

When Lynn is not at work in her studio, she can befound in her greenhouse and garden. She also enjoys

the stars on the back of a raven.”

9781550051230, hcWorldPicture Book, Native, Lyrical Text

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9780889953673, hcWorldPicture Book, Ages 10+, Native, Family Values,Generational Story

9780889953833, hcWorldPicture Book, Ages 10+, Native, Family Values,Generational Story

David (right) plays an honour song with a musician in Udaipur, India. His daughter Victoria sits at his feet.

David’s workspace

Awriter, poet, father, former school principal,traveller, musician and one-time candidatefor Parliament, David Bouchard has

certainly had a full life.

A Métis, David grew up knowing nothing of hisroots. But through the process of writing, Davidhas learned more about his Métis heritage. “Ourgrandmothers and grandfathers were made tofeel less than those around them,” David saysof his ancestors. “So that their children mighthave a chance in Canadian society, they lied orpurposefully hid our bloodlines. The irony in this isthat it is now incumbent upon us, this new Métisgeneration, to prove our ancestors liars in order toregain our heritage.” Many of his children’s bookscentre around aboriginal issues and the journey ofdiscovery.

David believes strongly in the positive power ofreading. “I speak to educators, parents and studentsabout the importance of reading,” he says. “I workto inspire educators and parents to share themost valuable gift we can give our youth, the gift

daily life. He writes wherever he happens to be atthe time. It is not uncommon for him to stray fromthe cozy library of his 100-year-old stone house togo sit in a Tim Horton’s and write, where, he claims,he produces some of his best work.

About the art of writing itself, David says: “I think ofa good novel or a captivating series as a bouquet of

My hope is that my reader will take a deep breathafter reading one of my books, breathe out and witha gentle smile on their face, say, ‘nice.’”

www.davidbouchard.com Victoria, BCDavid Bouchard

David with Hockey Hall of Fame’s Johnny Bower and the Stanley Cup

David with his wife, Vicky, and their daughter, Victoria.

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www.beverleybrenna.com Saskatoon, SKBeverley Brenna

Beverley Brenna has been nominated for theManitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award,CLA Young Adult Book Award, OLA White

Pine Award and the Snow Willow Award.

QDo you enjoy writing poetry now as much aswhen you were a child?

AI think that my writing roots are truly in poetry,and I continue to do a great deal of poetry

well into that form, but sometimes it’s merely a matterof convenience. When you have three children youwant to keep up with, a busy job, and an acreage

maintenance, sometimes all one can manage at theend of the day is a few scrawled lines.

QWhich of your literary characters is the mostpersonal to you?

AI think Taylor in Wild Orchid was an intenselypersonal creation, because I tried to use my

then added the characters and plot of the story, aswell as her actual autistic traits, on top of that. I thinkin many ways Taylor is not unlike a lot of teen girls-tied to family, yet seeking independence; yearning

yet too immature to always make good choices;dreaming about future goals.

QWhy did you write about Fetal Alcohol SpectrumDisorder in The Moon Children?

AI have learned that the invisible disabilities linked

damaging, and that children like Billy—who appearbright and intelligent and use lots of good expressivelanguage—run the risk of being labelled lazy andirritating, because their skills may not extend toauditory memory or translate into activities such asreading and writing.

QWhat do you do as a special educationconsultant?

AI currently work out of a number of differentschools to support teaching teams and families

who are planning the best programs possible forchildren with low-incidence diagnoses, such asautism, Down’s Syndrome, cerebral palsy, and

various forms of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders,

children and young people in which characters withspecial needs have central roles. I think literaturehas an important role to play in presenting truth, notsimply popular culture.

QWhat is one attitude about life that you wantyour children to learn from you?

