Christina Kilbourne

Readings

In conjunction with a short reading from my tween novel Dear Jo, which is about the dangers of internet predators, I present detailed information and quick tips on Internet safety and awareness. Using video clips and a PowerPoint presentation and with information geared to the grade level, I talk about good online identities and bad, details not to reveal about yourself and what not to post on-line and why. I cover the basic safety rules for using social networking websites, such as MySpace and FaceBook, in order to keep the tween or teen’s identity and location private. I also illustrate, using real examples, how easy it is to track a person’s location using very basic and common on-line information.
For older groups, I cover current statistics relating to on-line solicitation from strangers and tween and teen behaviour on-line and illustrate how this behaviour is risky. For the very oldest audiences, I introduce real life stories about teens who have been tricked by an internet predator. For younger audiences I present ‘what if’ scenarios relating to e-mail, Instant Message and Social Networking queries from on-line friends the tween has never met in person and how they can be lured into having contact with a predator. For presentation overviews, please go to www.christinakilbourne.com.

Special Equipment:

White screen. Audio system if large venue and audience.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed, if arranged in advance.

Biography

Christina Kilbourne was born in Southwestern, Ontario, then moved and spent her elementary and high school years in Muskoka, a resort area two hours north of Toronto. She graduated with an Honours BA in English Literature and Anthropology from the University of Western Ontario and completed her Masters degree in Creative Writing and English Literature at the University of Windsor, Ontario.

Upon graduating Christina travelled across Africa, Mexico, Central and South America and has lived two years in New Zealand, her husband’s home country. Christina has worked in various jobs writing and designing newsletters, brochures, handbooks reports and websites for such organizations as CIBC, the Auckland University of Technology, the Regional Municipality of York, and most recently, Conservation Ontario. Christina currently lives with her husband, two children and various four-legged creatures near Mt. Albert, Ontario.

For a cluster of events I could travel outside of Ontario but travel expenses would be extra.