I am available to do readings to children in classrooms and libraries. If you are in Saskatchewan, you can book a reading through the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild’s (SWG) Author Readings Program. Otherwise, you can contact me directly.

Bill Bruin Reading

Book: Bill Bruin Shovels his Roof

Ages: Grades 1-6

Time:  45 minutes – 1 hour

In this reading, I discuss how authors get ideas. I show how I got the ideas for this book by showing pictures of northern British Columbia, where the story is set. I then read the book, and ask the children to watch for the things we talked about. Afterwards, I show some illustrations that I drew for the story before the book was published, alongside the final book illustrations. The children find things that are the same and different in each pair. This leads to a discussion of expressing stories in pictures, perspective, facial expressions, details that the illustrator added, and so on.

Time permitting, I also do an interactive poem with the children and possibly read another yet-unpublished story, asking for volunteers to act it out with props as I tell it.

Draco’s Child Reading

Book: Draco’s Child

Ages: Grades 6-12

Time: 45 minutes – 1 hour

In this reading, I talk about the research I did while writing Draco’s Child, and how the story and the research influence each other. I talk about building my fantasy world, keeping the story believable by making a lot of it Earth-like, creating my alien characters, and designing my dragon language. I illustrate the results of my research by reading short excerpts from the book. I encourage questions all through the presentation and at the end.

Group Sizes:

It is easiest to interact with the children when the group size is small, say the number that fit in one classroom. I have read to larger groups in a gymnasium, but it feels much less intimate. In a large room, I will need a microphone.

Equipment Needed:

• Projector to show PowerPoint slides. I can bring the presentation on my own laptop or on a USB drive.
• Microphone if speaking in a large room.
• Small table to hold props for readings.

Fees:

If you book a reading  through the SWG, the amount you pay depends on the size of your school. The SWG will pay my fee and mileage costs.

If you contact me directly, I charge the SWG author rate for readings.

Rates for additional readings at the same location can be negotiated.

If you book a reading outside of the SWG, I will send you a contract before the reading so we both know what has been agreed to.

Other Details:

• Travel: If you book through the SWG, they pay my mileage. If not, I will charge the same rate: 42¢/km. Or bus fare, if applicable.
• Meals: I will bring my own lunch, but if I have to drive a long way, I appreciate you paying for supper.
• Accommodation: If I have to stay overnight to do the presentation, you are responsible for providing accommodation.
• Facility Rental and Publicity: your responsibility.
• Please let me know if there are any “special” things I should know, such as children with English as a second language, or no data projector available. I will adjust the reading accordingly.