AI think a positive attitude about one’s own goalsand dreams is very important, and I hope they

carry that into their future: that no matter where you

as you are working towards your dreams the race is

A photo of the sunset at Waskesiu Lake, one of Beverley’s favourite places on earth

9780889953307, pbWorldAges 14+, Teen Fiction,Coming of Age, Autism,RelationshipsOLA White Pine Awardshortlist, CLA Young AdultBook of the Year Awardshortlist, Manitoba YoungReaders’ Choice Awardshortlist, Willow Awardshortlist, CCBC OurChoice starred selection,New York Public LibraryBooks for the Teen Age,McNally Robinson top

Saskatechewan in 2006

9780889953789, pbWorldAges 9-13, Middle GradeFiction, Health Issues(FASD)

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www.annecarter.com Toronto, ONAnne Carter

Anne Carter is convinced that there’s nosubstitute for travel. But “good writingcomes close,” she says. Anne left home

at the age of 17 and travelled to Israel, England,France and the United States. Five years later, shemoved into a career teaching ESL and French inCree communities in Northern Quebec.

Anne caught the writing bug when she was raisingher four children. Now she writes anywhere she

time. She explains, “A few years ago I threw outplotting in advance. I believed in the ‘mystery’ ofthe process. Discovering the novel as I went. Formy current project I tried writing some key scenes,knowing my ending and where I was writing to, askeletal structure to guide the process.” Anne citesthe helpfulness of good librarians who providetips and leads for research. Inspiration for Anne’sbooks originate from family, friends and interviews.Among her achievements, Anne is especially proudof winning the CLA award, calling it an “awesome”experience. To those who aspire to write, Anne’sadvice is straightforward: “Read a lot. Write a lot.Submit a lot.”

When Anne is not writing, she likes to read. Sherecommends Carver: A Life in Poems. If she weren’ta writer, Anne would pursue another form of the arts.“I’d love to be a musician. Have my own band.”

9780773761391, pbWorldAges 12+, Historical Fiction,Bully Issues, Time Travel

9780889952539, pbWorldAges 12+, Short Stories,Historical & Present Day,Women’s RolesForeWord Magazine Bookof the Year Award shortlist

9780889952843, hcWorldPicture Book, RelocationAlberta Children’s Book of theYear shortlist, Alberta BookIllustration of the Year shortlist,Canadian Book Review AnnualEditor’s Choice: Children’sPicture Book, CCBC Our Choiceselection

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As a child, Sean Cassidy dreamed of living inthe Yukon in a log cabin with his dog. Hisother dream was to draw and paint. “I was

illustrators,” he says. “What they did was magic.”

After receiving a B.Ed. and a B.A., Sean taughtjust about everything from English and Math toAstronomy, History, Geography and Visual Arts. Hehad always loved art and illustrating, but it wasn’tuntil the birth of his daughter that he started writingstories. Sean recently left teaching in order todevote more time to writing and illustrating children’sbooks.

Now Sean teaches drawing workshops for schoolsand libraries. He cherishes the challenge of theworkshops: “I love seeing the delight in the eyes ofthe children and adults when they discover that they

can easily create their own unique characters withsome of the simple rules that I teach to them.”

Sean would like to see children’s books get morerecognition in the literary world. “We bestow allthe big honours and awards on the writers of adultliterature. But the most important and essential areaof literature for any culture is children’s lit. And themost important area of that is lit for the very young—picture books. The brightest kids in Grades 1, 2 and 3 are the children who can read best. Those at the topof the class in Grade 3 are still at the top of the classin Grade 12. If, through my writing and illustrating, Ican get children excited about books, then I’ve donesomething good and I’ve helped make the world alittle better.”

9781550416992, pbWorld ex. KRPicture Book, Self-EsteemMr. Christie’s Book Award Silver Seal

9781550416770, pbWorld ex. KRPicture Book, FancifulRuth Schwartz Book Award, Mr.Christie’s Book Award Gold Seal,

CNIB Tiny Torgi Print Braille

9781550419528, hcWorld ex. KRPicture Book, HumourOLA Blue Spruce Award shortlist

9781550418248, hc9781550418262, pbWorldPicture Book, Science & NatureOLA Blue Spruce Award shortlist,Shining Willow Award shortlist

Orangeville, ONSean Cassidy

9781550415858, hcWorldPicture Book, Friendship

Illustration from

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Veronika Martenova Charles is an award-winning author and illustrator. Before settlingin Toronto and becoming a full-time writer,

Veronika was a pop recording artist in EasternEurope. “I was on a concert tour in Cuba and onthe way back the Cuban plane stopped to refuel inGander, Newfoundland. On the spur of the momentI decided not to get back on the plane and to stayin Canada. Fate was on my side. A year later, thegroup I had been singing with was returning fromanother concert tour and they perished in a planedisaster.”

Veronika went on to study at Ryerson University, theOntario College of Art and Design, and completedgraduate studies in Folklore at York University. She now writes and illustrates children’s books,

experience. “I do the text, illustrations and also thebook design myself and make a mock-up of thebook ahead of time. I know exactly what the book

process, the book goes through many hands. Sothere is always a chance something in the book maynot turn out the way I envisioned. And it does.”

Every project Veronika takes on is unique. “Eachbook presents an illustrating challenge becauseeach story is different and demands a differentlook,” Veronika explains. “Stretch, Swallow & Stareis a book with a dark story. I thought painting it ondark surfaces that would somehow shine throughthe painted illustration on top would express that.” Veronika cites Expressionist painter Paul Klee asone of her favourite artists.

at home, and being able to make a living working onthings she is passionate about.

Toronto, ONVeronika Charles

Veronika pretends to be the characters from

9780773732971, hc9780773762077, pbWorldPicture Book, Native, LegendStorytelling World Award HonorTitle, CCBC Our Choice selection

9780773757189, pbWorldPicture Book, LegendAmelia Frances Howard-GibbonAward for Illustration shortlist,American Children’s Books of theYear starred selection

9780773730984, hcWorld ex. KRPicture Book, LegendAtlanta Journal-Constitution BestPicture Books

9780773729674, hcWorldPicture Book, Czech Fairy TaleCCBC Our Choice selection

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Westport, ONLyn Cook

For 60 years, Lyn Cook has captured thehearts and imaginations of children andadults all over the world with her stories of

small-town people and their relationships.

QWhat do you love the most about writing?

ALiving other people’s lives. That’s what we all

QWho were your favourite authors growing up? Who are your favourite authors now?

AGrowing up, I loved The Wide, Wide World byElizabeth Wetherell and The Water-Babies by

Charles Kingsley. There was no school library inthe little schoolhouse I attended, so the only booksI read were books given at Christmas and birthdays.Since my parents were British, I received a lot ofabridged Dickens, so I read that too. As a teenager I

Master Skylarkby John Bennett. Today I read a lot of travel books,and I also love Jane Urquhart and P.D. James.

QHow did your writing career start and develop?

AIt began because I fell in love with Sudbury.When I moved there, the town had a very small

local radio station caught wind of it and asked me tohostaone-hourshowcalled“ADoorway inFairyland.”The show catered to newly immigrated children, andI told fairy stories and tales of immigration that theycould relate to. Eventually, listeners wrote to the CBCinforming them of this program, and before long theCBC was asking me to host the show coast to coast,which I did for ten years. I was really able to developmy storytelling abilities through this medium. I alsotaught drama for ten years, and that helped me inmy writing because I am able to see the situationsin my books as scenes from plays, which makeswriting a lot easier.

QAlmost 60 years after its publication, The Bells on Finland Street is still in print. Did you expect

so much success for the book?

ANo, absolutely not. I was astonished at itssuccess. I guess this particular book touched

a lot of people’s hearts. Jane Urquhart said of Bellsthat she suddenly found a story about real peoplein real places. I am very happy that I have written astory that others can relate to. As for it still being inprint, I am very pleased about that too. The bells arestill ringing!

9780773758384, pbCA onlyMiddle Grade Fiction, Ages 8-12,Adventure, Relationships

9781550417920, pbWorldMiddle Grade Fiction, Ages 10+,Historical Fiction, 1757 French/EnglishWar, AdventureCCBC Our Choice selection

9781550417944, pbWorldMiddle Grade Fiction, Ages 10+,Historical, Family

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9780773760981, pbWorld ex. FRPicture Book, Native Legend,Discovering Maple Syrup, NatureStorytelling World Award HonorBook, World Guild Book Award,CCBC Our Choice

9781550419436, hcWorldAges 12+, Historical Fiction

9781550419559, pb9780773674363, mmWorldAges 12+, Historical Fiction,Pioneer Adventure Story

9780773674226, mmWorldAges 12+, Early Story ofNellie McClung, Pioneer,Historical Fiction, Women’sRightsGeoffrey Bilson Award forHistorical Fiction shortlist,CCBC Our Choice selection

9780773674691, mmWorldAges 12+, Pioneer,Historical Fiction, Women’sRightsGeoffrey Bilson Award forHistorical Fiction shortlist,CCBC Our Choiceselection

9780773674813, mmWorldAges 12+, Pioneer,Historical Fiction, Women’sRightsIODE Violet Downey BookAward shortlist

9781550418163, hc9781550418187, pbWorldGrade 5+, Historical Fiction,Pioneer Life, AdventureWorld Guild Novel Award,CCBC Our Choice selection

9780773674127, mmWorldGrade 6+, United EmpireLoyalist, Adventure

9780773762060, pbWorldGrade 5+, Historical Fiction,Pioneer Life, Adventure,AdversityOLA Silver Birch Award, IODEViolet Downey Book Awardshortlist, World Guild NovelAward, CCBC Our Choiceselection

Stories about Nellie McClung

www.conniebrummelcrook.ca Peterborough, ONConnie Brummel Crook

S Flight, appeared in 1991,Connie Brummel Crook has had nine novelsand three picture books published. She

life North American heritage for students in theclassroom. “As a teacher, some days, my studentswould ask me to tell them stories instead of teachingthe regular class work—just for a break—and so Idid occasionally,” she says. Connie taught Englishin Ontario’s public secondary schools for 30 years.Having appreciative students has a positive effecton the teacher as well. “A teacher needs to relate toher students and believe in their ability to achieve.”

is the hardest part. Sometimes, the research is so

interesting that I spend too long on it before I start

because I pretend I am the main character andlove living through those exciting experiences.”On July 15, 2000, Connie was one of the honourableinductees into Peterborough’s Pathway of Fame. “Iwas completely overwhelmed and delighted to berecognized in this way,” she says. “I’ve always lovedreading and now also enjoy writing books.”

A little-known fact about Connie Brummel Crook:

she did not know how to type. These books weretranscribed from her handwriting by her daughters. Connie has since learned how to type.

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www.czerneda.com Orillia, ONJulie Czerneda

Julie Czerneda wants to set the record

storytelling, examining relevant possibilities basedon what we know and are today.” For Julie—writer,editor, mother and former animal communicationresearcher—telling a compelling story about a

Julie grew up on air force bases in Ontario, PrinceEdward and Nova Scotia before her family settledin Mississauga, Ontario. She pursued her love forbiology at the universities of Waterloo, Saskatoonand Queen’s (Kingston). Julie eventually settled inOrillia, Ontario, with husband Roger and childrenJennifer and Scott. Now Julie is frequently onthe road as a presenter and speaker, and enjoystravelling. She has used interesting places like

Julie is both a writer and an editor. “When I’m activelywriting, my husband may have to remind me to eat,

and the time available in a day never seems enough.I’ll often go back to writing in the evening. When I’mediting or doing promotional work, I’m more on theclock, and don’t work at night. It’s a different partof the brain.” Creating an engaging story is always

I pose the solutions or resolutions I think arereasonable. I want to affect how people think.”

folks are smart, curious and kind. They are open-minded and encouraging.” Whether she is sharing

communicate with light and sound or exploringbiological concepts through her character of Esen(of the Web Shifters series), Julie is also open toevery possibility. “We live at the edge of wilderness,which also affects what a typical day may be. If the

in the forest, I’m gone.”

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9781895579895, pbWorldScience Fiction, Short StoriesPrix Aurora Award for Best ShortFiction, Prix Aurora Award forArtistic Achievement

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Using Science Fiction

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Q What are the advantages and disadvantages ofworking together?

AWe can bounce ideas around, which is great. Ifone of us gets sick or has to be away, it’s good

to have a partner who can keep the work moving.One of the few disadvantages is that, since weshare deadlines, we both get stressed out at thesame time.

QWhat are your goals?

AWe want to continue what we are doing—creating books for children. For the last couple

of years, Alan has been painting large pictures usingoils. Lea is writing another young adult novel and re-writing a play that was workshopped last summer.

QHow would your children describe you?

AThis is what they said and we didn’t even bribethem: a perfect match, best friends, funny, kind,

talented, lots of opinions, fun, warm, a balance foreach other, respectful of one another’s strengthsand weaknesses.

QWhat do you do in your free time?

ACanoe and swim in the summer, walk, read,listen to music, spend time with friends. We like

movies, theatre and lectures.

Alan and Lea Daniel paint together in theirhouse in Kitchener, Ontario. Their children,pets, friends and furniture often appear in

their illustrations.

www.alanandleadaniel.com Kitchener, ONAlan & Lea Daniel

Illustration from

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QWho or what inspires you and keeps your workfresh?

AChildren inspire us. We pay attention to whatthey wear, how they express their feelings,

how they move. We look at lots of paintings andillustrations and photographs. History has alwaysbeen a big interest for both of us.

QHow has illustration art changed since youstarted your career?

AWhen we began, most children’s illustration inCanada was done for educational books. There

were few full-time illustrators, and they had to beextremely versatile to make a living. This has turnedout to be an advantage because it gave us the toolsto do many different kinds of work. Of course, thereis much more use of computers now.

QWhat advice would you give to someonewanting to be a professional illustrator?

ABefore deciding to be a professional illustrator,make sure you really, really want to do it because

it isn’t easy. Go to art school if you can because itwill give you a chance to experiment, play and makemistakes. Learn your craft.

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Toronto, ONBrian Deines

Award-winning illustrator Brian Deines hasalways loved to draw and paint. Becomingan illustrator “seemed like a natural outlet for

these qualities.” Having a passion for music as well,Brian listens to music while he paints. When not inthe studio, Brian can be found riding his mountainbike. He never leaves home without a camera.Photographs, he says, are “an extension of my art.”

For Brian, illustrations and text must complementeach other. “I enjoy seeing the synergy betweenthe text and my illustrations in print and how eachmakes the whole greater than they are on their own.Hopefully I am presenting the images in a form thatis accessible to the viewer and lets them fall into thestory. If I am successful in that regard, I’m happy.”For On Uncle John’s Farm, Brian says, “I wanted touse a loose textured style of painting to convey theatmosphere and energy of the text.”

Brian’s illustrations have a wonderful quality ofauthenticity. “I think all my books tend to incorporatesome form of personal memory in them, one wayor another.” For Camping, Brian recalled his owncamping trips as a kid, especially “the smell of the

of several artists, including Ben Nicholson, EdgarDegas, Johannes Vermeer, Christopher Pratt andJack Chambers.

Brian’s idea of a perfect day is a combination of workand leisure. “Coffee and paper on the back deckwith my family for breakfast, bike ride to the studioto paint for the day and a picnic in High Park with myfamily at the end of the day (biking again).” As forthe future, Brian aims to continue painting both for

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